Karen Lynch

Chris smiled at me, showing two ridiculously cute dimples and a few feet away a waitress dropped an empty cup she had cleared from a table. Blushing, she muttered an apology and hurried inside.I scowled at him, refusing to be swayed by his charm.__ see,_ he murmured, nodding slightly as if he had just solved a puzzle.__ee what?_ Ignoring my question, he pulled out a cell phone, hit a number and held the phone out to me. I hesitated for a few seconds then took the phone and put it to my ear.__hat__ up, Chris?_ said a familiar deep voice on the other end.__ood question,_ I responded tersely.__ told Chris you__ recognize him if he got too close._ Was that amusement in his tone?__reat. You won the bet. Buy him a beer or whatever._ I glanced at Chris, saw that he looked amused now, too and I grew even more agitated. __ thought we had an understanding when you left here last week.___nd what understanding would that be?_ I gritted my teeth. __he one where you go your way and I go mine and we all live happily ever after.___ don__ recall that particular arrangement,_ he replied in his infuriatingly easy manner. __ believe I told you I__ be seeing you again.__ opened my mouth but words would not come out. People say ____l be seeing you_ all the time when they say good bye. It doesn__ mean anything. It certainly doesn__ mean they will send their friends to stalk you.__ara?___hat do you want from me, Nikolas? I told you I just want to be left alone.__here was a brief silence then a quiet sigh on the other end. __e got word of increased activity in Portland and we have reason to believe the vampire might be searching for you.__t felt like an icy breath touched the back of my neck. Eli__ face flashed through my mind and my knees wobbled.Roland stepped close to me. __hat__ wrong, Sara? What is he saying to you?__ smiled weakly at Roland and put up a hand to let him know I__ fill him in when I got off the phone. __ don__ know anyone in Portland so there is no way he can trace me here, right?___here is more than one way to track someone._ Nikolas__ voice hardened. __on__ worry, we will keep you safe. Chris will stay close by until we handle this situation.__reat, I was the __ituation_ again. __ don__ need a babysitter. I__ not a child.___o you__e not,_ he replied gruffly and warmth unfurled in my stomach. __ut you are not a warrior either. It is our duty to protect you even if you don__ want it.__ felt like stomping my feet like a two year old. Didn__ I get any choice in this? My eyes fell on Chris as I spoke. __ow close is he planning to stay? He__ kind of conspicuous and I can__ have my uncle or anyone else asking questions.__hris peered in confusion down at his form-fitting blue jeans and black sweater as Nikolas said, __onspicuous?__ looked heavenward. __f you guys wanted to blend in you shouldn__ have sent Dimples here. The way some of the women are staring at him, I might end up having to protect him instead.__here was a cough on the other end and Nikolas sounded like he was grinning when he said, __h, I__ sure Chris can take care of himself. He will be in town in case we suspect any trouble is coming that way.

The doorbell rang, making me and Roland jump. Nikolas opened the door to admit Chris whose good-natured smile did not falter even when he saw our grim faces. Then he saw Remy. I didn__ think I had ever seen someone__ eyes go that round before. Roland shoved a glass of Nate__ whiskey into Chris__ hand while Nikolas brought him up to speed on all he had missed.

If you guys wanted to blend in, you shouldn't have send Dimples here. The way some of the women are staring at him, I might end up having to protect him instead. -Relentless

You and I both know that people see only what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. But just because a person chooses to not believe something, doesn't mean it's not real