Roman's heart was good. She glanced over her shoulder. "I didn't realize you were such a nerd."
He raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You have a lot of degrees."
"I've had a lot of time," he said dryly.
She bit her lip to keep from smiling. "Night school?"
The corner of his mouth lifted. "How did you guess?" A printer across the room started working with a clacking noise. He strode toward a computer screen where a tangle of lists and graphs were filling the screen. The data looked incomprehensible to Shanna, but Roman was following it with great interest.
"This is good," he whispered. He grabbed some finished pages from the printer and studied them.
"This is really good."
"What?"
He dropped the papers on a black-topped table. "This." He picked up a beaker filled with greenish liquid. "I think I did it." A grin spread across his face. "I think I really did it."
He looked so young and happy. As if the cares of several centuries had suddenly lifted from his shoulders.
Shanna couldn't help but smile. This was the way Roman should be. A healer, hard at work in his lab, delighting in his discoveries.
She approached him. "What is it? A new toilet bowl cleanser?"
With a laugh, he set the beaker down. "It's a formula that will enable vampires to stay awake during the day."
Shanna halted in mid-stride. "You're kidding."
"No. I wouldn't kid about something like this. This is … "
"Revolutionary," she whispered. "You could change the world for vampires."
He nodded, a look of wonder crossing his face. "It hasn't been tested, of course, so I can't be sure.
But it would be the biggest step forward since the successful manufacture of blood."
And his synthetic blood was saving thousands of lives. She was in the presence of a genius. And he claimed to love her.
He crossed his arms, studying the greenish liquid. "You know, if this formula successfully invigorates a vampire who is clinically dead, it could possibly have applications for certain mortal conditions, like comas or catatonic states."
"Oh my gosh. You're such a genius, Roman."
He winced. "I've had a lot more years to study than most scientists. Or nerds, as you call us." He smiled.
"Hey, nerds rule. Congratulations." She reached out to hug him, then reconsidered and patted his arm before stepping back.
His smile waned. "Are you afraid of me?"
"No. I just think it's better for us not to … "
"Touch? Or make love?" His eyes darkened with a glint of hunger. "You know we have unfinished business between us."
She gulped and moved back. It was not a problem of trusting him. She knew he'd do anything to protect her from harm. The truth was, she couldn't trust herself. When he looked at her like that, her resistance melted. Twice she'd let him make love to her, and twice she should have refused.
Logically, she knew a relationship with a vampire could never work. Unfortunately, knowing that fact did little to ease the longing in her heart. It sure didn't stop the physical attraction that flooded her senses and made her body ache for him.
She attempted to change the subject. "What is that music you're listening to?"
"Gregorian chants. They help me concentrate." He went to a small fridge and removed a bottle of blood. "We'll make sure I'm not hungry." He unscrewed the top and started drinking it cold.
Whoa. Did this mean he intended to seduce her? Surely not. The sun would be rising soon. Another fifteen minutes or so and he would be out cold. Of course, vampires could move really fast when they wanted to. She wandered about his lab while he stood there, drinking and following her every move. "This looks old." She examined an old stone mortar and pestle.
"It is old. I rescued it from the ruins of the monastery where I grew up. That and the cross you're wearing are all I have left of that life."
Shanna touched the crucifix. "Once I'm safe, I need to give this back. It must be precious to you."
"It is yours. And nothing is more precious to me than you."
She had no idea how to respond to that. I like you, too, seemed a little lame. "Radinka said she was doing some research for you and I should discuss it with you."
"Radinka talks too much." He took another sip of blood. "The red folder." He pointed to the lab table nearest her.
Shanna approached the folder slowly, wondering what on earth this research could be. She opened it and found herself staring at an eight-by-ten glossy of a golden retriever. "Oh. It's a … dog." She turned to the next photo and the next. A black Labrador, a German shepherd. "Why am I looking at dogs?"
"You said you wanted a big dog."
