Page 29 of The Vampire's Mate

With a sigh, I dropped my head to his shoulder. “I’m fine,” I whispered.

“If you can look me in the eyes and say that, I’ll believe you.”

I steeled myself, waiting for my heart to stop pounding before raising my head and looking at him. “I’m fine,” I repeated.

I thought he would read right through the lie, but to my surprise he leaned in, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. “Okay.”

Chapter 10

It didn’t take longfor James to figure out where I wanted to go. I called my daughter as he drove, hoping I wasn’t waking her up.

“Hi, Han,” I said when she answered. “Are you busy?”

“Not unless you count my eighteenth rewatch ofBuffyas busy.” How fitting. “My morning class got canceled. What’s up?”

“We had an appointment in the city that just wrapped up, and I thought we’d drop in to see you.”

“This early? What kind of appointment? Who with?”

“If I tell you everything over the phone, we won’t have anything to talk about when we get there. Do you want to see me or not?”

“Hmm…” Hannah mock-pondered. James fought to keep his snickers to himself, earning a glare from me. “I guess I could do with a visit. I’m at Kian’s apartment. I’m not getting dressed though, you’ll have to deal with pajamas.”

“Well, the deal’s off then; I’m going home.”

I could hear her smile through the phone. “See you soon, Ryder.”

I disconnected the call, not bothering to redirect James since he’d heard every word.

Truth be told, I wanted to be left alone. I’d been fighting the urge to tell him as much the whole time we’d been driving. This time, he didn’t stop my leg from bouncing. It was as if he knew I neededsomeway to get my energy out, or I’d explode.

I’d probably explode anyway.

We parked in front of Kian’s building. James killed the engine and waited for me to make the first move. I couldn’t say exactlywhatI expected, but it wasn’t for James to get out of the car with me. I wanted to spin around and demand to do this by myself, but that wouldn’t be fair—even I could see that.

I knocked. As we waited, James threaded his fingers through mine. The act made me tense, but then I reminded myself that Ilikedhaving his hand in mine. What had come over me lately?

The chain rattled, and the door opened. Hannah stood there in a fluffy robe with her hair tied up and out of her face. “Hi! Is everything okay?”

She stepped forward and hugged me, and that was exactly what I needed in that moment. She gave James the same treatment, then stepped back in the doorway. “Get in here, that wind cuts right to the bone.”

Hannah wrapped her robe tighter around her as she led us into Kian’s cozy, two-bedroom apartment. We shed our heavy coats and shoes in the hallway, following her past the living area on the left and into the kitchen. The first bedroom and master bath on the left belonged to the two of them, and the second bedroom at the back of the apartment was reserved for their study-slash-office space. A half bath and laundry closet sat nestled in the corner of the kitchen, and that’s where James headed after kissing me on the cheek and excusing himself.

I chuckled inwardly, knowing he had no physical need for a bathroom. I was grateful for the small break.

“Coffee?” Hannah asked, already filling the well on her Keurig. I was already jittery, and caffeine was likely a bad idea, so of course I accepted.

I took in the pajama pants peeking beneath her robe. “Did you sleep here last night?”

“And the night before.” Hannah rolled her eyes, selecting a coffee pod and popping it into the machine. “I don’t know who raised Emily but it must have been in a barn somewhere. The girl’s a wreck. And don’t get me started on that boyfriend of hers. Now what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve never shown up on such short notice before. Is something wrong?”

“Can’t a man come see his kid?”

Hannah threw a knowing grin over her shoulder anddamn, she looked exactly like her mother—it was scary. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

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