Page 17 of Into The Light

“It is.”

Mark eyeballed me to perk things up.

“Mark tells me you two had a good day? What did you do?”

“Well, let’s see.” She walked over to the bar to pour herself a glass of wine.

“Allow me.” I stepped to her side. Cautious eyes watched my every move while I refilled her glass. When I handed it back to her, I noticed the slight tremble in her hand as she grabbed the stem.

“Thank you,” she said, then gestured to the other empty glasses. “Are you having one?”

I cleared my throat. “I don’t drink but thank you.”

“You don’t drink alcohol?”

“I don’t drink at all. Liquid that is. Just blood.”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise before she shook her head. “Of course, of course. The whole vampire thing.”

“I’ll just leave you two to get acquainted,” Mark said as he backed out of the room. I wasn’t sure if he left because he had confidence I had this under control, or if he just couldn’t stand the awkward exchanges between us any longer.

Emilia sat down in the oversized chair and took a sip of her wine.

Following suit, I sat on the couch across from her. “You were going to tell me about your day,” I reminded her.

“Oh, yes! Well, let’s see. First off, you have a beautiful home. I mean, wow... it’s awesome. My room last night? Perfect. And the closet? Incredible. You and Mark certainly know fashion.”

“Mark,” I spit out, then realized my reaction had been abrupt. I forced a smile and cleared my throat. “He is the one with all the fashion sense. I wouldn’t know a Prada shoe if it kicked me in the face.” Her face softened with a smile. Mark was right... this helped. Keep it light. Smile. “Then what did you do?”

“Well, Mark took me down to the stables to pet the horses. They’re so beautiful. After that we relaxed by the pool, which is also, beautiful. A nap, a book, dinner and now I’m here with you.”

“I’m glad you are.”

Another smile from her. It’s working.

She tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “Aiden, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How old are you?”

Ah, the question everyone wanted to know.

I leaned back in my seat. “Well, I was thirty-five when I turned.”

“And when was that?”

“1348.”

Her wide eyes answered. “1348? As in, you’re...” She started counting her fingers, then stopped. “Over six hundred years old?”

I nodded.

“Holy shit.”

The cuss words were cute coming from her small, pink mouth. Looking at her innocent face, you wouldn’t readily expect them. Her mouth, pouty and full yet smaller than most, was another feature on her face I found quite pleasing.

“I’ve been around a very long time.”