“More obsessed,” Vincent admitted, continuing to look away.
“So if the obsession is unavoidable, then what makes me different than any of your other rescues? Maybe the reason you like me is that I just happen to live down the street from you and cross your path more often than most. You saved me, but instead of disappearing from your life like all of the others, I kept popping up and fueled the obsession. How do you know that’s not all there is to it?”
He was silent. “That’s it, isn’t it?” I shook my head in dismay. My stomach seized into a knot of despair.
“I was wondering how someone like you could fall for someone like me. How you went from acting like I was just a stupid admirer the first couple of times I saw you to looking at me like I was your dream girl. And that’s the answer. It has nothing to do with me. It’s just some sort of unnatural addiction to lifesaving that goes along with being a revenant.”
I knew it couldn’t be true, I thought to myself.
Vincent lowered his head into his hands and sat like that for a minute, massaging his temples before speaking. “Kate, I’ve saved hundreds of women and have never felt this for any of them. I was interested in you before I saved your life. I admit, the saving part did make you more unforgettable. It kind of sealed my resolution to know you. Maybe I came off as a jerk the first time we talked, but it’s been a long time since I’ve let myself feel anything about anyone. I’m just out of practice at being human. You have to believe me.”
I searched for any hint of deception in his face. He seemed completely sincere. “You have to be honest with me, then, Vincent,” I said. “If you suddenly realize that’s all that I am—a rescue who you’ve managed to get closer to—then I want to know immediately.”
“I will be honest, Kate. I won’t ever lie to you.”
“Or keep things from me that I should know.”
“You have my word.”
I nodded. The sun was already setting, and lights began to appear in the buildings above us, their reflections bouncing off the water like flickering flames.
“Kate, what are you feeling?”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“Afraid.”
“Let me take you home,” Vincent said, regret filling his voice. He rose to his feet and pulled me up beside him.
No! I thought. And aloud I stammered, “No . . . not yet. Let’s not end today like this. Let’s do something else. Something normal.”
“You mean something besides talking about death, flying spirits, and obsessed immortals?”
“That would be nice,” I said.
“How about dinner?” Vincent said.
“Okay.” I nodded. “Let me just tell Georgia that I won’t be eating at home, though.” I took my cell phone out of my bag and texted: Going out for dinner. Please tell M & P I won’t be too late.
Vincent took my hand and laced his fingers through mine, sending little shock waves through my heart. My phone rang as we got to the top of the steps. It was Georgia.
“Yes?”
“So, who are you going to dinner with?”
“So, why do you want to know?” I smiled, glancing sideways at Vincent.
“Let’s just say that I’m taking my role as your legal guardian seriously,” she purred.
“You are so not my legal guardian.”
Georgia laughed. “Who are you with?”
“A friend.”
“V?”
“Actually, yes.”
“Oh my God, where are you going? I’ll come by and just pretend I was in the area so I can get a look at him.”
“No way, and besides, I don’t even know where we’re going yet.”
Vincent gave me a sly smile. “Georgia?” he asked. I nodded, and he reached for the phone.
“Hello, is this Georgia? Vincent here. Should I have cleared this date with you before taking your sister out?” He laughed, and I could tell Georgia was working her irresistible charm on him already.
Finally he said, “No, I don’t think that a meet-the-folks session was in the plans for tonight, but I’m sure we’ll run into each other soon. Why not, you ask?” He winked at me, and I shivered. It was incredible how he affected me. In a dangerous way.
“You’ll have to ask your sister. She’s the one calling the shots.”
Chapter Seventeen
WE SAT FACING EACH OTHER ACROSS A TINY table in a cavelike restaurant in the Marais. Dozens of flickering candles illuminated the space around us. Our legs were crisscrossed under the table, mine resting between his, and the feeling of his body touching mine kept my blood on a constant low boil from the moment we sat down until we left.
I kept trying to fight the feeling that Vincent and I were already a couple. It was our first real date, after all, and, besides the barely believable information Vincent had given me about his monster-hood, I didn’t know anything about him. This was no time to let my guard down. I resolved to keep things light.