Page 21 of Twilight Destiny

“Saintcrow told you about the hunter, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. You’ve got to be more careful, girl. If that hunter finds out about your family, you could be in real trouble.”

Rosa grimaced as memories of Leticia Braga flashed through her mind. But for Saintcrow’s intervention, the vindictive vampire might have killed her and her whole family.

“Rhinehart is as dangerous as hell,” Kincaid said quietly. “You’ve got to stay away from him.”

“I know. I will.”

When the waitress arrived at their table, Rosa ordered a large cup of hot chocolate with extra whipped crème. Jake asked for a cup of black coffee she knew he wouldn’t drink.

“Do you think Rhinehart is here for Saintcrow?” Rosa asked when they were alone again.

Kincaid shrugged. “Probably.”

“Maybe he’s here for you.”

“It’s possible, I guess.”

“You don’t seem very worried.”

He shrugged. “I can take care of myself.” His gaze caressed her. “And you, too, if you’ll let me.”

The heated look in his eyes, the deep timbre of his voice, made her insides melt like ice cream on a hot day. He was gorgeous, with those velvety brown eyes and that sexy, come-hither smile. Warmth spread through her when he took her hand in his. “It would be so easy to fall in love with you,” he murmured.

Rosa stared at him. She knew he wanted her, but love? Seriously? They had only known each other a few days. “Is that a line? If so, it’s a trifle soon, don’t you think?” She tugged her hand free when the waitress arrived with their drinks.

Kincaid waited for the server to leave before he said, “It’s true, nonetheless.”

“I’m sure you’ve loved a lot of women,” she said, her gaze focused on her cup.

“A few.”

She looked up at him, her expression skeptical. “A few?”

“Okay, a lot. But loving and being in love are two different things.”

“You loved the girl in Mexico.”

He didn’t deny it. “That was centuries ago.” He tucked his forefinger under her chin and tilted her head up. “I’m over it.”

Rosa stared at him, and then she laughed. Why was she upset by something that had happened centuries before she’d even been born? Besides, there was nothing serious going on between them. He probably told every woman he met that they’d be easy to love.

The thought that he might make such declarations indiscriminately bothered her a heck of a lot more than it should have. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him. What woman wouldn’t be? He was outrageously sexy, with those beautiful dark eyes and sexy voice, not to mention his amazing physique. But she didn’t want to be just another conquest in a long line of women he’d loved and left.

Nevertheless, she went willingly into his arms for a good night kiss when he took her home an hour later. And dreamed of him all night long.

Chapter Eight

Paul Rhinehart moved stealthily through the night, his footsteps carrying him toward the two houses he had seen earlier in the day. The white one appeared to be uninhabited at the moment. Rosa had said the one with the turrets belonged to the owner of the hotel and the restaurant. He suspected Saintcrow owned the whole damn town.

Saintcrow. He couldn’t control the shiver of apprehension that slithered down his spine as he contemplated trying to take the master vampire’s head. Saintcrow was a force to be reckoned with. No one knew just how old he was, but Saintcrow was a legend among vampires and hunters alike. Some said the bloodsucker couldn’t be destroyed. And while Paul hated to believe it, he feared it might be true.

Paul paused mid-stride. What the hell was he doing here, alone? Was attempting to destroy Saintcrow for Luca worth risking his life for? And what if he failed? What if all he did was piss off the master vampire?

Rhinehart shivered again. He didn’t know why Luca wanted Saintcrow’s destruction. But the necromancer scared the hell out of him. He should have arranged for Luca to meet him here. Instead, he had come charging in alone like some neophyte hunter still wet behind the ears.

Rhinehart squared his shoulders and straightened his spine. What the hell was he afraid of? He had destroyed more vampires than any other hunter in the country, maybe in the whole damn world! So, Saintcrow had a big reputation. Well, hell, so did he. Vampires trembled at the mention of his name.