“Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day?” Lori asked Sarah.
They were sitting in the break room, eating their lunch. John seemed to think Sarah would be safer if she stayed at work all day and she had no problem with that. The less she traveled the better. Why make it easier for Danielle to capture her?
“Valentine’s Day? Is that coming up?” Sarah asked before taking a bite of her sandwich.
“Yeah, silly, it’s tomorrow.”
Sarah had never really cared for the holiday. It was just another day to make lonely people feel lonelier. Not that she would feel lonely this year, but then she didn’t need a holiday for John to prove his love. He showed her every day. She didn’t even have to ask him to feed from her last night and his initiation made it all the sweeter, since it appeared he’d done it out of enjoyment instead of some insane need to protect her. “If John has made any plans, he hasn’t shared them with me.”
Lori opened a small bag of chips. “What’s been going on with you two? You’ve been quiet about him and that’s not like you.”
What should Sarah say? That spending a night with John led to another and then another? And then after dinner each night, he had made love to her until she’d been too exhausted to move and each morning more of her stuff had magically appeared.
The fiend. Ah, but he was her fiend.
She smiled. “I think I moved in with him.”
Lori went ballistic, which was better than Sarah had anticipated. “You think? When did that happen? When were you going to tell me? Are you crazy?”
Sarah took another bite of her sandwich. Lori would eventually calm down.
“Have you learned nothing from your relationship with Steven?”
That last question stung. “I thought you liked John. He’s nothing like Steven.”
“I know that, and I do like him, but Sarah, you haven’t even known him a month. Don’t you think you’re rushing things a bit?”
Maybe, but there was no way she could tell her friend the truth. Being vague was the only way to go. “I love him, Lori, and he loves me.”
“So, what, did he propose?”
“No, he didn’t propose.” Did vampires even get married? Would a legal document even work with him? She’d get old, but he wouldn’t. Oh God, she didn’t even want to think about that. Still, what would pass for the exchanging of vows? The exchanging of blood? Hmm. Maybe that was how she could become a vampire. Wasn’t that how it worked in the myth?
“Then why did you move in with him?”
Because he was a sneaky little bastard. When would he learn he only had to ask? “Because I love him, why else? Don’t spoil this for me, okay? I’ve had the best couple of days so far.”
Lori shook her head slowly. “I don’t know. I hate seeing you make the same mistakes again.”
Sarah was getting weary defending herself where John was concerned. “I’m not making a mistake. Besides, I haven’t made any commitment with him. I’m not even giving up my apartment.”
Lori’s eyes lit up. “You’re not?”
“Not yet. He’d rather I wait a year.”
“Okay, then,” Lori said, and opened up her lunch bag.
“That’s it? That’s all I had to say, that I wasn’t giving up my apartment? Boy, I wish I had led with that bit of information.” Sarah laughed in spite of herself.
The day progressed as normal days did: meet with client, file, repeat. A few minutes after four o’clock, her cellphone rang displaying Lori’s name. Sarah laughed as she answered the call. “You too lazy to walk over to my office?”
“I’m down in the garage. I just got back from a client’s and didn’t watch where I was walking and I cut my leg. It’s bleeding all over. Can you bring me the first aid kit?”
“What? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“I don’t think so. Bring the first aid kit and you can decide for yourself. But hurry, okay? I parked next to your Bumblebee.”
Sarah disconnected the call and ran to the break room. After opening several cabinets, she found the kit. She rushed back to her office and grabbed her coat and purse, just in case she needed to drive. How the hell had Lori hurt herself so badly? Sarah was usually the klutz.
On her way out the door, she waved at Linda, who was busy chatting on the phone. Sarah arrived at the garage, rushed toward the Bumblebee, and abruptly stopped. Lori’s car was parked beside it, but her friend was nowhere to be found. As a matter of fact, she’d never told Lori her nickname for John’s SUV, which could only mean…
It was a trap and she’d walked right into it. Shit.
