Page 31

S aintcrow felt a growing sense of satisfaction as he strolled through Morgan Creek.

Back when Ethan had lived here full-time, he had renovated the hotel and the shops, giving the town the look of the Roaring Twenties.

The streets and sidewalks were clean, store windows gleamed in the early afternoon sun.

Tourists meandered along Main Street, talking and laughing, peering in shop windows, buying pretzels and beer and balloons for the kids.

He saw people going into the grocery store, having drinks in the tavern, sitting on the library steps, taking pictures in the park or by the vintage gas pump near the bridge.

Some distance from the town were a number of houses where the humans had lived back in the day when the vampires ruled Morgan Creek. Ethan had modernized the houses, which they now rented by the week or the month. Yes, the place had changed drastically from the time Kadie had first seen it.

He transported to New Orleans and picked Kadie up an hour later. Since she thought he was human, he couldn’t just transport her from New Orleans to Wyoming, so he had arranged for a private plane.

“I didn’t know I was afraid to fly,” Kadie said, her hands clutching the arms of her seat. “Until now.”

“Nothing to be afraid of,” Saintcrow assured her.

“If you say so.”

“Trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Taking one of her hands in his, he let his mind speak to hers, easing her fears. “It’s a short flight. No more than three hours or so.”

Kadie clung to his hand, surprised when she actually enjoyed the flight. A rental car awaited them at the airport. The drive to Morgan Creek was lovely, with trees lining both sides of the road and a vast blue sky overhead. She saw deer and cattle and away in the distance, snow-capped mountains.

It was early evening when he drove across the wooden bridge. Kadie stared at the ancient gas pump as they passed by. She had the strangest feeling she had seen it before.

Saintcrow pulled up in front of the hotel. As soon as he exited the car, two young men emerged from the hotel. The valet got behind the wheel and drove the car away, the bellboy took Kadie’s bags and carried them into the lobby.

“Aren’t we going inside?” Kadie asked, when Saintcrow made no move to follow.

“Later. You’re already signed in. Would you like to take a walk through the town?”

“Isn’t that why we’re here?” she asked with a saucy grin.

“Indeed.”

They strolled along the sidewalk. Kadie stopped now and then to look in this window or that. “There’re a lot of people here,” she remarked. “I’m surprised, since you just re-opened.”

“A lot of them had reservations when we closed the town and we booked them first,” he explained. “And we get a lot of repeat business.”

“I can see why. I can’t believe this used to be a ghost town.”

Saintcrow grunted softly. “It’s definitely changed a lot since those days. A friend of mine got the idea of renovating the place some years ago.”

At the end of Main Street, they crossed the road and headed for the park. When they reached a wrought-iron bench, Saintcrow indicated she should sit down, then sat beside her.

The park was lovely, Kadie thought, glancing around. The grass, the aspen trees, the colorful flowers scattered along winding paths. There was a large swimming pool in the middle.

“So, what do you think of the place?” Saintcrow asked.

“The old town atmosphere is wonderful. And everything is so clean. I can see why it’s so popular.” No wonder he was rich, she thought. The town must make a fortune.

“I’d love for you to stay a while,” Saintcrow said quietly.

“That would be nice, but I really need to find a job and a place to live. I can’t keep expecting you to pay my way.”

“You can work here in town.” He winked at her. “The pay is good.”

“Are you serious? What would I do?”

“You can work in one of the gift shops, or the hotel. We need a receptionist. Anything you want.”

“I don’t know …”

“Please, Kadie.”

The tender entreaty in his voice reminded her that they had been lovers. Why couldn’t she remember? Had she loved him very much? It wouldn’t be hard. He was gorgeous and generous. He treated her like a queen. She had the feeling he would give her anything she asked for. If only she could remember!

“Will you stay a while?” he asked.

She nodded. “At least long enough to pay you back.”

Saintcrow took her to dinner at the hotel that night. They were naturally seated right away in the best booth. Menus and a basket of warm rolls arrived immediately. A waitress came to take their drink order.

“It certainly pays to be the man in charge,” Kadie remarked after the waitress left with their selections.

“It does, indeed. Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do while you’re here?”

“The reception desk doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Days or nights?”

“Days, I guess.”

He nodded. “You can start tomorrow, 8 a.m. until five. Is that okay?”

“You’re the boss.”

Their drinks had just arrived when a man and woman strolled toward them. The woman slid in beside Kadie, the man next to Saintcrow. Kadie glanced at Rylan, one brow raised.

“Kadie, these are friends of ours. Rosa and Jason Kincaid.”

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” Rosa said, smiling. “We’ve missed you. I know you don’t remember us, but that’s okay. I’m sure you’ll get your memory back sooner or later.”

“I hope so,” Kadie said, smiling uncertainly.

“Are you going to be staying here for a while?” Rosa asked.

“Yes. Saintcrow has kindly offered me a job working as the daytime receptionist at the hotel,”

“I had that job until a few years ago,” Rosa said. “I think you’ll like it.”

“Why did you quit?” Kadie asked.

Rosa sent a glance at Saintcrow, who shook his head imperceptibly. “Oh, you know,” she said. And then she smiled at Kincaid. “We got married.”

“We just stopped by to welcome you back,” Kincaid said, then looked at Saintcrow.

“Sorry.”

“Back?” Kadie glanced from Kincaid to Saintcrow. “What does that mean?”

“You spent some time here with me once before,” Saintcrow said smoothly. “That’s all.”

They were lying, Kadie thought. What were they holding back? And why?

“He’s gonna kill me,” Kincaid muttered as he and Rosa left the hotel. “He didn’t want Kadie to know she used to live here.”

“I think it’s a mistake, lying to her. Why not just tell her the truth?”

“What if you were Kadie and you didn’t know vampires existed and someone told you that not only were you married to a vampire you didn’t remember, but that you’d also been a vampire? What would your reaction be?”

“I’d think they were crazy. Or I was.”

“Exactly. He’s trying to ease his way into telling her.”

“Maybe he should tell Kadie about us. She could see there’s nothing to be afraid of, and then he could tell her the truth about himself and their past.”

Kincaid grunted. “It took her a while to learn to like him the first time, let alone love him. Maybe that damn curse changed something inside her. I think Saintcrow’s afraid she won’t fall in love with him this time around.”

“Oh. I never thought of that,” Rosa said, frowning.

“She hated him for a while, you know. Thought he was a monster.” Kincaid slid his arm around Rosa’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Are you ever sorry you married me?”

“Of course not!”

“Are you sorry I turned you?”

“No, silly. It was my decision, not yours.”

“Do you ever wish you were still human?”

“Jake, stop it. I’m perfectly happy with you and with our life together. I wouldn’t change anything.”

“Life would indeed be perfect,” he remarked, giving her a hug. “If only Luca Sasan had stayed dead.”