Part 10 (2/2)

Would he trust me now, if he knew about Avery?

About Avery? h.e.l.l, what if he knew about me?

I'm a vampire, for chrissake. A vampire.

”And a very beautiful one, I might add.”

Avery's voice startles me into sitting straight up in the water. I jump so high, water splashes over the side and onto the floor in a mini-riptide. I turn and glare at him.

Don't do that. Don't sneak up on me.

He laughs and moves toward me, stripping off a tie and s.h.i.+rt as he comes.

I knew there was a reason I had that tub installed.

He steps out of slacks and boxers and stands naked, looking down at me.

I reach out, smiling, and caress a muscular thigh.

”Aren't you going to invite me in?” he says at last.

But I don't answer, my mouth is otherwise engaged.

Later, back in the bedroom, I stretch and yawn and look over at Avery.Don't you have to go to the hospital?

Avery is leaning back against the headboard, his arm around me, sipping coffee from that elegant china cup.

I went in while you were asleep. Checked on a few patients, cleared the rest of my schedule. I thought you and I might spend the day together.

Avery, I can't spend all day here. I have to get home. I just wonder if there will be a welcoming party waiting for me.

Avery sits up straighter.I've been thinking about that cop who picked you up last night. You know, he may not have run your license. He wouldn't want it on record that he stopped you, particularly if you suddenly disappeared. Unless he wrote your license number down somewhere, he might not be able to trace you. I'll call Captain Williams later and see what he can find out. You didn't get a badge number or name or anything, did you?I shake my head. I wish I'd thought of it. Everything happened too fast.

Well, just don't drive that Jag for awhile.

I roll toward him. ”Why don't you come home with me? We can take a walk on the beach. I can show you some of my favorite haunts.”

He doesn't answer, but what he's thinking comes through loud and clear-too loud and clear. It's a good thing I can read what he's feeling as well as his thoughts. He feigns horror as he contemplates dingy, smoke-filled dives with sawdust-strewn floors populated by hygiene-challenged, s.h.a.ggy-haired surfers.

”Very funny,” I comment. ”You've been breathing this rarified air too long.”Oops, wait a minute-we don't breathe air anymore, do we?

There's a sardonic twist to that s.e.xy mouth.

”After what happened in that bathtub,” he says, ”you have to ask?”

It's noon when I haul myself out to my car and gingerly climb inside. It's been the most bizarre twenty-four hours of my life. I've been kidnapped by the police and had s.e.x with a three-hundred-year-old vampire, during which I actually drank his blood and enjoyed it. More than enjoyed it.

All of it.

I turn the Jag towards home. Avery wanted me to wait for him, to leave my car there, but I'm anxious to get back. I told him I'd put the car right into the garage where it won't be seen. I want to shower and change clothes and check in with David. He's probably called about a dozen times and will be frantic because he couldn't reach me.

David is like that.

And it's time we get back to work. I'm sure Jerry will have jobs lined up, and I need something other than this new ”nature” of mine to think about.

I reach for my purse and shake loose my cell phone. David's number is on speed dial, and I punch it before I remember he's in LA with Gloria.

I'm just about to disconnect when he answers with an abrupt, ”Jesus, Anna. Where have you been?”

”David? You're back home?”

”Never mind that. Where are you?”

”I'm on my way to the beach. Why?”

”Get here as fast you can.”

”You're at the cottage?”

There's a brief pause. ”What's left of it.” His voice softens. ”There's been a fire.”

Chapter Seventeen.

A fire?

I drop the phone and concentrate on driving. I've just pa.s.sed Grand Avenue when I see the smoke. Panic twists my stomach. I'm a half-mile away, but I can't get closer because fire equipment blocks Mission. I leave the car in the parking lot of a Seven Eleven and start running.

I see David first, standing with a group of firemen. Only the firemen aren't holding hoses or wielding pick axes. In fact, they aren't doing anything at all except standing around chatting with my ex-football player partner.

It makes me angry. Why aren't they fighting the fire? I open my mouth to yell, but something stops me.

I look down the street, toward the cottage.

I know now why the firemen are cl.u.s.tered in their little circle, with David holding court. He may as well. There's nothing left of my home except smoldering debris.

I stop short, heart hammering so hard I think it will burst my chest.

Nothing left.

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