A hand covered her mouth and something pricked her neck. She jumped and squealed at the touch. Oh God. Not again! As the garage grew dimmer, the first aid kit slipped through her fingers.
* * * *
John scrolled through the many different Valentine flower arrangements. Buying flowers in the computer age was less personal, but, for someone who couldn’t venture out into the sun when most stores were open, sure made the process easy.
He’d never thought he’d buy flowers again. The last time had been for his mother’s funeral. He also never thought he’d be comfortable feeding from Sarah, yet once he became used to the sensations, he was able to take control and actually enjoy it. Having her taking vitamins and iron and eating more nutritiously helped, too. She hadn’t passed out the last time they made love, either.
He’d made his selection of pink—of course—and white roses when his neck tingled and stomach twisted. The last time that had happened, Sarah had been nearly abducted.
He rubbed his neck. It was only four-thirty, so the chances Danielle had captured Sarah were pretty slim, especially since Sarah was at work. But, what if… He grabbed his cellphone. She could yell at him all she wanted, but he needed to hear her voice or he’d go stir crazy.
He placed the call and promptly went to her voice mail. Damn. Had she let that thing die again? Maybe he should get her a charger for her office. He called her work number and the receptionist answered the phone.
“Hi, Linda. Would you get Sarah for me please?”
“I’m sorry, she stepped out. Would you like her voice mail?”
Sarah wasn’t there? Where would she be going, and without her phone? His stomach twisted tighter. “How about Lori?”
“No, she’s out with a—Oh wait. She just walked in. Hold on.”
“This is Lori, how may I help you?”
“It’s John. Do you know where Sarah is?”
“If she’s not in her office, then I guess I don’t. What’s up?”
He massaged the tingling in his neck. Something was wrong. “Can you check and see if she’s left for the day? Her phone isn’t working and I’m a little worried.”
“Is there a reason you have to know where she is every minute? Because that’s not a healthy sign. Neither is having her move in with you when you’ve only known each other a month.”
Shit. He didn’t need this right now. “She’s only staying with me until Steven has been caught. I’m not trying to control her. I just want to keep her safe and I don’t trust Steven. Would you check, please?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about it like that. Give me a minute. I’ll call you back.”
He stood and paced the room. He needed to calm down. Get the facts first. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t solve anything.
Someone knocked at his door and he jumped. Yeah, his nerves were shot or he would have heard—he sniffed the air—Heather climbing the stairs. He opened the door.
“Hey, Boss. Someone left this at the bar and said it was urgent you get it.” She handed over an envelope. “Also, the contractor called. They’ll be out Monday to work on the back steps. What made you go with cement?”
He flipped the envelope over and something inside shifted. It only stated his name. No address. No return address, either. Who would be sending him an urgent note? His stomach twisted. Oh shit.
“Hey, you okay?” Heather asked.
“I’m fine. Thanks.” John closed the door behind Heather. He ripped open the envelope and Sarah’s necklace fell to the floor. Oh God! Sarah! With shaky hands, he picked it up. A piece of paper stuck out of the envelope. He read it twice before it registered.
She’s in Urbana. You know the address.
He collapsed on the couch. Danielle had abducted Sarah. Who else? But how did she do it? The sun hadn’t set.
His phone rang. Lori. He pushed the answer button.
“Hey, John. I looked all over. Her computer is still on and your car is in the garage, but her purse and coat are gone.”
He needed to ease her worries because he was worrying enough for both of them. “It’s okay, Lori. She just got here. She’s not feeling well and came home. Thanks for looking, though. I appreciate it.”
“Oh, okay. Have her call me when she’s feeling better.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
He disconnected the call and stared at the note. Danielle wouldn’t expect him to do anything until the sun set, which meant he could get the upper hand if he arrived beforehand. But how? How was he going to get to his car? How was he going to drive it? And how was he going to do all that and keep from turning into a crispy critter?
Shit, shit, shit.