A Bloody London Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 2) (38 page)

Guilhelm shook his head and smirked. “Cute. Tell you what, I’ll make a few phone calls from out here while you go in to check on him.”

Katrina nodded and gently opened the door leading into the office. She slipped into the office and noticed Caleb rubbing at his eyes while sitting on the couch.
He’s been crying
. She suddenly felt anxious, wondering what his first reaction would be to her following the restoration of his memories.
He’ll know for certain that I’m the one who killed his father
.

He blew his nose into a tissue and looked up at who entered, thinking it was Dr. Guilhelm again. Instead, he saw Katrina, only this time, there was another figure in his mind whom he instantly recognized. His mouth dropped open with a degree of astonishment.

“You’re Angel Amber,” he whispered as he rose from the couch. He had seen the photo of Katrina as a short-haired brunette, but now the face in that picture was actually real to him and not just a blank space. “You called me Angel Caleb. I remember that, too,” he added.

She smiled tentatively and promised, “You’re still an angel.”

“You saved me,” he whispered in a shaky voice. “Thank you, Angel Amber.”

Katrina felt a tear slip from the corner of her eye, but it was swept aside by the velocity of her movement as she lurched towards him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him to her in a warm embrace. “You never have to thank me,” she whispered soothingly. It was a far better reception from him than she could have hoped.

“I love you,” he whispered into her ear as his arms encircled her waist.

“Oh, how I love you too, Caleb,” she whispered. “Completely and forever.”

* * * *

It was very late by the time they left Dr. Guilhelm’s office. Katrina asked if Caleb wanted to get something to eat, but he declined, insisting that he wasn’t very hungry. Instead, they rode the Tube back to the hotel. During the journey, he kept glancing at her furtively, though she only regarded him supportively or tried to ignore it altogether. His expression was a mix of wonder and confusion, as if he were trying to discern something perplexing.

Caleb wondered about the vivid nature of his new memories and how the woman in them was both different and familiar to him. The freshness of his visions coupled with the current timeline generated a confusing temporal dichotomy. He kept trying to reconcile both periods in his mind, almost as if trying to get his mental bearings. Equally confusing was the host of feelings accompanying the process, a confusing mix of shock, apprehension, wonder, appreciation, and love.

They sat together quietly on the couch once back in the suite, holding hands as Katrina leaned her head against his shoulder. Sometime later, Caleb’s stomach abruptly reasserted itself with a growl. Katrina smiled and ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke for him through room service, hoping it would serve as a form of comfort food. Later, she quietly watched him eat with her chin propped up on her upraised palm as her elbow perched on the dining area table. He smiled wanly at her and seemed to be much more at ease. Occasionally, he glanced up at her thoughtfully.

“You seemed much taller in my memories,” he ventured between burger bites.

She smirked. “You were much shorter then. Though I’m still taller.”

He nodded with a smirk, continuing to eat.

After dinner, he took a shower, and Katrina called Alton to fill him in on the details from the session with Dr. Guilhelm. The stately vampire listened quietly, finally advising her to keep an eye on Caleb and to try to make him comfortable.
Yeah, like I need another opinion on how to look after Caleb
.

“Did you check with your vampire contacts and staff on whether they were observing us the other night?” she asked, quietly changing the subject.

“I checked, and nobody has seen you in town, nor have they sought you out,” Alton replied. “But that doesn’t mean some rogue vampire living in the city didn’t just happen upon you. London’s an old, populated city, and it’s conceivable that there are a number of anonymous vampires lurking in the vicinity,” he added.

Katrina conceded the plausibility, but experience had taught her that a little paranoia was healthy. “Well, thanks for checking, anyway.”

“Listen, Caleb mentioned wanting to see the city during the day. Perhaps I could offer two of my best human staff to accompany him on a tour tomorrow? It would be a great opportunity for him to see the daytime sights under the guidance of locals who also happen to be accomplished in the area of security. Not that anyone is particularly seeking him out, mind you,” he ventured.

She frowned, but conceded the viability of the idea. “Hm, no thugs, though,” she insisted. “I don’t want him to feel overtly guarded.”

