He glared at her, helpless, naked.
And blatantly aroused.
A faint smile curved her lips as she cocooned him in her arms and sank down on the ground. The grass was damp, the air cool, but she was like a living flame as she moved over him, torturing him with her kisses, arousing him until his need grew painful. When he was burning for her, she released him from her spell.
Growling low in his throat, he flipped her onto her back, straddled her hips, and trapped both of her hands in one of his. “Mine,” he hissed. “Only mine.”
“Always, Hektor, my most beloved. As you will forever be mine.”
And then she was on top, showering him with kisses, and there was no more need for talk.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Pearl’s hand trembled as she set her wineglass aside. “I thought the crap was going to hit the fan when Rane found out Nick was a vampire again.”
Edna nodded, her own hands none too steady as she refilled her glass.
“I think we should get out of town right away,” Pearl said urgently. “In fact, I think we should get out of the state and away from everyone who knows us. Find a place where we’ve never been before. Where we don’t have ties to anyone else.”
“You could be right,” Edna agreed. “Were you thinking of any place in particular?”
“Not really. Just some part of the country where no one would think to look for vampires. We need to alter our appearances, too. Maybe dye our hair and change the way we dress, and . . . and . . . I don’t know. Get colored contacts or start wearing glasses . . .” Pearl snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it! I know just the place!”
“You do?”
Pearl nodded. “I was looking for something online the other night, I don’t remember what,” she said, her voice rising with excitement. “And I found this cute little motel/café/bar for sale in Dune, New Mexico. . . .”
Edna frowned. “I’ve never even heard of the place.”
“My point exactly. And listen to this, there’s a two-bedroom apartment over the bar. I remember thinking if we were ever in the market to buy a place, it would be perfect.”
“New Mexico?” Edna said dubiously. “Seriously?”
“Think about it, dear. From what I hear, the vampire population is practically zero, which means there probably aren’t a lot of hunters there, either. If we change our appearance . . . and our names . . . what do you think?”
“A lot of wealthy men retire to New Mexico.”
“Boy crazy, I tell you,” Pearl muttered, grinning broadly. “I’m going to call the Realtor tomorrow and make an offer.”
“But . . . what about our old homes in Texas?”
“I think we should sell them. Cut all of our ties to people and places we’ve known.”
Edna frowned thoughtfully, then nodded. “Maybe you’re right. We haven’t been home in years. It’s going to be hard to part with my house, though. So many memories there.”
“I know, dear. But I’m sure this is the right thing to do.”
Edna nodded absently. “I think I’ll become a blonde. And change my name to Brittany.”
Pearl nodded. “And I’ll dye my hair brown and change my name to . . . hmm . . . Pamela. Or maybe Anita.”
Brittany—formerly Edna—now sporting shoulder-length golden-blond hair and wearing a beige designer pantsuit, signed her name on the deed, then passed the pen to Anita—formerly Pearl—who wore a brown dress and matching heels. She signed her name with a flourish.
“Welcome to town,” the Realtor said, smiling broadly. “I hope you’ll be happy here.”
“I’m sure we will be,” Edna said, batting her eyelashes at him. And who could blame her, she thought. She had always loved fair-haired men and James Harkness was tall and lean, with dark blond hair and vivid blue eyes beneath his black cowboy hat. And best of all, he appeared to be in his early to mid-sixties.
James smiled at her. “Forgive my impertinence, Miss Brittany, but are you married or anything?”
“Why, no, I’m not.”
“Then, begging your pardon if I’m out of line, but would you care to go out with me some night?”
“Why, I would love it.”
“If your business partner isn’t opposed to blind dates, I have a friend for her.”
Edna glanced at Pearl, one brow raised.
“I’m not opposed to blind dates,” Pearl said, “as long as my date isn’t blind.”
James threw back his head and laughed. “How about if we pick you ladies up tomorrow night at, say, eight?”
“That would be wonderful,” Edna said, rising.
James stood and came around the desk. “Are you staying at the hotel in town?”
“Yes, for now.”
“Until tomorrow night, then.” He shook hands with Pearl, then took Edna’s hand in his and kissed her palm. “Until tomorrow night, sweet lady.”
Edna was all aflutter as they left the office. “I must say, this is the best idea you’ve ever had!” she exclaimed as they drove to the hotel. “That man is positively dreamy!”
“Yes, he is, dear. But please, try not to devour him on your first date.”
“Devour him?” Edna said, aghast. “Girlfriend, I’m going to marry him!”
“I’m as nervous as a cat,” Edna said. “Do I really look all right as a blonde?”
“You’re lovely, dear.”
“Are you sure this dress is me? It’s so . . . so . . .” Her shoulders slumped. “Ordinary.”
“It’s very attractive. We agreed, no bold colors, nothing to draw attention. How do I look?” Pearl asked, turning this way and that.
“Black is very slimming, you know.”
Pearl fisted her hands on her hips. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“Of course not! You’ve never been fat! And I’ve always hated you for it,” Edna said, and burst into giggles.
