Page 17

“You must be Wendy. I’m Rita. Flora just called and told me to tell you to skedaddle back to the inn—and you should always do what Flora says.”

The last sentence was delivered in a joking tone, but she had the sudden impression that Rita actually meant it. Was she really worried about a little old lady?

“Then I guess I’d better go,” she agreed cheerfully, taking her coat. “Thanks.”

She hesitated a moment longer, trying to decide if she should find Damian and tell him goodbye, but then the door opened and a big orc came in, his massive arm around a pretty woman who wasn’t even half his size. How did that even work?

“Evening, Trogar. Evening, Pippa,” Rita said cheerfully. “I’ve got a table for you in the front room. And Shelly knows you have to be back before the baby wakes up.”

“Thank you,” Pippa said in a soft voice, giving Wendy a quick, curious smile. “Alison still gets a little panicky if Daisy starts crying.”

“She’ll figure it out once hers is born,” Rita said comfortably. “This way.”

The trio disappeared into the front dining room and Wendy took the opportunity to escape. The cold air was a welcome relief on her heated face, and she paused to look around. The rest of thehouses on the street were of a similar vintage to the restaurant, although they varied widely in size. At the far end of the street, she could see the festive lights adorning Main Street. They looked warm and inviting and she was tempted to explore, but that wasn’t skedaddling back to the inn.

Smiling at the old-fashioned expression, she was about to set off when the back of her neck prickled. Even before she turned around, she knew Damian was watching her. He was standing on the long balcony built into the second-story roof, still wearing a thin white shirt and apparently impervious to the cold. His eyes were fixed on her, and even from here she thought she could see the red sparks burning in their depths.

They stared at each other for an endless moment, then, impelled by a sudden wicked impulse, she raised her fingers to her lips and blew him a kiss before whirling around and hurrying down the street.

CHAPTER 9

By the time Wendy rushed breathlessly down the inn driveway she was convinced Damian was following her, but every time she turned around, she didn’t see anything except an empty street. Something fluttered in a tree overhead and another vampire story floated through her mind. Weren’t they supposed to be able to turn into bats?

Then she shook her head. The thought of someone Damian’s size turning into a bat was just too ridiculous to be true. She was still smiling at the idea when she entered the inn.

“Wendy, is that you?” Alison called cheerfully. “We’re in the kitchen.”

She went to join her friend and found her smiling at her fiancé as he cradled an adorable baby girl against his massive chest.

“Just look at him,” Alison sighed. “He’s going to be a natural.”

“Oh, sure. It’s easy when they’re asleep,” Will laughed, but Alison was right. He did look very comfortable holding the baby.

“‘Bout time you got here,” Flora muttered, shooting her a dark look from where she was stirring a pot on the stove.

“You’re the one who sent me over to the restaurant!”

Flora ignored her protest.

“Now that you’re finally back, you can fix this soup.”

That was why the old lady had been in such a hurry for her to return? She laughed as she went to taste the soup.

“Everyone is after me for my cooking today.”

“Just your cooking?” Flora asked with an exaggerated wink.

Dammit.She was blushing again.

“And on that note, I’m going to take Daisy into the parlor to watch a game with me,” Will said firmly. “I have the distinct feeling that I don’t want to hear the rest of this conversation.”

Alison flashed him a quick smile, but joined her and Flora at the stove.

“What’s going on? You don’t mean you and Damian…”

“No! Well, not really. He just kissed me.”

“And you didn’t kiss him back?” Flora’s eyes sparkled. “Most vampires are extremely good kissers. They know just how to use their tongues. And their fangs. Why, I remember?—”