the one who will be
humiliated."
He meant it, she realized helplessly. And he could probably do just as he
said. What options did that leave her?
"You could try running again," he suggested, as if he'd just read her
mind.
"I didn't run the first time! This trip has been scheduled for the past
three months!"
"If you do choose to run again, I'll come after you. I've got all the time in
the world, Cassie. I'll use whatever it takes."
"Meaning you don't have a real job?" she gritted.
"No more than you do," he agreed easily.
Frustrated and furious, Cassie tossed back the quilt and leaped off the
sofa. "One of us is going to leave today, Justin, and I intend to see that it's
you!" She marched out of the library and upstairs to the second floor,
where she had discovered a bathroom with plumbing that worked. As she
left the room, she was aware that he followed her with his eyes, eyes that
were dark and gleaming and full of lethal intent.
Lethal? The word stuck in her mind as she hurriedly dressed in jeans
and a red sweater. Surely not! Lethal meant deadly. She hadn't really
intended to use that word. Justin was out to punish her, not kill her. His
past was shady but there was no hint of his resorting to murder to settle
his problems! Her imagination was really in high gear here in this old
place, she thought grimly. Atmosphere. Too much of it.
She walked bravely into the kitchen a few minutes later to find Justin
rummaging around in her grocery sacks. He was obviously making himself
right at home.
"What did you bring for breakfast?" he asked conversationally.
"Only enough for myself," she returned sweetly.
"You're in a cheery mood this morning," he drawled, locating a box of
cereal.
"I'm surprised you're even awake!" she muttered, stalking across to the
refrigerator.
"I'm a very advanced sort of vampire," he growled. "I've learned to
endure the light of day. Don't even have to drag my coffin full of dirt
around with me anymore."
She considered that as she pulled out a carton of milk. "Was it
something of an adjustment, giving up the night world of casino gambling
to become a day person?"
"Like I said," he returned laconically, "I've learned to endure the light of
day." He leaned against the counter, his arms folded across his chest.
"Come to think of it, though, this is the first time you've actually seen me
in broad daylight, isn't it? It seems like every time we've met, it's been at
night. Do I look any less sinister to you now in sunlight?"
"No."
"Good. I wouldn't want to think I'm losing my natural charm. Want
some more coffee?"
"Yes, please. I didn't sleep very well last night."
"I know. Spent most of the night waiting to see if you'd have to defend
yourself, didn't you?" He put the kettle on the old electric stove. "Why in
the world did you pick this old house for a vacation spot? There must have
been lots of more modern places you could have rented. What are you
planning to do here, Cassie?"
"Whatever I feel like doing. Whatever I feel inspired to do, I should say,"
she told him honestly. "This month of experimentation is very important
to me, Justin. I don't want you spoiling it for me. Do you understand?"
"Having an affair with Dracula should be fairly experimental. Why not
give it a try?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You know, other than your sharp tongue, you're kind of cute in the
mornings. All fresh and alive-looking. A day person, hmm?"
"Definitely." She plunked the milk carton down on the counter and
grudgingly filled two cereal bowls from the box of granola she had brought
with her. "We can take these into the dining room," she allowed in
resignation. Damn it, there had to be a way to evict Justin Drake! In the
light of a new day she ought to be able to find it.
"What is it you're going to experiment with?" he asked, following
behind her with his long, silent stride as she headed for the magnificent
old dining room.
"This and that." Her mind was too
humiliated."
He meant it, she realized helplessly. And he could probably do just as he
said. What options did that leave her?
"You could try running again," he suggested, as if he'd just read her
mind.
"I didn't run the first time! This trip has been scheduled for the past
three months!"
"If you do choose to run again, I'll come after you. I've got all the time in
the world, Cassie. I'll use whatever it takes."
"Meaning you don't have a real job?" she gritted.
"No more than you do," he agreed easily.
Frustrated and furious, Cassie tossed back the quilt and leaped off the
sofa. "One of us is going to leave today, Justin, and I intend to see that it's
you!" She marched out of the library and upstairs to the second floor,
where she had discovered a bathroom with plumbing that worked. As she
left the room, she was aware that he followed her with his eyes, eyes that
were dark and gleaming and full of lethal intent.
Lethal? The word stuck in her mind as she hurriedly dressed in jeans
and a red sweater. Surely not! Lethal meant deadly. She hadn't really
intended to use that word. Justin was out to punish her, not kill her. His
past was shady but there was no hint of his resorting to murder to settle
his problems! Her imagination was really in high gear here in this old
place, she thought grimly. Atmosphere. Too much of it.
She walked bravely into the kitchen a few minutes later to find Justin
rummaging around in her grocery sacks. He was obviously making himself
right at home.
"What did you bring for breakfast?" he asked conversationally.
"Only enough for myself," she returned sweetly.
"You're in a cheery mood this morning," he drawled, locating a box of
cereal.
"I'm surprised you're even awake!" she muttered, stalking across to the
refrigerator.
"I'm a very advanced sort of vampire," he growled. "I've learned to
endure the light of day. Don't even have to drag my coffin full of dirt
around with me anymore."
She considered that as she pulled out a carton of milk. "Was it
something of an adjustment, giving up the night world of casino gambling
to become a day person?"
"Like I said," he returned laconically, "I've learned to endure the light of
day." He leaned against the counter, his arms folded across his chest.
"Come to think of it, though, this is the first time you've actually seen me
in broad daylight, isn't it? It seems like every time we've met, it's been at
night. Do I look any less sinister to you now in sunlight?"
"No."
"Good. I wouldn't want to think I'm losing my natural charm. Want
some more coffee?"
"Yes, please. I didn't sleep very well last night."
"I know. Spent most of the night waiting to see if you'd have to defend
yourself, didn't you?" He put the kettle on the old electric stove. "Why in
the world did you pick this old house for a vacation spot? There must have
been lots of more modern places you could have rented. What are you
planning to do here, Cassie?"
"Whatever I feel like doing. Whatever I feel inspired to do, I should say,"
she told him honestly. "This month of experimentation is very important
to me, Justin. I don't want you spoiling it for me. Do you understand?"
"Having an affair with Dracula should be fairly experimental. Why not
give it a try?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You know, other than your sharp tongue, you're kind of cute in the
mornings. All fresh and alive-looking. A day person, hmm?"
"Definitely." She plunked the milk carton down on the counter and
grudgingly filled two cereal bowls from the box of granola she had brought
with her. "We can take these into the dining room," she allowed in
resignation. Damn it, there had to be a way to evict Justin Drake! In the
light of a new day she ought to be able to find it.
"What is it you're going to experiment with?" he asked, following
behind her with his long, silent stride as she headed for the magnificent
old dining room.
"This and that." Her mind was too
Similar Books
