Page 25 of Rein in the Night

“Ryan is cursed for protecting the woman he loved with all his heart, and he knows more than anyone that loving is not something that’s in the cards for him. He won’t take on the wild life that his tutor lived, a different woman in his bed every night just because he can, but Ryan will never allow himself to love one woman either. And as you saw, a human woman could never be enough, ever again.”

“Except Jade,” she said with bitterness she hadn’t intended.

Jeb had glanced at her as he turned off the highway toward the airport exit. “My spoiled daughter will return to Denver where she belongs. We keep her in the dark, because there’s no way she’d be able to keep such a valuable secret. She’s just like her mother.”

Jeb released a little of his own bitterness, but Keena was surprised at his words. “So she doesn’t know what he is?”

He shook his head. “No, and that’s how it will be. So, I guess it’s at least one good thing, that he’s a day walker.”

“A day walker?”

“A vampire who is unaffected by the sun.”

Later, on the plane ride home, Keena had gone over the conversation with Jeb over and over, but nothing in his words soothed the hurt inside her. Jade might not know Ryan was a vampire, and he hadn’t worried about his secret when he slept with her either. Keena leaned forward and cried. Why did she have to love him? Of all men, why him?

* * * *

Two weeks later

Keena sat at the desk in her room, going over student posts on her computer. She hadn’t the foggiest idea what anyone was saying because she could not focus. Deciding it was hopeless for the time being, she pushed her chair back and rubbed a hand over her eyes. Maybe if she lost herself in good book, time would pass, her aching heart would heal, and life would go on. She glanced up to her small stock of books on the shelves above her computer. Every one was a romance.

She scraped her chair back farther, jumped to her feet, and gathered up all the books. Each one tumbled from her arms into the trashcan. And when that wasn’t good enough, she carried the trash out to the hallway and slammed the door behind her. Pain arrowed to her heart, and she slumped to the floor and sobbed, something she had been doing every day since she returned. Aunt Delores didn’t know what to do about it, and Keena refused to say a word. Mr. Creighton was the one who made her aunt back off and give her time. For that she was grateful.

Her cell buzzed. Knowing it wasn’t him because no one out there had her cell number, she picked it up with little interest and frowned at the display. “What, Steven?”

“Dang, Keena, do you have to sound so harsh? I thought enough time had passed so we could talk. Look, sweetie, I love you, and I want you back.”

“Not interested. Sorry,” she snapped.

He paused. She imagined her lack of emotion shocked him. “You can’t tell me you don’t love me anymore, Keena. You sound like you’ve been crying. I know you, remember?”

Rather than go into that she didn’t loved him by any means, she said, “Let’s get something straight. I don’t love you. I can’t stand you. I never want to see you again, and if you call me or come to my house, I will press charges for harassment and get a restraining order against you. Is that clear enough?”

She disconnected the call only to get a knock on her bedroom door. She sighed. No one would ever give her a break. She wiped her face and stood up to unlock the door.

“What’s up, Aunt Delores?”

Her aunt held out the phone. “For you, sweetie.” She reached out to stroke Keena’s cheek but then drew back. Keena smiled. Her poor aunt was suffering because she was. On impulse, Keena drew the older woman into a hug and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks for being here for me,” she said.

Her aunt sniffled and turned away. Keena put the phone up to her ear and went back into her room.

“Keena, are you there?”

Her heart pounded. Mirabelle was on the phone. “Yes, Mirabelle. Is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not.” Her voice dropped low. “Is this a secure line?”

Despite her fear and unhappiness, Keena chuckled. “Yes, don’t worry. I live only with my aunt, and she wouldn’t stoop to listening in on my calls. Tell me what’s g

oing on. He’s okay, isn’t he?”

“We’re back where we were years ago, with him half out of his mind. He won’t feed. He’s locked himself in one of the rooms at his house and won’t let anyone in. Jeb tried to get his tutor to come, but he’s a cold you-know-what! He says the hunger will drive Ryan out soon enough, and if not, well, he can waste if that’s what he wants to do.”

Fresh tears pricked Keena’s eyes. She had to pull herself together before she could speak. After she had wiped her face and cleared her throat, she said, “Why would he do that? I thought he accepted what he is.”

“Because the silly man has fallen in love with you, something we never thought could happen after Anne.”

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