He watched me, waiting to see what I was going to do, I guessed, but I didn’t pay attention. I walked in the darkness to the edge of the dam, lit up with white lights. It was truly a beautiful sight. Lance walked over and stood slightly behind me.“What was that all about at the hospital today?” Lance asked calmly, taking in the view.“Rosa thinks that you need to stop stalking me at work,” I said flatly.“What do you think?”“I just need for you to answer one question,” I said without looking behind me.“What is it?” he asked in a low voice, stepping closer.I turned around to look directly into his eyes. “Did you kill my husband?”Every emotion flitted quickly across his face from hurt, to anger, to disbelief. He swiftly composed his features, and then asked, “Why did you ask that?” There was hurt and anger prevalent in his voice.I took

I countered, taking a step toward the front of the car. He took another step around the car, away from the back door leading to the kitchen, just as I had hoped. “Oh? Have we met?” I asked, trying to sound casual.The man smiled, taking another step toward me as I stepped away. He seemed to be enjoying this game of cat and mouse. “A few weeks ago … in the castle … do you not remember?” he asked, clearly amused.Then, the realization of what he was set in: he was a vampire. Suddenly, a million ways to kill him ran through my mind … a stake through the heart … decapitation … silver … no, that was werewolves … or was it vampires? “Oh, I remember you!” I lied, trying to distract him, sounding matter of fact. “Well, of course you know I’m with Lance.”He shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said, taking another step closer to me. “You were

Lance never made a move to seduce me while I sat on his lap and he rocked me back and forth in his arms, stroking my hair, and rubbing down my arms and my back. Suddenly, I could smell the blood pulsing beneath his skin. My breath quickened and my lips started exploring his neck. His scent was just too much to resist. “You smell so good …”“You’re craving blood,” Lance said, then bit into his wrist. A moment later, crimson blood was running down his arm.Without thinking, I took his wrist into my hands and licked the blood before it dripped onto the table, not wanting to waste a drop. Then, I covered the wound with my lips and drank, sucking the blood from his wrist, moaning in pleasure, as he cradled me to his chest. When I’d had my fill, I pulled back and the wound quickly healed.“Leila, are you sure you want this?” he asked. His pulse quickened, pushing the blood through his veins. “Are you sure yo

“Possible,” he corrected. He thought for a moment then asked, “What color are her eyes?”“Green, why?” I asked, stopping short when I realized that what he was saying was true. “Oh.”Lance nodded, forcing a smile. “You really need to go talk to her.”I nodded, knowing that he was right. After all, I couldn’t go to a regular doctor, could I? “What do you think is wrong?”“Well, I can’t be sure, but it sounds like you might be with child.”“With child?” I asked in disbelief. “Pregnant? No way!”“What are your symptoms?” Lance asked calmly. “Besides craving blood.”“Oh, my God!” I said, unable to believe what I was hearing. “I’ve been tired a lot lately, cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, and my stomach has a little pooch. It was always flat before. How could this have happene

The day went by pretty quickly and I didn’t have another bout of nausea for the rest of the afternoon. I helped Mr. Shaprio with his back, prescribing him muscle relaxants and pain meds; set a middle-aged man’s broken arm; and rushed to help a woman with chest pains, who ended up having angina … and all before eleven o’clock in the morning. I decided to take Rosa’s advice and silently vowed to leave for the day after I spoke with Dr. Ryan. I was just too tired to stay. I was going to have to watch my late night rendezvous.As I waited for Dr. Ryan, I wondered how she was able to be at the hospital so early, in the daylight. Who knows? Maybe she spent the night, or maybe there was another way that she could be in sunlight without bursting into flames. I made a mental note to ask her, in addition to other things.“Leila, Dr. Ryan is out of surgery,” Rosa said in a low voice. “I told her that you needed a minute.”