“Rob and Lynne Fuller are an unassuming married couple who just happen to be two very promising agents on my staff. And they might welcome a respite from their normal duties,” he suggested. “I think that Caleb would like them, in fact.”

“You’re employing married couples now?” she challenged.

“Ah, but they work well together,” he countered. “And I made an exception in their case. They each have useful backgrounds.”

“Very well,” she replied guardedly. “But I want to meet them before Caleb does.”

He chuckled. “Fine, fine. You can interview them in the morning. Just call me when you’re ready.”

“Thanks, Alton,” she offered sincerely. “Until morning then.”

As she hung up the phone and listened to the sound of Caleb’s shower, she appreciated that Alton was trying to be helpful. Then her thoughts turned back to Caleb, and she wondered if the past were finally on its way to being reconciled between the two of them.
Only time will tell, I suppose.

* * * *

The next morning, Caleb woke to Katrina’s arm draped across his chest. She was staring into his eyes as he glanced over to her, and she smiled.

“Good morning, Angel,” he greeted with a sleepy expression. His freed childhood memories from the previous night’s session with Dr. Guilhelm were still so vivid.

She grinned and patted him on the chest lightly. “Good morning, my love,” she replied.

“This is nice,” he mumbled. “I could get used to all the room service, nice hotels, traveling the world, not to mention plentiful spending money. No worries, no limits, and complete freedom. It’s surreal for me, really. Heck, it’s easy to forget what day of the week it is.”

“It’s Tuesday, and I can make this come true for you every day if you want,” she baited with a raised eyebrow. “Just say the word and it’s yours.”

He chuckled and rubbed his sleepy eyes. “Don’t tempt me.”

She stared into his eyes intently. “Just say yes, and I’ll make it happen,” she whispered.

“Kat,” he stammered with a serious expression, “I can’t just…I mean, I have a job, a career to nurture. There’s retirement to plan for. Hell, in a couple of years, I’m gonna need a new car, for Pete’s sake. You can’t just --”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, but I can. And I will. Just tell me that’s what you want.”

He swallowed, taking a moment to contemplate what she had just offered to him. It was like something out of a Hollywood film or fantasy novel. He considered the thrill of it all and the freedom. But he would feel terrible, like the world’s worst mooch. A shameless, greedy leech of a person.
It’s her money, not mine.
His pride wouldn’t allow such a thing. As much as he wanted to say yes, he simply couldn’t with a clear conscience.

“That’s very kind,” he replied. “But I can’t.”

“Why not?”

He frowned. “It’s just wrong,” he explained. “What you’re doing for me here in London is already too much.”

She sighed.
Male pride
, she fumed.
Still, his heart’s in the right place, I suppose.
“Do you know how many people would’ve already faxed resignations to their employers by this point?” she teased.

He adopted a more thoughtful expression. “Sorry, it’s just not me.”

“Well, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. But let me know if you change your mind. The offer stands, and I’m not going anywhere.”

He nodded as he stared down at the comforter draped over them. She reached up to grasp him gently by the chin and turned his face towards hers.

“We’re going to travel more, you know,” she resolved. “And you have to get used to the fact that I’m going to dote on you.”

He smiled back at her and winked.
You’re the best
.

“So, what’s on today’s agenda?” he asked.

“I’ll know more later this morning,” she answered mysteriously, rolling over to the opposite side of the bed to get up. “Why don’t you order something to eat while I’m getting ready?”

“Okay,” he replied, stretching lazily in bed as she went into the bathroom to shower.

He slipped into a pair of jeans and t-shirt and was sitting at the dining room table eating a recently delivered breakfast by the time Katrina appeared in the room with a burst of speed. She blew him a kiss and smirked at the plateful of food before him.

“I’ll be back soon, my love,” she offered as she hastily departed the suite.

She called Alton on her cell phone as she made her way towards the underground passageway between the hotel and his office building. He assured her that the Fullers would be waiting to meet with her.

As soon as she walked into Alton’s office, she began her assessment of the two humans before her. Rob Fuller was her height with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a fit, muscular build. His bearing suggested prior military experience. Lynne Fuller was somewhat shorter with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a lithe, toned build. Katrina detected that both of them were watching her as closely as she was observing them, and she offered a slightly predatory smile. It seemed to surprise both of them, which pleased her.

