Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1)(44)

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The introductions were as awkward as Kylie expected. The two men did their share of eyebrow twitching, which only made Kylie feel more uncomfortable. She wanted to tel them they were wasting their time trying to twitch info from her. She didn't, of course. The too-nice disease again. So instead, she sat at a table and tried not to fidget under their intense stares.

The bigger man with darker hair was named Burnett James and the other was Austin Pearson. Up close, Kylie couldn't help but notice how GQ

perfect the two men were. Not that she was into old guys-or she should say "older" because they looked about ten years older than her-but she could stil appreciate perfection.

Kylie also noticed how Burnett kept stealing glances at Holiday when she wasn't looking. He obviously had the hots for her. Not that Holiday seemed aware of his interest. If anything, Kylie got the feeling the camp leader found both men annoying. Especial y Burnett.

"So..." Burnett turned a chair around, straddled it, and sat down.

Holiday watched the man and frowned as if disapproving of his sitting position.

"This is your first time to Shadow Fal s Camp, huh?" Burnett asked.

Kylie nodded. Then recal ing her mother's belief that answering without words showed disrespect, she fol owed up with, "Yes ... sir." The "sir" part of the sentence slipped out as an afterthought and she wished she hadn't done it, because it came out sounding sarcastic. Not that she meant it like that, but her interrogators might not realize that.

Burnett placed his elbows on the back of the chair, laced his fingers together, and studied her. After very slow passing seconds, he tilted his head slightly as if listening-listening for something that no one else in the room could hear. Like the sound of Kylie's heartbeat. Just what kind of supernaturals were these two? Were they, like Del a, human lie detectors? Somehow Kylie suspected that Burnett had that ability. Which meant Kylie would have to be careful not to get caught in a white lie.

"What brought you to Shadow Fal s, Miss Galen?"

Holiday stepped closer. "She was sent here by-"

Burnett held a hand up at Holiday and frowned. "I'd like Miss Galen to answer." While his words could be construed as non-hostile, Kylie noticed his edgy tone.

Holiday must have noticed it, too. She shot the man a glare that no doubt contained language she probably couldn't use in the presence of the campers. Kylie got the feeling that this wasn't the first time these two had bumped heads. Heck, for al Kylie knew, they might have bumped more than just heads. They could be old lovers.

Austin cleared his throat as if hoping to clear the tension in the room.

"Go ahead, Kylie," Holiday said, then everyone looked back at Kylie.

She sat up a little straighter and tried not to wince. "I was told ... by Holiday, that my shrink is the one who got me signed up. I think she convinced my mom that this was a camp for troubled teens."

"And are you?" Burnett tossed out the question.

"Am I what?" Kylie asked.

"A troubled teen?" His tone rang with accusations.

"Of course she's not," Holiday insisted.

Burnett shot a frown back at the camp leader. "As a courtesy, I al owed you to be present, but if you keep interrupting-"

"Bite my ass, Mr. James," Holiday snapped, obviously mad enough not to care about Kylie hearing the PG-13 language.

"Don't tempt me," Burnett retorted.

"Tempting you hasn't crossed my mind," Holiday shot back. "You've been a class-A jerk since you came to see me."

Kylie bit her cheek to keep from smiling. The tension between these two could be cut and served up with hot fudge. It was the kind of tension one saw in a romantic flick.

"Maybe it's the icy reception you've given me for no damn good reason. If I didn't know better I'd think you have a prejudice against vampires."

So he was a vampire. Kylie actual y felt proud of herself for figuring it out.

"Don't fool yourself." Holiday squared her shoulders. "It's not vampires I have a problem with. It's men who think something as inconsequential as a badge gives them the right to intimidate others. From the moment you walked into my camp you've acted as if we should bow down to you. And if that's not bad enough, you're now accusing my kids of-"

Austin cleared his throat again, louder than before. "I think we should get back to Miss Galen here."

Or not. Kylie would like to know what it was the FRU was accusing the campers of doing, exactly. However, her curiosity faded rather quickly when everyone's gaze shot back to her and she recal ed Burnett's question.

"No, I do not consider myself a troubled teen."

Burnett's right brow arched. "Have you ever belonged to a gang?"

"No," she answered, and wondered if he was referring to the Blood Brothers. "I've never real y gotten into any trouble."

"Real y. Weren't you just hauled down to the police station during a drug raid?"

Kylie suddenly understood Holiday's dislike for Mr. Tal Dark and Handsome. He did have a way of making people feel smal . Maybe it was Holiday's nerve of standing up to the vampire that gave Kylie courage. Or perhaps it was just that with al the other crap slung at her today, Kylie's ability to play nice had played out. Then again, maybe she had a brain tumor provoking her to do things she normal y wouldn't do. Tilting her chin up, she let the words rol off her tongue without remorse. "You'd think if you were able to get your hands on that report, that you'd have at least read it. Because I'm sure it stated that I was not doing drugs or drinking."