Page 77 of Twilight Destiny

The best part of every night was cuddling on the sofa with Jake, sharing their thoughts, getting to know each other better as they traded stories of their youth. Of course, his adventures were far more dangerous and exciting than hers had ever been.

“You’ve lived so long,” she remarked. “What decades did you like best?”

“That’s easy. The 1870s and 80s. The west really was wild back then. The only laws were the ones men made for themselves. I liked working on the ranch with the horses. I miss the simplicity of those times, the freedom.”

“I guess you were able to be awake during the day back then, too?”

“Pretty much.”

Rosa wondered who he had preyed on. Certainly not the cowboys he worked with. People in town, then? “I thought you looked like a cowboy the first night we met.”

“Comfort over fashion,” he drawled with a grin. “Tomorrow’s your last day at work. You’re not having any second thoughts are you?”

“No.” She was finally having an adventure of her own, she thought. Moving to Morgan Creek, joining her life with Jake’s, perhaps for the rest of her life. Surely moving in with a vampire was the most dangerous and exciting thing she had ever done. And she could hardly wait.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured.

And then he pulled her into his arms and there was no more time for talk

Kincaid kissed and caressed her, careful to keep his desire for her blood in check. It had gotten easier with time, mostly because he made sure to feed, and feed well, before he came to her. He loved holding her in his arms, loved the warmth of her skin, the heat of her kisses, the way she melted against him, her willingness to let him take a little of her blood from time to time, the trust she had in him not to take too much.

Knowing she had to get up early for work in the morning and that it was her last day, he didn’t stay late. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Rosa nodded. “Come early.”

“Can’t live without me, huh?”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I guess you don’t want me to kiss you good night then,” he said, and headed for the door.

Rosa stared after him. Was he really going to leave without kissing her good night?

Grinning, Kincaid turned around and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, my sweet girl,” he murmured. “More than you can imagine.”

The way he kissed her left no doubt in her mind that he meant every word.

The girls in the office took Rosa out to lunch on her last Friday at work and pestered her for information on the man who had stolen her heart.

“I’m still waiting for a picture,” Bria reminded her.

Rosa smiled as she pulled her cell phone out of her handbag and scrolled through her photos. “Here you go,” she said, and slid her phone across the table.

Bria’s eyes widened. “Oh, girl, you really hit the jackpot, didn’t you?”

The other girls all clamored to see his photo.

“Is he as nice as he is gorgeous?” Franny asked.

“Who cares,” Evie murmured, practically drooling.

“He’s a hunk, that’s for sure,” Lana said, returning Rosa’s phone. “I’d go anywhere he asked.”

“Me, too,” Rosa said, smiling. “And I am.”

The rest of the day passed quickly. At closing time, she packed up her few personal belongings and bid a last, tearful goodbye to Bria. She was almost home when she decided to go see her folks. They had been less than thrilled when they learned she was moving to Morgan Creek, but knowing that Ethan and Sofia would be there had put most of their misgivings to rest.

As Rosa pulled into the driveway, it occurred to her that she had never lived more than a few miles from home. Always, in the back of her mind was the knowledge that if she lost her job or her apartment, if she got sick or into trouble, home and help were only a few minutes away. That wouldn’t be true once she moved to Morgan Creek.