Runaway Vampire by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online Page A

toys?”
    â€œOh,” he smiled. “For us it is Befana.”
    â€œBefana?” she echoed, trying to emulate his pronunciation.
    â€œ Si. ” He smiled faintly. “She is the old woman who comes down the chimney and delivers gifts to the children of Italy who have been good that year. However, she comes on January fifth, Epiphany Eve, not Christmas Eve.”
    â€œHmm,” Mary murmured, her gaze sliding between the rear camera view and the steering wheel. She really did want to drive. It was her RV after all, and while Dante wasn’t doing too bad a job, it was obvious he’d never driven an RV before. He kept trying to make the vehicle go faster than it was able too, causing the engine to whine. If he kept it up, they could blow the engine and she didn’t want that. There was no way she was sitting in his naked lap though.
    â€œWhat if I just hold the wheel while you get up, then slip onto the seat and take over?” she suggested. It shouldn’t be too tricky a maneuver. She just had to keep the wheel straight as she sat down, and even if she moved it a little they should be all right. There were no cars directly beside or in front of them at the moment.
    He shook his head. “We will slow down the minute I take my foot off the gas,” he pointed out. “And that might be all the encouragement they need to force us off the road, witnesses or no.”
    Mary scowled at this argument and glanced toward the back of the RV, trying to think of some way to avoid his suggestion. There was a broom in one of the cupboards, as well as a mop. Perhaps she could push down on the gas pedal with that while he vacated the seat and . . . She stood up, intending to go fetch either the mop or broom, and then gasped in surprise when Dante suddenly reached out to snake one arm around her and drag her into his lap. She landed sideways with a squawk and immediately tried to struggle up off of him, then froze as the RV swerved slightly.
    â€œSit still,” Dante commanded firmly as if she hadn’t already caught on to the fact that she would have to unless she wanted yet another accident that night. After straightening out the vehicle, Dante released a breath, then glanced to her face and offered a charming smile. “All is well. Just turn in my lap to face front and place your foot over mine on the gas pedal.”
    â€œI don’t think . . .” Mary began weakly, only to fall silent as he removed his left hand from the steering wheel to rub her back in what she supposed was meant to be a soothing manner, but really did not have a soothing effect on her.
    â€œIt is all right. We are halfway there,” he cooed, his voice coaxing. “Just turn to face forward for me, yes?”
    Mary closed her eyes briefly, but then released a small sigh, firmed her mouth and carefully shifted inhis lap until she sat facing forward. She was immediately sorry she had. This new position left her completely enveloped by the man, his arms on either side of her, his body behind and beneath her and his clean, wholesome scent encasing her like a sausage in a bun.
    Speaking of sausage, what the hell was that poking her in the bottom? Surely it wasn’t—Good Lord, it was!
    â€œThis is good, yes?” Dante asked, his words a breathy whisper that stirred the hair by her ear and Mary swallowed against the response her body was having and gave her head a firm shake. This was not good. Although she didn’t get the chance to say so before he added, “We are almost there.”
    She nearly asked, almost where ? But managed to bite back the question.
    â€œNow. You put your foot on the gas pedal and I will slip my foot out from beneath yours.”
    Relieved to have something to think about other than what she was quite sure was poking her in the bottom, and the fact that young men were such a horny mess of hormones they could be turned on by tired old women like her, Mary tried to