Summit at Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 3) (4 page)

Barely two seconds following the end of his statement, the students scrambled for the door. He shook his head at their hasty departure, as well as the passing glances that a number of male students gave to Katrina on their way out. As he gathered his notes together, he failed to notice that she had moved to stand beside him. When he turned to pick up his textbook he lurched slightly at her unexpected proximity, and his eyes immediately noticed the intense look in her eyes.

She looks sad
, he noted.

“Is everything okay, Kat? I was surprised to see you at the back of the room,” he ventured. “Although it was a nice surprise, actually. It reminded me of when you took my class last fall.”

She towered before him, staring silently down into his eyes. “I was going to ask you the same thing, actually.”

He gently placed his notes and textbook back onto the podium and reached out to take her hand in his as he stared up into her eyes.

“What do you mean? Kat, what’s wrong?” he pressed. But then he felt a wave of nausea in the pit of his stomach and insisted, “Has something bad happened to Paige or Alton?”

She squeezed his hand while shaking her head. “No, they’re fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”

His eyes narrowed.
Me?

“Caleb, are you happy with us?” she asked as her emerald eyes drilled into his. “Is this about that old couch Alton shipped to you? Have I done something that you’re displeased about?”

“Hardly, Kat. I’ve never been happier,” he countered.

“Then why are you looking at properties in the Atlanta area? Are you moving out?”

His face went blank, and she immediately sensed his confusion. His expression changed to shock, and his eyes widened as if in realization of something.

Okay, that’s definitely not the response I expected from him
.

“Moving out?” he asked. “Why would I move out? Are
you
wanting me to move?”

“What?” she retorted. “No, of course not. But I got a call for you from a realtor late this afternoon...”

His pale blue eyes reflected immediate understanding, and he welcomed the feeling of relief that settled over him.

“Oh, you mean Tammy Mendez,” he said. “A fellow professor recommended Tammy after buying a new home and selling his old one through her office. And her assistance isn’t for me. I’m just helping scope out a place for Paige to move into, that’s all.”

“A place for Paige?” she blankly asked.

A split-second later, a sense of embarrassment began to form as she registered the nature of his endeavors. Paige Turner, a young vampire that Katrina counted as one of her dearest friends, had promised to relocate from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area later in the summer. Paige was also Caleb’s surrogate vampire, a designated protector for him who would take care of him if anything ever happened to her.

“So, you thought I wanted to move out?” he queried with a suspicious expression. “Kat, that’s crazy! I love you, and I’ve never been happier living at the estate.”

She had only convinced him to move in with her the past December after they confronted the dangers presented to them by a rogue vampire named Chimalma. Since then, he had enjoyed the increased time with her. He also appreciated how much their relationship had strengthened.

She pulled him to her and enveloped him in a warm embrace, heedless to the sense of foolishness that she felt. She was just so relieved that the entire affair had been merely an unfortunate misunderstanding.

I’m so paranoid
, she chastised.

Caleb appreciated the closeness of her body, and his arms wound around her slim waist in response. While no longer bewildered by her behavior, he felt bad that his helpful efforts for Paige had caused her to misinterpret the situation.

“Sorry, Kat. I should’ve mentioned it already, but my mind’s been so preoccupied with so many diversions this week.”

She rested her chin on his shoulder, and her eyes narrowed to slits. “Yes, you should have mentioned it, I think. But I suppose I’ll forgive you,” she conceded. “This time.”

“Paige texted me a few days ago to ask for my help. And honestly, I didn’t expect the realtor to get back with me so quickly. I explained to her that, with Paige taking that security contract job overseas, there’s all summer to scope out prospects.”

“Except that you might be in Slovenia with me part of the summer,” she reminded him.

He patted her lightly at the small of her back and whispered, “Well, sure, there’s always Slovenia. I hope that we’re able to go.”

He paused for a quiet moment before adding, “But since you mentioned the couch...”

“One issue at a time, my love,” she gently cautioned him.

“Oh, sure,” he conceded before changing the subject entirely. “So then, aside from being surprised by realtors, what else did you do today?”