Alton raised a curious eyebrow at her. “Katrina, I’m pleased to introduce Rob and Lynne Fuller. They’re two of my best staff.” He gazed at the Fullers in turn, offering, “Ms. Katrina Rawlings. She is Caleb’s mate.”

Neither of them looked at Katrina in a challenging manner, but each seemed quite interested in her reaction to them.

“Rob was British SAS and later served as a British secret service agent. He’s been in my employ for three years,” Alton began. “Lynne was MI-5, specializing in intelligence gathering. She’s been with us for two years.”

“Weapons training?” Katrina asked as she regarded Lynne Fuller.

“Small arms and martial arts,” Alton supplied. “Carries a Beretta 9mm pistol.”

Her gaze shifted to Rob Fuller. “Your background tells me what I need to know, except perhaps weapons of preference?”

“Steyr 9mm pistol,” Rob replied easily. “And combat boot knife.”

“Tourism experience?” Katrina asked with a straight face.

The Fullers exchanged curious glances, and then Rob smirked while Lynne stifled a laugh through her bright smile. Katrina allowed a slight smile to form on her lips.
Good sense of humor
.
Caleb will like them, I think.

“Thank you for agreeing to look after Caleb,” she offered politely as she reached out to shake their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet each of you.”

Their demeanors relaxed further, and Alton raised an eyebrow with intrigue over the brief exchange. “Well, they’re yours for the day,” Alton offered. “They’ll escort Caleb back to the hotel by evening, unless you request earlier, of course.”

Katrina nodded with approval, and the Fullers subsequently accompanied her back to the hotel suite. Rob and Lynne politely stood just inside the suite’s entry area while she went to find Caleb, who was perusing the Internet on his laptop in the dining room.

He glanced out the large picture window onto the city beyond. Once again, it was overcast, and some drizzle started to fall. It looked somewhat cold and foreboding to him, in fact.

“Back already?” he asked as she walked up behind him and bent down to kiss his lips. “Are we staying in today?” he asked.

“Staying in?” she countered. “If we waited on nice weather in London in March, you’d never see most of the sights, my love. Instead, there are two people I’d like you to meet.”

He gave a puzzled look as he closed his applications and shut down his laptop. He followed her into the living area, where he noticed the Fullers standing near the door. He glanced up at Katrina curiously, though he moved forward to shake their hands in turn.

“The Fullers will be showing you some of the sights in the city today,” Katrina offered. “They work for Alton, who’s been kind enough to offer their tour guide services to you. As Londoners, they have the inside scoop on the best places to visit.”

“Hi, Caleb. I’m Lynne,” offered the blonde woman with a friendly smile as she shook his hand.

“I’m Rob,” offered the dark-haired man with a polite expression as they shook hands. “Happy to make your acquaintance.”

Caleb found them quite charming, aided in no small part by their British accents, similar to how he felt when he had first met Alton. Katrina assessed her mate’s reaction closely, quite pleased to sense his relaxed body language and melodically calm heartbeat.

“Excellent,” Katrina observed. “I think you’re in very capable hands, my love. You’ll be able to take daytime pictures of some of the sights, and then they’ll have you back by evening so you and I can go out on the town together.”

“Great! I’ll get my coat and camera,” Caleb blurted as he headed towards the bedroom.

“You should only need a light jacket, Caleb,” Rob suggested while watching Katrina. “We’ll take the Tube around town to avoid being in the elements as much.”

Katrina nodded at him in silent approval.

Caleb called back from the bedroom, “Hey, we can also scope out Tube stops where Kat would be able to access sites without being --” He abruptly fell silent, unsure if the Fullers were aware that they were working among vampires.
Surely, Alton would have told them
, he mused.

“They know about us, my love,” Katrina called to him in an amused tone.

He reappeared with his camera and black leather jacket in hand. “Good. We’ll be able to pick out sites that allow access through the Tube system without ever being in daylight. Maybe we can plan to see those sites together tomorrow.” He looked up at his mate with an endearing expression and asked, “Sound good?”