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It was hard enough to resist his charms while sober.
Mr. Gregor, a hearty voice boomed out across the room and
Sarah looked up in shock to find Edward Blackwood bearing down on
them. The proprietor gave Raj a questioning look, but Raj shook his
head slightly and slid out of the booth, standing next to the table and not
looking much happier to see the HR founder than Sarah was, although
perhaps not for the same reason.
Mr. Blackwood, he said smoothly. This is unexpected.
An unexpected pleasure, surely, Blackwood oozed. I was sorry
we didn t have the opportunity to chat more the other night. Perhaps
we could take a moment now, if your companion wouldn t He swept
a glance over Sarah, and she stiffened, convinced he had paused for a
brief second with something close to recognition. Raj seemed to sense
her discomfort. He stepped in front of her again, blocking Blackwood s
inquisitive eyes.
Sorry, Blackwood, Raj said, not sounding sorry at all. We have
plans.
Of course, you do. Rude of me to think otherwise. How is the
investigation going, if I might presume for just a moment of your time?
Investigation?
Well, yes, with the police. Have you made any headway?
You d have to ask them about that. I m afraid I ve been politely
requested to stay out of it.
Blackwood frowned. But I thought, that is, it was our understanding
Rajmund 121
you would be involved.
No, Raj said, shaking his head. I m looking into it on my end,
and I wouldn t mind talking to some of the witnesses, but I can t get
access. Not officially anyway.
Really. Well. Maybe I can make a few calls. He retrieved a slim
wallet from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and extracted his business
card. Handing it to Raj, he said, In return, perhaps you ll agree to
meet with me when this is all over. Raj took the card and slipped it into
his pocket while Blackwood waited in obvious expectation of a reciprocal
offer of some sort. When none was forthcoming, he smoothed his tie
nervously, coughed and said, Well, I ll make those calls then. You
have a pleasant evening.
Raj didn t move until Blackwood had crossed the main dining room
and turned out of sight into one of the smaller, private rooms. Without
sitting down, he made some sort of gesture to his proprietor friend and
slipped a hand under Sarah s arm. We re leaving, he said, all but
lifting her from her chair.
Sarah didn t protest since she wanted nothing more than to get as
far away from Blackwood as possible. She let Raj propel her out of the
restaurant, but finally dug her feet in when he would have dragged her
like some sort of stuffed toy down the street to where his car was
parked. Stop, she said, shaking her arm loose from his firm grip.
He gave her a cool look. I was under the impression you wanted
to avoid Blackwood.
Sarah blushed, but raised her chin defiantly. That doesn t mean I
want to be dragged down the street like a recalcitrant child. I can
walk, you know.
Yes, I know, he said in a way that made her blush even harder.
How do you do that?
What?
Make everything seem like some sort of foreplay. It s just
walking, she complained.
He laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, getting her
moving again toward his car. Not when you do it, sweetheart. And not
with those heels you re wearing.
Sarah smiled despite herself as he opened the car door and she slid
inside. But her smile faded when she saw Blackwood standing outside
the restaurant looking their way.
He s watching us, she murmured as Raj settled into the driver s
seat.
I know. He spun away from the curb, executing an illegal U-turn
that took them in the opposite direction they wanted to go but avoided
driving past the restaurant and Blackwood s prying eyes.
Sarah expected him to turn somewhere, but he caught the main
road out of town instead.
122 D. B. Reynolds
Where are we going? The words were no sooner out of her
mouth than he was crossing several lanes of traffic and pulling to a
stop on a dark street of quiet homes and very little traffic. He left the
engine running, but put the car in park and turned to face her, one long
arm along the back of her seat.
I think it s time for our little talk, Sarah.
Here? she asked.
Here. We can begin with why you re afraid of Edward Blackwood.
The guy makes used car salesmen look like boy scouts, but he s fairly
harmless. Unless you happen to have a few million stashed away in a
trust fund somewhere? He gave her a questioning look.
No. She drew a deep breath and stole a quick glance at Raj. He
sat watching her with that cool blue gaze of his, looking as if he had all
the time in the world and was ready to spend it waiting for her to spill
her guts. She restlessly played her fingers on her thigh until he reached
out and placed his hand over hers, stilling them.
Look at me, Sarah. She did. Whatever it is, whatever s going
on . . . it can t be that bad. I m a vampire, sweetheart. I drink human
blood on a regular basis. What can you possibly have to tell me that
would top that?
She laughed and, to her horror, felt tears pressing against the back
of her eyes. It s just . . . I ve spent years getting away from it all, and
now
The other night you asked me about the other women. You wanted
to know their names. Why?
The tears were threatening to overflow and roll down her cheeks.
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