Page 37 of Twilight Longings

Kadie turned away from the mirror. The woman, Izabela, had allowed her the use of her bathroom to bathe and wash her hands and face. Izabela had also provided a skirt and sweater and shoes for her to wear, as well as a comb and a toothbrush.

She glanced at the door. The man waited in the bedroom to take her out to dinner. How could she go out with a stranger? And such an intimidating one at that. He claimed they knew each other, but anyone could say that, since shehad no way of knowing if it was true or not. There was something about him, something … She shook her head. She couldn’t define it, but whatever it was, it was disconcerting, to say the least.

She started when someone knocked on the door.

“Kadie? Are you ready?”

His whiskey-smooth voice sent a shiver down her spine. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Yes,” and opened the door.

His smile was devastating. “Is there anywhere in particular you’d like to go?”

“Home. If I knew where it was.” Even if she remembered where she lived, whoever collected her rent had probably sold all of her belongings by now. And what did it matter? She had no income at the moment, let alone enough to pay whatever back rent she owed. “How long was I unconscious?”

“Several months.”

“Months!” She frowned. “If I wasn’t in a hospital, how did I survive?”

Thinking quickly, Saintcrow said, “You were fed intravenously.” It was true, in a way. Fortunately, starvation wasn’t one of the ways to destroy a vampire. They could go for long periods without sustenance.

Because she had no preference for dinner, he took her to Luigi’s, since she had always favored Italian.

Kadie glanced around after they were seated. The restaurant was quite lovely, with red-and-white checked cloths. Italian music played quietly in the background.

“Order whatever you like,” Saintcrow said.

A sad smile played over her lips. “I don’t know what I like.”

“How about if I order for you?”

“All right.”

He signaled a waitress and ordered ravioli and a salad for Kadie, along with a bottle of red wine.

“You’re not eating?” she asked, when the waitress left to turn in their order.

“I dined earlier.”

“Oh.” Kadie glanced down at her lap, thinking it was going to be awkward, eating in front of a stranger. She risked a glance in his direction to find him watching her. Like a cat at a mousehole, she thought.

“Relax,” Saintcrow said, swallowing the urge to call her ‘sweetheart’ as he had so many times in the past.

“I just feel so … so …” She blew out a sigh. “I don’t know what I’m feeling.” He had mentioned her parents, and a sister. Kathy. They must be worried about her. “Has anyone told my family that I’m awake?”

“I’m afraid your parents have passed away.”

Kadie bit down on her lower lip. “How long ago?”

“Two years.”

“And my sister?”

“She’s fine, as far as I know. I lost touch with her over time.”

Kadie nodded. Knowing her parents were gone made her feel oddly disconnected from the rest of the world. She wondered if she and her sister had remained close after their parents passed away.

Her dinner came a short time later. Keeping her gaze on her plate, Kadie picked at her food. She ate automatically, not tasting anything at first and then, suddenly, it was like she was tasting everything for the first time. In moments, she had cleaned her plate.

Watching her, Saintcrow couldn’t help wondering what food would taste like after so many years. It was obvious shewas enjoying it. Apparently, years without eating had no effect on an ex-vampire.