Page 8 of Midnight Enchantment

“Raedan,” she murmured. And felt a wave of excitement flood through her at the thought of seeing him again, quickly followed by doubts as she realized what she’d done.

She didn’t want to think of what would happen if her parents, or Ava, found out she had a date with a vampire—and the wrong kind of vampire, at that. And then she grinned. Luckily, she was a witch. A simple incantation would cloak her whereabouts and block the family from knowing what she was doing—and who she was doing it with.

Some hours later, Raedan replayed his conversation with the young witch as he strolled down Esplanade Avenue, home of La Belle Esplanade, the most colorful hotel he had ever seen. He hadn’t been able to think of anything but Liliana since seeing her the first time. She was quite lovely, a little whimsical, and far too trusting for her own good. He had sensed her sympathy when he mentioned his last wife, Mary Elizabeth. Though Mary had been gone more than forty years, he still missed her. She had been a sweet, gentle soul. He could have saved her, but she had refused.I love you, my dark angel, she had whispered on her death bed, but I do not want to be what you are.Of all his wives, he had loved her the most.

Perhaps the lovely Liliana would be his next.

Chapter Five

Ava regarded her great grand-daughter over the rim of her coffee cup at breakfast the next morning. Something was up, but try as she might, she couldn’t determine what the girl was hiding. But she was definitely hiding something. All her walls were up.

“What would you like to do today?” Ava asked, reaching for another slice of toast.

“I’d like to go shopping. I haven’t bought anything new in ages.”

“Are you planning to take a new wardrobe back to Savaria when you go?”

Lily shrugged. “Maybe. Actually, I’ve been thinking I might stay here a little longer. J.D. is so cute, I hate to leave him. I can’t believe how much he’s changed in just the last few weeks. I never realized babies grew so fast. Maybe I’ll stay until Dom and Maddy leave for Hawaii.”

“J.D. is adorable,” Ava agreed. “Is he the only reason you’ve decided to stay?”

“What other reason could there be?” Lily asked with wide-eyed innocence.

“I don’t know,” Ava said dryly. “You tell me.”

“Granny, are you going shopping with me or not?”

“What do you think?”

They headed for Macy’s early that afternoon. Lily wandered through the Ladies Department, picking out anything that caught her fancy. Anything that was sexy but not too revealing. Anything that might appeal to a man of the world like Raedan.

In the dressing room, she tried on jeans, sweaters, and skirts, along with several casual dresses. She ended up with two pairs of jeans, black and white, and a navy skirt and three sweaters, one white, one hot pink, and one black. She picked out three dresses as well, a pretty blue-and-white polka-dot with a flared skirt, a black sheath that managed to be sexy and modest at the same time, and a turquoise-blue silk with long sleeves.

Ava pursed her lips when they took the elevator to the lingerie department, where Lily picked out several lacy bras and matching panties.

Shoes came next.

It was late afternoon by the time they left the mall. After dropping Lily’s purchases into the trunk of the car, they drove to Ava’s favorite restaurant for lunch. It was a lovely day and they chose to sit outside. After ordering, Ava regarded her great-granddaughter thoughtfully.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lily asked, somewhat defensively.

“Do I need a reason?”

“I feel like a bug under a microscope.”

“I’m just wondering what you’re not telling me. And afraid that I already know the answer.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Don’t you?”

Lily lowered her gaze, uncomfortable under Ava’s scrutiny.

“Talk to me, child.”

Lily took a deep breath and let it out in a long, slow sigh. “There’s something about him, Granny. I’m not sure what it is, but I want to see him again.”

Ava huffed a sigh of her own. “He’s dangerous, Liliana. And he’s hiding something.”

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