Now she gave Phineas an annoyed look. "These are my workout clothes." She switched her green-eyed glare to Ian. "And I never heard an alarm."

"Only Vamps and dogs can hear it."

"Oh. Which one are you?"

"Snap!" Phineas slapped his leg. "She's killing you, man."

"Phineas," Ian growled. "I'm trying to have a conversation here." He turned to Toni. "I'm sorry, lass, but this will never work. Ye canna guard a houseful of men. Ye see how Phineas reacts to you."

"He's a lot nicer than you are!" Her eyes glinted with anger. "And it's not my problem if you're a bunch of sexist pigs. I can do this job, with or without PMS. I beat Phineas earlier, and I would have pinned you down, too, given more time."

"Lass, ye would never pin me." He leaned toward her. "I like to be on top."

Her eyes flashed with green fire.

"Good one!" Phineas shook a fist in the air. "You're making your comeback, bro. You da man!"

"He's a pig," Toni grumbled.

"Oink, oink," Phineas squeaked.

"Enough, Phineas!" Ian glowered at him. "I can see why ye were murdered young."

A laugh escaped from Toni, but she quickly squelched it and frowned at him.

She had a sense of humor? It wasn't all that important in the grand scheme of things, but Ian was suddenly taken with the challenge to make her laugh again, or at least make her smile. Unfortunately he couldn't think of anything amusing to say.

He rose to his feet and executed a gallant bow. "I apologize for attacking you. I hope I dinna hurt you."

Her frown relaxed slightly. "I'm okay."

He offered a hand to help her up.

She regarded him suspiciously. "You're not going to tell Connor to fire me, are you? I really can do this job."

An uneasy feeling settled in his gut. Why on earth would a lovely mortal woman want a job guarding vampires? "I'll let ye stay if ye answer a few questions honestly."