Roman (The Clutch 1)

“Lana!” I look around and make sure no one’s paying attention to us. My dad’s friends are everywhere, and the last thing I need is for rumors to start about me. “God no, I’m not pregnant,” I say through clenched teeth.

“So what gives?” she asks, sitting back.

I shrug and motion for her to lean forward. “It’s Roman.”

“I knew you slept with him.”

Shaking my head, I say, “I have not nor do I plan to, but I can’t get him off my mind, and I want to know if you feel the same way about your friend at the gym.”

“Do you think he’s compelling you? Because that’s a huge no-no. My friend says their rules are strict and their creator doesn’t want to go through the mass exodus again.”

“Mass exodus?”

Lana brushes me off and scoots her chair next to mine. “Tell me everything.”

“There isn’t anything to tell, Lana. I just feel… I don’t know. I think about him all the time, and I don’t know him. When I close my eyes, he’s there. He’s in my dreams, and I feel like he’s watching me all the time. He knows things too. Like where to find me.”

“Enhanced hearing, plus he’s probably bored during the day, so he’s listening for you. My friend says we each have a distinct sound and once they hone in on it, they can pretty much follow our voices until they’ve found us. It’s like GPS for vamps or something.”

“So he can just show up whenever he wants?”

“Yes and no,” Lana says, shrugging. “They have to be within a mile or so of the person they’re looking for.”

I sit back and sigh. “This is all so creepy. Do you know how crazy this is making me? Last night I went to a casino and tried to compel a vampire. Like, who does this? Me,” I say, pointing to my chest. “Why did I have to meet him?”

Lana picks a piece of avocado out of her salad and drops it into her mouth. After she licks her fingers, she smiles. “You know everything happens for a reason.”

“Maybe for Roman, but not for me. He sought me out because of who my father is, and now I can’t get him off my mind.”

“Is he hot?” My mouth drops open, and her smile widens. “Tell me!”

“Ugh, I don’t want him to be, but Lana, he is. Everything about him seems perfect, and I know it’s to entice humans, yet I can’t stop thinking about his black hair and what it’d feel like to run my fingers through it, or to stare into his vibrant blue eyes. He’s been made to be this good-looking man and deadly creature. It’s a no-win situation.”

Our waitress approaches our table asking if we need a refill on anything. When we tell her no, she leaves the bill on the table and tells us to take our time. I glance around my favorite restaurant, loving the outside seating with the ivy weaved throughout the pergola, offering the perfect amount of shade.

“Are you going to let your father dictate your life?”

“Not everyone is like your parents, Lana.”

“You’re right, I’m very lucky. However, you’re an adult, with a college education. Just think, you could tell daddy dearest no and actually get a job and put your degree to use. You’d be able to move back to California.”

“You’d miss me,” I tease her. She’s right though, Vegas is nothing more than a stop over for me. The only reason I’m here is because of my father, and truthfully, I’d really like to put my marketing degree to work.

Lana and I part ways on the Strip, kissing each other on the cheeks. When I asked her what she’s going to do, she told me she has a date with her vampire. Of course, she winked and headed toward the gym she works out at. I was tempted to follow her so I could watch her interact with this man, but my mind isn’t right, and I don’t want to embarrass her.

Instead of taking a cab home, I decide to walk. The streets are ridiculously busy, and by the time I reach my hotel, I’ve been hit, jostled, and pushed by tourists rushing from casino to casino or trying to find a prime spot to watch the Bellagio fountains.

“Good evening, Ms. Weston,” the bellhop says. I smile and thank him for holding the door that’ll lead me to a private elevator, which goes directly to the penthouses. Waiting for the lift is my neighbor, who eyes me up and down. He’s married, and here he is, trying to pick his tongue up off the ground. My stranger danger radar is going off, causing me to turn on my Jimmy Choo’s and head back toward the door. “Everything okay, Ms. Weston?”

“Yes, I decided to run down to the little shop for a snack.” I’m not hungry, but I’m not getting into the elevator with my sleazy neighbor either. Lord knows what could happen. Down at the store, I grab some candy and a bottle of water. Two things I do not need but feel it’d be rude to not buy something. This is how I spent most of my day shopping with Lana. Touching things I want, but couldn’t bring myself to buy for no rhyme or reason.

Walking through the casino is never my idea of a good time, but this is one of the rare hotels that actually has its elevators near the check-in, meaning travelers don’t have to push their luggage through a carpeted space jam-packed with gamblers. I know, it’s all a ploy to get the tourists to stop and put money down on the table, but there are people who would like to get to their room without breaking a sweat.

The public elevator is full of young drunk co-eds, having the time of their lives. This used to be me. My sorority sisters and I would pack up for the weekend and come over, staying in luxurious suites, partying it up all night and sleeping all day. Mondays used to be such a drag.

I’m the last one left as the lift heads to the top

floor. After the day I’ve had, I can’t wait to slip into something comfortable and crash out on my couch with some chick flick determined to remind me true love does exist.