Free Secret Life Of A Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks Page B

have an Italian car?” Lara asked.
    “Not here in America. I'll borrow a car from a friend.” Roman always kept one at the townhouse.
    “What kind of car?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    “Oh, no reason. But if it's really big, you might have trouble parking.”
    He couldn't resist. “Bellissima, it is big, but I've never had trouble parking it.” He smiled as a period of silence stretched between them.
    “O-kay,” she finally said. “I'll see you soon.” She rang off.
    Jack finished his breakfast while he pondered her request for a description of his car. She was up to something. If she were a Malcontent, he'd suspect her of wanting to set a car bomb, but he didn't think Lara wanted to kill him.
    Of course that could change if she learned the truth about him. He knew from experience that women didn't react well to the truth. He'd have to be a fool to repeat the same mistake and expect a different outcome.
    “Hey, someone's parking down the street,” LaToya reported on her cell phone. “Oh, I forgot. This is a stakeout.” She switched to a low, urgent voice. “Possible sighting of male subject, driving a red Toyota.”
    “A Toyota? That doesn't sound very Jack-ish,” Lara said. Thirty minutes had passed, and she was waiting anxiously in the apartment on the third floor, while LaToya was stationed on the street below. Their plan was for LaToya to spot Jack arriving so she could write down his license plate number. Then, while Lara interrogated Jack in the apartment, LaToya could run his plates.
    Lara watched from the living-room window as LaToya wandered slowly down the street, pretending to window-shop. It was dark outside, but the street-lamps cast yellow pools of light that reflected eerily off the wet cement.
    “Subject has exited his car,” LaToya whispered into her phone. “Dark hair. Average height. Average looks.”
    “Jack has black hair,” Lara said. “But I'd say he's taller than average. And way better-looking than the—”
    “Average alien?” LaToya muttered. “Subject has entered the deli. Don't think he's our man. And it's starting to drizzle again, dammit.”
    “You want to come in?”
    “Negative. I'm on a mission. Possible alien incursion.” LaToya pulled the hood of her LSU sweatshirt over her head. “Hey, I wonder what aliens eat. I hope your Jack isn't here to harvest us for food.”
    “Jack is not an alien.” But Lara wasn't sure what he was. She glanced around the apartment to make sure it was presentable. The dishes had been rinsed and stashed in the dishwasher. The kitchen opened onto the living room, which was so small, it was easy to keep clean. Her bedroom was a little messy, but she didn't intend to invite Jack there, even though LaToya insisted she should strip him to check for multiple belly buttons or hidden scales and gills.
    Lara's heart speeded up at the mere thought of seeing him again. How would he explain things to her? And how would she react? What if he actually confessed to being an alien? She snorted. LaToya's silliness was getting to her. There had to be a reasonable explanation for Jack's bizarre abilities. Please let it be reasonable.
    She wanted him to be human. And available. And interested in her. Oh what the hell, she wanted him to worship the ground she walked on.
    “Dammit, would you look at that?” LaToya growled.
    “What?” Lara strained to see out the window. “Have you spotted him?”
    “No. I'm looking in the window at Mrs. Yee's bakery. She swears everything is fresh every day, but this cream puff with the chocolate icing has the same little black spot on it that the one yesterday had. I'm telling you it's the same one.”
    “LaToya, you've been lusting after those cream puffs for a week. Just buy one and eat the damned thing.”
    “Are you kidding? You know how many calories that is?”
    Lights flashed across the dark, wet pavement as a new car turned onto the street.
    From Lara's vantage point, she couldn't spot the car yet. “Can