Summit at Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 3) (13 page)

“Fine. I’ll be right outside,” she added and turned to leave.

A few minutes later, he exited the men’s room to find two other men standing a few feet from Katrina as they warily studied her with confused expressions. He anticipated that she must have stopped them at the door in abrupt fashion.

As they walked back through the dining room, she teased in a whisper, “You really did have to go, after all.”

He blushed slightly. “I had three glasses of tea, you know,” he mumbled. “And what’s with the eavesdropping on my –”

“Vampire hearing, remember?” she countered, at which he made a disapproving grumble.

He momentarily fumed at the occasional indignity of a vampire’s all-too-acute hearing. But his thoughts quickly returned to his recent visitor. “So, you never saw the woman then?”

“I didn’t see her leave the restroom, but I had told Paige to keep an eye on the exits. Unfortunately, it appears she wasn’t able to catch her before she disappeared,” she quietly explained as they approached their table.

Both noted that Paige was already seated and waiting on them with an expectant expression.

“She was gone as soon as I made it out the front entrance. So, we know they’re following us at least some of the time,” she ascertained as she watched Caleb sit down.

“So it would seem,” Katrina darkly agreed.

“They’re demanding to know if we’re attending the conference this summer,” Caleb offered as his eyes locked onto the mostly-eaten cheesecake before him.

Paige shrugged at him when he looked sidelong at her with an expression of disdain.

“Good cheesecake?” he asked with a hint of annoyance.

“Hey, Red ate some of it too, you know. And you offered, as I recall.”

“Well, we’re definitely going to Europe now,” Katrina stated as she ignored their exchange.

I’m getting to the bottom of this issue now, no matter what
, she thought. It angered her that they were being stalked, particularly because the tactic involved cornering Caleb for information.

Another slice of cheesecake materialized before Caleb as the server appeared out of his blind spot. He winced slightly at the momentary surprise, and she apologized upon realizing that she had startled him. Despite the dessert’s unexpected appearance, he adopted an approving visage and alternated glimpses at Katrina and Paige in turn.

“Eat up, kiddo,” Paige suggested. “I took the liberty of anticipating your dessert-longing angst.”

He appreciatively regarded her as he picked up his fork. “Thanks.”

She briefly smirked at him and murmured, “Our boy likes his cheesecake, after all.”

However, her delight quickly faded as she watched him. She had to leave for her contract job overseas soon and hated the idea of leaving him. Not that Katrina couldn’t take care of him, of course, but Paige wanted to be nearby if she were needed. However, she acknowledged that it was for the best, given the latest developments. Anger rose in her as she contemplated how he was being sought for information by an unidentified group of vampires. A quick peep at Katrina suggested that she probably felt the same.

“Perhaps we should forgo the Civic Center this evening,” Katrina suggested.

“No,” Caleb insisted, his fork suspended midway to his mouth. “We run and hide, and they win.”

Katrina imperiously arched one eyebrow, but he maintained a defiant expression. Paige observed the exchange with a degree of amusement.

“Very well,” Katrina acquiesced. “However, you don’t go anywhere without being in proximity of Paige or me,” she stipulated.

He shrugged. “Fine,” he conceded. “But I can’t wait to see the expressions on faces in the men’s room at intermission.”

The corners of Katrina’s mouth upturned ever so slightly, and she agreed with a penetrating stare, “Really? Neither can I.”

“You really freak me out sometimes, Kat,” he admitted.

She tried not to appear astonished, even as Paige struggled to avoid laughing out loud.

“But I know that you mean well. And I still love you,” he thoughtfully added.

Katrina flashed him a relieved look.

He was impressed as he watched her deftly withdraw a credit card from her purse and hold it up at perfect height for their server who had approached her from behind. All the while, her vivid emerald eyes never left his as she stared at him resolutely.

Show off
, he silently challenged as she adopted a gratified expression.

The remainder of the evening was uneventful compared to dinner. Fortunately, all of them enjoyed the stage production, which particularly pleased Caleb since it had been his idea. And despite Katrina’s threat in the restaurant, she maintained a respectable vigil outside the restroom during intermission.

He hated to admit that he actually appreciated the additional attentiveness from both vampires, and he made an effort to make appreciative gestures to both of them throughout the evening. He wrapped his arm around Katrina’s waist as they walked and initiated a kiss or two when possible without making a public spectacle.

As for Paige, he bought her a drink during intermission and traded whispered, humorous comments with her as they took in some of the more outlandish attire of some of the patrons. He felt like he was a high school student all over again with that, but she seemed to enjoy it immensely.

