she realized suddenly. As with most vampires, she never kept much food in the house. There wasn’t any need. Just some chocolate, which she had loved as a human, and some colas and alcohol. Her fridge was mostly filled with a variety of human blood packets.
She gathered her car keys, credit card, license, and some cash and went out to her car. Then she sighed, trying to recall any local all-night grocery stores in the area. Moments later, she pulled out of the garage on her way across town. At least she had a mission to distract her thoughts for a short time.
An hour or so later, and with the stealth that only a vampire could manage, she tip-toed into the bedroom where Caleb still slept. She opened the blinds so she could glance outside at the night sky from across the room and lay down carefully on top of the bed next to him. Once settled, she propped herself up on one elbow, staring down at his peaceful features. He’s so adorable, she thought. It took her sheer willpower not to reach out and stroke his hair with her fingertips.
She lay on the bed just watching him for hours and considered her feelings, as well as the conversation they had earlier that evening. It was nearly dawn when she heard a car pull up outside. She briefly cocked her head to one side and carefully moved off of the bed. Moving as a silent blur out of the room, she went downstairs and to the front door.
She swept open the door with a smooth motion and looked up into Katrina’s eyes with a knowing smirk. “Hey, Red,” she greeted with a sigh. “I wondered when you would get here.”
“You know me so well, it seems,” Katrina replied with a serious expression. “Let’s talk, girlfriend.”
Paige’s eyebrows shot up, and she nodded with resignation, stepping aside for her to enter.
Later, Katrina sipped on a glass of warm blood as she listened to Paige recount most of what was discussed with Caleb. Having grown concerned following the brief chat on the phone with her mate earlier that night, she knew immediately that she needed to get to California as soon as possible. Somehow she guessed that both of them might need her; at least, she had hoped that was the case. She cocked her head slightly as Paige paused to reflect and heard the sound of Caleb’s steady breathing upstairs. It was a comforting sound.
“You’re not in love with him, you know,” Katrina observed calmly. At least, not right now.
“What makes you so certain?” Paige asked with narrowed eyes. It’s not as if you know how strongly I’m feeling about him.
The redheaded vampire responded smoothly, “You’re not exhibiting any of the signs that would concern me.”
“Such as?” Paige queried carefully. Damn. I should have Googled for a checklist or something.
“Well, you’re not trying to initiate overt sexual advances on him,” she began. “There’s no secret communications going on between the two of you. You’re not trying to exert any subversive emotional control over him. And you’re conducting yourself honorably in other ways as well.”
Paige raised both eyebrows curiously. “We’re okay, so far. Go on.”
Katrina shrugged. “You’re not trying to lie to me once confronted about your recent strange behavior. There’s no attempt to circumvent my relationship with Caleb. And you’re not endeavoring to break any of my rules for him, much less convince him to break them.”
“So, I get a pass then,” Paige surmised. “And you’re not worried about my feelings for him?”
One of Katrina’s eyebrows arched imperiously. “I didn’t say I wasn’t concerned. But we’ve been best friends for a long time, and I trust your integrity.”
“He’s --” Katrina started to stipulate, but Paige cut her off quickly and held up her hand.
“…yours. Yes, I know, and I have complete respect for you as his mate,” Paige conceded earnestly. “That’s why I’ve tried to stay away until I could sort out my emotions.”
Katrina considered her friend with appreciation regarding her understanding of the situation. But I’m not stupid, either, she silently acknowledged. “You’re smitten with him, Paige. And I would say that you love him,” she continued. “That much is obvious. I’m okay with that, so long as it remains relatively harmless.”
Paige nodded and sighed.
“But stop trying to hurt him like you have been,” Katrina stipulated. “It’s not helping either of you. And Caleb’s been miserable over the development. It’s not fair to him, okay?”