to ask her out, he could at least make it seem like he was interested.
“And you believe that is the reason I’ve asked you? Because I feel sorry for you?”
His thoughtful expression gave her pause. No, she knew it was to get to Peter, and ultimately, Rowley.
“It hadn’t occurred to you that I’m intrigued and attracted to you. I can’t make heads or tails of you, as you seem bottled up in that brilliant mind of yours, but I’d like to find out what happens when you come out.”
What a smooth talker. Brilliant mind and peach brings out the yellow pigments in your skin, giving you a glow. Some humans sought out zombies for the thrill. At least that’s what she’d read in Vogue. Bet he had a den of zombie groupies waiting breathlessly at home for him.
“Say you’ll see me again, as I won’t take no for an answer.” He exhaled in a long sigh.
She forced a smile then shook her head. He would have to accept she wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
Peter held Meg close.
Vaihan turned to them. “Leera was telling me you haven’t narrowed down names yet.”
Liar, they hadn’t even been speaking of that. She’d been turning down his invitation to go out. Where was he going with this?
“Not yet.” Meg perked up. “But we aren’t due for another two months”
Two more long, excruciating months of listening to them, watching her brother and Meg carry on and on about this new person coming into their lives. The one positive was that maybe they would be too busy to bother her.
“Plenty of time, then.” He smiled, revealing a dimple on one side of his mouth.
Lightning moved through her. She hadn’t expected such a sexy, distinctive characteristic. The crowd shifted back toward the music hall. She put her cup on a table.
Vaihan’s caressing hand withdrew from her, taking with it the warm sensation.
“Thank you for the company, and I will pick you up Thursday at seven for dinner.”
Both Meg and Peter’s eyes grew wide.
Vaihan bowed, and handed her a business card. “My home number is on the back.”
There was no way of backing out of his move without being rude. He was too smooth. “Thank you.” Leera took the paper in hand and flipped the card over. Great penmanship.
“Why don’t you join us?” Meg piped up.
How embarrassing. Leera sunk inside herself.
“I’d hate to impose on your family outing.” Vaihan stepped back.
Even the undead guy seemed uneasy about the desperateness of the offer.
“Nonsense, there is an empty seat next to Leera.” Meg gestured to her.
The image of Jean next to her flashed, then the current vacant seat. She’d renewed two season tickets, unable to tell the bubbly sales girl there was no longer a mister, just his widow.
Leera’s chest rose and fell as she heaved a breath. “I need to step outside a moment.” The harsh clunk of her heels echoed as she marched away into the cool night. She didn’t make for a very good snitch.
Chapter 6
Perhaps the seat wasn’t empty, but vacant. Vaihan wanted to tell her the pain wouldn’t last forever. However, even that stage of grief brought new questions and doubts.
“Meg-g...” Peter frowned.
“Oh dear, I didn’t mean to.” Meg hid her face in Peter’s shoulder. “I didn’t think before I spoke.”
Evidently not. Neither made any attempt to go after her. Weren’t they worried for her safety? “Allow me.” This was his chance.
Vaihan set down his drink before Peter could interject, and followed after her. He pushed the handle and the door opened. Rows of cars stretched before him. The Potomac lapped at the shore to his left, past the grassy area. The night sky provided a starry canopy.
She paced between a minivan and an SUV. The moment Peter had pointed her out, he had suppressed the urge to walk over to her. What had gotten into him? The possibility that he’d grown attached to the sad woman in the photo Barton had provided him was real. Leera was attractive in a sultry way. Human males noticed her.
“Leera.” He breathed out her name.
She darted a look at him, eyes shimmering with tears. Wind tossed her curls in all directions. What a horrid feeling indeed, to be trapped among the living when all you wanted to be was dead. Once, he too had longed for the cycle to end, but not anymore. Not in a long time.
“Don’t come over here. My mascara has made a mess of my face.” She bent toward the side mirror of the silver SUV, her plump bottom pushed out.
“It’s going to take a lot more than smudged makeup to do that.” He cocked his head to admire the seam between her thighs. “You’re gorgeous.”
The corner of her mouth twitched upward. “You are some kind of smooth talker.” She lifted upright then spun toward him.
Admittedly, he stood too close but he itched to touch her again.
When she attempted to step back, he scooped his arm behind her, resting his fingers against the bare skin of her open-backed gown.
A breath hitched at her lips. As her heart rate accelerated, her eyes widened with fear.
“Not so fast.” He steadied her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
She wrapped her hands around the upper part of her body, creating a barrier. Goose bumps covered her exposed arms.
He unfastened the buttons of his jacket, slipped off the garment and then rested it on her shoulders.
“You don’t have to.” Her gazed traveled from his neck to where two buttons were undone on his dress shirt.
Did she like what she saw? For now, he’d content himself with not finding disgust in her eyes. As her dark gaze rose, it met his, and her body relaxed. A run of black makeup was smeared beneath her eyes. He pressed his thumb to her skin, wiping away tears and mascara.
She reached for his hand, then pressed his flesh to hers. “You’re so hot.”
“I’ll have you know, I’m not just good looks.” He let his hand rest in the small of her back.
“I meant your skin.”
“Of course you did. I’m undead. My appearance is usually a cause for fear.” Most of his kind paid for human female companionship. He’d never needed to. Zombies had their own underground scene. Lavish nightclubs, where humans offered themselves up blindfolded, tied up and bound to the wall or ceiling in exchange for a taste of poison. These places
