Free Desire After Dark by Amanda Ashley

them.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI walked them home, nothing more.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYou still think I might have killed them?”
    â€œNo, but…”
    â€œI knew they were in danger. I walked them home and warned them against opening their doors to strangers.”
    â€œYou were a stranger.”
    He smiled faintly. “A stranger, yes, but not a murderer of young women.”
    She glanced at the clock over the mantel. “I’ve got to go. I’m going to be late for work.”
    She was picking up her handbag when Antonio said, “Tom Duncan.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe man you were with last night. What did he want?”
    â€œI don’t see as how that’s any of your concern.”
    He took a step forward. Though his expression didn’t change, he seemed suddenly menacing. “What did he want?”
    â€œDinner, of course,” she retorted. “Why else do people come into a diner? Well, except for you.”
    He clenched his hands at his sides. “There is more, something you are not telling me.”
    â€œHe asked me for a date, not that it’s any of your business.”
    He stared at her.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Is it so hard to believe that someone would want to date me?”
    Battista shook his head. “No, of course not.” He didn’t think the man ever thought of anything but destroying the Undead, but the vampire hunter had actually asked Victoria for a date. Battista knew hunters rarely married. It had never occurred to him that they might date from time to time. “Are you going out with him?”
    â€œI’ve really got to go.”
    â€œYes, of course.” His face a hard mask, he turned and stalked out the door.
    Grabbing her coat, she followed him out of the house, locking the door behind her.
    She could feel him watching her as she unlocked her car door, tossed her coat into the backseat, and then slid behind the wheel.
    She stared at him for a moment before she started the car and pulled out of the driveway.
    He waited until she was out of sight, then dissolved into mist and followed her to the diner.

Chapter 9
    Vicki couldn’t help it. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she walked from her car to the diner. She had the oddest feeling that she was being followed but there was no one behind her, at least no one she could see.
    She frowned, remembering how Antonio seemed to walk without making a sound. But he wasn’t invisible, even if his footsteps didn’t make any noise.
    With a shake of her head, she went in the back door. She left her coat and her handbag in her locker, put on a clean apron, grabbed her pad, and went to relieve Gladys.
    She nodded at Bobbie Sue, noting that there were only a few customers in the diner. But that was normal for this time of night.
    Things picked up as the night wore on. It was about eight o’clock when Tom Duncan sat down at table four.
    â€œHi,” she said. “Steak again?”
    He shook his head. “No, I think I’ll try something else. What do you recommend?”
    â€œThe shrimp looks good.”
    He tapped one finger on the table. “How about the meat loaf?”
    â€œI’d stick with the shrimp if I were you.”
    â€œAll right, shrimp it is.”
    â€œDo you want rice or fries with that?”
    â€œFries.”
    She jotted it down. “Coffee?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œBe right back.”
    She brought him a cup of coffee but she didn’t have time to stay and chat. Saturday nights were always busy. She saw Maddy and Rex sharing a hot fudge sundae and smiled. Two dates in less than a week. Perhaps there would be a wedding soon.
    She was clearing table two when she happened to glance out the window. She was startled to see Antonio looking back at her through the glass. At least she thought it was Antonio. Before she could be sure, he was gone.
    With a shake of her head, she went back to