Wicked Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 4) (24 page)

“You said you picked five colleges, but you only named four,” Kat said.

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “The University of Alaska in Anchorage; the tuition’s not that bad, actually.”

“Anchorage?” she asked with a frown.

“Yeah, kind of surprising, right?”

“I have a suspicion as to who may have suggested that one,” Alton said.

Kat glanced at him and then stared at me in a penetrating fashion, though I quickly broke eye contact with her and looked at Alton.

“Well, I’m actually torn between Georgia State and Oklahoma,” I said.

Alton thoughtfully tapped his chin. “Reasonable selections,” he said. “Both are rather folksy places, aren’t they?”

“Folksy?” I asked.

“However, I’d like you to consider an additional option,” he said.

“Oh? Such as?”

“There’s a wonderful campus in New Haven, Connecticut,” he said.

“A college in New Haven?” I asked.

“Yale,” he said.

My mouth dropped open in shock.

Oh, that New Haven college.

I traded looks with each of them, shaking my head.

“No way,” I said.

“Why not?” he asked. “Did you even consider Yale?”

“No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t.”

“Caleb, if this is about tuition…” Kat said, reaching out to grasp my forearm.

“Of course, it’s about tuition,” I said, pulling away from her. “But that’s just for starters. And before you say anything else, no, you’re absolutely
not
paying my tuition.”

“Caleb,” she said gently, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder.

“No,” I said firmly.

“Young man,” Alton began authoritatively. “You shouldn’t discount things out of hand. Please try to bear an open mind.”

I laughed aloud. “Seriously, no.”

He arched one brow, instantly projecting an imperious expression.

I’ve upset the king, it would seem.

“Yale has one of the finest History and Renaissance Studies programs in the States,” he said. “Besides, the city of New Haven isn’t currently declared by any vampires. It’s neutral territory, which is far less complicated for us. You should at least consider Yale.”

“Alton, you just don’t get it, do you? They probably wouldn’t even respond to my email,” I said. “I’m a veritable nobody; no connections, no society background. Hell, I don’t even qualify for a minority preference of any kind. I’m a WASP with no angle.”

I looked over at Kat to see her wearing a perfectly livid expression.

“You are
not
a ‘nobody’, ” she emphatically stated.

“Indeed,” Alton said.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, I am as far as they’re concerned.”

There it was. It was hardly self-depreciating to point out the truth.

“If that were so, then why are you scheduled to meet with their Dean of History tomorrow night?” he asked.

My mind took a couple of seconds to process what he’d just said.

“What?” I asked. “How’s that?”

He sat back in his chair, a satisfied expression adorning his face. “It would seem that, despite your protestations, you do indeed have valuable connections.”

I was dumbfounded.

Me? Yale?

“But tuition,” I said.

“Again, you have options you haven’t yet considered,” he said. “We can discuss that tomorrow evening after we see how your meeting with Dean Eddings goes.”

“Dean Eddings. Tomorrow night,” I parroted.

“Precisely at 8 o’clock. Our flight departs at five. We’ll be flying on Sunset Air, of course,” he said.

“You and me?”

“And Katrina, naturally,” he said.

I looked at Kat, who maintained a neutral expression.

“Naturally,” I said.

Somehow, I should’ve known she’d want to accompany us.

Still, she
was
my mate, after all.

“You should have more than enough time to review Yale’s website, familiarize yourself with the campus, and pack. Now, if you’ll please excuse Katrina and me, we have some additional pressing business to attend to,” he said.

Pressing business?

His attention returned to some paperwork before him, and I rose from my chair in a state of semi-fugue.

My gaze shifted to Kat, who appeared to be struggling at containing a smile. She even winked at me.

I’d barely reached the closed French doors to leave when Alton prompted, “Oh, and Caleb, please do pack a suit. You can leave your stylish concert T-shirts at home this trip.”

I looked back over my shoulder at him with a withering expression, only to be met with amused expressions on both their faces.

“Why, thank you for the fashion advice,” I said. “Ralph Lauren?”

“Well, if you don’t own Tom Ford, I suppose Lauren will suffice,” he said.

