Sitting down in one of the deck chairs, she propped her feet on the porch rail. "V," she mused between bites of pie. "Victor? Vaughn? Vance?"
She grunted softly. "Vinnie? Vito?" No, he didn't look Italian.
"Vladimir?" She chuckled softly. "Vladimir Navarre."
She put the dish and the glass down on the floor beside her and gazed up at the stars, feeling suddenly lonely.
She wished that she hadn't said no when Marty Defore called and asked her to go out with him tonight. Even though she didn't find Marty the least bit attractive, he was a nice guy and they always had a good time together...
She blew out a deep breath. She didn't want to go out with Marty. She wanted to seeNavarre .
A movement to her left drew her gaze and she saw him standing at the end of her driveway, almost as though she had conjured him up from her mind.
He inclined his head in her direction. "Good evening, Miss Grant."
"Hi." She swung her legs down and sat forward in her chair, her arms folded on the railing. "Nice night for a walk," she remarked, and then thought how foolish that must sound. Surely he hadn't walked here from Cliff House.
"Yes."
His gaze met hers and a long silence fell between them. Adrianna felt her mouth go dry as she tried to think of something to say, but words failed her and she could only stare at him, her gaze trapped in his, like a moth helplessly snared in a web.
He seemed to be a part of the darkness. His hair was the color of the night, his skin as pale as the moon. He was wearing the same black jeans and leather jacket he'd worn earlier that evening, the black of his clothing blending into the shadows that surrounded him.
Navarrestared at her, mesmerized by her youth, her beauty, the innocence in her clear blue eyes. Her hair, loosed from the coil at her nape, fell well past her shoulders and he had a sudden urge to run his hands through her hair, to press her body to his and feel her warmth. Her skin would be soft and warm, vibrant with youth. Her blood would be as sweet as her lips. Even from here, he could smell the life flowing through her veins...
The hunger, kept under tight control for centuries, rose up within him, clawing at his vitals with fingers of flame.
He felt the prick of his fangs against his tongue and he cursed softly, looking away lest she see the blood lust that was surely glowing in his eyes.
Adrianna blinked. Feeling as if she'd been freed from some sorcerer's spell, she shook her head. "What are you doing here?"
He lifted one black brow. "Walking."
"You walked here from Cliff House?" she exclaimed. "But that's almost ten miles."
Navarreshrugged. "It's good exercise, good discipline."
"I see," Adrianna replied, though she didn't understand at all. "Would you... would you care for a cup of coffee?"
"No, thank you." He clenched his fists, suppressing the hunger raging through him. "It's late. I should be going."
"Maybe some other time."
"Perhaps. Good night, Miss Grant."
"Good night."
He turned on his heel and walked back the way he'd come, knowing he had to put as much distance between them as possible, knowing that, for his sake, and for hers, he must never see her again.
Part Three Chapter Three
Navarreknew she was there before he opened the door. He'd sensed her presence even before he came downstairs.
He opened the door and her nearness filled his senses. She wore a V-necked pale blue sweater, black slacks, and sandals. Her hair fell down her back in soft golden waves.Navarre took a deep breath, inhaling the mingled scent of soap and skin that was hers and hers alone.
Adrianna smiled uncertainly asNavarre opened the door. She had every right to be here, she assured herself. It wasn't as if she was coming to seehim . After all, the man owned a business, and she was a customer. The fact that his place of business was also his residence didn't mean a thing.
But it did. She had spent all day Sunday trying to convince herself that she didn't care a fig about the man, or what he thought. She had invited him to share her company twice, and twice he had refused. She didn't have to be hit over the head; then again, maybe she did, because she had come here directly from work, not even going home long enough to grab something