“I hope my date is as handsome as yours,” Pearl remarked, smoothing her hand over her hair. “And speaking of your date, did you notice anything strange about him?”
“Strange? What kind of strange?”
“For a moment I could have sworn I detected a hint of vampire.”
Edna’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Pearl nodded. “Really.”
“Well, wouldn’t that be something! Maybe we should spray ourselves with that awful stuff that masks our scent.”
“I think you’re right,” Pearl said, stepping into a pair of low-heeled black shoes. “Better safe than sorry, I always say.”
James Harkness arrived at eight sharp, looking quite handsome in a blue plaid cowboy shirt, jeans with a crease sharp enough to cut steel, and black boots polished to within an inch of their life.
He winked at Edna, smiled at Pearl as he introduced her to his friend, Monroe Taylor.
“I’m mighty pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Anita.”
“Thank you.” Monroe was a little taller than James. He wore his light brown hair cut short. His dark brown eyes twinkled as he bowed over her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Mr. Taylor.”
“Just Monroe, darlin’.”
“So, what would you ladies like to do this evening?” James asked.
“Why don’t you decide?” Pearl suggested. “After all, we’re new in town.”
“Well, there’s the movies, or bowling, or we could go rowing on the lake.”
“Rowing sounds like fun,” Pearl said.
“And romantic, too,” Edna said, locking arms with James. “As long as Jimmy and I get our own boat.”
Pearl sat with her hands folded in her lap as Monroe picked up the oars and rowed out toward the center of the lake. It was a beautiful, star-studded night presided over by a bright yellow moon. A faint breeze chilled the air. Of course, being a vampire, the cold didn’t bother her.
It had been decades since she had been on a blind date. She scarcely remembered what it had been like to be young and insecure, hoping a boy would like her, wond
ering if he would kiss her good night. But it all came back to her as Monroe made small talk, asking about her past, if she had children . . . children. They were all gone now, she thought sadly. Most likely her grandchildren, too. She had great grandchildren somewhere in West Texas, but she had lost touch with them years ago.
“Anita?”
She stared at Monroe blankly. Who is Anita? she wondered, and then realized he meant her. “I’m sorry, I guess I was daydreaming.”
He smiled, revealing a dimple in his cheek. “Remembering something pleasant, I hope.”
She shook her head. “Just an old memory, best forgotten.”
“I have a few of those myself,” he remarked. “I guess, when you get to be our age, there are bound to be some things you wish you could change, or do over.”
Pearl nodded. She didn’t regret becoming a vampire, but she was sorry she’d lost touch with her children. At least they had all been grown and married with children of their own when she was turned. She didn’t know what she would have done if she’d been a young mother at the time. It was all water under the bridge now, she thought. If not for Edna, she didn’t know how she would have endured becoming a vampire.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go dancing?” Monroe asked. “I know a little after-hours place not too far from here.”
“That sounds like fun. I just hope I remember how. I haven’t been dancing in years.” She glanced around. “I don’t see Ed . . . er, Brittany anywhere.”
“They went ashore a few minutes ago.”
“Oh.” She really had been lost in thought, Pearl mused, if she hadn’t even noticed. Leave it to Edna to want to spend time alone with James. She just hoped her friend was looking for a kiss in the moonlight and not a midnight snack.
“Is that a problem, if it’s just you and me?”
“No, not at all.” The problem was that she really liked Monroe. It surprised her to realize that without much effort, she could easily find herself falling in love with him.
Monroe rowed swiftly to shore. After returning the boat to the rental place, they drove a few miles out of town. The Midnight Blue Tavern was located on the side of a dirt road. A green neon sign blinked OPEN ALL NIGHT. Perhaps a dozen cars and trucks were parked in the empty field across the way.
The unmistakable scent of vampire reached Pearl’s nostrils as soon as she stepped out of the car. All her senses went on high alert. “Do you come here often?”
“Probably a couple times a week,” Monroe replied, taking her by the hand.
Pearl nodded. There was nothing to worry about, she thought, her gaze darting right and left to probe the shadows. She was quite capable of taking care of herself. Or so she thought. Until she stepped into the dimly lit nightclub. Inside, the scent of vampire was overpowering.
Monroe guided her to a table for two in the back. After holding her chair for her, he took his own seat, then reached for her hand again. “So, tell me,” he said, his thumb lightly stroking her palm, “how long have you been one of us?”
Pearl stared at him. How could he possibly know? She had sprayed herself liberally with Sophie’s Scent-Be-Gone, which should have made it impossible for hunters—or vampires—to recognize her for what she was.
And then she realized he must have used a similar spray. “How did you know?”
“I recognized your brand of scent-be-gone.”
She tensed, ready to defend herself if need be, her mind whirling. Had she and Edna fallen into some kind of trap? Did Monroe know who she was? Was he planning to collect the reward being offered by the coalition? Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She was just being paranoid.
“Relax, Anita,” he said, squeezing her hand. “You’re perfectly safe with me. How long have you been a vampire?”
