Eat Prey Love by Kerrelyn Sparks Read Free Book Online Page B

listen.”
    Coco grinned and ran to her. Raquel followed, and Caitlyn wrapped her arms around them, pulling them close. When she noticed Carlos scowling at her, she couldn’t resist needling him.
    She smiled a sweet invitation. “Group hug?”
    His gaze drifted down to her feet, then inched slowly back up. “I don’t do groups.”
    Her skin tingled with sensual awareness, but she refused to let him know how much he unnerved her. “I don’t do strangers.”
    His wide mouth curled up on one side. “I don’t consider you a stranger. I know your name.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell me yours.”
    His eyes glimmered with heat. “Yes, I know.”
    She suspected he was playing cat and mouse with her. She lifted her chin. She was not the sort to accept the role of mouse.
    Coco tugged on her sweater. “Will you come to the party with us?”
    â€œYou go on with your…uncle,” Caitlyn replied. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
    â€œâ€™Bye!” The girls ran back to Carlos.
    He inclined his head at Caitlyn. “Good evening.” He turned to escort the girls back to the cafeteria.
    â€œSo long.” Caitlyn couldn’t resist one last jab. “Carlos.”
    He stopped and looked back at her. A flash of heat flared in his amber eyes, and her skin prickled with excitement.
    â€œCatalina,” he whispered. Then he turned and walked away.
    Catalina. The name sizzled through her. Maybe he was just translating her name into Portuguese, but she could have sworn he’d made it sound like an endearment.
    With shaky knees she sat on the bench. She fumbled through her silk handbag for a tissue, then wiped her damp cheeks. The two girls had touched her heart. And Carlos—what was he doing to her? If he came back and asked for a pint, she’d actually be tempted to bare her neck. Did all vampires exude that sexy seductive charm?
    But she’d seen other vampires on the basketball court. It was only Carlos who was affectingher like this. She looked in his direction, but he and the girls had moved out of view, blocked by a huge rhododendron bush.
    â€œCarlos!” a female voice yelled. “We need to talk.”
    Caitlyn eased to the other side of the oak tree. There in the shadow she had a good view. A young man and woman approached Carlos and the girls.
    In a low voice Carlos urged the girls to go on to the cafeteria. “I’ll be there soon.” He walked a few steps with them, then watched them continue past the gazebo.
    â€œIs it true?” the young woman asked. “You’re leaving on another trip?”
    Carlos turned to face the young man and woman. “Yes. Angus approved it.”
    â€œHoward mentioned it at the party,” the young woman continued impatiently. “And he said you wanted to leave right away?”
    â€œThat’s true.” Carlos’s gaze shifted toward the oak tree and his eyes narrowed.
    Could he see her? Caitlyn moved farther back into the shadows and slipped her white tissue back into her handbag. Maybe vampires had superior night vision.
    â€œHow long do you intend to be gone?” the young woman demanded.
    Carlos sighed. “However long it takes. A month, maybe more.”
    â€œYou can’t leave for a month,” the woman insisted. “Your children need you. You’re their hero, Carlos. They know they would be dead if you hadn’t rescued them.”
    â€œThey’ll be fine, Toni,” Carlos gritted out between clenched teeth. “They’ll be at school with you.”
    â€œAye, and ’tis at school where they’re having problems,” the young man said with a Scottish accent. “Emiliano is picking fights with Phil’s boys.”
    â€œI’ll talk to him before I go,” Carlos grumbled.
    â€œAnd what about the girls?” Toni asked. “They need you, Carlos.”
    â€œThey need a mother!”