Free Night's Surrender by Amanda Ashley Page A

able to read minds, move faster than the eye can follow, turn into mist, never grow old.”
    â€œYeah, that is nice,” he agreed.
    â€œWhat do you miss most about being human?”
    â€œA lot of things. The change in seasons. Summer or winter, hot or cold, it’s all the same to me. I miss sleeping and dreaming. I miss the innocence that mortals have, the sense of wonder that I no longer possess.” He paused. “I would have liked the chance to be a father.”
    â€œIt’s not impossible. Look at Mara. She has a son. And my uncle Vince and his wife had twins.”
    â€œI guess miracles happen now and then,” Nick mused. He was silent a moment, and then asked, “So, where does that leave us?”
    Where, indeed? Did she really want to pursue a relationship with a vampire? Even one as gorgeous as Nick Desanto? What if they got married . . . Married! Where had that thought come from? She had just met the man. She hardly knew him, and since she didn’t believe in casual sex, there didn’t seem to be any point in seeing him again if it wasn’t going to lead to something permanent . . . And if it did, was she prepared to make the hard decisions sure to follow?
    If she was going to call it quits, now was the time, before she started to care more than she already did.
    But she couldn’t form the words.
    Leaning across the table, he covered her hands with one of his. “Will you go out with me tonight?”
    Her heart made the decision before her brain had time to think it over. “Yes.”
    â€œPick you up at seven?”
    â€œI’ll be ready.”
    Rising, Nick drew Abbey to her feet, then wrapped her in his arms again. He held her for a long moment before he claimed her lips with his.
    And in that gentle, lingering kiss of possession, Nick knew his fate was sealed.
    As was hers.

Chapter Eleven
    When Abbey returned to the cottage, she found her father sitting on the swing on the front porch.
    â€œHi, honey,” he said, rising. “Where have you been?”
    â€œI was out riding. Have you been waiting long?”
    â€œNot really.” He gave her a hug, then drew back, nostrils flaring. “You’ve been with him, haven’t you?”
    Abbey’s gaze slid away from his. Having a vampire for a father made lying useless. Not that she would have lied to him. But without his preternatural senses, he never would have known she’d been with Nick.
    Rane glanced around the yard. “Where is he?”
    â€œDad . . .”
    â€œWhere is he?”
    â€œOut at the old shack.” She grabbed his arm when he started to turn away. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œI’m going to ask him what his intentions are toward my daughter.”
    â€œDad! I just met the man!”
    â€œHe’s got no business on my property,” Rane said. “Or any business stalking my daughter.”
    â€œHe’s not stalking me.”
    â€œNo? What do you call it when he follows you here and then sneaks around like a thief in the night?”
    Abbey bit down on the corner of her lip. Not long ago, she had used the word stalker herself. She took a deep breath. “He asked me to go out with him tonight.”
    â€œI suppose you said yes.”
    She nodded. “I don’t know where this is headed, but there’s something between us, a connection. I can’t explain it, but it feels right.”
    Rane drew a ragged breath, let it out in a long sigh of resignation. “Like you’ve said so often, you’re old enough to make your own decisions.”
    â€œDid Mom know what she was getting into when she fell in love with you?”
    Rane looked at her sharply. “What does that mean?”
    â€œNothing. But Mom was human when the two of you met. If you’re so set against humans and vampires dating, why did you go out with Mom?”
    Rane grunted softly . Why, indeed?
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    Walking toward the