Chapter Twenty-One
"You know, Collie, I really could have handled the whole thing myself. I didn't need your interference." Spike Kostan is once again letting Collie St. John know how much he feels his manliness has been challenged by her rescue the day before.
"Oh, get out of yourself, will you?" Grinning, Collie asks, "Who says a girl can't rescue a guy? Are you gonna whine and mope all day? If so, you can't come with us to see my new school tomorrow."
"Aw, who wants to see a sucky old school anyway. I want to see where they had those guillotines, you know, that "place" something where the heads rolled."
His father has overheard the last remark and says, "Bite your tongue, son. That's one place no vampire needs to see or think about ever again."
And inside, two frenemies are going at it again.
"Okay, Mick, admit it. Come on, just between family." Lance and Mick are once again thrown together but somehow the tension has eased since the great plane debacle.
"Never, Frenchie. You'll just have to live forever without it."
Beth has come into the exquisitely decorated living room of Lance's country home near Versailles where she finds them butting heads again.
With a grin, Beth asks "What are you two bickering over now?"
"Beth. Will you tell this stubborn Irishman that he owes me a debt of gratitude?"
Mick snorts. "Why, Lance. I can't believe it but I guess it's true. You frogs are prissy. Alright, just so I won't look bad in the eyes of my wife, who for some reason actually likes you, I'll do it."
"Well?" sniffs Lance.
"You might have helped a little and you've got a swell house."