"Lass, why should I trust you to watch over us?"

Her brows lifted. "Are you worried about what I might do when you're totally helpless and at my mercy?"

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Are ye threatening us? I could erase yer memory, and shove you out the door right now."

"No!" Now she looked panicked. "Please. I–I really need this job. I promised Connor that I would never harm any of you. Ask him. He believes me."

Ian released her and stepped back. "I will ask him."

She glanced at him nervously. "I need to change into my uniform before my shift starts."

Phineas yawned. "Yeah. I'm getting sleepy. Good night, sweetness." He extended a closed fist toward Toni.

She responded with a smile and a knuckle pound. "See ya tomorrow, Dr. Phang."

Phineas grinned, then sauntered toward the stairs. "Yeah, that's me. Dr. Phang. Long in the tooth, and long in the wang." He descended the stairs to the basement, his voice still drifting toward them. "The doctor is in the house. Oh, baby, I've got the cure."

Ian could feel the pull of death-sleep, too, but as an older Vamp, he was able to resist it better than Phineas.

"Perhaps we should start over." He extended a hand. "I'm Ian MacPhie."

She gave him a wary look. "Toni Davis." She gripped his hand, quickly let go, then headed for the stairs.

He followed her. "I really did think ye were a thief. I doona normally attack women."

"Unless you're hungry." She started up the stairs.

"I doona attack for food. We have evolved past that."

"Yeah, right." She continued up the stairs without looking back.

He climbed the steps after her. "Ye doona believe me?"