The restaurant was fancy, dammit.

Wolfric had taken me to one of the ritziest places in the city, it was one of those fancy French restaurants. I'm not even going to try to pronounce the name of it. It would probably only embarrass all of us.

As Mitchell pulled over to the curb, I couldn't help but glare at the sneer he sent me in the rear-view mirror. He'd been giving me smug looks from that damn mirror for the last twenty minutes. And I'm getting very tired of it.

"Shouldn't you be opening the door for us? Since you're the butler and all," I asked him dryly.

The werewolf only shrugged off my comment, "You're both big kids now. I think you can handle it yourselves."

I raised a brow and looked up at Wolfric, my face serious, "I think you need a new driver. One that isn't so mouthy."

Mitchell snorted at that from the front seat and muttered under his breath, "Like you're one to talk." I ignored him.

"Or smells like a dog," I added just because I could.

Wolfric shook his head at our banter but didn't comment or add his two cents, instead he opened the door and stepped out of the BMW. Bending down, he offered me a hand, "Shall we?"

Why not? I thought, and placed my hand in his.

He lifted me effortlessly out of the car and waited for me to situate my dress, my purse, and the folder I carried.

Always the gentleman, Wolfric offered me his arm and I grudgingly slipped my arm through his. Mitchell pulled away from the curve and drove away to look for a parking space. As I watched the black car disappear around the corner I couldn't help but feel a bit trapped.

Wolfric led me into the restaurant and, of course, held the door open for me. I made a face at him before stepping through the door. I wasn't used to a man with so many manners. I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone.

The host's face lit up at the sight of Wolfric. He looked exactly like the French restaurant hosts you'd see on the black suit and the silly little mustache he was almost complete. The only thing he was missing was a thick french accent.

He didn't even glance twice at me. "Monsieur Wolfric! It is so nice to see you again. Your usual table is ready for you, as you requested." His excitement reminded me of a a dog that wriggles in delight when his master finally comes home.

Wolfric pressed a bill into the man's hands, "Thank you, Maxwell."

We followed the little man to a table in the back. Red candles and roses sat in the middle of the table, and there was more silverware on it than I had in my entire apartment. How the hell am I supposed to use all those things for one meal?

The host stepped aside while Wolfric held my chair out for me, the menus clutched to his chest. Once we were both seated, he placed the them in front of us and gave a semi-regal bow, "You two enjoy your meal."

I gladly watched him leave before I turned a glare on my dining partner for the evening, "So they know you by name here?"

He only shrugged and picked up his menu and proceeded to scan it.

"You bring a lot of your dates here, huh?" I said drolly.

The Master Vampire still wouldn't meet my eyes, "A few."

I pondered on that while I scanned the room, then I noticed something about the other tables, "Wolfric, why are there roses on our table and not on any of the others?"

If I hadn't been watching his face closely, I might have missed the slight twitch in his jaw, "Maybe they did it out of consideration."

I raised a brow in disbelief at that, "You don't ever come here alone, do you?"

With a sigh, Wolfric finally set down his menu and looked at me, "Alright, I only ever bring women here and I usually request roses to be put on the table. This time I didn't, they only assumed."

With a shake of my head, I picked up my menu and glanced down at it. Then I just goggled at it; the entire thing was written in French.

Screw it. I shut my menu and laid it in front of me.

Our waiter decided to show up with a bottle of wine. He didn't even asked if we wanted any, just proceeded to pour it. I glanced at Wolfric who didn't take his eyes off his glass, which the waiter was filling up. He must bring a ton of dates here if they know his choice even before he asks for it.

With our glasses full, he stepped back and asked me, "Are you ready to order, Madam?"

I pointed at Wolfric, "What about him?"

The waiter glanced at the man in question, "Oh, Monsieur Wolfric always gets the same thing when he comes."

I smiled slowly up at him and folded my hands under my chin, "Oh really? And what would that be?"

He blinked down at me, then seemed to shake himself before answering, "Why a medium rare steak with shrimp, of course."

With a smaller smile, I sat back and handed my menu to him, "That'll be fine."

After he disappeared I grinned mischievously at the man across from me, "So much for hiding behind the menu, huh?"

Wolfric covered his face with one of his big hands, "I shouldn't have brought you here."

"Damn, skippy," I agreed. "I'm not one of your dates." I watched as the host led two well dressed, pretty women by our table. The two couldn't take their eyes off of Wolfric and nearly bumped into the host when he stopped at their table. With a chuckle I nodded towards the pair, "But I'm sure you can find someone that'll be interested in a date with you."

Wolfric raised his eyes from his hand, but he didn't look towards the women. Instead those incredibly green eyes burned holes through me. He was not happy.

"When will you get it through your thick head that you're not just any woman?" He didn't take those green eyes off of me and I could feel my face getting hot.

I'll admit that I fumbled a little bit with the folder, "So, uh, why don't we talk about the case?"

He took a long sip of wine, studying me over the rim of the glass. Wolfric stared at me so long that I'd started to fidget in my seat. Finally, he shrugged, "I'll allow you to change the subject. Fine, let's talk business."

I sighed with relief, we were on a topic I was comfortable with. Digging into my purse, I pulled out a small notebook with SpongeBob on it and a pen. "I went to the bar where the latest victim was found. It was a little bar called Bloody Mary's, you know it?"

He nodded, "Yes, Daniel Baxter is the owner of the place. He's a good man."