“I baked a chocolate cake for you,” she offered as she parted from their embrace. She hoped that it had turned out okay.

He’ll probably like the frosting, at least
, she anticipated.

“I really lucked out then,” he said with a delighted expression. “Chocolate’s my favorite.”

Luck is right. You actually get to eat it instead of being smothered by it
, she contemplated, though with a vastly improved mood.

Later that evening, while consuming a sizable slice of the cake, Caleb called Paige to discuss some of the available properties the realtor had recommended. The perky vampire listened to the variety of options and locations that he described and agreed to investigate at least six prospects.

“Whatcha think, kiddo?” Paige asked after he finished highlighting the interesting ones.

“Well, the market’s pretty slow here,” he admitted while switching the phone to his other hand. “It’s probably good odds that the homes may still be on the market by summer’s end.”

While refilling a glass of water for him, Katrina listened with interest to the conversation, including Paige’s end of the chat. It wasn’t as if she were eavesdropping, really. Had her mate desired privacy he shouldn’t have sat in the kitchen, or at least should have made the overt effort of sequestering himself in one of the other rooms in the house.
He’s well aware of how keen vampire hearing is.

“Thanks, Kat,” Caleb absently muttered as she sat the glass down next to his plate.

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “Things are pretty slow out here, too. I guess I’d better put my townhouse up for sale pretty soon. I’ll put most of my personal belongings in storage before I leave. I want my place to be in show-worthy condition while I’m away.”

He savored a mouthful of cake.

“Caleb?” she asked.

“It’ll be great to have you out here, you know. We miss you,” he said in a muffled voice.

“Are you
eating
?”

“Mm, sorry,” he apologized. “Kat made this great chocolate cake.”

“Twerp!”

Katrina lightly ran her fingernails down the back of his neck, marveling at her mate’s keen appreciation for her friend and former pupil.

I should be thankful they pair off so well,
she reasoned as a somber mood overcame her and she stepped away.
If something were ever to happen to me, I’m relying on Paige to look after him.

“I miss you too, tiger,” Paige finally offered in an uncharacteristically soft voice. While she wasn’t one for displaying overtly intimate feelings to others, much to her surprise, Caleb brought that quality out in her. Suddenly self-conscious of her tone, she fell into a playful display of sarcasm. “And I miss that gruff old lady of yours too,” she quipped. “Tell her I said ‘hey.’“

His eyes peered across the room at Katrina, who scowled.

“Hey back at ya, shorty,” she wryly retorted, knowing full well that the vampire could hear her. “Spoiled brat.”

Paige chuckled at that.

“You know, it would really help my efforts if I knew what part of Atlanta you want to settle down in,” Caleb ventured.

There was a pause at the other end before Paige finally replied in a quiet voice, “Oh, I dunno. Somewhere close to you guys would be fine.”

Katrina’s eyebrows rose slightly as she put clean dishes away from the drain board, but she said nothing.

Makes sense, I suppose,
she mulled
.

Caleb’s eyes slowly swiveled over to Katrina before answering, “Okay then. I’ll focus my attentions within, say, twenty miles?”

“Sure, that works,” Paige agreed.

They said their goodbyes, and he finished eating his slice of cake.

“This is a great cake, Kat,” he offered. “Thanks for baking it for me.”

She happily beamed in response. “Anytime, my love.”

He tentatively looked up at her from where he sat and wondered if his conversation with Paige had somehow bothered her. “You know, Kat,” he began, “If it bothers you for Paige to move so close to us...”

She moved to stand behind him, draping her arms across his chest. “No, my love. I’m perfectly fine with what we decided.”

Her thoughts were momentarily lost in silent recollection. It had been less than a month since her in-depth discussion with Paige regarding the young vampire’s affections for Caleb. Following that, Caleb had urged the blonde vampire to relocate to the Atlanta area.
It’s probably for the best.

“Kat?” Caleb gently asked as he sensed his mate’s quiet distraction.

Katrina broke from her reverie, hugged him, and gently patted him on the chest. “Sorry,” she answered. “Everything’s fine, Caleb. We’ll find a suitable house for Paige.”

