Page 50 of Twilight Longings

He paid the check, then accompanied her to her room. He waited while Kadie unlocked the door, then took her hand in his. “I won your heart once before, Kadie Andrews. I hope to do so again.” Leaning forward, he brushed his lips across hers. “Sweet dreams, Kadie, darlin’.”

She stared after him, her fingertips pressed to her lips as he walked away. They had been lovers. It was a thought that kept her tossing and turning far into the night.

Chapter Thirty

Saintcrow felt a growing sense of satisfaction as he strolled through Morgan Creek. Back when Ethan had lived here full-time, he had renovated the hotel and the shops, giving the town the look of the Roaring Twenties. The streets and sidewalks were clean, store windows gleamed in the early afternoon sun. Tourists meandered along Main Street, talking and laughing, peering in shop windows, buying pretzels and beer and balloons for the kids. He saw people going into the grocery store, having drinks in the tavern, sitting on the library steps, taking pictures in the park or by the vintage gas pump near the bridge.

Some distance from the town were a number of houses where the humans had lived back in the day when the vampires ruled Morgan Creek. Ethan had modernized the houses, which they now rented by the week or the month. Yes, the place had changed drastically from the time Kadie had first seen it.

He transported to New Orleans and picked Kadie up an hour later. Since she thought he was human, he couldn’t just transport her from New Orleans to Wyoming, so he had arranged for a private plane.

“I didn’t know I was afraid to fly,” Kadie said, her hands clutching the arms of her seat. “Until now.”

“Nothing to be afraid of,” Saintcrow assured her.

“If you say so.”

“Trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Taking one of her hands in his, he let his mind speak to hers, easing her fears. “It’s a short flight. No more than three hours or so.”

Kadie clung to his hand, surprised when she actually enjoyed the flight. A rental car awaited them at the airport. The drive to Morgan Creek was lovely, with trees lining both sides of the road and a vast blue sky overhead. She saw deer and cattle and away in the distance, snow-capped mountains.

It was early evening when he drove across the wooden bridge. Kadie stared at the ancient gas pump as they passed by. She had the strangest feeling she had seen it before.

Saintcrow pulled up in front of the hotel. As soon as he exited the car, two young men emerged from the hotel. The valet got behind the wheel and drove the car away, the bellboy took Kadie’s bags and carried them into the lobby.

“Aren’t we going inside?” Kadie asked, when Saintcrow made no move to follow.

“Later. You’re already signed in. Would you like to take a walk through the town?”

“Isn’t that why we’re here?” she asked with a saucy grin.

“Indeed.”

They strolled along the sidewalk. Kadie stopped now and then to look in this window or that. “There’re a lot of people here,” she remarked. “I’m surprised, since you just re-opened.”

“A lot of them had reservations when we closed the town and we booked them first,” he explained. “And we get a lot of repeat business.”

“I can see why. I can’t believe this used to be a ghost town.”

Saintcrow grunted softly. “It’s definitely changed a lot since those days. A friend of mine got the idea of renovating the place some years ago.”

At the end of Main Street, they crossed the road and headed for the park. When they reached a wrought-iron bench, Saintcrow indicated she should sit down, then sat beside her.

The park was lovely, Kadie thought, glancing around. The grass, the aspen trees, the colorful flowers scattered along winding paths. There was a large swimming pool in the middle.

“So, what do you think of the place?” Saintcrow asked.

“The old town atmosphere is wonderful. And everything is so clean. I can see why it’s so popular.” No wonder he was rich, she thought. The town must make a fortune.

“I’d love for you to stay a while,” Saintcrow said quietly.

“That would be nice, but I really need to find a job and a place to live. I can’t keep expecting you to pay my way.”

“You can work here in town.” He winked at her. “The pay is good.”

“Are you serious? What would I do?”

“You can work in one of the gift shops, or the hotel. We need a receptionist. Anything you want.”

---