A Vampire for Christmas(60)

He nodded. It was too incredible to believe, but he couldn’t prevent jumping into the excitement of what they may have accomplished tonight. “I think it worked,” he said.

She nodded. “I think so, too. I mean, I feel that it did work. I made it.” With new wonder, Laura looked to the gate. “My girls? Tell them to come here.”

He called them in, and Mary allowed her sister to lunge into her mother’s arms first.

Did he save you, Mommy?”

All three women looked to him. Daniel could only shrug.

He did,” Laura said. “I know he did. Thank you, Daniel.”

Merry Christmas,” he said, but regretted that it meant little.

He slipped out through the gate while the reunited family hugged and sniffled back tears. He wasn’t much for Hallmark moments. He’d saved one woman from a horrible life. But how many more had transformed because they’d not had someone to help them?

He shoved his hands into his pockets and strode down the street, but noticed the car parked across the way. The black Mercedes did not blend into this neighborhood. Seriously?

Hell, he didn’t want to talk to her.

Yes, he did. It was going to hurt, but it was best to exorcise this wicked ache from his heart swiftly.

Daniel beelined toward the car. The back window rolled down to reveal an angel’s face.

What are you doing here?” he asked.

Don’t be angry. I had my driver follow you from the concert. I needed to see you tonight. To apologize for the things I said.”

Doesn’t matter.”

It does matter. I’m sorry, Daniel.”

For what you said.” She’d said she loved him. And now she was apologizing? He nodded and looked over the top of the car. His chest tightened and he couldn’t bring himself to look at her again. “That it?”

Y-yes. Come inside, and let’s talk. What you did for that woman and her daughters was amazing.”

You must have bought the girls hot chocolate. I noticed they had caps.”

Is their mother going to be all right?”

I think so. She made it to the full moon without drinking blood. I think she’s going to be as fine as a homeless mother of two can be on a cold winter’s night.”

I offered the girls money, but the older one only took a twenty. She’s very proud.”

I offer their mother money every time I see her. Always refuses. She just needs to find a place to live and get a job.”

It’ll happen,” Olivia said. “Santa will find them.”

Daniel smirked and shook his head. “Charity thinks Santa only comes to kids who live in houses.”

Then we’ll have to change her mind, yes?”

Olivia.” He winced at the rush of emotions that welled in his chest, squeezing his broken heart, and wished he’d been smarter and had walked away, but now he was here, and he was no man to walk away without all the answers. “I saw him kiss you.”

Him? Oh.” Her hands fluttered to her lap and twisted within one another. “Daniel, that wasn’t—”

No need for an explanation. I know where I fall on the scale of all things starstruck and famous. Dead bottom. It’s expected. That’s the way life treats me. Just swell.”

Daniel.”

Things never go my way. I thought me and you were going to be a one-night thing, or maybe a flash in your holiday vacation. I was cool with that. Until…”

He locked his jaws shut and beat the top of the car. Out with it then, and then you can cleanse this star from your heart and toss it back into the sky where it belongs.

I fell in love with you, too. It’s been nice knowing you, Olivia. Luck with your career.”

And he pushed from the car and swung around, beating a path to the opposite side of the street and down the sidewalk. He heard her call after him, and started humming that damned drummer boy song to tune her out.

CHAPTER SIX



HE DIDN’T WANT TO GO to Olivia’s Fifth Avenue sanctuary.

He did want to go there.

It had been two days without the smell of her sugar cookie skin brushing his cheek. The shimmer of her hair over his face. The hush of her voice tendering into his heart.

And he missed her so much it hurt worse than the blood hunger after he’d been bitten.

In an attempt to block out the soft call of her haunting spirit, Daniel stalked down the alley behind a nightclub booming with techno music. He wanted blood. He needed it coursing through his body, fulfilling and darkening his lighter desires. It was the only way to rip her cleanly from his soul.