He craned his neck upwards to brush his lips against hers.

“Thanks, Kat,” he noted with gratitude.

If only Alton weren’t so established in England, maybe he could move closer as well
, he mused. He had no remaining immediate relatives, so Paige and Alton constituted the closest thing he had left to family. Since his mother’s passing, he had felt so alone in the world.

Family is so important
, he silently recognized.
It’s wonderful to be surrounded by those that care about you.

*    *    *    *

The next few weeks passed uneventfully for Caleb and Katrina. Finals and the spring graduation ceremony were both over by the second week of May. Despite the fact that she hadn’t yet committed to attending the Slovene conference, Caleb declined offers to teach during the summer semester. Instead, he cleaned out his office a week later and was free to pursue a host of activities at home. At the very least, he would have a free summer to spend with Katrina.

He started his time off by reorganizing the contents of their cavernous four-car garage, including sorting items to be stored in the attic. He also tended to some plants in the large flowerbeds in the front yard, though Katrina assured him the lawn service that she had contracted with could handle that. He conceded to feeling a little stir-crazy with all the free time on his hands.

One morning around four am, Caleb rolled towards the left side of the bed and found that Katrina was gone. Such a revelation wasn’t unusual, given that his mate could only safely leave the house after sunset. It stood to reason that sundown to sunrise would be the prime time for vampires to socialize, roam, or hunt. So he wasn’t offended when he frequently woke to find Katrina missing. He knew that by morning she would likely be lying next to him to greet him upon waking. On those few occasions when she wasn’t, she was usually somewhere in the house preoccupied with one of her numerous interests.

After making a quick trip to the bathroom, he still felt restless and proceeded upstairs for a glass of ice water. He paused in the main hallway halfway to the kitchen upon hearing voices coming from the back section of the house. He immediately recognized Katrina’s voice, but strained to listen to the other female voice. Moments later, a telltale giggle gave away the guest’s identity.

Paige! It’s Paige
.

It had been less than two months since he had last seen her, but it felt longer. He easily recalled his flight to California to convince her to relocate to Atlanta so she would be closer to him and Katrina. Fortunately, she had agreed, but stipulated that she had to complete a contract security job over the summer first. Despite the delay, he was excited that she would be making Atlanta her new home in just a matter of months.

He quickly pattered through the kitchen and into the entryway to the living room at the back of the house. Katrina winked at him from her place on the couch, and their guest rose from the recliner where she had been sitting.

Paige’s petite body was lithe as a ballerina’s. Her youthful, twenty-something features were haloed by her blonde bob, evoking the flapper dancers of the 1920s. A set of piercing, deep blue eyes targeted Caleb, while her playful smile appeared nearly devilish against a backdrop of pearly white teeth. She had the kind of mischievous grin that made him feel as if he’d just sold his soul but relished the bargain. Her form-fitting blue jeans and high-cut Ramones concert t-shirt playfully evoked exuberant sexuality.

She took in his appearance with amusement; his slightly mussed hair looked appropriate given his ensemble of cotton sweatpants and Georgia State football t-shirt. “Hey, tiger,” she purred invitingly. “Come give your big sister a hug.”

He crossed the short distance in seconds, and she giggled as he hoisted her off the floor, encasing her in a bear hug. She patted him on the back with one hand while playfully pinching him on a butt cheek with the other.

“Hey,” he yelped as he hugged her tightly to him. “No pinching!”

“Sisters don’t typically pinch their brother’s butts,” Katrina observed dryly, though she considered no less a playful response from her best friend.

Paige popped a quick kiss on Caleb’s cheek and quietly retorted, “We’re more like kissin’ cousins, really.”

Katrina rolled her eyes.

“Missed you, kiddo,” Paige whispered in Caleb’s ear.

“Missed you, too, babysitter,” he whispered back, still holding her tightly. “It’s great to see you!”

Oh, I’m liking this a lot
, Paige appreciated. Then she abruptly pulled away from him, teasing, “All right, you can stop groping me. It’s getting just plain creepy now.”