Blake's Pursuit

Involuntarily, he pointed in the direction of the front door. “If I hadn’t knocked down that door, God knows what that guy would’ve done to you. You were screaming for help, so excuse me if I didn’t ring the fucking door bell!” Damn it, the woman could rile him up!

She sucked in a breath, but instead of lashing out with another insult, she appeared to calm herself down. “I’m sorry, but so much has happened, and I guess I’m just a little agitated. I mean that burglar… it’s not as if I didn’t have enough on my mind already.”

A burglar? That’s what she thought that vampire was? For now he’d let her believe that, but he was almost sure that the attacker had something to do with Hannah not showing up for work. Had the stranger been human, then, sure, he could have been an ordinary burglar, but a vampire, when Hannah worked with vampires? That was too much of a coincidence.

Slowly, he nodded. At least the woman wasn’t acting combative anymore. He could work with that. “You’re a friend of Hannah’s?”

“Lilo. Her best friend from back home. You live in the building?”

“No. I’m a friend. Hannah and I work for the same company. Different divisions.” He offered his hand. “I’m Blake.”

Lilo hesitated, then transferred the hairdryer to her other hand, before shaking his. “She never mentioned you.”

“She never mentioned you either.” Though he had no reason to believe that Lilo was lying. “Have you seen her?”

Lilo blinked before answering. “No. The apartment was empty when I arrived earlier tonight.”

Blake glanced around. “She hasn’t shown up for work. Didn’t call in sick, which isn’t like her. We’re concerned.”

“So am I. That’s why I flew out here. I think something happened to her.” Suddenly she sagged against the doorframe, all the air leaving her lungs.

Instinctively, Blake reached for her, but she eased to the side, stepping into the living room.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to…” he started. He shoved a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t my intention to frighten you. Guess that burglar did his fair share of it already. Are you okay?”

She forced a faint smile, but shook her head. “No. I’m not okay. My friend is missing. Her dog’s gone, too. And she’s not answering her cell. Her mother is worried sick.” She pulled the robe tighter around her torso. “And I need to file a missing person’s report.”

“I can take care of that,” he offered, though he had no intention of going to the police. This was vampire business. It was paramount that he deal with Hannah’s disappearance himself; he didn’t want to involve the police.

She shook her head, vehemently. “No. I have to go to the police. I owe her. It’s my fault she’s gone.”

Blake instinctively stepped closer. “What? Why is it your fault?”

Lilo’s beautiful face took on a pained expression. “She left me a message that she needed to talk. Something was bothering her, and I didn’t respond. I was too busy.”

“And that somehow makes it your fault?” He shook his head. “That’s ludicrous.”

Lilo suddenly shivered, and he realized that the cold air coming from the kitchen window was bothering her. He turned around and closed it, then ushered her toward the couch in the living room.

She lifted her eyes, and her gaze collided with his. “I should have called her back when she needed me. It’s my fault.”

5

“Please sit down. You’re more shook up than I thought.”

Her rescuer’s voice was deep and melodic and made her shiver once more. Lilo realized that she hadn’t even thanked him yet. Instead she’d railed at him and treated him with suspicion. Yet here he was, taking the hairdryer from her hand, putting it aside, and guiding her gently to the couch as if she were fragile and would break at any moment. And maybe she would. She wasn’t one of the brave characters from her books, who dealt with crime daily and wasn’t afraid of anything.

“I’m—”

“What’s going on here?” a male voice coming from the front door asked.

Lilo whipped her head in his direction. In the open doorframe stood a middle-aged man, wearing pajamas and a long dark-green bathrobe. He glanced into the apartment.

Blake was already walking toward him. “Nothing to worry about. It’s all taken care of.” He reached the door and blocked her view, continuing his conversation with the concerned neighbor, lowering his voice so much that she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

A moment later Blake turned around and closed the door behind him. They were alone again.

As he walked toward her with his confident gait, she took the opportunity and eyed him up. He was a little over six feet tall and athletic. His hair was dark, his eyes azure-blue. He had a strong, square chin and a long, straight nose. Underneath his Polo shirt she could see his chest muscles flex.

He was handsome; very much so. Maybe in his early thirties. Rugged, in a romantic kind of way. And he looked exactly like she’d always imagined Morgan West, the bounty hunter from her mystery series, would look in real life.

She shook her head to try to return to reality. She wasn’t living in one of her books for a change. This was real life. Real danger. And this man had saved her from a true threat.

“I haven’t even thanked you,” she started.

He stopped in front of her and sat down on the edge of the old wooden coffee table. He grinned. “No need. I’m just glad you’ve stopped hitting me.”

She cringed. “I only hit you once. And it was an accident. I was after the other guy. I’m sorry.”

“Forget about it.” He leaned in a little. “Tell me what happened.”

Lilo tugged at the bathrobe she’d borrowed from Hannah. “I was taking a quick shower after my flight, getting ready to go to the police, when I heard something. I thought it must be a burglar. So I figured I’d chase him away before he stole something.”

“Chase him away? Why didn’t you call 9-1-1?”

“I tried.” She pointed to the armchair where the contents of her handbag were still strewn about. She still couldn’t see her cell phone among her things. “But I couldn’t find my cell phone. I think he took it before he went into the kitchen. And then he heard me, and it was too late.” She shivered. “I don’t know what he would have done.”