When He Was Bad
Page 53
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I dont need to stay with you, Sam. Her voice was clear.
Then Ill send the patrol and
She met Cains stare. My neighbor has room for me. Ill be staying with him.
His blood seemed to heat. Miranda in his house. Perfect.
Ah, hell, Sam muttered. Cuz, you know what youre doing? You just had one guy who hurt you
Her chin lifted, but her gaze never wavered. And one guy who saved me. Yeah, I know what Im doing.
Cuz. Cousin. Cain relaxed muscles he hadnt even realized that hed tensed.
Im still sending out my patrol.
Cain gave a slight nod. Good. And make damn sure that the men you send out are well-armed. Not that a normal bullet would be able to do much damage to one of the undead but
It would sure sting like a bitch.
And you come in to the station first thing tomorrow, Miranda, you got me? You come in, finish this report, and then well get Stan to come out here and put up a new door and a damn sight better security system.
No arguments there, she said, and again lifted her hand to press lightly against her throat. When she winced, Cain ground his back teeth.
You need to go to the hospital. Sam was tapping his foot against the stone steps as he made this decree.
Ive told you five times already, Im not going. I let that crime scene guy photograph me, but that is it! Ive got a few scratches, I dont need to drive forty minutes to get to Springs Memorial to have a doctor tell me Im fine, she snapped.
Cain blinked. Oh, but the lady had a nice temper on her. He liked thata lot.
Okay, calm down. Sam motioned to the other deputies.
I am calm! she yelled. Ive just had one hell of a night and I really, really just want to get in bed now and try to pretend that all of this crap never happened!
Thats what the humans usually did. Made excuses for the things they saw. Tried to act like reality wasnt some screwed-up mix of heaven and hell.
Sometimes those lies worked.
Sometimes they didnt.
Sam hugged Miranda. Fine, but Ill be close. Call if you need me.
She brushed his shoulder a bit awkwardly. Okay, uh, thanks.
He turned his attention to Cain. Watch her, and you damn well dont even think of taking advantage.
Well, other than his plans to rip apart the vampire, taking advantage of Miranda was the only other thing occupying his mind. Not that he was going to confide that little tidbit to the uniform, but
All right, guys, lets pack it up and get out of here. I want to search SmithSwamp and get the status on the men in the woods, Sam said, snapping out orders as he walked away.
A few minutes later, the cars disappeared in a swirl of blue and white lights.
Cain was left alone with Miranda.
Finally.
Two
She had to be crazy. Miranda paced the length of Cains living room, spared a brief glance for the unpacked boxes lined neatly along the left wall, and tried very hard to make her hands stop shaking.
Alone with Cain Lawson. Jeez. Had she taken leave of all her sanity? She should have gone with Sam or locked her house up tight and
Youre safe with me, Miranda. Relax. His voice sounded from right behind her and Miranda spun around, surprised to find that Cain had crept silently from the kitchen.
He held up two glasses, each filled with a dark, amber liquid. Here, drink some. Itll make you feel better.
Well, since she doubted that she could feel any worse . . . Miranda took the offered drink and downed the fiery contents in two deep gulps.
When she handed him the glass back, her hands werent shaking any longer, but her gut seemed to be on fire.
He smiled at her and damn if the man didnt have the sexiest dimple shed ever seen along his right cheek.
Get a grip. Youre running on adrenaline and fumes right now. Stop lusting after the man next door.
Cain set the glasses down with a soft clink on a nearby table.
Miranda exhaled slowly. I, um, didnt get a chance to thank you before. When Sam had appeared with his sirens wailing, thered been no time at all to speak privately with Cain. It had been a mad rush of explanations, searches, and general chaos.
No, thered been no time to thank Cain for saving her life. And thered been no time to ask if he truly thought Paul Roberts was a vampire.
And what about Cain? For a while there, hed been sporting teeth a hell of a lot sharper than the ones he showed now.
Hadnt he? She rubbed her brow, suddenly confused.
You dont have to thank me. A deep rumble of sound, almost like a growl.
The man had the deepest, roughest voice shed ever heard. One that made her toes curl and her thighs quiver.
Down, girl.
Her hormones were going crazy and her mind was turning into mush. Had to be the excitement of the night.
I did what any man would have done.
She shook her head at that. Uh, no. Miranda could still see the men locked in brutal combat. I dont know many guys who would have kicked down a door to save me.
