Night’s Touch (Children of The Night #2)(29)
Author: Amanda Ashley

At dusk, he took the Chevy for a test run. Twenty minutes later, the owner came to pick it up.

Vince closed up shop, took a shower, pulled on a pair of jeans and a black shirt, and combed his hair.

Leaving the garage, he prowled the streets, searching for prey. It didn’t take him long. He fed quickly, then went to The Nocturne to pass a few hours until it was time to meet Cara.

It was with a mingled sense of anticipation and trepidation that he slid behind the wheel of the Mustang and drove to the library. Tonight. He would tell her the truth tonight.

Cara looked up when the library door opened. All night, she had been on pins and needles. Every time the door opened, she had hoped it would be Vince. She checked the time, thinking that the hours had never passed so slowly.

She was working in the stacks a few minutes before closing time when she sensed a presence behind her. Hoping it was Vince, she turned around, only to come face to face with Anton.

“Hi, sweet cakes,” he said cheerfully.

“Hello.”

“I haven’t seen you for a while, so I thought I’d come by and make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

He canted his head to one side. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”

“Why should I be mad?” she retorted.

“Why, indeed?”

“You were right about my parents,” she said. “I guess I can’t be mad at you for that.” Even though you made me see my parents for what they truly are and ruined my life, she thought bleakly.

“I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn,” he said with an apologetic smile, “but I really thought you should know.”

“And now I do. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

“How about if I wait for you to get off? We could go out for a drink.”

“No, thank you. I have a date.”

“I see. How about tomorrow night?”

“I don’t think so.”

“So you are mad.”

“No, I’m just not interested in seeing you anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Because I told you about your parents?”

“Partly.”

He lifted one brow. “Partly?”

“I really have to go, Anton.”

He nodded, his eyes narrowing. He looked suddenly ominous, even dangerous. She told herself she was seeing things that weren’t there, but she couldn’t stifle the shiver of unease that ran down her spine. She watched him walk away and breathed a sigh of relief when he went out the door. Hopefully, she would never see him again.

“Is that him?” Sarah Beth asked, coming up behind her.

“Him?” Cara shelved the last book on the cart and started toward the front desk.

“The man who’s had you tied in knots the last few days,” Sarah Beth said, falling into step beside her.

“Oh, no.”

“Good, cause I don’t like his looks at all.”

Before Cara could reply, the door opened again. This time she didn’t have to look to know that Vince had arrived.

She ran a hand over her hair, took a deep breath, and turned to face him.

His megawatt smile made her heart skip a beat. “I guess I’m a little early.”

“That’s all right. Vince, this is my best friend, Sarah Beth. Bethy, this is Vince.”

“Pleased to meet you, Sarah Beth,” Vince said.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Sarah Beth replied airily. “Now I’ve got a face to go with the name.”

Vince looked at Cara, one brow raised quizzically. “You been talking about me?”

She shrugged. “Maybe, a little.”

“Only good things, I hope,” he said with a teasing grin.

“Of course.” Picking up the microphone on the desk, Cara made the announcement that the library would be closing in ten minutes.

“Run along, you two,” Sarah Beth said, making a shooing motion with her hand. “Mary and I can lock up.”

“Are you sure?” Cara asked.

“I’m sure,” Sarah Beth said emphatically. “Now, go on, get!”

“So,” Cara said as they left the library, “what shall we do tonight?”

“I thought you were fixin’ to show me your new house.”

“I’d like to.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He walked her to her car, waited while she unlocked the door. “I’ll follow you,” he said.

“All right.”

He closed her door, then walked to his own car. Di Giorgio pulled out of the lot behind him.

Vince tapped his hand on the steering wheel. Being alone with Cara seemed like a really bad idea, especially after last night. He told himself it couldn’t happen again, but he doubted he had the willpower to leave her alone now that he knew what it was like to make love to her, to taste her sweetness. He had thought of little else all day. Time and again his mind had strayed toward last night. Mara might have been the most accomplished lover he had ever known, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Cara’s sweet innocence. His body had reacted every time he remembered how willingly Cara had given herself to him, how soft and supple her body had been, how her warmth had chased away the perpetual cold that was part of him now. All day, he had wanted nothing more than to make love to her again.

A short time later, she pulled up in front of a two-story house surrounded by a white picket fence. Rose bushes grew on both sides of the yard; flowers bloomed along the red brick walkway that led up to the house. A wicker rocking chair occupied one corner of the porch.

Vince swore softly as he parked his car behind hers. Talk about your vine-covered cottage! All that was missing was a cat sleeping on the rocker.

“What do you think?” Cara asked as he got out of the car.

“Looks nice.”

“It is. I love it! Of course, it’s not nearly as big or as nice as…never mind.”

“That’s okay. This place looks more like you than that old mansion.”

“Do you really think so?”

He nodded.

She waved to Frank, then took Vince’s hand in hers as they went up the walkway to the porch. She unlocked the front door, then waited for him to precede her.

“After you,” he said.

Cara stepped inside, then glanced over her shoulder, frowning when she saw he was still standing out on the porch. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“My mama always taught me to wait to be invited.”