Page 28 of Midnight Kiss

“The dog next door. Michael’s dog.”

I stiffened at his name. “What about him?”

“He doesn’t usually act so erratic. It’s weird.”

Most dogs despised vampires. They could sense what we were—a threat, a predator. “Perhaps, the dog is having a bad day.”

Emily laughed, the sound blending with the sounds in the diner-style restaurant, the hiss of the coffee machine, the low hum of talk, and the clinking of knives and forks on plates. I had barely glanced around since we’d entered, my gaze fixed solely on her. “Tell me more about … Granger,” I said.

The alternative was discussing me, and that was off the table.

Our conversation was pleasant, mostly because I enjoyed listening to her voice. A few of the things she told me had angered me—stories of people who she had helped, who had taken advantage of her.

Afterward, we drove into Manhattan to Central Park and walked through it until we found a place to sit.

“Alex?” She twined her fingers together, dark circles under her eyes that hadn’t been there when I’d last seen her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just thinking,” I said.

“You’re more quiet than usual.”

Because taking the book will kill you. Leaving it will doom me. “I’ve had a difficult week.”

“Difficult how?”

“I’ve been finding it difficult not to think about you,” I said, turning toward her. “I find myself possessed with thoughts of you, no matter the time or day.”

“Possessed? You make it sound like I’m a demon or something.”

“Not you,” I replied. “Me.”

“Alex,” she said, more of that delicious laughter tinkling from her throat. That fine throat that I had pictured biting. “You’ve been great so far. I mean, getting to know you has been lovely. Not that I’ve really gotten to know you. I feel like you’ve barely talked.” Tiny wrinkles sprouted between her brows, and I pictured smoothing them away.

“I prefer to hear what you have to say,” I said. “I’m far less interesting than you think.”

“I’ve heard that about mysterious, sexy investors.”

“Sexy?”

Her lips parted, and she let out a tiny huff of breath.

“You find me attractive, Emily?”

“I mean, I’d have to be blind not to. Come on, who wouldn’t find you attractive?”

“Maybe that’s because you don’t know me very well,” I said, a challenge rising in my tone. “I’m not an innocent, good man. I’m the type of person you should stay away from at all costs.”

“Oh really?” She cocked her head to one side, her auburn hair falling against her cheek. Gorgeous. “You know, they say that when a guy tells you that, you should run.”

I stared at her, my eyes narrowing. “They were right.”

She tossed her head, a hint of a smile toying with the corners of her lips. “It’s funny,” she said. “I’m usually the type of girl who runs away from danger, but I don’t feel like doing it now. Maybe I have a sixth sense.”

“Or maybe you’re completely lacking it altogether,” I said. “Which is worrying.”

“Why?”

“I don’t like the thought of you in danger, Emily.”