Tonight and Always by Miller Linda Lael

Author:Miller, Linda Lael [Miller, Linda Lael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Vampire
Published: 2012-09-27T09:34:34+00:00

Max paced. He'd tried to call Kristina intermittently throughout the day. There was no answer at her shop or at her house.

She was a businesswoman, an adult with a life of her own, and he had no claim on her, no right to obsess about where she was or what she was doing. Yet something in his gut, some instinct he had never felt before, was telling him there was trouble.

He shoved a hand through his hair. It was late, and the girls were already in bed. He couldn't leave them alone and, after the exchange with Elaine the night before, he wasn't about to ask his sister-in-law to come over and babysit. The teenager he hired when Elaine wasn't available was probably sound asleep, and if he called his mother or Gwen in the middle of the night, they would be frightened, not to mention angry.

Max returned to the telephone on the desk in his study and punched the redial button; there was no need to go through the sequence of numbers that would make Kristina's home phone ring, because he'd been calling there since six o'clock.

This time she answered. Her voice sounded small, fragile.

"Hello?"

"It's Max." He closed his eyes, feeling both relieved and foolish.

"I guessed that," she said. There was a smile in her softly spoken words.

"By magic?"

The smile came through again, though Max knew in his heart of hearts that all was not right with Kristina. He was scared.

"No," she answered. "I was just hoping."

He wanted to hold her, to draw her into his arms and shelter her against whatever threatened her. He had never felt so protective before, even with Sandy—but then, he'd been naive in those golden days before his wife's death. He hadn't known how quickly and finally tragedy could strike. Hadn't dreamed.

"Are you all right?"

"Just tired," she said.

Max's gut clenched hard. He was torn between his children and the need to go to this woman who had finally caused him to put away Sandy's wedding band, which he had worn on a chain around his neck ever since his wife's death. He ached to see with his own eyes that she was safe and well.

"Do you need anything?"

He could almost see her shaking her head. He knew she was in bed, though he wasn't sure how, and he felt guilty because the image stirred him in a profoundly sexual way. So much for the altruistic wish to embrace Kristina and lend his manly strength. Max wanted more—a whole lot more—and he wasn't proud of the fact, given that she was so obviously vulnerable.

"No," Kristina replied. "I'm all right, Max, really. What about you? Are you okay? And the girls?"

"Don't worry about us," Max said firmly. "We're fine."

There was a short, pulsing silence, during which their hearts communicated.

I need you, Max told Kristina.

And I need you, was her reply.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Max finally asked aloud. He was leaning against the desk now, the receiver clutched in his hand, still wanting to go to her right then.

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