Page 4 of How a Vampire Falls

He blinked slowly, the rest of his body motionless. He wasn’t breathing either, come to think of it. His chest hadn’t moved since she’d bared her teeth at him.

“If that hurts your feelings, I’m really sorry. I hope you didn’t fly here from Virginia just to meet me.”

“I did,” he said with a shrug.

“Well, I’m sorry about that too, but it was your choice to go to that trouble.”

“It was.”

“And…well…I don’t know what else to say.”

“Can I take you to dinner?”

This guy. “I don’t owe you dinner because you got on a plane and—”

He held up his hands again, and the twinkle left his eyes. Without a hint of humor he said, “You don’t owe me a thing. Not dinner. Not anything.”

“Right. Exactly.”

“I’d still like to take you out.”

“What would that prove?”

Another shrug. “Nothing to prove. I want to take you to dinner.”

He meant every word. Every micro-shift in his facial muscles proved it.

“I’ll consider your offer,” she said, and the silver in his eyes glittered all the more as he smiled. She raised one hand, palm out. “Ifyou answer one question for me.”

“Sure.”

“Why areyousingle at thirty?”

“Oh, that. I dated some, but it never worked out. About two years ago I decided to wait for you.”

“Because the test says we’re the most compatible person the other could ever hope for.”

“Leslie, look. If you don’t enjoy the evening, then screw the test; I’ll fly home and you never have to see me again.”

He hadn’t lost his cool confidence for a moment, but she had baffled him. Well, yeah—most single women her age, even vampire women, wouldn’t protest dinner with a hot guy who had flown across multiple states for a first date. Of course he didn’t realize Leslie didn’t need to date. Her twenties had involved pining and self-doubt, but she’d made peace with the wishes of her younger self. She knew plenty of married people, and many of them were far from happy. A few hostile divorces sprinkled into the mix of her coworkers and acquaintances made her even more cautious.

“What’re you thinking?” he said.

“Either the test was totally bogus or…”

“Or?”

“Or maybe it’s worth exploring.”

His smile held real satisfaction. A little too much, actually.

Leslie jabbed a finger at him. “What’s that for?”

“You like routines, but when you work up the energy for an adventure, you’re always glad you did.”

Her mouth fell open. How much of herself had she revealed on that stupid test? “Did you memorize my answers?”

“Nah. This week I went back over them.”

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