Page 37 of Crimson Storm

A twinge of guilt tweaked my chest. “I’m sorry, but the past few weeks have shaken my trust in humanity a bit.”

“I’m not ‘humanity,’” he said. “I’m me. There’s a difference.”

“Not from where I sit,” Heather said sleepily.

Then her tone turned teasing. “What’s the matter? Don’t want to spoon with three hot vampire chicks? There are a lot of men who’d kill to be in that position—or die to.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed at her terribly inappropriate joke, but Shane didn’t. In fact, he appeared to be sulking.

Sobering, I said, “We just can’t afford to take any chances, okay? We have to get where we’re going. I have to protect my friends.”

“I could be your friend,” he said, “if you’d let me.”

We parked at the rest area, and Shane used the restroom before we locked ourselves back inside the big rig and closed the light-blocking curtains, sealing the Velcro strips that held them together.

The conditions were a bit cramped. Still, we were safe. Curtis’s truck had been the perfect choice of vehicle for interstate travel.

My friends and I decided to take shifts, two of us sleeping while one stood guard over the truck and our human passenger. Because I’d slept some during the night hours, I took the first watch.

Shane, who’d also slept most of the night, was wakeful now.

“Do you really think I’d turn you in?” he asked quietly.

I studied his face in the dim gray atmosphere of the sleeping cabin.

“No. Not really,” I admitted. “But thereisalways a chance. Contrary to some reports, vampires can’t read minds. And apparently, a lot of people hate us.”

“I don’t hate vampires.” There was a long pause. “I loved one once actually.”

“What? You had a vampire girlfriend?”

“I did. We worked together at a movie theater when I was in high school. Her name was Marjorie,” he said.

“I remember you said you were in love once. Why did you break up?”

His fond expression soured. “My parents forced me to end things with her.”

“Oh. They didn’t like vampires?”

“They didn’t know anything about them at the time,” he explained. “But then they saw some bite marks on me. They freaked out. I told them I had no intention of turning, that I was perfectly safe with Marjorie and really happy, but their minds were made up. They basically threatened to kick me out if I didn’t stop seeing her.”

He lifted his shoulders and let them fall. “So I did.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, and I was. It wasn’t so long ago I’d been under the complete control of my parents. I also understood how hard it was to give up someone you loved because your hand was forced.

“Maybe it’s not too late for you two. Did you ever look her up after they... you know... died?”

At least I assumed his parents were dead. He’d hinted at it and told me he’d gone to live with his aunt and uncle.

Shane shook his head. “I did, but she’d moved on. She had a serious boyfriend. A vampire. I decided not to rock the boat, to let her be happy. He was probably better for her anyway.”

The look in his eyes turned speculative. “Have you ever been in love? Or wait—do you have a mate?”

Blushing for no good reason, I said, “I don’t. I don’t even really date. There was a guy once. It didn’t work out.”To say the least.

“Well maybe it’s not too late foryou. I mean if he still lives in this place we’re going...”

“No, it’s over. For good. He’s made an eternal commitment to...” I’d almost slipped and said Imogen’s name. “...someone else.”

---