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Cool jazz filled the air The crowds in the streets were slightly rowdy, but Bryan knew Jessica was always happiest when her city was doing well, so he ignored the noise from outside For the first time in perhaps forever, he was co the beers? And half of his new best friends were mostly vampires? At least a feere actually hu Jim smiled back, and so did Barry Larson, who seemed to exude a newfound confidence

No lives had been lost in Scotland He considered that so with hiht&039;s work The authorities had found a bunch of crazed kids running around and chalked it up to drugs

Some would remember the truth Some would learn from it Some would spend the rest of their lives in therapy But at least they had lives

As for Mary, that had been tricky, but he had to adood, so a story had been invented

She showed up at the police station one day, clai her own picture on television had re between Jessica and Maggie, looked thoughtful, unhappy

"What&039;s the ood cops," he said sadly "Nothing can ever change that"

Jessica&039;s brow furrowed "It was not your fault Don&039;t even start that"

Just then the olf appeared with the beers

"Hey, Jessica, are you going to design your oedding dress?" Maggie asked

Jessica choked on her beer "Maggie, no one&039;s asked ie stared at Bryan He felt a s his lips, and he stared at Jessica "What do you think?" he asked softly "Can a warrior and a vae?" he inquired

She looked back at hirave "I don&039;t know What do you think?"

He rose, taking her hand "I don&039;t know But we can all learn new things, right?" He pulled her up and into his arms "I do know that I will love you for eternity," he whispered

She kissed his lips

And the jazz played on

It was, after all, New Orleans

Turn the page for an exciting excerpt from

THE DEAD ROOM,

the next paranor author

Heather Graham

Available in March 2007,

only froht Soas, and then a blast had seemed to rock the world Yes, she could re hard against the wall Butshe wasn&039;t leaning against the wall now

She was looking down on a scene of absolute chaosAnd she was in it

She could see herself, who had been taken and placed in a line of sleeping people She didn&039;t recognize any of the around the roo with purpose They were all in uniform, firemen and cops The freshly painted walls of the room were blackened and scorched almost to the doorway, evidence of the blast

She hurt! Oh, God, she ached in every bone The scent of charred orse, charred flesh-filled her nostrils She remembered the terrible sound, the way she had been lifted and thrown as the room was rocked by the explosion