Page 48 of Burn Falls

“Meeting in Phoenix?” Also known as Hell to vampires because of the hot sun. “What does he do?”

Calla took a sip of her Bellini. “He’s our—ormyregional sales manager, and was my father’s best friend.”

“He works for the distillery?”

“Yeah. He’s worked there almost the entire time we’ve been in business.”

“Was he there when your father was attacked?” Maybe Miles wasn’t the target after all. It was possible that Ted had run into a bad business deal or something, and that a vampire was sending a message.

“No, he was actually on his way home from a meeting in Dallas. He was coming home because of Christmas break.”

The waitress set our food down, and I changed the subject, not wanting to interrogate Calla further.

“What time is your flight tomorrow?” I asked as Calla and I shared a slice of tiramisu. It was disgusting, though the coffee that it was made with gave me a little energy as the blood from my steak barely coursed through my veins.

“It’s in the evening, but since we’re all flying out tomorrow, my mom will drop all of us off at nine.”

“Are you up for a little adventure tonight?”

Calla grinned. “Adventure?”

I looked at my watch. “I promise to have you home before sunrise.”

She licked the spoon. “Then I’m up for an adventure.”

“Do you trust me?” I asked after starting the engine.

Calla turned her head to look at me and grinned. “Should I not?”

I chuckled. “I’m the only one you should trust in this world of monsters, sweetheart.”

She paused for a beat before she answered my question, “Then yes. I trust you.”

After I glanced to make sure Calla’s seatbelt was in place, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed north, the pedal to the metal as they say.

“Is this what you mean? You drive like a maniac, and I’m supposed to trust you not to kill me?”

Without thinking, I reached over and squeezed her knee. “I’d never kill you. You’re too special to me.”

Calla’s heartbeat kicked up at my words, and I grinned. “You’re special to me too, and honestly, I’m looking forward to moving back home now.”

“Good. Now, do you think I can make it to Fairbanks in three hours?” I knew I could make the five hour trip in three because I could maneuver the streets with my eyes closed, and if I were stopped by a Trooper, I’d compel my way out of the ticket.

“If I get scared, I’ll just close my eyes and hang on.”

We made it to Fairbanks in three hours. It was a little after midnight when we arrived, and I pulled into a not so romantic McDonald’s parking lot.

“I promised you the Northern Lights and well …” I looked up to the sky, “all I see is black.”

Calla’s gaze followed mine and she shrugged. “Yeah, it’s not a guarantee.”

I hadn’t seen them before. In all my time, I hadn’t had the need or opportunity to wait until the collision between electrically charged particles from the sun entered the earth’s atmosphere. I was always worried I would need to take cover before the sky lit up with a yellowish-green hue, so I never made the trip.

“Since we drove all this way, you want to drive around and see if it appears?”

“We did drive all this way.” She chuckled.

“I just didn’t want the date to end,” I confessed.