Page 56 of Twilight Longings

Kadie was astonished when Saintcrow pulled up in front of her house behind the wheel of a turquoise-blue Dodge Viper. How many cars did he have, she wondered, but forgot all about the car when he rounded the front of the Viper to open her door for her. He looked positively stunning in a black jacket, a white shirt open at the throat, and black slacks.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” she asked.

“I told you, it’s a surprise,” he said, as he handed her into the car.

It was rather exciting, she thought, being all dressed up and not knowing their destination. Why wouldn’t he tell her? Suddenly nervous, she turned on the radio, clicked through the stations until she found one playing classic country. Shereminded herself that they had been friends—lovers—not strangers.

Saintcrow glanced at her. She was beautiful, with her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. He was glad she hadn’t worn it up. He much preferred it this way. She wore a long dark-blue coat over a pale blue dress. He grinned inwardly. She looked good enough to eat.

It took two hours to reach the theater in Casper.

Kadie gasped when he pulled up in front of the Ford Wyoming Center. “The Scarlet Pimpernel!” she exclaimed. “I love this play!”

“I knew you would,” he said as he pulled into the valet parking zone.

Kadie frowned at him. “Wait a minute. How do I know that?”

“You remembered something,” Saintcrow said. And felt hope for the future for the first time. He had taken her to see the play in New York City last year.

He exited the car and walked around to open Kadie’s door. Taking her by the hand, they entered the theater. After picking up their tickets, he bought her a souvenir program.

An usher guided them to their seats, which were, naturally, the best seats in the house. She didn’t know why she was surprised.

A hush fell over the crowd as the curtains parted and Marguerite began to sing the opening song.

While Kadie watched the play, Saintcrow watched Kadie as her expressions changed from joy to sadness to laughter and tears as the story unfolded.

She sighed when the final curtain came down. “I justlovea happy ending,” she murmured dreamily. “Don’t you?”

“Indeed, I do.” Saintcrow’s gaze moved over her as he wondered if he would ever again find his own happy ending.“Would you like to go have a drink before we head home?” he asked, while waiting for the parking attendant to bring his car around.

“I’d rather have a hot fudge sundae.”

“I can arrange that,” he said. “Here’s our ride, now.”

They found a café not far from the theater. At the last minute, Kadie decided to have a banana split with double hot fudge. “Aren’t you having anything?” she asked.

“I’m not much for sweets,” he said, following her to a nearby table.

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“This is your night.”

“Don’t you at least want a taste?”

He bit back a groan. She had no idea how he longed for a taste of her life’s blood, he thought, as his gaze moved to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat. But he only shook his head.

While she ate, they talked about the play, which managed to be a comedy and a love story all in one. Kadie bubbled over with enthusiasm, declaring that the music had been wonderful and the cast amazing, especially the actor who had played the Pimpernel.

Kadie was feeling relaxed and happy as they left the café and made their way around the corner to the parking lot. Saintcrow had just opened her door when two men in dark clothing, with hideous masks covering their faces, attacked him, one from the front, the other from the back. A third man, similarly dressed, wrapped his arm around Kadie’s neck, trapping her scream in her throat. Terror washed through her, leaving her immobile when he laid the point of a knife under her left eye.

“Quiet, now,” he warned. “I’d hate for this here knife to slip and mess up that pretty face.”

Helpless, she watched the two men attacking Saintcrow. Moonlight glinted on the blades of the wicked-looking knives in their hands. The man in front lunged forward, his knife arrowing for Saintcrow’s heart as the other man drove his blade into Saintcrow’s back. They struck again and again, until he was covered with blood. Oh, Lord. they were killing him! Was she next?

Fear drained the strength from her legs. She was wondering how much longer Saintcrow could continue the fight when the battle suddenly shifted. In a move almost too quick for her to follow, Saintcrow wrapped his hands around the neck of the man in front of him and gave it a quick twist. The man sagged in his grasp and Saintcrow tossed the body aside as if it weighed nothing at all. She stared, transfixed, when Saintcrow’s eyes turned red just before he whirled around and buried his fangs—fangs!—in the second man’s throat.

The wordvampirewhispered through the back of her mind.

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