Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall Page A

would react.”
    “Did you get in trouble?”
    “No. The student hadn’t turned in half of his assignments and had failed most of the exams. The whole department knew he was full of crap and leapt to my defense. It just really ticked me off.”
    “I would imagine so.”
    “That’s actually why I was in the meadow this morning. I figured several hours spent turning over the soil for a veggie garden would tire me out enough to rid me of my insomnia and let me sleep tonight.”
    He winced. “Sorry I spoiled the plan.”
    She smiled. “No apologies necessary.”
    Assuming Sarah wanted to listen in as she had before (
he
would, but then the other immortals claimed he was paranoid), Roland pressed the speakerphone button and dialed Marcus’s number.
    On the fourth ring, an irritable voice hoarse with sleep answered. “
What?
”
    “Marcus, it’s Roland.”
    “Roland?” He sounded understandably surprised. It had been a decade or so since the two had last touched base. “Hey, man. How’s it going?”
    “Actually—”
    “Wait. You only call me when you’re desperate. What happened?”
    Roland looked askance at Sarah.
    She smiled and whispered, “I’m beginning to see a pattern.”
    “Who the hell was that?” Marcus demanded, shocked no doubt that Roland would have anyone, particularly a woman, with him during daylight hours.
    “An innocent who came to my rescue.”
    “
You
needed rescuing?”
    “Yes, I’ll explain it all later. Right now I need a favor.”
    “Name it.”
    “I need you to bring me some
medical
supplies,” he saidmeaningfully, then asked Sarah for her address and relayed it to Marcus.
    “How badly are you injured?”
    As Roland opened his mouth to respond, Sarah blurted out, “Badly.”
    He raised his eyebrows.
    She shrugged. “I’m sorry. I know that was rude, but I was afraid you were going to downplay it again.”
    “How much blood have you lost, Roland?” Marcus pressed.
    “A lot,” he admitted.
    Sarah beamed her approval and patted his arm, making him smile.
    “Can you hold out until evening?”
    “Yes.”
    She frowned.
    “Okay. I’ll bring you everything you need tonight.”
    “Great.”
    Leaning forward, Sarah whispered, “Don’t forget clothes.”
    “Right,” he said, distracted by her nearness. “I’m also going to need some clothes.”
    There was a long silence.
    “Clothes?” Marcus repeated.
    “Yes.”
    “Should I ask?”
    “No.”
    “Okay then,” he said, clearly amused. “Medical supplies and clothing. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    Roland pressed the speakerphone button and returned the phone to the coffee table.
    Sarah was watching him with a slight smile, her hazel eyes twinkling with merriment.
    “I’m not antisocial,” he said. He really was, but it suddenly seemed important that she believe otherwise.
    Her smile widened. “You just want to be left alone?”
    “Not always,” he countered with a smile of his own. “Not today.”
    “You’re just saying that because I baked you pizza,” she teased.
    “In part,” he teased back and she laughed. “I don’t suppose you have any clothing that might fit me, do you? Marcus will never let me hear the end of it if I’m wearing nothing but a sheet when he arrives.”
    “No. Yes. Well … nnno. I thought maybe the long-sleeved shirt I had on when I found you might fit you, but you’re a lot bigger than my ex.”
    “Ex-husband?”
    “Ex-boyfriend. And everything else I have is my size.”
    Nodding absently, he couldn’t resist asking, “Is there a current boyfriend I should worry about coming home and finding me naked on your futon?”
Subtle.
    “No. What about you? Is your wife or girlfriend going to give you grief when she finds out you spent the day with me?”
    “No wife or girlfriend,” he responded automatically, surprised she would ask.
    Was she interested in him?
    If so, why? He was a mess and she could very well have gotten killed trying to help him.
    “I had a friend