Dancers in the Dark by Charlaine Harris Read Free Book Online Page A

Sean. The middle row was filled with Karl, Julie and Thompson; Rick and Phil clambered in the front with Denny.
    It was so pleasant to be sitting down in circumstances that didn’t require polite chatter. Rue closed her eyes as the van sped down the long driveway. As they drove back to the city, it seemed a good idea to keep her eyes closed. Now, if she could just prop her head against something...
    She woke up when the van came to a stop and the dome light came on. She straightened and yawned. She turned her head to examine her pillow, and found that she’d been sleeping with her head on Sean’s shoulder. Megan was smiling at her. “You were out like a light,” she said cheerfully.
    â€œHope I didn’t snore,” Rue said, trying hard to be nonchalant about the fact that she’d physically intruded on her partner.
    â€œYou didn’t, but Karl did,” Thompson said, easing his way out of the van and stretching once he was on the sidewalk.
    â€œI only breathe loudly,” Karl said, and Julie laughed.
    â€œYou gotta be the only vampire in the world who takes naps and snores,” she said, but to take any sting out of her words, she gave him a hug.
    Rue’s eyes met Sean’s. His were quite unreadable. Though she’d had such a good time with him before they had danced at the Jaslows’, he was wearing his usual shuttered look.
    â€œI’m sorry if you were uncomfortable the whole way back,” she said. “I didn’t realize I was so tired.”
    â€œIt was fine,” he said, and got out, holding out a hand to help her emerge. He unlocked the studio door; Karl and Thompson began unloading the sound system and the dancers set the costumes on a bench outside Sylvia’s office. Denny drove off in the empty van.
    The small group split up, Megan and Julie getting in the cab they’d called, Karl and Thompson deciding to go to Bissonet’s, the bar where Hallie worked. “Why don’t you come, Sean?” Karl asked. “You could use some type O.”
    â€œNo, thanks,” Sean said.
    â€œShowing your usual wordy, flowery turn of phrase.” Karl was smiling.
    â€œI’ll see Rue home,” Sean said.
    â€œAlways the gentleman,” Thompson said, not too fondly. “Sean, sometimes you act like you’ve got a poker up your ass.”
    Sean shrugged. He was clearly indifferent to Thompson’s opinion.
    Thompson’s fangs ran halfway out.
    Rue and Karl exchanged glances. In that moment, Rue could tell that Karl was worried about a quarrel between the other two vampires, and she took Sean’s arm. “I’m ready,” she said, and actually gave him a little tug as she started walking north. Sean’s good manners required that he set off with her. They took the first two blocks at a good pace, and then turned to stand at the bus stop.
    â€œWhat frightened you?” he said so suddenly that she started.
    She knew instantly what he was talking about: the seconds at the party when she’d thought she’d seen an all-too-familiar face. But she couldn’t believe he’d noticed her fear. She hadn’t missed a beat or a step. “How’d you know?” she whispered.
    â€œI know you,” he said with a quiet intensity that centered her attention on him. “I can feel what you feel.”
    She looked up at him. They were under a streetlight, and she could see him with a stark clarity. Rue struggled inside herself with what she could safely tell him. He was waiting for her to speak, to share her burden with him. Still, she hesitated. She was out of the habit of confiding; but she had to be honest about how safe she felt when she was with Sean, and she could not ignore how much she’d begun to look forward to spending time with him. The relief from fear, from worry, from her sense of being damaged, was like warm sun shining on her face.
    He could feel her growing trust; she could