He caught her hand. Brought her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. Then you dont know the right kind of men.
Then Ill send the patrol and
She met Cains stare. My neighbor has room for me. Ill be staying with him.
His blood seemed to heat. Miranda in his house. Perfect.
Ah, hell, Sam muttered. Cuz, you know what youre doing? You just had one guy who hurt you
Her chin lifted, but her gaze never wavered. And one guy who saved me. Yeah, I know what Im doing.
Cuz. Cousin. Cain relaxed muscles he hadnt even realized that hed tensed.
Im still sending out my patrol.
Cain gave a slight nod. Good. And make damn sure that the men you send out are well-armed. Not that a normal bullet would be able to do much damage to one of the undead but
It would sure sting like a bitch.
And you come in to the station first thing tomorrow, Miranda, you got me? You come in, finish this report, and then well get Stan to come out here and put up a new door and a damn sight better security system.
No arguments there, she said, and again lifted her hand to press lightly against her throat. When she winced, Cain ground his back teeth.
You need to go to the hospital. Sam was tapping his foot against the stone steps as he made this decree.
Ive told you five times already, Im not going. I let that crime scene guy photograph me, but that is it! Ive got a few scratches, I dont need to drive forty minutes to get to Springs Memorial to have a doctor tell me Im fine, she snapped.
Cain blinked. Oh, but the lady had a nice temper on her. He liked thata lot.
Okay, calm down. Sam motioned to the other deputies.
I am calm! she yelled. Ive just had one hell of a night and I really, really just want to get in bed now and try to pretend that all of this crap never happened!
Thats what the humans usually did. Made excuses for the things they saw. Tried to act like reality wasnt some screwed-up mix of heaven and hell.
Sometimes those lies worked.
Sometimes they didnt.
Sam hugged Miranda. Fine, but Ill be close. Call if you need me.
She brushed his shoulder a bit awkwardly. Okay, uh, thanks.
He turned his attention to Cain. Watch her, and you damn well dont even think of taking advantage.
Well, other than his plans to rip apart the vampire, taking advantage of Miranda was the only other thing occupying his mind. Not that he was going to confide that little tidbit to the uniform, but
All right, guys, lets pack it up and get out of here. I want to search SmithSwamp and get the status on the men in the woods, Sam said, snapping out orders as he walked away.
A few minutes later, the cars disappeared in a swirl of blue and white lights.
Cain was left alone with Miranda.
Finally.
Two
She had to be crazy. Miranda paced the length of Cains living room, spared a brief glance for the unpacked boxes lined neatly along the left wall, and tried very hard to make her hands stop shaking.
Alone with Cain Lawson. Jeez. Had she taken leave of all her sanity? She should have gone with Sam or locked her house up tight and
Youre safe with me, Miranda. Relax. His voice sounded from right behind her and Miranda spun around, surprised to find that Cain had crept silently from the kitchen.
He held up two glasses, each filled with a dark, amber liquid. Here, drink some. Itll make you feel better.
Well, since she doubted that she could feel any worse . . . Miranda took the offered drink and downed the fiery contents in two deep gulps.
When she handed him the glass back, her hands werent shaking any longer, but her gut seemed to be on fire.
He smiled at her and damn if the man didnt have the sexiest dimple shed ever seen along his right cheek.
Get a grip. Youre running on adrenaline and fumes right now. Stop lusting after the man next door.
Cain set the glasses down with a soft clink on a nearby table.
Miranda exhaled slowly. I, um, didnt get a chance to thank you before. When Sam had appeared with his sirens wailing, thered been no time at all to speak privately with Cain. It had been a mad rush of explanations, searches, and general chaos.
No, thered been no time to thank Cain for saving her life. And thered been no time to ask if he truly thought Paul Roberts was a vampire.
And what about Cain? For a while there, hed been sporting teeth a hell of a lot sharper than the ones he showed now.
Hadnt he? She rubbed her brow, suddenly confused.
You dont have to thank me. A deep rumble of sound, almost like a growl.
The man had the deepest, roughest voice shed ever heard. One that made her toes curl and her thighs quiver.
Down, girl.
Her hormones were going crazy and her mind was turning into mush. Had to be the excitement of the night.
I did what any man would have done.
She shook her head at that. Uh, no. Miranda could still see the men locked in brutal combat. I dont know many guys who would have kicked down a door to save me.
He caught her hand. Brought her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. Then you dont know the right kind of men.
