“You’d never turn me against my will, would you?”
“What?” He drew back so he could see her face. “What are you talking about?”
“Shannah said when she got really sick, Ronan turned her even though she’d told him she didn’t want to be a vampire.”
“Believe me, Sara, I’d never do that to you. I give you my word.”
With a sigh, she pulled his arms around her again, her eyelids fluttering down as his lips reclaimed hers. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was young and in love and anything was possible.
Sara woke smiling. She and Travis had kissed and cuddled until the sun came up.
Throwing back the covers as the scent of fresh coffee tickled her nose, she padded into the kitchen where she found Overstreet fixing French toast and bacon.
“’Bout time you woke up,” he said, turning the bacon. “Late night?”
“You could say that.”
“Did I miss something between then and now?”
“What do you mean?”
He twitched one shoulder. “It’s just that things were looking a little grim last night and this morning you’re practically bubbling over with happiness.” He filled two plates and set them on the table, then poured two cups of coffee.
“I can’t help it,” she said, settling into one of the chairs.
He arched one brow as he sat across from her. “Sounds like love to me.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
He grunted. “Who would ever give their heart to an old reprobate like me?”
“I believe there’s someone for everyone.”
“And you think your someone is a vampire?”
Sara stared at him, the joy she had felt earlier snuffed out by that one single word. Vampire.
“I’m sorry,” Overstreet said. “What you do with your life is none of my business. But I’ve seen vampires up close and personal and believe me, they’re not like us.”
Sara nodded. “I know.” Pushing her plate away, she left the table.
Overstreet huffed a sigh and wished he had never listened to Joey Cannon.
Sara showered and dressed, her heart heavy. Not wanting to sit home and think sad thoughts, she decided to open the shop.
“Not without me,” Carl said, grabbing his coat and his notebook.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said. “It won’t be dark for hours.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Let’s walk. It’s a beautiful day.”
With a nod, he followed her out the door and down the narrow path to the sidewalk.
Sara frowned. “Do you feel it?” she asked as they made their way down the street.
“Feel what?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced around. Everything looked the same and yet … something was different. It took her a minute to realize what it was. The sense of oppression that had hung in the air was missing. Funny, she had never noticed it until it was gone. For the first time since moving to Susandale, there were people on the street. Neighbors were outside, talking to each other. Luke and Debbie were playing catch. Deanne was watering her yard.
When they turned onto the street where her shop was located, Sara came to an abrupt halt. Several women were gathered in front of the store, looking in the windows and chatting with each other.
They smiled at her when she unlocked the door. Actually smiled.
Overstreet and Sara exchanged glances, then he went to sit in his usual place in the corner while Sara waited on her customers, none of which she had ever seen before.
It was during a mid-afternoon lull when Deanne came into the shop. “Hello, Sara,” she said, as friendly as can be. “Do you have any lilac bath salts?”
“Yes. It’s right over there.”
With a cheery wave of acknowledgement, Deanne went to look at the display.
Sara watched as she picked up a bottle of bath salts and three cakes of lilac-scented soap.
“What’s happened?” Sara asked as Deanne placed her selection on the counter. “Something’s changed.” The woman looked different, relaxed, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“The vampires have all left town,” Deanne said. “We’re free.”
“Left? Why? Where did they go?”
“I don’t know. And I don’t care.”
“But you didn’t go with them.”
“The only woman who went with them was Sadie Wentworth. I thought Olivia would go, too, but …” Deanne made a vague gesture with her hand. “She decided to stay, probably because of her kids.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Olivia and Sarah were the only two women, besides myself, who were here by choice. The rest of them were here because the vampires compelled them to stay. This was a nice town before Jason Bowman and the others came. I’m hoping it will be again.”
“So, you lived here before the vampires came?”
“Yes. With my husband. Raoul was a vampire, but he never approved of what Jason and the others were doing. We talked about leaving, but …” She shrugged. “We kept putting it off and then, eight months later, he was killed by a hunter.”
“Why didn’t you leave then?”
“I had nowhere else to go, no family. And by that time, the other women were my friends. We relied on each other.”
Sara nodded. Maybe she wouldn’t leave town, after all. “Will this be all?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Sara rang up the woman’s purchases and bid her good day, wondering, as she watched Deanne leave the store, where she got the money to pay for the things she’d bought.
The rest of the day passed quickly and since business had been so good, Sara closed at six. Overstreet decided that he’d imposed on Sara’s hospitality long enough and since the vampires were gone, he decided to go back to his room in the hospital.
At home, Sara slipped into a pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt, tied her hair back in a ponytail, then headed for the kitchen to start dinner.
She decided on spaghetti, and while the water boiled, she opened all the windows, something she hadn’t done since she discovered there were vampires in the town.
Conscious of the coming night, she wondered if Travis
