edge of the tailgate.
Damian sent a smile her way and then met my gaze. “Yes, I did.”
“So , what’s going to happen now that she’s back to normal?”
His gaze never left mine. “Honestly, I have no idea,” he said in all sincerity and my throat constricted, the lump getting bigger by the second.
Silence filled the space and Damian broke eye contact, glancing around the garage.
“Where’s your Uncle Ted?”
“He went with Michael,” I said and Damian pressed his lips together before he climbed out of the box. That was a look I was accustomed to receiving and I gave him my signature eyebrow raise in response.
“He shouldn’t have gone with Michael ; that was a big risk.”
“Showing up here was a big risk,” I countered. “If I had known Valerie was living here, I never would have suggested we come home.”
“Hey,” Valerie interrupted and we both turned our gaze toward her.
“No offense, it’s just wherever we go, trouble seems to follow,” Damian said, diffusing the flash of irritation in our host’s face.
“Well, I am offended. I’ve missed your company. Uncle Ted means well, but he’s never played a game of chess in his life and he certainly isn’t as well read as you are.” Valerie’s glanced moved from Damian to me. “And I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she added bringing her gaze back to Damian.
He stared at Valerie and then turned toward me. “ I have never met two more stubborn and pigheaded women as the two of you.”
“Well, I’ve never met anyone so moody who didn’t have PMS,” I said and sent him a saccharine smiled before hopping down to the ground next to Valerie. “Maybe we should leave him alone for a bit,” I said and glanced over my shoulder, meeting his exasperated gaze.
“Naomi, you know the dangers, but she doesn’t fully understand.”
Valerie turned on him. “I took quite a few advance d courses in theology for my undergrad degree, Damian, and I’ve had endless conversations with Michael about vampires and angels, so I know much more than you give me credit for. I know where you came from,” she said. “I know what kills vampires and demons. I know incantations to bring Michael here if we ever need him and I’m far enough along in my medical degree to understand genetics too, so don’t treat me like a child.”
All I could think was , Damian just got served, and I had to hide the smile that surfaced. Once I was sure I could keep my face neutral, I chanced a glance in Damian’s direction. He had taken a seat on the tool chest and ran a hand through his hair. I could tell he was measuring his response because his gaze was locked on the truck bed and not Valerie.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said and met her glare. “You’ve accomplished a lot in five years.”
Valerie softened. “I had to grow up real fast,” she said, reminding both of us of the hardship she had survived.
“I know,” he whispered, his gaze dropping and that all too familiar expression of blame crossing his handsome features.
“It wasn’t your fault,” both Valerie and I said in unison and we traded a glance. I guess she knew his expressions as well as I did, after all, she had known him all her life until I entered the equation.
He allowed a brief twist of a smile and he sighed. “Wireless?” he asked, pulling the computer out of the backpack.
“Yes. The passphrase is Angels with a capital A,” Valerie answered.
“Thanks. Why don’t you two go visit,” he said and tossed me my duffel bag. “I’ ve got some work to do.”
I nodded and hauled the bag over my shoulder. “I’ll check on you in a little while,” I said.
He rolled his eyes and settled down on the truck bed, flipping the laptop open and started hammering on the keys.
Valerie gave us a strange look and then headed into the house, holding the door and waving me inside. She gave me a tour of the house, which was larger than the front indicated. The ranch sprawled
Damian sent a smile her way and then met my gaze. “Yes, I did.”
“So , what’s going to happen now that she’s back to normal?”
His gaze never left mine. “Honestly, I have no idea,” he said in all sincerity and my throat constricted, the lump getting bigger by the second.
Silence filled the space and Damian broke eye contact, glancing around the garage.
“Where’s your Uncle Ted?”
“He went with Michael,” I said and Damian pressed his lips together before he climbed out of the box. That was a look I was accustomed to receiving and I gave him my signature eyebrow raise in response.
“He shouldn’t have gone with Michael ; that was a big risk.”
“Showing up here was a big risk,” I countered. “If I had known Valerie was living here, I never would have suggested we come home.”
“Hey,” Valerie interrupted and we both turned our gaze toward her.
“No offense, it’s just wherever we go, trouble seems to follow,” Damian said, diffusing the flash of irritation in our host’s face.
“Well, I am offended. I’ve missed your company. Uncle Ted means well, but he’s never played a game of chess in his life and he certainly isn’t as well read as you are.” Valerie’s glanced moved from Damian to me. “And I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she added bringing her gaze back to Damian.
He stared at Valerie and then turned toward me. “ I have never met two more stubborn and pigheaded women as the two of you.”
“Well, I’ve never met anyone so moody who didn’t have PMS,” I said and sent him a saccharine smiled before hopping down to the ground next to Valerie. “Maybe we should leave him alone for a bit,” I said and glanced over my shoulder, meeting his exasperated gaze.
“Naomi, you know the dangers, but she doesn’t fully understand.”
Valerie turned on him. “I took quite a few advance d courses in theology for my undergrad degree, Damian, and I’ve had endless conversations with Michael about vampires and angels, so I know much more than you give me credit for. I know where you came from,” she said. “I know what kills vampires and demons. I know incantations to bring Michael here if we ever need him and I’m far enough along in my medical degree to understand genetics too, so don’t treat me like a child.”
All I could think was , Damian just got served, and I had to hide the smile that surfaced. Once I was sure I could keep my face neutral, I chanced a glance in Damian’s direction. He had taken a seat on the tool chest and ran a hand through his hair. I could tell he was measuring his response because his gaze was locked on the truck bed and not Valerie.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said and met her glare. “You’ve accomplished a lot in five years.”
Valerie softened. “I had to grow up real fast,” she said, reminding both of us of the hardship she had survived.
“I know,” he whispered, his gaze dropping and that all too familiar expression of blame crossing his handsome features.
“It wasn’t your fault,” both Valerie and I said in unison and we traded a glance. I guess she knew his expressions as well as I did, after all, she had known him all her life until I entered the equation.
He allowed a brief twist of a smile and he sighed. “Wireless?” he asked, pulling the computer out of the backpack.
“Yes. The passphrase is Angels with a capital A,” Valerie answered.
“Thanks. Why don’t you two go visit,” he said and tossed me my duffel bag. “I’ ve got some work to do.”
I nodded and hauled the bag over my shoulder. “I’ll check on you in a little while,” I said.
He rolled his eyes and settled down on the truck bed, flipping the laptop open and started hammering on the keys.
Valerie gave us a strange look and then headed into the house, holding the door and waving me inside. She gave me a tour of the house, which was larger than the front indicated. The ranch sprawled
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