Page 44 of Shadows of Eternity

Leia checked her phone. “The first evening show is at 6:30, or would you rather go later?”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Okay. We’ll pick you up at six.”

“Can’t wait. See you then.”

Leia smiled as she ended the call. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out on a double date. Her last date had been over a year ago, when she’d broken up with the man she’d been seeing for almost that long. She’d thought Jeff was ‘the one’ until she discovered he had a rotten temper. Things had come to a head the night he’d slapped her because she didn’t agree with something he’d said. She couldn’t remember now what it had been.

Leia made a quick trip to her favorite shop where she bought a pair of gray knit slacks and a long-sleeved blue sweater with a square neck. She picked up a pair of gray heels, as well.

She ran a few errands, stopped at her favorite fast food place for some sweet-and-sour pork and fried rice for dinner, and headed home.

Rohan was waiting at her front door when she arrived.

“Hope you didn’t have plans,” he said as he unlocked the door and followed her inside.

She dropped the garment bag on the side table. “What do you think?”

“I think I’m the luckiest man alive.”

“You’re here awfully early tonight,” Leia remarked, heading for the kitchen.

He shrugged one shoulder. “What can I say? I missed you.” He wrinkled his nose when she lifted the Styrofoam cartons out of the sack. “I think I’ll go in the other room while you eat.”

“Sure you don’t want to share it with me?” Leia asked, smothering a grin.

“No, thanks.”

She laughed as she pulled a plate from the cupboard, poured a glass of milk, and sat at the table. She had never considered what it must be like for him, with his enhanced senses, to be around food he could no longer eat. How awful, to have to give up the food and drink you loved before you became a vampire, to exist on nothing but the blood of others and an occasional glass of red wine. She had withdrawal pains if she went more than a day or two without chocolate.

She ate quickly, threw the takeout boxes in the trash, rinsed her dishes and placed them in the dishwasher.

Rohan smiled when she joined him on the sofa. “How was your day?”

“Fine. I talked to Janae and we’re all set for the movies tomorrow night. I bought a new outfit. Hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will, if you’re inside it.”

“How wasyour day?”

He snorted. “Same as any other.”

“If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?”

“I don’t know. Depends on what it is.”

She punched him in the arm.

Raising his hands in surrender, he said, “All right, all right, the truth. What do you want to know now?”

“Does my asking questions about your past bother you?”

“No, love. I told you before, you can ask me anything.”

“Have you been with a lot of women?”

Well, damn, he should have seen that one coming. “Define a lot.”

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