I continued, "The night the victim was killed Daniel told me he felt a powerful presence in his bar. He could sense it, but he couldn't find where it was coming from. None of the humans or the younger vampires in the club sensed it at all."

"Hm," Wolfric said thoughtfully. "Whoever it is, he's powerful."

I nodded, "I believe so. When I asked Daniel how old this vampire might be he told me a thousand years."

Wolfric whistled, "Impressive."

"Do you know of anyone who lives in the city that is that old or powerful?"

Sitting back in his chair, Wolfric closed his eyes in thought. While he thought it over, I took the time to study him. I often find myself doing that. Tonight he was wearing a dark grey suit and a white shirt underneath. The shirt was snug and seemed to mold to the muscles on his chest.

Glancing up, I found Wolfric watching me with a cocky grin spreading his lips. He'd caught me red-handed.

With my cheeks warming in embarrassment, I cleared my throat, "So, can you think of anyone?"

Wolfric folded his arms over his chest, causing the muscles to flex. My eyes flicked down for a second, but I'm pretty sure he did that on purpose since his grin only widened.

"The only vampire that old that I know of in this city is Leargan. As for who might be powerful enough; Leargan is definitely one, then there's me, and Valerie."

I took down their names, "Where can I find Leargan and Valerie?"

He chuckled, "They live underneath my club."

I gaped at him, "Excuse me?"

"Why, Rowena, did you not know that there are dozens of rooms underneath the club where some of my vampires stay?"

I hadn't, but I wasn't going to admit that, "Of course I knew that. I just didn't think you kept such powerful people around you."

He raised an eyebrow at me. He obviously didn't believe me, but he didn't call me out on it. Smart man.

"You don't really believe it was one of them, do you?" I asked.

Wolfric shook his head, "No, I do not. From what I read in that file of yours, the murderer mainly attacks women and he rapes them. So Valerie could not have done it."

"But she could know who might have," I interjected.

He smiled at me, "That is true. Valerie is... acquainted with a lot of men."

I rolled my eyes, "So what about this Leargan? Could he have done this?"

Wolfric rubbed a hand over his jaw, "He is certainly capable of it. But I've known him for two centuries and I don't believe he could do something like this."

"Have you had any new vampires arrive in the last couple of months?"

He shrugged, "Yes, of course. This is New York, Rowena. There are hundreds of humans that come here from all parts of the world. Why should it be different for vampires?"

I scowled at him, "Smartass. I mean have any of the new arrivals been as powerful or as old as my killer?"

He shook his head, "The one's I've met? No. I haven't sensed any large presences enter the city either."

I sighed and closed my notebook, "Damn, I don't have much to go on at all."

Something slid over my hand; startled, I looked down. Wolfric had laid his larger hand over mine. I looked up at him in question and found him dead serious, "I'll help you out as much as I can on this case, Rowena. I'll get my vampires to ask around and keep their ears to the ground for any information."

I frowned and slipped my hand out from underneath his, "You don't have to do that. This is my case: my case, my problem."

"I want to help you, Rowena," he said gently.

"I don't need help," I said defensively.

In a flash, Wolfric lashed out and grabbed my hand. Before I knew it, he'd pulled me halfway across the table so that our faces were only a few inches apart. Luckily, he'd pulled me a little to the side so I missed the candle and the roses. If my hair burned there would be hell to pay.

"Let me go," I hissed through my teeth.

He pushed his face closer, "I was too fast for you, Rowena. This vampire is three hundred years older than I am and he's very good at mind control, maybe better than me. You're good, but this guy may be better. You shouldn't try to take this monster on by yourself. I will do anything to keep you from getting hurt, even if you hate me for it."

My eyes widened at that last bit, what was going on with Wolfric lately? I tugged harder, though in vain, to try to get my hand back, "Let me go, you idiot. You're going to cause a scene." I was pretty sure we had already caused a scene.

He released me and I plopped back down in my seat with my wrist held in my other hand. I growled at him, "You are so damn lucky this is a nice place and I'm all dolled up, or else I'd storm out of here in a heartbeat, bub."

Sensing my anger, he turned up the charm, "You look far nicer than any doll I've ever seen, my dear."

"I hope you choke on that steak of yours," I said, my voice thick with malice.

He threw back his head and let out a hearty laugh, "Oh, Rowena. I do love that fiery spirit of yours."

The waiter chose that moment to arrive with our dinner before I could fire back with a come back. Wolfric grinned at me from across the table as the waiter set the plate in front of him, "It looks delicious. I do sincerely hope I don't choke on this lovely meal."

I flipped him off, screw not making a scene, I didn't care that we were in a fancy restaurant anymore. It only succeeded in making him laugh again.

The waiter stared at us both like we were crazy, but he was smart enough (or liked his job enough) to keep his mouth shut. He slunk back to the kitchen, probably to tell the rest of the staff about the crazy broad with the Master Vampire.

I picked up a fork and a knife, but Wolfric snatched my plate and brought it towards him before I could dig in. I stared at him like he'd grown another head. No one, I mean no one, gets between me and my eats. He proceeded to cut my steak up into little bits with a straight face. When he was finished, he set it back in front of me and cut into his own steak like he hadn't just stolen my plate from under my nose and cut my steak like I was a child.

"What the hell was that for?" I demanded.

He finished chewing, swallowed then said, "That steak looked too big for your delicate mouth. I only wanted to make sure you wouldn't choke on it." He smiled beautifully at me.

I threw a shrimp in his face.