I rolled my eyes.

Tom Ford?

I wished.

Fashion snob.

* * *

The flight to New Haven had been a direct charter flight via Sunset Air, an international carrier that was vampire-owned. It operated a dual fleet; one fleet catering to traditional human patrons and the other catering to their sunlight-sensitive clientele.

Their vampire-centric fleet consisted of exclusive, regal aircraft sporting individual cabins, likely nicer than many hotel rooms.

It was simply amazing; decadent comfort at its best.

Most surprising, however, had been an unexpected gift from Kat that awaited me in the cabin; a tailor-fitted black Versace suit, complete with crisp white silk blend shirt and black silk tie.

“How did you manage this on short notice?” I asked.

She shrugged, as if it were nothing.

“It’s not Tom Ford, but it should do quite well,” she said. “You look amazing, nonetheless.”

She’d been correct about the suit, of course. As soon as I put it on, I felt like a million dollars, a facet that immensely boosted my self-confidence going into the meeting with Dean Eddings.

Alton never explained how he managed to secure the meeting. I wondered, not for the first time, if there was anything he couldn’t do or arrange.

Of course, he couldn’t make my meeting go well. That much was left up to me.

Yale? Never in a million years.

On the limousine ride to the campus, Kat discreetly whispered in my ear, “Just be yourself, my love, and you’ll charm everyone’s socks off. You certainly did mine.”

Lusty thoughts accompanied her revelation as I appreciated her silver silk dress; her cleavage tantalizingly displayed her dress’ plunging neckline. Her hair was pinned up in a particularly elegant and alluring fashion.

She kissed me while slowly tracing my calf with the sharp heel tip of her stilettoes, sending a shiver down my spine.

Kat easily drove me to heights of desire most of the time, but that night I found her to be particularly tempting. I wanted to have her right there in the back of the limo, only I was certain that Alton wouldn’t have appreciated the display.

Dr. Harry Eddings was a distinguished looking, gray-haired gentleman who appeared to be in his mid- to late-sixties. He looked every bit like a dean, and spoke in a precise cadence of speech, as if each word were measured and presented just for that moment.

Halfway through our meeting, though I definitely thought of it more as an interview, things seemed to be going quite well, and I began to wonder why I’d felt so hesitant.

Then a pointed question froze me in my tracks.

“Mr. Taylor, our program is highly competitive to be accepted into, much less on such short notice. In particular, I rarely grant such meetings as this after hours. In truth, I’m only here per an impromptu request from our president,” he said. “Given that, what unique and valuable qualities do you bring to the table that not only enrich our school’s fine heritage but advance the study of history? In essence, what makes you worthy of being a Yale man?”

My breath caught in my throat, and I thought my brain might cease its operation entirely.

I swallowed hard and forced my mind back into action. The passing seconds felt like hours as I struggled to formulate a viable response.

“Through my personal life experiences, I bring an entirely fresh perspective on the world around us,” I said. “One that I doubt many students, if any, could claim.”

One of his eyebrows arched and he regarded me with a sincere-looking air of curiosity.

Oh, shit. How do I follow up on that with specifics?

I’ll be killed if I reveal any vampire-specific details to him whatsoever.

It was at that moment I believed my interview was destined for complete and utter failure.

Better failure than death, right?

“That’s a decidedly vague, yet tempting, answer, Mr. Taylor,” he responded. “Despite our short time together, between the information in your file and our meeting this evening, I sense you’re quite an intelligent, competent young man in your own right. However, to be quite honest, we’re currently at a full complement of students in our post-graduate programs.”

My heart sank.

“Perhaps if you—”

A knock at the door behind me interrupted Dr. Eddings. He frowned and rose from his chair.

I heard his office door open but I couldn’t see who it was. I was still reeling from what he’d told me.

Still, at least I had tried my best. I hoped Kat and Alton wouldn’t be too disappointed in me after all the trouble they’d gone to.

“I do apologize for the interruption, Dr. Eddings, but you simply must meet my guest,” said a gentleman behind me.

