Almost Midnight (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3.5)(27)

“Thanks.” She looked up briefly and hoped he understood how much she meant it, because she didn’t want to have to express it any more than just offering the word.

The waitress dropped off their food. Della spooned the French onion soup into her mouth, bypassing the cheese. But as the warm, tasty broth danced on her tongue, she couldn’t help but think how good Steve’s blood tasted. How good his kisses were. How it felt to be touched and not think about being cold.

When she’d showered, she’d noticed a hickey between her shoulder and left breast. She was glad he’d left his mark on her. But she was equally glad it wasn’t permanent. It would fade in a few days. And that’s the way it should be. Because once they were back at Shadow Falls, this was over.

Done.

She simply couldn’t put her heart on the chopping block again. Lee, along with her parents, had taught her how hard it was to love someone. How easy it was for them to disappoint you.

She didn’t love Steve, not yet, but these last thirty-six hours had taught her how easy it would be to let herself go there. When someone was genuinely nice, your heart welcomed them inside. Add the whole good-looking thing and him being such an awesome kisser to the scenario, and her heart had a welcome mat ready to toss down, a marching band, and banners with flashy letters reading, COME ON IN.

And that was unacceptable. She couldn’t fall in love with Steve. Nope. No way. As soon as they returned to Shadow Falls, she was back to being the old Della. Solo. She had Miranda, and she had Kylie. As soon as Kylie returned.

Della didn’t need a guy making her feel special, making her feel beautiful, making her feel … human.

Steve picked up his knife and cut a piece of steak. “Oh, when I spoke with Burnett earlier this morning he mentioned that he went to see Kylie.”

Della’s heart swelled. “He knows where she is? Is she coming back?”

“He must know because he said he’d seen her, but he didn’t say anything about her coming back. He just said to tell you that she was okay and that she asked about you.”

That was Kylie, always worried about others before she worried about herself. The girl was an idiot. Well, not an idiot. She was just one of those really caring people. Sort of like the damn shape-shifter Della was having lunch with.

Della dipped her spoon into the onion soup. “Well, if he knows where she is, then I can just go and bring her back.”

“Kidnap her?” he asked.

“If I have to, yeah. She belongs at Shadow Falls with Miranda and me.”

Steve chuckled. “You’re not serious,” he said.

“The hell I’m not,” Della snapped. “Kylie’s coming home and that’s all there is to it.”

*

Home. Della felt it as she landed outside the fence at Shadow Falls about thirty minutes later. Funny, how the place had started to feel that way. Of course, maybe that was to be expected when she no longer belonged with her parents.

Steve landed and transformed. “We should go to the front.”

“No.” She pulled out her phone. “I’m calling Burnett and telling him I’m here, then I’m jumping the fence. I just want to go to my cabin and relax … I don’t want to be interrogated right now.”

She wanted to have time to regroup in her head.

Burnett answered on the second ring. “Where are you?”

“We’re here. Right outside the fence on the east side of the property.”

“Good. We’re having dinner now. Why don’t you come over? There’s a surprise.”

“I’m tired. Not in the mood for surprises. I just want to take a shower and relax. Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Are you okay?” His tone grew dark, concerned.

“I’m fine,” she growled.

When she hung up, Steve started walking over to her. She watched the way he moved, like a lion, lithe and with purpose. He stopped right in front of her and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. “You know, I kind of don’t want to go back. I liked it just being you and me.”

She’d liked it, too. Too much.

She caught his hand and lowered it from her face.

Swallowing a lump of regret, she forced herself to say it. Part of her had hoped she wouldn’t have to spell it out for him. But that was the coward’s way out. And Della Tsang wasn’t a coward. Plus, Steve deserved to know up front that it wasn’t him. It was her.

“Look, I … I enjoyed this. Everything. I really did, but … it’s over now.”

He shook his head. “Why? It doesn’t have to be.”

“Yeah it does.” Her heart suddenly grew heavy. Too heavy for her chest. “I don’t … I’m not … I’m not ready for this.” She waved a hand between them.

That look of apology filled his eyes again. “I told you I didn’t mean for that to happen. I’m not going to pressure you to take it there. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen. I’ll be patient.”

She shook her head. “I don’t mean just that.”

Concern tightened his brows. “Then what do you mean?”

“I mean us … period. Us being an item, us being an ‘us.’ I’m not up for that.”

He shook his head. “Why? I thought we got along great.”