The Shadows Of Christmas Past Part 33

"What were you doing out in the front office with your captor? Why weren't you tied up in the back with the others?"

"I thought you weren't here to ask questions?"

"Not officially; I'm curious. You were up to something, weren't you?"

"They were making ransom demands," she answered. "They were incompetent idiots with guns. They-"

"Had the wrong building," he filled in. "We know that from questioning them. By the time they figured out they'd screwed up, the officer had called the robbery in. But what wereyou doing?"

"Trying to split them up, so I could take one down and get his weapon. They were demanding a lot of money, and threatening to kill people if they didn't get it. So I told them I was an heiress, and if they'd let me call my family, they'd be rich. I got one of them to take me up front so I could use the receptionist's phone, while one of the others was occupied talking to your negotiator in the back. It worked." Then she laughed, the sound a little shaky. "And I was only there to pick up a friend for lunch."

He shook a finger under her nose. "Luchese, that was very stupid of you. Brave, though," he added, as a flash of annoyance went through her. He touched the tip of her nose, then found himself tracing the outline of her lips. Soft, full, warm lips. A wave of hunger crashed through him. He was going to kiss those lips, soon. The smoldering look she gave him told him she knew it, too. He was going to taste her. But this was not the place.

He made himself take a step back. "My name's Colin Foxe," he finally introduced himself. "You have a first name, Luchese?"

"Mia," she answered. "Mia Luchese."

Mia. A short, pretty, uncomplicated mortal name. Nothing like the complex, beautiful names of vampire females. And even though someday he would bond with a vampire female, right now, he wanted this human woman.

He reached out and took her uninjured hand. "I'll take you home."

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CHRISTINE FEEHAN is theNew York Times andUSA Today bestselling author of more than twenty novels, includingWild Rain and the Dark Series, as well as numerous novellas, includingThe Twilight Before Christmas and "After the Music" inA Very Gothic Christmas , both available from Pocket Books. She lives in Cobb, California. Visit her website at www.christinefeehan.com.

SUSAN SIZEMORE is the author ofI Burn for You, I Thirst for You , and the upcoming novelI Hunger for You , a trilogy of vampire romances published by Pocket Star Books. She has also written historical romances and other vampire fantasy books. Susan lives in Minnesota.

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