And how would she feel when she started to age and he didn’t? She might be able to find excuses for everything else, but not that. The fact that he didn’t age also meant they probably wouldn’t be able to stay in one place too long.
By the time she pulled into the driveway, she had the mother of all headaches.
Travis arrived at Sara’s house soon after the sun went down. He knew something was bothering her the minute she opened the door. He didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what it was. He was only surprised it had taken her so long to think of all the reasons why dating a vampire was a bad idea.
“Are we still going out?” he asked, noting her forced smile.
“Of course. Just let me grab my purse.”
Stepping inside, he closed the door. “What’s wrong, Sara?”
“Nothing. Are you ready? The show starts in a few minutes.”
“I know something’s bothering you, so you might as well tell me what it is.”
She looked up at him, her expression troubled. “I …” She stared past him, her fingers holding her handbag so tightly her knuckles were white.
“Did something happen? Are you afraid to go out with me?”
“No! No. It’s nothing like that. I saw Carl tonight. He’s dating Winona. You know, the woman who owns the café? And I got to thinking about them. And about us. And …”
“And you started having second thoughts about dating a vampire.”
Still not meeting his gaze, she nodded.
“It’s all right, Sara. If you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll understand.”
“No! Oh, Travis, I love you!”
“Sara! I love you, too.” He started to reach for her, then hesitated. She didn’t sound very happy about it.
Eyes glistening with unshed tears, she gazed up at him.
“Sara?”
Tossing her handbag on the sofa, she went into his arms.
He held her close, his hand stroking up and down her back while her tears wet his shirtfront. When her tears subsided, he guided her to the sofa and pulled her down on his lap. “I know this is hard for you,” he said quietly. “I know we have a lot of obstacles other couples don’t. I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t want to deal with them.”
Sniffling, she looked up at him. “Do you think we could make it work?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. This whole vampire thing is still new to me.” He wiped her tears away with his fingertips. “I’m still trying to figure out who I am. What I am. I can’t promise that I’ll never hurt you, and that scares the hell out of me.”
Sara nodded. She hadn’t even thought of that possibility. He always seemed to be in control.
“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other for a few days,” he suggested, each word like a knife in his heart. “Maybe you should spend some time alone to think things over.”
Frowning, she bit down on her lower lip. And then she nodded. “If you think that’s a good idea.”
“I want you to be sure,” he said heavily. “If I don’t hear from you in a couple of days …” He eased her off his lap. Hesitated a moment. And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, a long, slow kiss. “Good night, Sara.”
Blinking furiously, she forced a weak smile, then gasped when he vanished from her sight, something he had never done before.
Feeling more miserable than she ever had in her life, she burst into tears, thinking that his kiss good night had felt more like goodbye.
Filled with self-loathing for what he was, Travis stalked the dark streets. He’d finally found a woman he loved, a woman he would happily have spent the rest of his life with. But how could he expect Sara—or any woman—to tie her life to his? He looked like a man, but that man had died. And no matter how hard he tried to pretend he was human, he wasn’t.
“Feeling sorry for yourself?”
“What the hell?” Travis’ head snapped up when Ronan materialized in front of him.
“Good thing I’m a friend and not a hunter.”
“What the hell do you want? I thought you went home.”
“I did. But one of the drawbacks of being your sire is that when I let my guard down, I’m aware of everything you’re doing. Or thinking.”
“Everything?” Damn. That was disconcerting to know.
Travis started walking again and his sire fell in step beside him.
“A lot of changes in town,” Ronan remarked, glancing right and left.
Travis grunted. The place could burn down for all he cared.
They turned a corner and Travis found himself looking at the houses they passed. Most were inhabited by the women the vampires had left behind, but a few held families now. Lights burned in the windows. He heard the sound of a child’s laughter in one of the houses and it reminded him that he would never have a child of his own.
“As long as I’m here, do you have any more questions for me about what you are, what you can and can’t do?”
“Gee, Dad, are you getting soft in your old age?”
“I thought I told you not to call me that,” Ronan growled.
“Did you ever marry or have kids before you were turned?”
A shadow of sadness flickered behind Ronan’s eyes. “I had a wife. Verity. She died giving birth to my son. The boy died, too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was a very long time ago. I scarcely remember her.”
“So you never married again?”
“Not until Shannah. Three years after Verity died, I chased the wrong woman and when she caught me, she turned me. She gave me the same choice I gave you. I refused at first but, like you, I let