By the time they drove back to the estate, he had nearly forgotten about the confrontation in the men’s room. Once he and Katrina were sequestered in the estate’s sublevel room, they shared passionate, intimate time together. Afterwards, he curled up behind Katrina and tenderly held her in his arms.

While it was unlikely that she would sleep, she appreciated the feeling of his body spooned against hers as they lay together. He brought so much pleasure to her and genuinely made her happy. She appreciatively listened to his breathing become more even as he drifted off to sleep.

Later, her mind wandered to the events of the past few days, including the unexpected confrontation between the auburn-haired vampire and Caleb at the restaurant. The unknown faction’s persistence annoyed her, even as she admired it.

However, I refuse to be caught off-guard by them again
, she vowed.

*    *    *    *

During the following week, the excitement abated somewhat as there were no further attempts at contact from the mysterious vampire faction that had been stalking them. And while Caleb was happy about that, he was looking forward to a time when his activities wouldn’t need to be so closely monitored. He had free run of the estate’s interior, of course. But his activities outdoors were always accompanied by either Paige or Katrina.

On one occasion, he went outside during midday to walk around the estate and appreciate the sunshine. When he walked on a portion of the property where the exterior surveillance cameras had limited visibility, his cell phone rang within minutes. Naturally, it was Katrina.

“Hi, Kat,” he patiently answered. “I’m on the northeast side of the house.”

Then a short figure wearing motorcycle leathers and a helmet appeared to his left. He jumped slightly before realizing that it was the outfit that Paige had purchased at the downtown Harley-Davidson dealership.

“Yeah, Paige just appeared,” he muttered as his heartbeat calmed once more. “Since she’s here, I think I’ll take a brief stroll through the park,” he ventured with a self-satisfied expression.

She shook her head back and forth and placed her gloved hands atop each hip.

He neatly slipped his cell phone back in its holder and started walking towards the gate leading into the secluded park-like area adjacent to Katrina’s property.

“Not happy,” Paige’s muffled voice emitted from inside the helmet.

“Don’t worry. We’ll head back if anybody’s there. Heck, they might just think you’re a NASA astronaut practicing for a mission,” he teased with a chuckle.

Paige’s charcoal visor reflected the image of his face back at him as he looked over at her. They walked along the path leading through the park area and were the only people in the area. After they finished, Caleb walked to the back porch and plopped down into one of the patio chairs.

“Time to go inside already,” Paige complained in a muffled voice.

He reclined back in the chair with closed his eyes while appreciating the warmth of the day.

“Come on,” he pleaded. “It’s really nice out today. Not too humid, and it’s not raining. So, please, just a little while longer.”

She shook her head and pulled up a chair in the shade not far from him. She sat down and leaned her helmeted head against her gloved hand, propping her elbow against the arm of the chair.

This really sucks
, she thought.

If it weren’t for how much she cared about the young man nearby she would probably have abandoned him to his fate. Not that she expected the recent visitors to drop by during the daytime, but she didn’t want to take any chances. She realized that Katrina appreciated her efforts, as well.

He happily dozed for an undetermined length of time when he felt a few droplets of water tickle his arms and face. His eyes immediately opened to stare up into a blue sky, which confused him. He glanced over to where Paige had been seated, but she was gone. Then he looked in the opposite direction to see her standing in her cycle outfit and helmet, but holding a sprayer attached to a water hose.

“Remember what you said about rain?” she asked in a loud, muffled voice.

His eyes widened, and he threatened, “Don’t you dare!”

She unleashed the full force of the sprayer upon him, and he flew out of the chair like a rocket. However, she effectively doused him as he tried to avoid the spray.

“Paige! Stop it!” he yelled while running back across the porch.

The vampire roared with laughter at his plight.

“Dammit, Paige!” he cursed as she doused his back while he fumbled with the door leading into the house.

He was drenched as he stepped onto the tile just inside the door, and he felt the cold water penetrating his shirt and jeans. He continued to hear muffled laughing from Paige behind him, followed closely by giggling from in front of him. Glancing up, he saw Katrina standing not far from him.

“I guess your idea was all wet,” she managed to say before giggling again.

He ground his teeth at both the bad pun and his indignity as he stomped through the house to change clothes.

“Vampires,” he muttered with annoyance as he squished down the hallway.

The remainder of the week passed quickly, and before Caleb realized it, the time came for Paige to leave town. He had thoroughly enjoyed her visit and looked forward to the time when she would permanently reside in Atlanta.

The truth was that Paige felt much the same way he did. While Caleb sat on the edge of the guest bed watching her pack, she focused upon him and warmly smiled.

