Page 42 of The Vampire's Seduction

“I mean, when I tried to escape from him.” She pointed to Marek and recalled how tired she’d been. “But I felt better after sleeping. Now I still feel like crap.”

“It might have a cumulative effect,” Andrea said. “Unlocking the notebook might have used even more magic. How often do you use your bracelet?”

“Uh, never? Wait, my bracelet, where is it?” Olivia touched her wrist, which felt bare without the jewelry.

“It’s here.” Marek tapped the bedside table. Her bracelet lay atop an intimidating leather-bound book that looked like something from a Halloween or an occult bookstore.

“Is that…?” Olivia pointed at the book, eyes wide, and mumbled thanks when Andrea handed her a tray of rice and chicken.

“Yes, it’s the same book. Now eat,” Marek ordered.

Her stomach growled again, cutting off her protest. Scowling, she picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks. The second the flavor exploded in her mouth, she closed her eyes and sighed with pleasure.

For a few minutes, nobody said anything as she ate. Olivia did her best not to stuff everything down at once, though she was starving. Fried chicken was amazing, especially Dillon’s. The sweet, garlicky sauce coated the tender meat perfectly so that every bite was pure heaven.

“I can eat this all day,” she said with a happy moan. Then something occurred to her. “Wait. I didn’t know Dillon’s has a franchise in LA?”

“It doesn’t,” Andrea said wryly. “Your vampire had it specially ordered and flown here.”

Olivia gaped for a second before remembering to close her mouth because she was still chewing. “You did what?” Fly a fast-food order from Phoenix to LA? “You don’t expect me to pay you back, right? Because you know I don’t have that kind of money.”

Marek’s grin went straight to her heart. “No repayment needed, as long as you like it. You do like it, don’t you?”

“Yes, I love it.” It was her favorite restaurant. Wait… “How did you know to order from there? How did you know it’s my favorite?”

“I have my ways.” There it was again. That teasing smile that had butterflies dancing in her stomach. If instead of kidnapping her, he’d offered her a ride home with that smile, she’d have followed him anywhere.

“His friend hacked into your credit card history,” Andrea said with a wink.

“What?” Olivia choked on her next bite.

“Shut up, witch,” Marek growled in annoyance.

“She’s bound to find out sooner or later.” Andrea sat beside Olivia and whispered conspiratorially as if Marek didn’t have supernatural hearing. “Vampires, they’re not great communicators. It would be so much easier to ask you, but nooo, it’s better to find out behind your back.”

Olivia covered a smile with her hand as warmth blossomed in her chest. Sure, Marek’s ways of doing things were unconventional, but his heart was in the right place. Hmm, had she hit her head the last time she passed out? She should be furious with his invasion of her privacy, but instead she was thinking no one had ever done something so sweet for her.

Heck, her last boyfriend had been allergic to fried food, according to him. One of the many reasons that relationship hadn’t lasted long.

Andrea’s eyes narrowed. “Oh no, he’s getting to you, isn’t he?”

“Well, I mean, it’s sweet in a messed-up sort of way,” Olivia said.

“At least you know it’s messed up,” Andrea said.

“It was the most efficient method,” Marek interjected. “You needed to eat, and I didn’t want to poison you in case you have allergies.”

She must have hit her head because he had a point. Because it was totally normal for a vampire to fly food to her from her favorite restaurant.

A pang of sadness hit her as she ate another piece. Normalcy. Would she ever have it back again? If Marek hadn’t kidnapped her, she’d be here alone now, snacking on something from the vending machine while juggling work and Betsy.

If she overlooked the kidnapping part, she could appreciate her current situation. Having someone to watch out for her felt nice. She’d talk to Marek about his methods later.

Later. Did that mean she wished him to stay with her longer?

Before she could ponder further, Dr. Wells entered the room with two nurses pushing a gurney.

“We’re ready,” he said to Marek.

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