Eric's POV
"Pam, I need to see you in my office." I called to her as she was finishing the closing of the bar. I headed past her and entered my office as she followed behind.
"What's up, Eric?" she asked as she seated herself on the leather sofa. I moved to my chair behind the desk and sat.
"I want to send someone to Bontemps to keep an eye on Bill. I don't trust that man and whatever he is doing it involves Sookie somehow. I will not let him take her to Sophie-Anne to be exploited for her talents"
"You're pretty protective of this human woman. Why her?"
"She is more than a human woman Pam. Her otherness intrigues me. I need to figure out what she is. My guess is that she is a telepath but there is also something more."
"Telepath's are pretty rare. That's probably why Bill and Sophie-Anne are after her."
"That's why we need to protect her. She is mine."
"Eric infatuated with a human. I love it" Pam laughed.
"Well you're going to love this even more then. Where do people go these days on dates?" I asked her. I knew this was going to send her into fits of laughter and she didn't disappoint me.
"You have a date. That's priceless, Eric."
"When you're done laughing maybe you could help me figure out where to go on this date. I told her to dress up so it has to be somewhere nice."
Pam swallowed back the rest of her laughter and put a serious look on her face as she thought about where I might take Sookie on our date.
"I got it." She exclaimed. "There is a gala at the museum tomorrow night opening the new Egyptian exhibit. Why don't you get Bobby to purchase two tickets to the gala? You can take her there and then there is also a concert in the park next door you can take in if you get bored looking at King Tut."
"Actually that is not a bad idea at all Pamela. I think I will do just that. I will leave a message for Bobby before I leave. Why don't you arrange for someone to watch Bill tomorrow night and then go home, it will be dawn soon." I left Bobby a message and left the bar. Bobby was my day man and he took care of anything that I needed done during daylight hours when I could not take care of them myself. He was going to be a busy man today.
Sookie's POV
Today is my day off. I slept in and then after breakfast and a little housework I decided to spend the afternoon in my lawn chair with a book I've been meaning to finish. I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon when I heard the unmistakable crunch of tires on my gravel driveway. I looked up from my book to see my brother Jason's truck parking next to my old car.
"Hey" I called out to him as he stepped out of the truck.
"Hey Sook" he answered as he pulled out the other lawn chair and sat beside me.
"What's up?" I asked. Jason didn't usually drop by unless there was a reason.
"I heard you had some visitors at Merlotte's last night." He said. This is the result of living in a small town.
"News travels fast around here doesn't it." I answered him.
"Sookie, what are you doing hanging around vampires? You're not a fang banger are you?" Jason actually sounded concerned. My brother and I have never been close but we still cared and loved each other.
"I'm not a fang banger and I'm not really hanging out with vampires either. Bill Compton moved into the old Compton house across the cemetery. He came into Merlotte's to introduce himself to me last night."
"What about the other one? Rene said you left with him last night."
"Well you can tell Hoyt that it is none of his business who I leave the bar with. Eric owns the Vampire bar in Shreveport. Tara and I went to check it out and I helped out with a situation. He came to thank me."
"I don't want you hanging around vampires Sookie their dangerous."
"Jason, I appreciate that your concerned, but don't be. I'm old enough to decide who I hang out with."
"Your going to see him again, aren't you?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I have a date with Eric tonight."
"Why can't you just date a normal guy, Sookie?"
"Jason, I can't date a normal guy because I hear everything they think. It ruins the date. I can't hear the vampire's thoughts at all. This will be the closest I have ever come to a normal date."
"Just be careful, Sookie."
Jason left then and I decided I had better go and start getting ready. I headed to the kitchen and prepared myself a sandwich. I knew vampires didn't eat so I figured we weren't going to dinner. Taking my sandwich I headed into my room to dig for something to wear. He said to dress up but not knowing what to dress up for was difficult. Not that there was a lot to choose from. I was more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
Just as I was ready to give up there was a knock at the door. Who could that be? I opened the door to find a small, almost mousey looking man with a large box in his arms.
"Ms Sookie Stackhouse?" He asked.
"Yes"
"My master told me to deliver this to you and to tell you that he will see you at nine." He then handed me the box and quickly left. I carried the box into the living room and removed the envelope that was on top. There was just one sheet of that thick paper they use for wedding invitations. I unfolded the paper and read the note.
Incase you can't decide what to wear. This will look perfect on you.
I will see you soon. Eric
I lifted the lid on the box and set it aside. Inside the top layer of protective tissue paper lay a beautiful turquoise blue cocktail dress. It was absolutely gorgeous and I had just the accessories to put with it.
I ran into the bathroom to take a quick shower and start to get ready for my date. I was both nervous and excited. I had no idea where we were going but judging by that dress it was going to be somewhere nice.
Once my hair and makeup were done I had to try on the dress. I just couldn't wait any longer. I slipped it on and turned to look at myself in the full length mirror. The dress had an empire waist that accentuated my bosom wonderfully. I was slipping on the silver sandals that I was going to wear with the dress when the doorbell rang.
I ran out to answer the door pulling the second sandal on as I went. I was a little embarrassed at not being quite ready when I passed the clock and realized he was a little bit early.
I opened the door with a smile on my face only to find Bill standing there.
"Oh! Hi Bill, sorry I thought you were my date." I decided not to mention who my date was because these two obviously did not like each other.
"Sorry, I caught you at a bad time."
"That's all right, what can I do for you?" I asked him trying to hurry him along so he would be gone before Eric arrived.
"I just came over to see if you wanted to accompany me to a concert in the park in Shreveport tonight. But obviously I am too late."
"Sorry Bill, maybe some other time we could do something."
"Sure, Where are you going anyways?" he asked.
"I don't know. It's a surprise."
Bill turned and looked down my driveway as we heard a car coming down my driveway. We both watched as a little red corvette stopped in front of the house.
Eric jumped out of the car and was on the porch beside me very quickly.
"Compton, why are you here?" he demanded of Bill.
"I came to see if Sookie wanted to join me at the concert at the park in Shreveport." Bill answered defensively. I really didn't want to hear this testosterone match so I excused myself to finish getting ready.
It only took me about five minutes to finish with my jewelry. I quietly headed back to the front door and then stopped when I heard part of Eric and Bills argument.
Eric was telling Bill that he would never be able to take me to someone named Sophie-Anne. He also told him that I was his and under his protection. I think Eric and I needed to discuss a few issues on our date tonight. I decided to file this away for later and just enjoy a date that didn't require my constant attention to keep out unwanted thoughts
I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. Bill was gone and Eric stood leaning on the post. He wore a black suit with a tie the same color as my dress. If I thought he looked good in jeans and a t shirt, he looked amazing in this suit.
"You are beautiful." He simply said.
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself. So where are we off to?" I asked, locking the house behind me.
"If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise now would it." He answered as he opened the car door for me.