Should she suggest he hunt with Krysta and Étienne? That was a bit of a sore subject for Sean. He loved his sister but didn’t like feeling as if he needed a babysitter after the years he’d spent sitting on the sidelines while she hunted vampires without him.
“What?” he asked when she said nothing. “Still have that bad feeling?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “It’s weaker but still there.” Reaching out, she clasped his hand and stared down at it. Though she wasn’t as petite as some of the other gifted one and immortal women, his hand was so much larger by comparison that it made hers look delicate.
Warmth engulfed her when he curled his fingers around hers.
Quiet fell.
“Anything?” he asked softly.
She shook her head. “Just the same buzz in the background that I’ve had for days. I think it would get stronger if you were in danger, though, so you should be good tonight. Becca, too.”
“And you,” he said with a smile.
It didn’t always work that way. Her gift had totally screwed her in the past by not offering a heads-up that she was in danger. But she forced a smile. “And me.”
He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze, then released it. “Be safe. And call me if you need me.”
“I will. Don’t forget to take a tranq gun with you tonight.”
“I won’t.”
“See you later.” Nicole headed outside and skipped down the front steps. The wispy clouds above were already acquiring a coral hue as the sun approached the horizon. Sheesh. She’d better hurry, or she wouldn’t reach Duke before the sun set. Nick and Kayla were probably antsy enough about this already. How much more so would they be if the woman they’d asked to guard their daughter was tardy?
Despite the crush of rush hour traffic, Nicole managed to reach Becca’s dorm before the sky darkened enough for vampires to venture out.
Becca sat on the front steps, chatting with Kayla.
Most of the college students Nicole had known would’ve been horrified by the notion of their mom hanging out with them on campus. But these two had been best friends ever since Kayla had divorced Becca’s adulterous father several years ago. And now that Kayla was immortal, she looked almost as young as her daughter. Nicole doubted anyone who saw them together would even guess they were mother and daughter.
Kayla waved. “Hi, Nicole.”
Waving back, Nicole joined them. “You ready for a night out on the town?” she asked Becca.
Her friend responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”
Kayla’s smile seemed a tad strained as she kissed her daughter’s cheek and gave her a hug. “Well, I’ll be on my way then. You girls be careful.”
“We will,” Becca promised. “Bye, Mom.”
As Kayla walked away, Nicole asked loudly enough for her voice to carry, “So how many keggers are we hitting tonight?”
Kayla spun around, eyes wide, mouth open to protest. Then she caught Nicole’s teasing expression and relaxed.
Becca burst out laughing.
Shaking her head, Kayla sent them a rueful smile. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Now that she’s immortal,” Becca murmured as her mother walked away, “I don’t think there is anything she wouldn’t do.”
“I heard that!” Kayla called without looking back.
They chuckled.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” Becca asked as they strolled away from the dorm.
“Going to my favorite restaurant.” Technically, it was a restaurant and bar that was popular with the college crowd. But Becca was too young to drink legally.
“One of the network’s?”
The network owned and operated a few restaurants that immortals and their Seconds could frequent without worrying about their differences or conversations drawing attention from humans.
“Nope.”
Becca smiled. “Good. All the eyes watching me are starting to get on my nerves.”
“Well, it’s just you and me tonight.”
And they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The bar was bustling with students determined to blow off steam after a long week. The food was excellent. The music rocked. And Becca seemed to enjoy herself as the night went on, though she didn’t let loose enough to flirt with any of the guys who hit on her. Even the most charming of them received cold shoulders.
“Are you dating someone, Becca?” Nicole asked, wondering why her friend kept shutting down everyone who approached her. Immortal Guardians were notorious gossips, so Nicole was pretty sure someone would’ve mentioned it if Becca had a boyfriend.
“Not right now, no.”
Nicole smiled. “Are Nick and Kayla chasing away all the guys?”
She laughed. “No. I’ve just been too busy studying my ass off to do anything else.”
Nicole grunted. “I know what that’s like.”
“What about you?” Becca studied her curiously. “Are you dating anyone?”
“No.”
“I’ve heard being a Second can make it pretty hard to have relationships.”
“It does.” So did lusting after the immortal she was supposed to be guarding.
“That sucks.”
Before Nicole could respond, a deep voice spoke behind her. “Hey, babe. Sorry I’m late.” A British accent colored his words.
Becca’s eyes widened as they focused on someone behind her.
Nicole turned to see what had grabbed her attention… and gaped.
Sean strode toward her, a smile on his handsome face.
A very different Sean.
His combat blacks were gone, replaced by worn, faded blue jeans that molded themselves to muscled thighs. A white Henley T-shirt hugged eight-pack abs. Atop that, he wore a dark gray shirt, unbuttoned, with the long sleeves pushed back to his elbows. Dark tattoos now whorled and swirled up his muscled forearms. A watch adorned one wrist. Three black string bracelets circled the other. And his hair…
He had shorn his raven hair close to his head on the sides. The rest of his thick, wavy locks looked like he’d finger-combed them back from his face and sported so many pale golden streaks that he looked blond. A tattoo similar to those on his arms crept up one side of his neck, accenting his firm jaw.
Holy hell.
Butterflies fluttered in her belly.
Stopping beside her chair, Sean grinned down at her, looking jaw-droppingly gorgeous… a description that ended up being more accurate than she’d realized.
Tucking a finger beneath her chin, he closed her gaping mouth, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Nicole’s heart began to slam against her ribs.
What was happening?
The stunned look on Nicole’s beautiful face was absolutely priceless. Sean couldn’t wipe the grin off his own. But his little plan almost backfired when the simple kiss he delivered heated his blood and nearly caused his eyes to glow.
His heart thumped harder as he straightened and glanced over at Becca, whose eyes danced with mirth.
“Looks like I missed dinner,” Sean said with a faux British accent. “But I’m up for whatever comes next.”
“I’ll bet you are,” Becca said with a gleeful grin.
Nicole made a choking sound and reached for her beer. “What are you doing here?” she asked after taking a hardy swig. “I thought you had to work late.”