Free In Blood and Worth Loving 2: Lost Without You by Marilyn Lee Page A

and you’re not seriously interested in a relationship with her and she’s pretty, I might like to meet her. I’m at a loose end at the moment and—” He bolted to his feet.
    Conner stepped back, a brow arched. “Something?”
    “She’s in no state to have two of us…”
    “Yes?”
    “She’s in no shape to try to handle two of us.”
    “Okay. Then why don’t I save you from Rayna? I’ll help liberate her from her ex and you’ll be free to pursue other interests.”
    “Thanks, but I have it,” he said.
    Conner stared at him.
    He stared back.
    “I’m sure you do.” Conner clasped a hand on his shoulder. “Adrian says to give him a call when you need to talk.”
    Not if? When? “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m not going to fall in blood with a woman who thinks so little of herself.”
    “So she’s a silly, little—”
    “She needs assistance, Conner, not to be called names,” he said coolly.

    “She needs assistance, Conner, not to be called names,” he said coolly.
    “Feeling a little protective?”
    “Yes. As a matter of fact, I am.”
    “Damn! You’re going to fall harder and quicker than Adrian did. At least he put up a nominal fight.” He bared his incisors.
    Conner placed a hand on the back of his neck. “All kidding aside, Jayvyn, it’s probably time to let another woman have a crack at what’s left of your heart.”
    “Even if she happens to be human?”
    Conner sighed and then shrugged. “Marrying Brandi has made all the difference for Adrian. I’ve never seen him so happy. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t do the same for you.”
    “Except that Eliza already owns what’s left of my emotions that are worth having.”
    “Does she really? I seriously doubt that. What male, even a vamp could really fall for a woman who feels the need to screw around like she does? I sure as hell couldn’t and I doubt you could either, but we’ll see. In the meantime, join me for a moonlight ride tomorrow night?”
    “Thanks, but I have plans already, old man.”
    Conner laughed. “I’ll just bet you have. What’s her name?”
    “Who?”
    “This woman Rayna has picked to be your blood.”
    “I’ll pick my own blood!”
    “We both know how well that thinking worked for Adrian.”
    “Look, Conner—”
    “What’s her name?”
    “Cayenne Pepper.”
    “Is it now? Interesting. Give her my regards and tell her when she tires of your ass, I’m available.”
    “Don’t hold your damned breath,” he said and walked out of the living room with the sound of Conner’s laughter in his ears.
    He went up to his suite to change into jeans and a tee-shirt before he went to his workshop. It was located in a large brick building he’d built behind the house. He’d built a walkway between it and the house since Rayna often came to watch him work in the middle of the night if she couldn’t sleep.
    He worked for several hours on a custom-made built-in wardrobe he was making for a customer before he showered and went to bed. Even after several hours of manual labor, he thought about Cayenne for far too long before he finally fell asleep.

Chapter Five
    “So what are you wearing tonight?”
    Cayenne and Desiree sat over lunch the next day in her kitchen. “I’m not going out with him.”
    “What?” Desiree put down her fork and stared at her. “Oh, come on, Cay. This is getting ridiculous.”
    “How is my not going out with him tonight ridiculous?”
    “You’re driving his new car.”
    “He insisted on leaving it and he took mine so it’s not like I have much choice,” she said.
    “Oh, girl, please!”
    Cayenne compressed her lips.
    Desiree glanced at the two dozen roses that had arrived that morning. “The car aside, he’s attractive, attentive, and so romantic he’s spent a fortune on red roses and he sings to you! And he clearly has the hots for you. What more can you possibly want in a man?”
    She shrugged. “Well, maybe I don’t have the hots for him.”
    “Then