Wrapping her arms around herself, sheclasped hold of her elbows to ward off the chill of the breezedrifting through the massive pines. “How did you plan to be ateacher when you don’t age? People would have noticed that,eventually.”
“I’d planned to work at different schools.Move around, a lot. Change a few memories to keep my credentialsrelevant for another fifty years.”
“You won’t be going back to school now, willyou?” she asked.
“No, I think my college days are officiallyover.”
“How much time did you have left?”
“A little over a month, then I’d planned toget my masters.”
“You could still change some memories andget a job somewhere. I’d think you know enough.”
He wouldn’t deny it hadn’t already crossedhis mind. “I think it was always a pipe dream,” he reluctantlyadmitted. “My time will be better spent keeping my familysafe.”
“So you’re going to give up your dream?”
“Yes.”
She turned to look at him. “Would youbelieve me if I said I’m sorry for that?”
“I would.”
“Good.” Without looking back at him, shebegan to walk again. “You’re right, you may not age or have thesame concern about death us mere mortals do, but you do know lossand your life is as difficult, if not more so, than ours.”
He did a double take at her words. He’dnever really expected understanding or sympathy from her. “It’s allwhat you make of it.”
“True. I never really liked most of theteachers I had over the years.”
“I was going to be one of the likableones.”
“You definitely would have made the teengirls happy.”
He laughed as he ran a hand through hisdisordered hair. “I’d planned to work with the younger ones, anddid you just compliment me?”
“Maybe, but I think your head is alreadycompletely swollen, my words can’t make it any bigger.”
They fell into a companionable silence whilethey continued down the pathway. He couldn’t stop glancing at heras they moved. What had she gone through, and why did that vampirekeep coming for her? He wondered as he watched the sway of her hairagainst her back and the set of her shoulders.
She’d admitted some things to him lastnight, but even with a bottle of Scotch in her, she’d remained mumon her history. He’d like to think she’d tell him about iteventually; she was already more relaxed with him, but she shutdown the minute he tried to learn anything personal about her. Bythe time they left here, she’d open up to him; he was determined tomake it happen, no matter what he had to do.
After about an hour they turned and madetheir way back toward the cabin. They took another pathway that leddown to the shore of the lake. Arriving at the water, he steppedonto the sandy beach by the water and picked up a flat rock.Throwing his arm back, he skipped the rock across the smoothsurface of the water. Beside him, Paige began to search for her ownrock before wrapping her hand around one. He watched as her stoneskimmed across the lake five times before slipping beneath itsdepths.
“I haven’t done this since I was a littlegirl.” She bent to search for another flat stone.
He spotted another stone and threw it acrossthe surface. “My siblings and I used to do this all the time at thelake near our house.”
Her stone kissed the surface of the water,nearly making it to the center of the lake before slipping beneathits murky surface. She laughed in sheer delight, her eyes shonewith pleasure as she gave an excited little jump. “Further thanyours!” she declared.
“A competition is it?” he inquired beforesending his out almost as far as hers.
She laughed again and grabbed hold of hisarm. He didn’t think she’d realized what she’d done, but a sizzlingsensation shot through his skin, up his arm, and straight down intohis groin. His smile froze as he stared at her striking face andstunning eyes. Her mouth parted, a small breath escaped her beforeshe hastily pulled her hands away.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“Don’t be.” His voice came out gruffer thanhe’d anticipated, but he could still feel the blood pounding in hisdick, still feel the heat of her hand burning into his skin. He’dmet thousands of women in his lifetime, but none of them had causedhis skin to become electrified in such a way. None of them had madehim want to spend more than a couple of hours in their presence,and none of them had made him feel so relaxed and yet soprotective.
Before he let her go, he’d find the vampirewho was tormenting her, and he’d put an end to him. He kept thesudden realization to himself; he didn’t think telling his plan tomurder someone was the best way to work at gaining her trust.