“Come on, kiddo,” she encouraged. “It’s not like the summer will last that long. Before you know it, I’ll be back, and you can help me unpack my stuff in a new house somewhere. Besides, you’re going to be preoccupied with Katrina at the conference.”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m just going to miss you. We’ve had some good times the past couple of weeks.”

She looked at him in a penetrating fashion and moved in a blur to sit beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and popped a quick kiss on his cheek.

“Getting into trouble, that is. But it’s been good, hasn’t it?”

He turned and kissed her on the cheek in return. “Yep, good times. And don’t forget bar fights.”

Her bright blue eyes flashed once, and she broadly grinned.

“Just wait until I see you again, tiger,” she promised. “There’s more where that came from.”

He quirked his lips in response. “I can only imagine.”

She winked at him.
Just you wait. I’m plum full of surprises
.

By evening, it was time to take Paige to the airport, so Caleb and Katrina drove her. It gave them an opportunity to give her a final hug and wish her a safe flight overseas. Then they returned to the estate, and Katrina wrapped Caleb in her arms as they stood in the middle of the living room together.

“Alone at last,” she offered in a suggestive tone, to which he bent his face up to hers to kiss her passionately on the lips. She had appreciated Paige’s visit, but also enjoyed time alone with her mate.

He relished the feeling of being in her embrace and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer against him. While Paige was dear to him, Katrina was the woman of his dreams, the one who ignited his passion and made him feel safe and cared for. She understood him at so many levels and accepted him for who he was. He only hoped he was able to convey to her properly how much she meant to him.

“I love you so much, Kat,” he whispered.

She gazed into his pale blue eyes while considering the endearing tone of his voice. It spoke volumes, and she bent down to kiss him warmly.

This man is everything to me
, she resolved.

“I love you too,” she replied after their lips parted.

He took her by the hand and led her though the house in the direction of their sublevel room. While he might not always be able to convey how he felt in words, he could certainly show her. The remainder of the evening was spent doing just that in tender ways that only two loving bodies could convey to each other.

*    *    *    *

Chapter 4: Slovenia

Time quickly passed following Paige’s departure, and by early June, Katrina and Caleb were packing for their European trip. As the Slovene vampire conference tentatively indicated only a cursory agenda, there was no way to determine exactly for how long they needed to pack. Following a last-minute call to Alton, they assembled enough for at least a two-week stay. As opposed to the suitcases they had used for their spring excursion to London, Katrina acquired actual trunks for their belongings. To Caleb, it felt as though they were moving.

“Heck, I don’t even own three weeks’ worth of clothing!” he had joked.

However, he quickly wished that he had kept his mouth shut, as Katrina took immediate steps to take him shopping. His wardrobe nearly doubled in a matter of days, and he was certain they had been to every upscale department store and men’s clothier in the major metropolitan area.

One thing was certain; he didn’t want to step foot in another clothing store for at least a few years. As Katrina insisted on tailoring for proper fitting, he had been poked throughout the process and herded like a longhorn on a cattle drive. She often alternated between contemplative and gratified expressions while supervising each fitting.

I’m so glad that I manage to keep her amused
, he reflected sourly.

Despite the annoying experience, he realized that perhaps for the first time in his life his clothes fit him perfectly. In fact, he grudgingly conceded it did make him feel more confident. Fortunately, the trip wasn’t anticipated to be an entirely formal affair, so he was able to pack an ample supply of casual slacks, blue jeans, and nondescript pullover shirts. Katrina suggested that he not take many clothes that blatantly advertised he was an American. It wasn’t as if his speech patterns wouldn’t give that away soon enough.

“Are you afraid of terrorists or something?” he had inquired.

“Not while being surrounded by vampires. Tourists from the US just tend to flaunt themselves, that’s all. You may not realize this, but American vanity makes Europeans disdainful towards the nation.”

He had never actually considered that before and conceded the logic of it. He also noted that Katrina didn’t refer to the US as
her
nation. She had once told him that she recognized herself to be a citizen of the world with no national affiliations. However, her current passport indicated US citizenship.

She booked their flight on the prestigious Sunset Air, a company that catered to all, but specialized in safe and luxurious air travel for vampires. While the airline did use part of their fleet to operate a competitive traditional airline for human passengers, their vampire-customized fleet was something altogether different.

Each plane sported a limited number of spacious cabins that accommodated four passengers each. Aside from the four roomy, comfortable seats, there was a small bed and separate bathroom with a shower. A large flat-panel display was affixed to the wall, and all food was prepared fresh to order. Caleb had experienced the accommodations for the first time on their trip to England. Needless to say, it made flying seem like a pleasant dream.