“President Yarborough,” said Eddings. “Um, yes, please do come in. I was just interviewing a prospective student; the one you’d asked me about, in fact.”

“I assure you, we’ll only take a moment,” said Yarborough. “Dr. Eddings, permit me to introduce you to Mr. Alton Rutherford, President and CEO of Rutherford Enterprises. He’s come all the way from London to invest in our college. In fact, he has some amazing news to share with you.”

My eyes nearly popped from their sockets as I peered around the side of the high-backed reading chair I was sitting in.

“Dr. Eddings, a pleasure to meet you,” Alton offered in typically charming fashion.

“Mr. Rutherford, the pleasure is all mine,” replied Eddings.

“Your books on eighteenth century Quaker culture are quite impressive,” Alton said.

“Why, thank you,” Eddings said.

“I’m particularly intrigued by a member of your faculty, Dr. Samuel Gowan,” Alton said. “His research into American and European Enlightenment figures is renowned. I attended one of his guest lectures at Cambridge some years ago; quite impressive, really.”

“We’re very proud of Dr. Gowan; he’s one of our most competent and devoted professors,” Eddings said. “He lives for his research.”

Alton appeared pleased. “Good to hear that. Speaking of research, I was just chatting with your president at the foundation dinner about an investment I’d like to make on behalf of your history department,” he said. “I understand you’re developing a fund toward a new museum of history on Yale’s campus?”

“What? Oh, yes, the project’s a labor of love of mine, but we’re only fifteen percent funded at this point,” said Eddings. “I suspect we’re years away from construction. There’s a master list of strategic foundation priorities, you see, and the museum is closer to the bottom of that list. Hopefully, I’ll live long enough to see its completion.”

“Indeed?” Alton asked, strolling into the office as if he owned the place.

He casually glanced down at me.

“Why, Caleb,” he said. “Are you still here? I thought you’d been interviewed already.”

“No, I---”

“Well, I won’t interrupt you for long,” he said, quickly returning his attention to President Yarborough and Dr. Eddings.

“You know this young man?” Eddings asked.

“Why, yes, he’s my nephew,” Alton replied.

“Your nephew?” Eddings asked. “But I thought his name was Taylor.”

“Oh, I’m from his mother’s side,” Alton said.

“Ah,” Eddings said.

“Now, Dr. Eddings, you mentioned your museum’s funding level. Well, I’m particularly passionate about history myself; one might say I’m a student of it, in fact.”

I had to grin over that.

“Nevertheless, I’ve been so impressed by this university and your memorable career here in particular, that I’d be interested in seeing the construction come to fruition,” Alton said.

“Oh, well, that’s most kind of you, Mr. Rutherford,” Eddings said. “I’m certain that any donation would be welcome.”

“Specifically, I’m willing to fund the remaining balance for construction,” Alton said.

I watched the shocked expression on Eddings’ face. “Full construction?”

Alton shrugged. “Absolutely, and with a wing dedicated to your years of fine service here, I should think. It could serve as a repository for much of your research and artifacts surrounding Puritan culture.”

As Dr. Eddings ran his hand over his mouth and looked at Yarborough, I almost thought he was going to pass out. My gaze shifted back to Alton, who had a satisfied looking expression on his face; one that I’d seen a number of times before on Kat, in fact.

It was the look of a predator that just captured its prey.

“Oh, my,” Eddings said. “Mr. Rutherford, not only would your offer be immensely generous, it would be singularly amazing.”

“I’m pleased to hear that. We can finalize the details of my donation in the near future with your foundation’s director,” Alton said. “I do apologize for interrupting your meeting. Shall we go now, Dr. Yarborough?”

“Certainly, Mr. Rutherford,” Yarborough said. “Good evening, Dr. Eddings.”

Alton shook the dean’s hand.

“My pleasure, Dr. Eddings,” Alton said, and then quickly led the president from the office.

Dean Eddings lingered at the door for a moment before closing it fully and returning to his seat across from me.

He momentarily stared across the room with a distant look in his eyes, appearing almost lost, and then returned his attention to me.

“Mr. Taylor, your uncle is quite an interesting man,” he said. “Remarkable even.”