Page 20 of Lucas
“What do you mean?”
“You need to start using your GPS map. Though the two cities are in different states, only fifteen miles separate Hazel Green and Fayetteville.”
“I must not be getting enough sleep. I should have known to check that out during our drive.”
Lucas shrugged as he chewed, giving the room a quick scan. “I’ve been thinking about how the vamps are finding us.”
“You think they’re tracking us rather than just tailing us?”
He nodded and pushed his plate aside. He hadn’t been eating well and hadn’t sourced a blood donor since the morning we’d left Santiga Bay. But in his current mood, he wouldn’t take my concern to heart, so I’d wait.
He finished his beer and looked at the check. “I think we need new supplies. A couple of streets over, there was a grocery store and one of those places that has a little bit of everything. Let’s stop there on our way out of town in the morning.”
“At least we have a destination.”
He left cash on the table and kept a hand on the small of my back as he steered me out the rear exit of the pub. We circled the building to find three vamps positioned around our rental. Lucas pushed me back until we were out of sight.
“It’s not too far to the hotel. Did we leave anything critical in the car?” Lucas peered around the corner.
“No. Everything is in the duffels we left at the hotel.”
“Let’s walk back and hope there aren’t any vamps waiting for us.”
“You think they’ve been tracking the rental?”
“Maybe. Worst case, we check into a different hotel and then regroup in the morning.”
We traveled the backstreets, and halfway there I was thanking the heavens I wore my comfortable boots that were good in a fight. I might start sleeping in them. When we got to the hotel, we went directly to the bar, which was busier than I expected—until Lucas mentioned an insurance convention. We found a lone table in the middle of the group, and he left me there while he checked the room. I wasn’t happy about him going alone, but his mood hadn’t improved, so I didn’t push.
I nursed a vodka martini and flirted with a group of salesmen while I waited, hoping to fit into the crowd. But as time ticked away, I worried about Lucas. He’d been gone twenty minutes when he finally strode through the crowd, casually putting an arm around my shoulders. The salesmen collectively sighed and lifted their drinks. Lucas bought them another round on our way out.
“What took so long? I was getting worried.” I put an arm around his waist as we walked through the lobby, keeping an eye out for anyone who appeared suspicious.
“I checked all the floors and the staircases. Our room looks the way we left it. I think we’ll be safe for the night, but we should reconsider our transportation.”
“Can the hotel get us a new rental?”
“That might be best. I’ll report the other one stolen.”
When we reached the room, we secured the door, placed our daggers within easy reach, climbed into bed, and spent the next few hours channel surfing. By two in the morning, we were both still a little wired, knowing three vamps were out there.
Lucas lowered the volume on the TV and shut the lights off. We cuddled next to each other, my head resting against hisshoulder. I couldn’t stop glancing toward the door, watching the doorknob to see if it turned.
“Neither of us is going to get much sleep tonight.” I held his hand. A simple gesture, yet I grew strength through his return grip.
“Let’s give it a try while we wait for morning. We have a long drive tomorrow and can take turns napping in the back seat.”
“Then we should get a real pillow. The duffels aren’t a great substitute.”
He chuckled. “Add it to the list.” After a few seconds, he kissed my temple. “It was a good thing I showed up in the bar when I did. I thought I might have to fight my way to your table.”
I poked him in the ribs. “You weren’t jealous by the attention I was getting, were you?”
He rolled over, surprising me with a rather passionate kiss. “I was insanely jealous.”
I giggled. The conditions weren’t right for us to get busy, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t flirt.
“I have to admit, I thought insurance agents were a bit more straightlaced. But I bet they’d still be partying if the hotel bar didn’t shut down at one a.m.”
