A Fire in the Blood(5)
She stared after them a moment, then double-locked the door.
Andrei drifted down to the sidewalk. Hands shoved into his pants’ pockets, he strolled down the street. What was there about this woman that attracted vampires from all over the country into his city? But for his timely intervention on several occasions, she would have been dead weeks ago.
Or worse.
Perhaps in a day or two he would arrange to meet her, up close and personal, and see if he could discover her allure.
* * *
“A vampire attacked you?” Jileen stared at Tessa in disbelief. “Saturday night? At your place? Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. Why on earth would I make up such a story?”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Tessa shook her head. She had spent most of Sunday trying not to think about what had happened. Or about the man who had saved her from almost certain death. “I know I should have called, but I just didn’t want to talk about it, you know? It was still too fresh in my mind.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No, just scared me half to death.”
Jileen put her sandwich aside and laid her hand on Tessa’s arm. “You are so lucky to be alive. How did you get away?”
“I didn’t. Some man I’ve never seen before showed up out of nowhere and drove a stake through its heart.” Tessa shuddered at the memory. “It was . . .” She shook her head, unable to find the words to describe the shock. The horror.
“Girlfriend, I am so glad you’re okay. I . . . what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“It’s him,” Tessa whispered as her rescuer entered the café. “He’s here.”
“Who’s here?”
“The man who saved me.”
“Really?” Jileen glanced over her shoulder. “Where?”
“That tall, dark-haired man. Over there, by the door.”
“He saved you? Geez, I hope you got his name and phone number. He’s gorgeous.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Tessa murmured. But she was noticing now. As Jileen had said, he was drop-dead gorgeous. Tall, and again clad all in black—silk shirt, slacks, and boots—he had long, ebony hair, dark eyes, a blade of a nose, sensuous lips, a strong jaw.
He inclined his head in her direction and then started toward her.
“He’s coming over!” Tessa exclaimed. “What do you think he wants?”
“I don’t know,” Jileen said. “Just be sure to introduce me.”
The stranger smiled at Tessa. “You’re well?” he asked. “No ill effects from your ordeal?”
“I’m fine, thanks to you,” Tessa replied with a tentative smile. “This is my friend Jileen. Jileen, this is . . . I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”
“Andrei,” he said with a bow. “Andrei Dinescu.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Jileen said. “Won’t you join us?”
“Thank you.” In a single fluid movement, he pulled out a chair and lowered himself onto it. “So, what are you lovely ladies up to this afternoon?”
“Taking a long lunch,” Jileen answered, smiling expansively.
“Working girls?” he asked.
“Not that kind,” Jileen said, grinning.
Tessa glared at her friend.
“What is it you do, Mr. Dinescu?” Jileen leaned forward, allowing him a glimpse of her generous cleavage.
“Andrei, please. I collect and sell antiques.”
“Really? I love antiques,” Jileen said.
“You must come by my shop sometime,” he said, but he was looking at Tessa.
“Yes, well,” Jileen muttered, sitting back in her chair. “I think I’ll just go on back to work. See you later, Tess. Mr. Dinescu.”
He nodded, his gaze still on Tessa. “Did you tell your friend what happened Saturday night?”
“Of course. I tell her everything.”
His gaze moved over her. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“No harm done, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be all right again. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t come along when you did.”
He made a vague gesture with his hand. “I’m glad I was there.”
Tessa nodded, her gaze trapped by his dark one, by the mellifluous tone of his voice. By the sheer beauty of the man.
Suddenly flustered, she reached for her drink. To her chagrin, she knocked the glass over, spilling iced tea across the table and into his lap. “Oh! I’m so sorry!”
“It’s all right,” he said, flashing a heart-stopping smile. “Unlike the Wicked Witch of the West, I won’t melt.”