Page 48 of Twilight Longings

Taking her hand in his, he said, “I know a place.”

It was a tiny, hole-in-the-wall club with a dance floor the size of a quilt. Kadie ordered a latte, Saintcrow ordered a glass of red wine. For a time, they talked about books and movies—he liked sci-fi and adventure, she liked historical fiction and romantic comedies.

Kadie felt a thrill of anticipation when he asked her to dance. Being in his arms again was like returning home after a long journey, Kadie mused. But how was that possible? Former good friends or not, she couldn’t remember anything about him.

“This is your favorite song,” he said, when the three-piece band broke into a rendition of Conway Twitty’s “Crazy in Love.”

Kadie stared up at him. The song did sound faintly familiar. She didn’t object when he drew her closer. His breath was warm upon her cheek when he looked down at her, his heated gaze filled with a fierce longing.

Kadie thought about the mysterious Rylan Saintcrow as she got ready for bed that night. The way he had looked at her, as if he was waiting for something, the heat in his gaze as itcaressed her had been a little unsettling. She had the feeling there was more to Rylan Saintcrow than he let on. A lot more.

It was midnight when Kincaid and Rosa returned to Morgan Creek. Rosa hesitated at the end of the bridge. “Are you sure it’s safe to be here?”

“I wouldn’t bring you home if it wasn’t.” Jake laughed softly. “Having Izabela heal the town cost Saintcrow a pint of blood.”

Rosa stared at him. “Are you kidding?”

“No. And she wants a pint from me, too.”

“And they callusbloodsuckers,” Rosa muttered.

Sweeping Rosa into his arms, Kincaid transported her across the bridge and up the hill to the big yellow house they called home. Setting her on her feet in the living room, he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her long and hard. “I hated every minute we were apart,” he murmured, raining kisses over her cheeks, her eyelids, thinking of the days he had spent with Saintcrow while searching for Luca.

“I missed you, too. Maybe we should take a second honeymoon, like Ethan and Sofia.”

“There’s nothing I’d like more. But it’ll have to wait until we find Luca and destroy him once and for all.”

With a sigh, Rosa laid her cheek against his chest. She was sick and tired of hearing about Luca Sasan!

Saintcrow spent the next week in Morgan Creek. He called all the people who had worked there before he closed it—maids, cooks, waitstaff, delivery people, the couple who had run the campground, sales clerks, food suppliers, and vendors. He hired a service to come in and clean the kitchen and get the rest of the place spruced up. He hired a contractor to repairthe post he’d cracked on the bridge, called a service station to come out and fill the gas tanks. He ran an ad in all the major newspapers, announcing the re-opening, and before the week was out, reservations were coming in.

The night before the grand re-opening, Saintcrow, Kincaid, and Rosa had a private celebration in the bar in the hotel.

“Well, things are looking up,” Kincaid said. “Kadie’s cured, looks like you’re set for a sold-out crowd tomorrow.” Lifting his glass, he said, “Life is good.”

Saintcrow snorted softly. “Life’s never going to be good again until Kadie knows she’s mine.”

“I know it’s hard,” Kincaid said. “Just be patient.”

“Jake’s right,” Rosa said, giving Saintcrow’s arm a squeeze. “Give her time.’

“I hate this,” Saintcrow said, scowling. “Do you know what it’s like to be with her and know she doesn’t remember me? How do I tell her I’m a vampire? Or that she used to be one? Dammit, there’s no subtle way to bring it up. I keep hoping she’ll remember.” He shook his head. “And what if she does? What if that damn curse changed her? Just because she loved me before doesn’t mean she’ll love me again. Or that she’ll want to be a vampire again. Or, oh, hell,” he muttered. “I’ll be back later.”

“Where are you going?”

“Damned if I know.”

Kincaid and Rosa exchanged worried glances when Saintcrow vanished from the hotel. “I’m worried about him,” Kincaid said. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“What do you think he’ll do if Kadie never remembers him? Or doesn’t want him if she does?”

Kincaid shook his head. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

Saintcrow prowled the night, anger and frustration roiling within him. It stirred his hunger and he grabbed the first lone person he saw and dragged him into an alley. The man was young and strong and he put up a hell of a fight, but to no avail. Saintcrow buried his fangs in the man’s throat and drank and drank. When he realized the man was unconscious, he willed the two of them to a hospital, dumped the man on a gurney outside the emergency room, then stepped inside and called for a nurse. He left before anyone saw him.

Damn! He hadn’t come that close to taking a life in decades. Without consciously thinking about it, he found himself in New Orleans in front of the hotel where Kadie was staying. It was ten o’clock. Late to be calling, but he had to see her.

Kadie frowned when someone knocked at the door. A glance at the clock showed it was a little after ten. Who on earth could it be at this time of night? Going to the door, she said, “Who is it?”

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