Another convenient aspect to using Sunset Air was their pick-up and delivery shuttle service. Of course, “shuttle” meant a stretch limousine for Katrina and Caleb, while their luggage followed them in a van. Once onboard the plane, they enjoyed the comforts afforded to them in their reserved cabin, including watching films on the large screen display, sleeping, eating, and simply appreciating each other’s company. Katrina also took the time to brief Caleb on some preliminary topics.

“I’ll probably be in meetings most of the day,” she cautioned. “But I plan to spend most of our evenings touring the surrounding area, or perhaps doing some shopping.”

He wrinkled his nose slightly at the mention of shopping, but she lightly admonished, “Oh, hush. Souvenir shopping, primarily.”

Satisfied that he was properly chastised, her mood lightened while she continued, “And I’m sure the days will pass quickly for you. Between visiting with the other human companions and enjoying the daylight sightseeing, the sun will set before you know it. Besides, you won’t be straying too far from the conference facility without me.”

“Really? Afraid I’ll get lost or something?” he teased.

“You do have a remarkable track record for trouble when you’re out exploring,” she wryly observed. “However, Alton mentioned that human guests are being asked to remain on the property unless escorted by vampires or conference site staff. However, the property is over a hundred acres in size. They have a golf course, tennis courts, riding stables, a small lake for fishing, arboretum, and a host of other diversions.”

“Oh,” he absently replied as he envisioned a stretch of tall metal fence topped with barbed wire and interspersed with occasional guard towers like some immense prison.

“I’m sure it’s merely a request,” she reassured him. “Hungry?”

His eyes widened with interest. “I could eat.”

She rolled her eyes and pressed the staff button on her seat. In a remarkably short time, a cheeseburger, fries, and cola arrived, as well as a slice of chocolate cream pie. She marveled at her mate’s seemingly bottomless appetite.

Have to work off some of those calories for him when we get to Slovenia
, she thought with a slight leer while watching him eat.

It was a lengthy flight, and Caleb took the opportunity to shower and get some sleep on the small bed in their cabin. Their journey involved scheduled stops in New York City, Paris, and Zurich to take on additional passengers before finally landing in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Fortunately for the vampires, the plane touched down at Ljubljana Airport precisely as the afternoon waned towards sunset.

An indoor corridor leading from the hangar to a covered parking garage simplified the process of disembarking and transferring to the vehicles waiting to transport them to the conference hotel, located just north of Jereka. An upper roadway for embarking and arrivals was supported by a series of thick concrete pillars, which sheltered the entire disembarking and departure area. A vanguard of SUVs and passenger vans was parked next to the curb.

While surveying his surroundings, Caleb took note of the dark sunscreen-coated windows on each vehicle. He counted at least a dozen vampires among the group of twenty travelers that gathered around him. In addition, there were at least six vampires among the group of individuals helping to organize everyone. A tall, dark-haired vampire wearing a tailored gray suit approached Katrina from one of the SUVs.

“Ms. Rawlings?” he inquired in a deep, formal voice.

Katrina cautiously scrutinized the fellow before her. “Are you one of Mr. Rutherford’s men?”

The vampire inclined his head in a respectful manner. “Bibbens, ma’am. Mr. Rutherford insisted that you receive a private escort to the hotel,” he explained while gesturing politely to the nearby black SUV. Another suit-clad figure sat patiently in the driver’s seat.

Though recalling Alton’s mention of arranging for a private shuttle ride from the airport, Katrina paused. Quickly withdrawing her cell phone, she sent a text message to Alton, simply stating, “
Bibbens?
“

Seconds later the reply arrived, “
Yes, plus driver
.”

She ignored Caleb’s curious expression. “That’s fine, Bibbens. Lead on.”

As he opened the rearmost door for entry, the vampire informed them, “We’ll leave immediately. The others will follow soon after.”

Katrina nodded to him as he shut their door and proceeded into the front passenger seat.

Caleb noticed that the front cab area was separated from the back by a smoked pane of glass that had a small sliding window built into it, much like he had seen in a limousine. He then spied what appeared to be a small cooler built into the console before them. Opening the lid, he spied bottled water, cans of cola, and two packets of blood.

“Alton knows how to soup up a vehicle,” he commented absently while removing a can of cola. He recalled a similar amenity’s being added to one of Alton’s limousines in England.

Katrina reached up to caress the back of his neck with her fingertips, eliciting a small shiver.

It was well past sunset when the SUV approached the region around Jereka. While the distance was merely eighty kilometers, it took longer than expected to traverse the roads due to their often meandering and circuitous route. Unfortunately for Caleb, he was unable to appreciate the scenery due to the nighttime conditions. However, Katrina’s vampire vision was uninhibited by such limitations, and she acutely studied her surroundings while seated beside him in the back seat. He dejectedly leaned back into the plush leather seat.

