Belle Morte Bites (Belle Morte 4.3)

Birthday Girl: Part Two

It didn't take long to get there. Traffic was light at that time, and after ten minutes or so, the van turned left, and Nikki sat up straight and gasped.

"Is that Jones & Waldon? You're taking me to Jones & Waldon?" she squeaked.

The high-end steakhouse was one of only three in the whole country, the other two being in London, and though they'd only been open for a couple of years, they'd quickly gained a reputation for their food, along with two Michelin stars.

It was the kind of place that Nikki could only have dreamed of visiting.

Jason grinned down at her. "Surprise."

"But this place is booked up months in advance."

"You think that matters to someone like Ysanne? If she wants something, she'll get it," Jason said.

"Is she coming?" Nikki asked.

Jason's smile faded a little. "I'm sorry, but she couldn't make it tonight. She's got a lot on. I'm not sure what any of it is, but I'm sure she'll tell us when she's ready."

"But this was her idea?"

"Taking you out to dinner was my idea. Ysanne improved on it by covering the costs of taking you to Jones & Waldon."

"I should have dressed up," Nikki said, looking uneasily at her trainers.

"We can go back so you can change, if you want," Jason offered.

Nikki chewed her lip. "I don't really have anything to change into." If she'd still lived in Winchester, maybe they could have made a quick detour to Belle Morte, so she could borrow something, but Diane's home was in Guildford. They were at least an hour away from Belle Morte.

"Oh." Jason looked stricken. "I should have asked Renie or Roux to bring something. I'm sorry, Nikki."

Nikki didn't point out what Renie and Roux already knew – that nothing they owned would fit her. She was an inch taller than Renie now, but Renie had curves in places that Nikki didn't. Nikki was leaner, like Roux, but her dream of working security at a vampire house meant that she trained six days a week – running, weight-lifting, martial arts. Where Roux was willowy and waiflike, Nikki was compact muscle. And several inches shorter.

"It's fine," she said, squeezing Jason's hand. "I'm not into dresses anyway."

They parked outside the restaurant, and Mandy climbed out so she could open the door for Nikki and Jason, and then the back door for the vampires. Any of them could easily have opened the doors themselves, but the little gesture made Nikki feel special.

Nikki hopped out of the van, and pushed her curls off her face.

The brick façade of Jones & Waldon had been painted white, and there was only one window which was partially obscured by the huge flowerpots on the sill. Nikki wondered if that was to protect the privacy of the people inside. The two London steakhouses were known hotspots for various celebrities.

Edmond climbed out of the van, and held out his hand to help Renie. Nikki watched them from the corner of her eye.

Renie looked especially beautiful tonight, dressed in tight jeans that hugged the curves of her hips, and a shirt of cream silk, knotted at the waist, with her auburn hair gathered into a loose knot that was probably Jason's work. Unsurprisingly, Edmond gazed down at her as if she was the only woman in the world.

A small lump lodged in Nikki's throat.

Just as she'd struggled to make friends at school, dating hadn't been easy for her.