him, including what he looked like when the sun was up and he was dead to the world. No pun intended, she thought with a grin.
Tonight, she would remind him he had promised there would be no secrets between them, then ask him to leave the door to his lair open.
After breakfast, she drove to Marti’s to see if she’d like to go to lunch and a movie later that day. Marti suggested they ask Rosemary and the others and make a day of it.
“Why don’t you go invite the others?” Kadie suggested. “I’ll make some sandwiches and a cake and meet you all at the restaurant at noon.”
“Great idea,” Marti said. “After I invite everyone, I’ll see what I can do about decorations, and we will have an unofficial celebration.”
Kadie had just finished frosting a cake when the other women arrived. Marti had decorated the restaurant while Kadie fixed lunch. She had pushed two tables together and covered them with a bright yellow cloth. A vase held a bouquet of wildflowers. She had set the table with silverware instead of the plastic forks they sometimes used.
All the women were there, except Frankie.
“I invited her,” Marti said, “but she wouldn’t come.”
“I wish we could convince her to spend time with us.” Shirley shook her head. “She’s so alone.”
“I know,” Kadie said. “I never see her unless it’s in the tavern.”
“I think she feels at home with the vampires because she can communicate with them. They can talk to her and read her answers in her mind.”
“Maybe we should have invited the men,” Kadie remarked.
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t. We really can’t indulge in girl talk when they’re here. These sandwiches are delicious, Kadie.”
“Thanks, Chelsea. It’s just tuna with a little pickle and celery.”
Rosemary smiled at Kadie. “This was a wonderful idea.”
“We should party more often,” Pauline said. “Maybe it would make the days go by faster.”
“Sounds good to me,” Marti agreed. “Sometimes I get so bored, I could scream.”
“I’d like to drive a stake into the heart of every vampire here!” Rosemary said, her expression fierce. “I hate them all!”
“They’re not that bad,” Chelsea said. “I mean, they do take good care of us.”
Rosemary scowled at her.
“Well, it’s true. We each have a house of our own, and nice clothes, and food to eat, and . . .”
“We’re slaves!” Hands fisted on her hips, Rosemary glared at Chelsea. “I don’t care if they decked us out in furs and built us mansions and hired servants to wait on us, we’d still be slaves.” She looked at Kadie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spoil the mood.”
“It’s all right,” Kadie said. “I understand how you feel. We’d all like to go home.” But even as she spoke the words, she wondered if she really felt that way. If it meant never seeing Saintcrow again, would she leave Morgan Creek?
“So, how was lunch?” Saintcrow asked later that evening.
“It was fun, I guess. Rosemary is very bitter about . . . well, about everything. She’s been here a long time. Why don’t you let her go?”
“Would that please you?”
“Yes.”
He considered it a moment. He knew Kadie was attracted to him, but he wanted more than that. He wanted her love. All of it. Perhaps letting the woman Rosemary go would be a step in that direction. “Very well. I will take her away tonight, when the others are asleep. But you are not to tell them she’s been freed.”
“What should I say?”
“Nothing. Let them think what they will.”
“All right. Could I ask another favor?”
“You can ask.” Although it wasn’t necessary. He already knew what she wanted.
“I want to see you during the day.”
“Why?”
“You see me when I’m asleep.”
“It’s hardly the same thing,” he said dryly.
“Fair is fair. Besides, you promised there’d be no more secrets between us.”
“This isn’t a secret.”
“Please, Rylan?”
The use of his first name, so sweet on her lips, was his undoing. “Very well. I will leave the door to my lair open tomorrow. But there’s a price.”
“Oh?” She knew what it would be, felt her whole body come alive in anticipation.
“Yes,” he said. “Exactly that.”
She forgot everything when he drew her into his arms, everything but the wonder and the magic of his touch, the intoxication of his kisses, the sting of his fangs that should have been painful but filled her with sensual pleasure.
She wrapped her arms around his neck when he carried her to her bed, her hands clumsy in their haste as she undressed him. He was