She noted his reaction with sympathy. “I’m sorry, my love. I know you’d like to look around. There’ll be so much more for you to see once we get there.”

“Thanks. I’m sure you’re right,” he replied, and then proceeded to close his eyes for a short nap.

Wish I had vampire vision
, he lamented.
Being a human sure sucks sometimes
.

He hated to admit it, but he was often jealous of his vampire mate and her peers. While trying to drift off to sleep, he began weighing all of the pros and cons in his mind. Granted, they had to avoid daylight, which he had noticed particularly annoyed them during long summer days. But there were so many more advantages to being a vampire. Physically, they were extremely durable, immune to diseases, faster, and stronger. They had amazing vision in both light and dark conditions, keen senses of touch and hearing, and a seemingly endless amount of energy.

Hell
, he darkly considered,
they only sleep for a few hours every other day while I’m spending one third of every day slumbering.

Katrina eyed her mate and noted the tension in his body language. His arms were folded in front of him, and he maintained a tight-lipped expression. She quietly released her seatbelt and slid to the center of the seat to sit next to him, supportively draping her arm across his shoulders.

“A penny for your thoughts,” she whispered into his ear before lightly kissing him on the cheek.

He kept his eyes shut and sourly replied, “Being human is such a drag.”

She silently congratulated herself on gauging his mood and purred in his ear, “Well, I
love
you as a human. I simply adore you, in fact.”

He tried to restrain the beginning of a smirk. “I’m practically blind compared to you.”

“You have beautiful eyes,” she cooed.

“I’m a weakling,” he added. “You practically have to avoid knocking me over half the time as you speed around the house.”

She was beguiled over his dour wit, grateful that his eyes were still closed. “You’re resilient for a human. Your body is tantalizingly fit and attractive to me.”

He paused to appreciate her compliment, but then continued, “We lose quality time together because I have to waste so much time eating and sleeping.”

Somewhat true
, she silently conceded.
But I don’t mind that much, really
.
I enjoy sharing the time with him, no matter the circumstance.

“I enjoy watching you sleep. You’re so innocent and peaceful-looking. I love listening to the sound of your heartbeat and the blood rushing through your veins. And I’m starting to enjoy cooking for you, especially now that I’m getting better at it. To tell the truth, the smell of cooked foods actually bothers me less as time passes,” she said.

Disagreeably grunting as his eyes remained closed, his mind raced with additional ammunition to substantiate his dark mood.

Admittedly, she’s come a long way in the cooking and food-tolerance areas
, he grudgingly admitted. He began to feel a little self-conscious over his continued brooding.

He appreciated the sincere tone in her responses and whispered, “I just wish we were more equal, that’s all. And it’s easy to feel like my life is so out of control sometimes, whereas you have everything in such an orderly state.”

She snickered and whispered in his ear, “Ah, but you already know how I like to be in control, my love.”

“Ha, so true,” he agreed.

He contemplated ammunition to raise additional arguments, but in the end, he merely sighed with resignation.

Katrina hugged him to her, having sensed his silent surrender. She used her spare hand to turn his face towards hers and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.

“I may have control, but you’re the one who commands my heart,” she insisted. “Human or not, I love you. Little else matters to me than our life together.”

He slowly opened his lids and gazed into her beautiful emerald eyes. He loved her so very much and was humbled by the impact that he had on her.

“I love you too,” he murmured and deeply kissed her.

After a moment, their lips parted, and she pulled away from him slightly. She leaned his head against her shoulder while lightly running her fingers through his short hair then returned to appreciate the passing scenery around them. A short time later, she sensed his body go limp against her, noting that his breathing had grown more rhythmic as he was lulled to sleep.

Katrina appreciated the quiet journey to the hotel. It gave her time to think, while occasionally glancing down at her sleeping mate. The affection that she felt for him was unparalleled, rivaled only by the love she had felt for her late human husband, Samuel. It felt odd in some ways to think of Samuel so infrequently, save for when Caleb came to mind. The association between them was uncanny, and yet comforting.

For centuries, the pain she had felt at the memories of her late husband and children eventually caused her to shut those thoughts away, relegating them to the basement of her mind where the remainders of her past human life resided. Like the earthen graves in which her family members were buried, such thoughts had been swept from the forefront of her daily musings.

But now, with the addition of Caleb in her life, she once more felt compelled to seek the comforts of what had been her human existence, if only to share them with the happiness that he brought into her life.