CHAPTER 21
Maggie laced up her sneakers and rubbed herhands together as she bounced on her toes for a minute. Her gazewent to the window across from her and the dawn starting tobrighten the sky. Dawn had become her favorite time of the day torun, and right now she needed to run as far and fast as shepossibly could.
She’d been exhausted when she crawled intobed last night, but her dreams were haunted by a pair of leaf-greeneyes and kisses that heated her blood. She’d awoke feeling edgy andaching for more than Aiden’s kiss.
She doubted there would be any more of thosekisses though, as she’d probably never see him again. He’d knockedtwice more before giving up the ghost. She hoped he never cameback.
The sad thing was, she didn’t buy her ownlie.
She wanted her life back, but how could shereturn to her simple life with everything she’d experienced lastnight? What would happen when she went to work today? What hadbecome of Harding and the other officers? What did they know? Whatdidn’t they know?
Even if they couldn’t remember going to thealley, there would be a record of the call, and she hadn’t beenwith Roger when they found him. She had no idea what to tell anyonethat wouldn’t possibly land her in jail or the nuthouse.
And what of Roger? Where was he? How was he?Then there was Glenn and Walt. How would that be explained? Had italready been explained somehow? Had they even been found yet? Theyhad to have been discovered by now, but with everything thathappened last night, she’d completely forgot to call someone aboutthem. She took a deep breath to try to calm the guilt and anxietybuilding within her.
A good run would clear her mind of vampiresand help her sort out the pieces of her life. She also needed aphone. Savages didn’t go out in the sun, so she would be safe nowif they did discover where she lived, but would she be safe fromthem if she reported to work later?
They might not know where she lived; theydefinitely knew where she worked.
The memory of that thing tearing her bloodfrom her sent a shudder down her spine. Her limbs locked again, andit became difficult to breathe. How could Aiden’s bite have beenalmost orgasmic while that thing’s bite was excruciating?
Deep breaths. One obstacle at a time, Mags.And you can’t conquer any of the obstacles while standing here.
Right. She undid her deadbolt and crackedthe door. She heard nothing in the hallway, and when she opened itfurther to poke her head out, no one stood there. The intensity ofthe disappointment crashing through her almost caused her legs togive out.
She’d shut the door in Aiden’s face, so ofcourse, he would go, but she hadn’t expected this loneliness tocreep through her at the confirmation of it. Stepping into thehall, Maggie was about to close the door when a step on thestairwell halted her. If one of those crazed vamps came at her,she’d duck back inside.
Instead, Aiden stepped off the last stairand turned toward her. The smile that lit his face caused her pulseto skyrocket. At some point, he’d showered and changed.Bare-chested and wild, he’d been magnificent last night, but now herobbed her of her breath.
The jeans he wore hugged his thighs and legsin all the right ways. She tore her gaze away from the obviousbulge in the front of his pants before running it over the blacksweater cleaving to his broad shoulders and chest. The black shirtmade the green of his eyes stand out and caused a twinge ofyearning in her heart. Free of blood, she saw the hint of a curl atthe end of his short black hair. The trench coat he wore wassimilar to the one she’d cut off him last night, and she suspectedthere were weapons stashed in these pockets too.
“Good morning,” he greeted, and the scent ofcoffee and food hit her.
For the first time, she noticed the twolarge coffees stuck into the tray set on top of the pink Dunkin’Donuts box he carried.
“Were you here all night?” she asked.
“Most of it. Declan stayed for a bit while Iwent to shower and change,” he replied. He’d also gathered someweapons and picked up a replacement wallet with ID and money. “Isent him home when I came back from the donut shop.”
“Whydid you stay here?”
“To make sure you remain safe.”
“Oh.” She had no idea what else to say tothat.
He lifted the donut box a little higher. “Iwasn’t sure which type of donut you liked, so I got you one ofeach.”
“One of each?” There she went parroting himall over again.
He stopped before her. “Yes. Plus somebagels and cream cheese, in case you don’t like donuts.”
“Oh,” she whispered. She hated the tearspricking her eyes, but she’d experienced kindness from only a rarefew people in her life, and this was something so simple, yet sosweet.
“I’m also told you humans like this place,”he said and tapped the name on the front of the box.
She smiled at him. “Dunkin’ is the only wayto go, at least for me. Thank you for this, but I was on my wayout.”
Aiden’s heart thundered as he gazed at her.He lowered the box to cover his growing hard-on as he took in thebody-hugging yoga pants emphasizing her shapely calves and thighs.She wore a black jacket and had her hair pulled into a knot on herhead. Healthy color tinged her cheeks.
