She blinked at him, as if that had never occurred to her.
He settled her in his arms. “So, are you going to invite me in or not?”
Chapter 35
Kadie spent part of the morning packing. Saintcrow had told her he would buy her a new wardrobe in England, so packing hadn’t taken long—her makeup, toothbrush, hairbrush and comb, her favorite underwear, her cell phone. The last thing she packed was the enormously expensive bottle of Clive Christian No. 1. No way was she leaving that behind.
With the day stretching before her, she decided to go into town for lunch and to tell Rosemary and the others good-bye.
She had thought to find them in the restaurant, but it was closed up tight. Frowning, Kadie went to Shirley’s house.
Rosemary answered the door. “Kadie, hi.”
“Hi. What’s going on?”
“Shirley had an accident last night.”
“What happened? Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Come on in. She’s resting.”
Kadie followed Rosemary into Shirley’s bedroom. Passing through the living room, Kadie noticed there was a new TV and DVD player on a stand across from the sofa. She wondered absently if the other women had also bought flat screens.
Stepping into Shirley’s bedroom, Kadie saw that Donna was already there.
After exchanging hellos, Kadie took the empty chair beside Shirley’s bed. “What happened?”
Shirley shook her head. “It was so silly. I’d been watering the plants by the back porch. The stairs got wet and I slipped and hit my head and twisted my ankle.”
“Do you need a doctor?”
“No.”
“You should have called one of us to come and stay with you,” Kadie said. “You should have been watched through the night in case you had a concussion.”
Shirley lowered her gaze. “Well, actually, I did have someone stay the night with me.”
“Oh?” Kadie glanced at Rosemary and then at Donna.
“It wasn’t me,” Donna said.
Rosemary shook her head. “Or me.”
“Then who was it?” Kadie asked.
“A vampire,” Rosemary muttered, her voice dripping with venom.
“He was very nice,” Shirley said defensively. “He carried me into the house. After he treated the cut in my head and wrapped my ankle with an ace bandage, he fixed me a cup of tea, then tucked me in.”
“Micah,” Kadie guessed.
“Yes.” Shirley smiled faintly. “Do you know him?”
“Not really. He came here looking for Lilith.”
“Lilith? Why?”
“She turned him,” Kadie said. “You know those hunters who were here? They killed her, and somehow Micah knew she was dead.”
“He was very sweet,” Shirley remarked. “If Saintcrow is anything like him, I can understand why you stay with him.”
“Sweet!” Rosemary exclaimed. “I think that bump on the head scrambled your brains!”
“They aren’t all monsters,” Kadie said.
“I’ll never believe that.” Rosemary shook her head.
“She’s lucky to be alive. And now that she’s invited him inside, she’ll never be safe.”
“I’m not afraid of him,” Shirley said. “If I was younger . . .”
Donna stared at her. “You don’t mean that.”
Shirley lifted her chin defiantly “Yes, I do.”
“He’s bewitched you.” Grabbing her handbag from the dresser, Rosemary left the room.
“I think she’s right. You aren’t thinking clearly.” Donna patted Shirley’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”
When they were alone, Shirley looked at Kadie. “You don’t think I’m crazy, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“Do you think he’s still here?”
“I don’t know. You want to see him again, don’t you?”
Shirley nodded. “It was nice, having a man to talk to, even though I’m probably old enough to be his mother.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“A drink from the fountain of youth would be nice.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Later, back at Saintcrow’s house, Kadie thought about what Shirley had said about a fountain of youth. In a few years, Kadie might be wishing for a sip out of Ponce de León’s magic fountain herself. Right now, she and Saintcrow looked like the perfect couple. But that wouldn’t last forever. She was growing older every day.
She was standing in front of the mirror, fretting over things that could not be changed, when Saintcrow came up behind her.
Slipping his arms around her waist, he nuzzled her neck. “How’s my girl?”
“How do I look?”
“Beautiful, as always.”
“Never mind. Is Micah still in town?”
“Yeah.” He was quiet a moment, and then he frowned.
“What the devil is he doing at Shirley’s house?”
“She fell last night and he went to her rescue.”
Saintcrow’s gaze met hers in the mirror.
Kadie shrugged. “He spent the night with her.”
Saintcrow raised his eyebrows.
“Not like that!” Kadie exclaimed. “He stayed to look after her because she hit her head.”
“And now she fancies him.” It wasn’t a question.
“It seems that way.” Kadie frowned. “Did Micah do some kind of vampire mojo to make her like him?”
Saintcrow lifted one brow. “Vampire mojo?”
“That’s what Vaughan called it. So, did he?”
“How the hell should I know?”
“I thought you knew everything.”
He lifted his head, his eyes narrowing. “Your father’s here.”
“What? Where?” She glanced over her shoulder, as if she expected to see him standing behind her.
“He’s coming up the driveway.”
“You don’t think I called him, do you?”
“I know you didn’t.”
Kadie tugged on his hand. “Let’s go. Now. Before he gets here.”
“It’s too late. He’s at the door. Why don’t you let him in?”
“No! You can’t kill him. He’s my father!”
“Did I say anything about killing him?”
“What’s he doing here?”
“He’s come after you. Your sister’s in the hospital again, but this time it’s worse.”