"Not now. I'm on the run." She lifted a photo of an Alaskan malamute and gasped. Underneath it lay a picture of a house. A large, two-story, white-framed house with a big front porch and a white picket fence. Prominently displayed in the front yard was a For Sale sign. Her dream house.
But more than a dream house. It was a proposal of a dream life that Roman wanted to share with her. Shanna's throat constricted, leaving her speechless and short of air. She'd been wrong. Her tolerance level for shock was not nearly as tough as she thought. Her eyes filled with tears. Her hand trembled as she turned the photo over. There was another house with another picket fence.
This one was an old Victorian with an adorable tower. It was also for sale.
She'd told him what she wanted most in life, and he was trying to give it to her. By the time she reached the eighth and last picture, she could hardly see. Her vision was blurred with tears.
"We could see them at night." Roman set down his empty bottle and walked toward her. "You can pick out which one you like. If you don't like any of them, we'll keep looking."
"Roman." Her hands shook when she closed the folder. "You are the dearest man. But-"
"You don't have to answer right away. The sun will be up soon, so we need to be going. We could teleport back to my bedroom. Will you come with me?"
And be alone with him. Even if he attempted a seduction, once the sun came up, he would have to stop. He wouldn't be able to raise a finger, much less his …
The door burst open and a huge Scotsman entered. He was breathing heavily. His green eyes glittered with unshed tears.
"Angus?" Roman turned toward him. "What happened?"
"Yer wee chemist is gone. The bastards have kidnapped him."
"Oh no." Shanna covered her mouth. Poor little Laszlo.
"The phone in his lab was off the hook," Angus continued. "We traced the call to Petrovsky's house in Brooklyn."
"I see." Roman's face paled.
"And Ewan. Ewan Grant was guarding him." Angus's expression hardened. "They killed him."
Roman stepped back with a stunned look. "Are you sure? They might have kidnapped him."
"No." Angus shook his head. "We found his dust. The bloody bastards staked him."
"God's blood." Roman grabbed the edge of a table. "Ewan. He was so strong. How could he … ?"
Angus's breath hissed between his gritted teeth. He clenched his fists. "We believe they may have used nightshade on him like the guard in the restroom. He … he would have been defenseless."
"Goddammit!" Roman hit the table with his fist. "Those bastards." He paced across the room.
"When does the sun rise? Do we have enough time to retaliate?"
"Nay. The bastards timed it this way on purpose. The sun is rising in about five minutes, so it is too late."
Roman muttered another curse. "You were right, Angus. We should have attacked tonight."
"Doona blame yerself." Angus looked at Shanna and frowned.
My God. Goose bumps spread across her skin. He thought she was at fault. Petrovsky wouldn't have targeted Laszlo if he hadn't helped her escape. And without Laszlo as a target, their Scottish friend would still exist.
Roman continued to pace. "At least they won't be able to torture him for long."
"Aye, the sun will put a stop to their evildoings." Angus paused with a hand on the doorknob. "Then ye agree. Tomorrow night, we go to war."
Roman nodded, his eyes blazing with anger. "Yes."
Shanna gulped. Then more Vamps would die. Maybe even Roman.
"The lads and I are taking refuge in the cellar. We'll be making our plans till the sun rises. Ye should find a place to sleep while ye still can."
"I understand." Roman stopped at a table.
As Angus closed the door, Roman propped his forehead onto his hand and closed his eyes. Shanna wasn't sure if it was grief or fatigue. Probably both. He must have known the dead Highlander for a long time.
"Roman? Maybe we should go the silver room."
"It's my fault," he whispered.
Ah, so he was feeling guilt, too. Her eyes welled with tears. She knew all about feeling guilty for a friend's death. "It's not your fault. It's mine."
"No." He looked surprised. "I was the one who made the decision to protect you. I called Laszlo on the phone and told him to come back. He was following my orders. How can you be at fault? You were unconscious at the time."
"But if it wasn't for me-"
"No. The trouble between Petrovsky and myself goes way back." Roman swayed on his feet.