“A woman never tells,” she said, lips twitching. “You?”
“About eighty-five years.”
“Is James one, too?”
“Uh-huh. Brittany?”
“Yes.”
“What brought the two of you to New Mexico?”
“We heard there were only a few vampires here.”
“Yeah,” he said with a wry grin. “That’s what most people think. Pretty much everybody in here tonight is a vampire, including Al, the bartender.”
“I don’t believe this.” She shook her head. They had come to New Mexico in hopes of getting away from the vampire community. If there were vampires here . . . “Are you troubled by hunters?”
“We get one now and then.”
She nodded. From the way he said it, she knew any hunter who found his way into this sleepy little town never left. “Where did James take Brittany?”
“Probably bowling. That man loves to bowl.” He looked up when a waitress came to take their order. “Hey, Diane, bring us two of the house specials, will ya?”
“Sure, Monroe,” the waitress said with a wink. “Just got a fresh batch in tonight.”
“What’s the house special?” Pearl asked.
“Pinot Noir with a dash of AB negative.” Sitting back, he regarded her a moment. “You don’t meet many vampires who were turned late in life,” he remarked. “Who brought you across?”
“An old enemy turned me for spite. You?”
“My son, Clayton.”
Pearl stared at him, unable to comprehend such a thing. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking. I asked him to do it.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I was dying and I wasn’t ready to go.”
Pearl nodded. She could understand that. At first, she had hated Rafe for turning her, but now, years later, she was grateful.
The waitress returned carrying two crystal goblets on a wooden tray. The liquid inside was dark red and smelled divine.
“Just put it on my tab,” Monroe said. “And give yourself a generous tip.”
“Will do, honey. Ya’ll have a great night.”
“Have you known James a long time?” Pearl asked.
“You could say that. I brought him across a week after I was turned. At his request,” Monroe added quickly.
“What happened to your son?”
Sadness flickered in Monroe’s eyes. “He was killed. Some hunter named Lou McDonald took him out not long ago.”
Pearl leaned forward and placed her hand over his. “I’m so sorry.”
“I vowed to kill McDonald, but someone beat me to it.”
“Oh?” Pearl went very still. Did he know the truth?
“Yeah, some vampire named Pearl Jackson. If I ever meet her, I’ll pat her on the back and buy her a drink.”
For a moment, she could only stare at him, and then she burst out laughing.
Monroe frowned at her. “What’s so funny?”
Taking a deep breath, Pearl said, “Maybe someday, when I know you better, I’ll tell you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Nick hit the mute on the remote. “You seem upset about something,” he remarked. “Do you want to tell me what it is?”
Abbey shrugged. “It’s nothing, really. Turn the sound back on. This is the best part.”
“You can tell me what’s bothering you,” Nick said, barely holding on to his patience. “Or I can slip inside your head and root around in there until I find it.”
“Oh! That sounds so gross!” Scooting to the other side of the sofa, she folded her arms over her chest and glared at him. “I told you, it’s nothing.”
“Then tell me.”
With a huff of annoyance, she said, “Oh, all right! If you must know, I asked my mom a while back if she had any information about my biological father.”
Nick frowned. “And that’s why you’re so upset?”
“Well, she never got back to me.” Abbey held up one hand to stay his next question. “She said she’d let me know if she found anything, so I guess she didn’t, but . . . I don’t know. I just can’t believe she made a decision like that when all she knew about the
man was his age and that he was a healthy white male. Not about something so important.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid. I just . . .” She spread her hands in a gesture of futility. “I just want to know who he was. I mean, think about it. Maybe he had some kind of preternatural power and that’s why I could sometimes read your thoughts when we first met.”
Nick grunted softly. It made sense. And he couldn’t blame her for being curious. “I’ll see what I can find out, love.”
Abbey scooted closer and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Nick.”
He nodded. “We friends again?”
She made a face at him. “I wasn’t mad at you. Just . . . just frustrated. You’ll let me know if you discover anything, won’t you? No matter what it is?”
“I promise.” If anyone knew anything about Abbey’s parentage, it would be Mara. After hitting the mute button again, Nick handed Abbey the remote. “I need to go out for a while. I won’t be long.”
“All right.” He went out to hunt every night about this time. It was a part of him and she accepted it as such, although it was difficult to think of him going into the city, searching for prey, drinking from another woman.
He kissed her lightly and vanished from her sight.
Nick found his prey quickly, took what he needed, and sent the woman on her way. Moving quicker than the human eye could follow, he headed for a local hangout. Inside, he ordered two glasses of red wine, then focused his thoughts on Mara.
Moments later, she entered the tavern. As always, he was taken aback by her incomparable beauty, as was every other man in the place. As if pulled by the same string, they all followed her progress toward him. Their combined envy when she slid sinuously into his booth was a palpable presence in the room.
“Nicky,” she murmured with a wry grin. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”
“Very funny.”
“Is something wrong?” She picked up the wineglass in front of her and took a sip. “Ah, my favorite chardonnay. How sweet of you to remember.”