She shook her head in astonishment. “What are you doing? Have you learned nothing since I brought you across?”
Vince shrugged sheepishly. “I had to try.”
“Whatever for? I know you don’t have any desire for food.”
“I’ve been invited to dinner.”
“Ah. I take it you still haven’t told your little mortal what you are.”
He shook his head. “No, but she’s starting to get suspicious.”
“You can’t hide the truth forever,” Mara said, slipping her arm through his. “Come, I know just the thing to take that awful taste out of your mouth.”
Chapter 26
Serafina stood in the doorway of the room in the basement of the laboratory, admiring her handiwork. Everything was as ready as she could make it.
Anthony’s crypt rested in the corner.
Two metal operating tables stood in the center of the room. One had been refitted with solid silver restraints to hold the vampire, restraints far stronger than the ones Anthony had once used. As much as she loved Anthony, she didn’t intend to underestimate DeLongpre’s strength the way her beloved had. She had bought a portable crib to hold the infant until she needed it, prepared a second table with leather restraints to hold DeLongpre’s daughter, and obtained the necessary equipment to draw blood.
She had considered many ways to wreak vengeance against Roshan DeLongpre, but using DeLongpre’s blood and that of his daughter to resurrect her beloved was far superior to any of the others. Letting Anthony destroy DeLongpre once and for all would be the coup de grâce. As for DeLongpre’s daughter, once Serafina was through with her, Anton could decide whether the chit should live or die.
Even though she had kept all of Anthony’s old shoes and clothes, Serafina had bought him a whole new wardrobe, including underwear, socks, and handkerchiefs. He had always been a little vain, and she didn’t want him to appear in public in clothes that had been out of style for over twenty years.
She had purchased his favorite blend of coffee, as well as his favorite wine and whiskey. When the day for his return grew closer, she would stock her pantry with his favorite foods. She made a mental note to pick up a bottle of his favorite cologne, a new toothbrush, a new wallet, a new comb, and a razor.
She smiled, thinking how wonderful it had been to shop for him, to fill her dresser drawers with his things.
She had bought new sheets and pillows for her bed, wanting everything to be perfect for their new life together.
She ran her hand over the metal table. If only there was a way to test the spell before she tried it on her beloved.
If only she could make the days and hours pass more quickly!
If only her beloved were there beside her.
“Soon.” The word had become her mantra. “Soon.”
Chapter 27
The next two weeks passed quickly. Cara saw Vince every night after work and sometimes during her break, and the more she saw him, the more she loved him. He was kind, patient, and fun to be with. And their lovemaking…each time seemed better than the last. Sometimes they made slow, sweet love in her bed, sometimes on the floor of the living room in front of the fire, sometimes in the bathtub, and once in the kitchen on the table.
The Monday night her parents had come to visit, they had hinted several times that she should move back home, but Cara refused to consider it. Now that she’d had a taste of living on her own, there was no way she was moving back in with Mom and Dad.
She continued buying odds and ends for her house—a full-length mirror for the bathroom door, a lacy fern in an earthenware pot, a painting for over the fireplace, a new lamp for the living room.
Frank had fully recovered. There were still times when she felt a twinge of resentment when she looked in her rearview mirror and saw his Lexus trailing a short distance behind her, but for the most part, she found his presence vastly reassuring.
Now it was Monday night and she and Vince were going to Sarah Beth’s house for dinner and then to a movie. She was surprised at how excited she was to be going to Bethy’s for dinner, or maybe it was Vince who had unleashed the butterflies in her stomach. Or maybe it was just the fact that it was the first time she and Vince would be going to visit one of her friends as a couple.
“Whatever,” she muttered as she finished applying her makeup, put on her shoes, and went into the living room to wait for Vince.
She was looking out the window, wondering where he was, when the phone rang. Lifting the receiver, she said “hello.”
“Hey, darlin’.”
“Vince, where are you?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m running late. I had to go into the city to buy some parts and I got hung up in traffic. Why don’t you go on to dinner and I’ll meet you there.”
“Are you sure? Maybe we should just go next week.”
“No, that wouldn’t be fair to Sarah Beth. You go on and I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
“All right. Hurry.”
Vince hung up, stung by the disappointment he heard in Cara’s voice, but there was no help for it. It was still daylight; there was no way he could leave the garage until the sun went down.
After closing and locking the security door, he went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. Cat trailed after him. Vince knew it was his imagination, but he would have sworn Cat’s eyes were filled with accusation.
“I know,” Vince said irritably. “I’ve got to end it. And I will, but she wants me to be with her on Halloween. It’s her favorite holiday, you know. When it’s over, I’ll either tell her the truth or I’ll just leave a note and get out of her life forever, okay?”
Cat stared up at him through unblinking yellow eyes.
“I promise, all right?”
With a twitch of his tail, Cat jumped up on the bed and began his daily ablutions.
Muttering an oath, Vince went into the bathroom and closed the door.
Cara had just finished helping Sarah Beth clear the dining room table when she heard the doorbell and then the sound of Vince’s voice as he introduced himself to Sarah Beth’s husband, Dean.
Smiling, she hurried into the living room. “You made it!”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Would you care for something to drink?” Dean asked. “A coke, a beer?”
Vince shook his head. “Nothing, thanks.” He glanced around the room, noting the large beveled mirror over the fireplace. Two dark green sofas faced each other in front of the hearth. A rectangular glass-topped coffee table stood between the sofas. A floor-to-ceiling shelf held a hodgepodge of books, knickknacks, and framed photographs.