them. “You’re a Dhampir, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “I am.”
I exhaled. “That wasn’t nice. I would have told you that, eventually. Well, not that last part.”
He reached across the table and picked my hand up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I smiled. “You didn’t. You just startled me. I didn’t realize that Dhampirs could do that to witches. Well, I’m not a true witch since I don’t really have powers, at least that I can control, but still. So, what do you think about me?”
His thumb ran over the back of mine lightly as he spoke. “You’re gorgeous, smart, and athletic, and I’d love to see you shirtless, too.”
I smacked his arm playfully while laughing loudly. “You’re incorrigible.”
He grinned from ear to ear, his smile dazzling. “You like it though.”
I didn’t want to ruin the playful setting, but I needed to know what was up. “Why now, Tom?”
He shrugged. “I think fourteen is too young to date. I wanted to wait until you were fifteen before I asked you out.”
“You’ve never even shown interest in me before,” I challenged.
“How could I with Nick hovering around you all the time?”
“Good point,” I admitted as I looked down at the table. I didn’t like the fact that Nick was upset, but it bothered me more that he wouldn’t talk to me about it. I also knew that he was somewhere nearby, waiting to see if anything happened that he’d need to rescue me from.
“Are you sure you want to be out with me?” he asked softly.
I looked up at him and smiled. “Yes, I’m sorry. I just worry about Nick.”
“Isn’t it his job to worry about you?” he asked teasingly.
I laughed. “Yeah, but I guess it kind of goes both ways. Today has been a rough day for us both.”
“I bet, especially with you agreeing to go out with Gary.”
“Are you mad?” I asked as I tried to perceive his emotions.
He shrugged. “Not at you. I wish he hadn’t asked you out the same day I had, but I’m not upset you said yes. It’s not like we’re in a monogamous relationship. It’s only our first date after all.”
“Thank you,” I said as my shoulders relaxed.
He kissed the back of my hand. “You worry too much.”
Our food came, and we ate in silence. I felt strange and wasn’t sure why or what was causing it. Tom paid for the bill and then drove me home. I was surprised when he walked me to the door, but also extremely nervous. I’d never kissed a boy before and all of the teen movies showed boys kissing girls when they dropped them off.
Tom opened the door of the house. “I brought her back safe and sound, and even in one piece,” he yelled inside and then shut the door.
I laughed and hugged him. “Thank you for dinner.”
He kissed my cheek. “Thank you for coming.” He looked at me a moment and then asked, “Will you go out with me again?”
I probably should have thought it over, but my mouth said, “Yes,” before I could think.
Tom kissed my cheek again and said, “Goodnight, Sarah.”
I waved as he walked away. “Night, Tom.”
I watched him drive away and then turned to go inside, running into a warm body. “Have fun?” Nick asked.
I stepped back from him and swallowed my alarm. “Yes.” I walked around him and found the entire pack, which consisted of sixteen males ranging from the age of ten to fifty, waiting for me.
Gary winked at me from the back and then disappeared. Thornton walked up to me, sniffing my face and neck. “He didn’t bite you, did he?”
I shook my head. “No, Dad.” He wasn’t really my dad, but after my parents were killed by a vampire, he and the rest of the pack had taken me in. That was also when Nick had been assigned to be my Guardian. We were only six at the time.
“Hm, I’m surprised he didn’t try to kiss your lips.”
I growled at him. “Dad!”
He smiled, and I realized he was teasing me. “Go on up and shower. I made the boys wait so you’d have hot water.”
I kissed his cheek and walked up the stairs with Nick on my heels. “What did you two do?” he asked.
I stopped in front of the bathroom door and turned around. “Weren’t you following us?”
Nick ground his teeth together. “No. Thornton forbade me from following you on your date.”
“So, it wasn’t you that gave me that weird feeling then?” I asked in