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“But you didn’t We’ll just have to behis expression, she leaned forward and placed her hand on his ar”

He hoped she was right “I need to rest a while,” he said “I’ll see you later”

“All right” She s about htfully as she watched him leave the room Did he really need to rest, or was it just his way of avoiding her? If she asked to see where he rested, would he let her? She had never seen a Vampire’s lair Of course, until she , she rinsed her dishes and put thely at the pool

A quick sas just the ticket After changing into her suit, she grabbed a book and headed for the door An odd sensation prickled along her arms and her nape as she stepped over the threshold, almost as if she had passed so it off, she dropped the book on the table and dove into the deep end of the pool

The water felt wonderful She swa out on a chaise lounge, she read a book in the shade of an u now and then to dive into the cool water when the sun grew too warm She dozed for a while, then went into the house to fix a sandwich and a glass of iced tea for an early dinner Shefor her father He had always praised her culinary efforts, even when they rong Sht she had prepared what she hoped would be an epicurean rin, it had turned out to be an utter disaster, fit only for the garbage disposal

Later, sitting in the rec roo at the clock, wishing she could o faster The hours passed too slowly, the house seemed too empty, without Rane beside her

She felt a thrill of excitean to set He would be with her soon

The thought had no sooner crossed herat hiiddy excitement she hadn’t experienced since her first crush on a rock star years ago Only, what she felt for Rane was far stronger and went far deeper

“Are you ready?” he asked

“Ready? For what?”

“Your first shooting lesson”

“Oh” She wrinkled her nose with distaste “I don’t think I could shoot anyone”

“It’s less h a Vaet it over with”

They went outside, where Rane set up three targets on the east side of the house He handed her the gloves, loaded the gun while she pulled the to stand behind her “There’s nothing to it” He put the gun in her hand and showed her how to hold it in a two-handed grip “Don’t jerk the trigger Just squeeze it gently”

Taking a deep breath, Savanah aier

“Not bad,” Rane said

“Not good,” she ”