Andrei.
How could she even think of leaving town when he was here? If anyone could protect her, it was Andrei. Luke might be a hunter, but he wasn’t nearly as strong or powerful or as experienced as Andrei.
Jilly came by her office a few minutes before five. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, just let me grab my bag.”
“Nice flowers,” Jilly remarked. “I’ll bet I can guess who they’re from.”
“I’ll bet you’d be right.”
“Tess . . .”
“Not here,” Tessa said as they made their way to the elevators. “We’ll talk later at my place.”
Luke was waiting for them on the main floor when the elevator doors opened.
And so was Andrei.
Jileen tugged on Tessa’s arm. “What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know.” But I’m really glad to see him. When Andrei smiled, she knew he’d read her thoughts. Again.
Luke glanced at Jileen. “I thought you said she needed a ride home?”
“She does,” Andrei said. “And I’m it.”
“Tess, are you sure?” Jileen asked.
“I’m sure,” she replied, moving to Andrei’s side. “Thanks for coming, Luke, but I’m going with Andrei.”
“Yeah, well, I hope you don’t regret it.”
“I’ll be fine. See you tomorrow, Jilly.”
Jilly nodded, her expression sour.
“Your friends are afraid for your safety,” Andrei remarked as they left the building. “They don’t trust me.”
“Can you blame them?”
“All things considered? I guess not.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Tessa said. “I trust you.” Reaching into her handbag, she withdrew her keys and pressed them into his hand. “Thank you for the flowers.”
“You’re welcome.” He opened the door for her, closed it gently, and went around to the driver’s side.
She waited until they were on the road before saying, “Jilly told me that Luke found two vampires last night. He staked one, but the other one got away.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
Andrei slid a glance in her direction.
“You were there?”
“Luke destroyed the fledgling. His companion was older, not so easily taken. Had Luke pursued him, the vampire would have killed him.”
“But . . .” Tessa frowned. “If the other vampire was older, why didn’t he kill Luke?”
“We are not all indiscriminate killers, dragostea mea.”
“You’ve called me that before. What does it mean?”
He glanced at her, his gaze dark and intense, his voice quietly compelling. “My love.”
My love. The words sent a shiver down Tessa’s spine. But surely it was just an expression.
Andrei pulled over to the side of the road and killed the engine. “Is that what you think?”
“But . . . we’ve only known each other a short time.”
He shrugged. “Time is irrelevant. I’ve waited an eternity for you.”
“Andrei . . . I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I know you care for me. I know you’re attracted to me. Love may come, in time.”
“And if it doesn’t?” She turned to stare out the side window. He could read minds. Could he compel her to love him?
“Tessa.” When she turned to face him, his fingers lightly stroked her cheek, then came to rest in the hollow of her throat. Her pulse beat against his fingertips, fluttering wildly like a bird in flight. “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. Could you? Make me love you?”
“No. I can compel you to do whatever I desire. But I can’t make you fall in love with me.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“If you wish to be rid of me, you have only to say so.”
“And you’ll leave, just like that?”
He nodded. “I will pack up the shattered pieces of my broken heart and leave the city.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” His hand curled around her nape. “You said you weren’t ready to be intimate,” he murmured, “but how do you feel about making out with a very old vampire?”
“Here?” she asked, unable to keep the smile out of her voice. “Now?”
“Here.” He pushed his seat back as far as it would go, then lifted her onto his lap so that she was facing him. “Now,” he said, and covered her mouth with his.
Chapter Eleven
“I love him, I love him not . . .” Tessa glanced at the vase of red roses sitting on her desk across from the vase of pink ones. The red ones had arrived first thing in the morning. “My office is beginning to look like a florist shop.” She burst into giggles as she plucked the last petal from the rose in her hand. “I love him.”