A Vampire's Promise by Carla Susan Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

Quentin Tarantino?” he asked.
    â€œCertified genius.” I grinned, unable to believe my luck. Was it possible that I wasn’t the only person in a three-county radius who thought Reservoir Dogs was a classic masterpiece?
    â€œGreat, then let’s go.”
    He was about to throw the column shift into drive when I leaned over and put my hand on his arm. In all honesty, I did it without thinking, and I almost snatched my hand away at the electric thrill that jolted through me from the contact. He turned with a questioning look in his eyes.
    â€œDon’t you think, before we go anywhere, we should introduce ourselves?” I felt a little silly saying it, but I needed to know what to call him. “Gorgeous,” while completely apropos, was far too intimate for me to use out loud, and I couldn’t go around calling him “Viking.”
    â€œI’m Gabriel,” he murmured.
    Hearing his name made my stomach flutter. “Like the angel?”
    â€œYeah . . . like the angel.” He spoke the words as if they were the punch line to an inside joke. One he wasn’t going to share. Bummer.
    â€œPleased to meet you, Gabriel. I’m Rowan,” I paused, and my brain went into overtime trying to come up with something witty. Sadly all I could manage was, “Um . . . like the tree.”
    â€œYes,” he said, gifting me with a show of his incredibly sexy dimple. “I know.”
    Â 
    I didn’t know that the multiplex in Greenley Heights dedicated one screen every Saturday night to a specific director and showed a notable feature. That’s what you get for having no social life to speak of. Tonight it was Quentin’s turn to be in the spotlight, only it wasn’t Reservoir Dogs but Pulp Fiction that was being shown. Excellent second choice.
    There were only a handful of patrons filling the seats, which didn’t surprise me, and I didn’t even think twice when I fished my glasses out of my purse once the house lights dimmed and the movie started.
    â€œYou look very studious,” Gabriel whispered, leaning toward me, “like a schoolteacher.”
    I laughed self-consciously and hoped he didn’t find them a turnoff. I guess he didn’t because about a third of the way into the movie I felt him take my hand. And it wasn’t one of those I’m-just-reaching-for-my-soda-and-your-hand-was-there-too type of moments. No, he wanted to hold my hand, and he made sure I fully understood that while also giving me the chance to slip my fingers free if I chose to. Holding my breath, I kept my hand right where it was, not exhaling until I felt those long, elegant fingers close around mine. It seemed the most natural thing in the world, and he didn’t let go until the credits rolled.
    â€œWould you like to get some coffee?” he asked as we stood in the main lobby.
    Feeling wonderfully confused by his attention, I nodded. I had just been sitting in the dark holding hands with undoubtedly the most gorgeous-looking man on the planet—what girl in her right mind wouldn’t want to go for coffee? At this point, I was up for almost anything if it would mean being in his company a little while longer. He grinned and reached for my hand again as we left the movie theater.
    Heading toward the parking lot, I got a sudden attack of nerves, so I began running off at the mouth about other movies I liked. Grinning easily, Gabriel seemed content to let my bout of verbal diarrhea run its course, until I felt his fingers unexpectedly tighten around my hand as we came to a stop. He pulled me a little behind him, as if wanting to shield me. I stopped in mid-sentence and looked up at his face before following his gaze. It seemed Francine had gained some admirers.

CHAPTER 7
    T here were three of them. Two guys and a girl, and they turned their heads almost in unison to look at us. The first thing that struck me was how impossibly beautiful they all were.