Page 7 of Enchant the Dawn

“How is it?” he asked.

“Wonderful. Practically melts in your mouth. You don’t believe in that kind of thing, do you?”

“Magic from beyond the grave? I don’t think so.” But he believed in witches and magic. “Do you?”

“Of course not. Everyone knows there’s no such thing as vampires or zombies.”

“And witches?”

“Well, everyone knows there are witches, or at least people who believe they’re witches. I went to high school with a girl who thought she was a witch. She had the weirdest yellow eyes, but I never saw her do any magic,” Maddy said. And then she laughed. “She did make one of my boyfriends disappear, though.”

Dominic lifted one brow.

“She stole him from me.”

He smiled at her over his wineglass, thinking how lovely she was.

They ate in silence for several moments before she asked, “Where are you from?”

“I was born in the States, but my parents left shortly thereafter for Hungary.”

“Wow, I’ve never known anyone from there.”

“My mother is American.” Dominic paused, wondering if he should tell her that witchcraft ran in his family, but decided against it. At least until he knew her better. And he very much wanted to know her better.

Maddy folded her napkin and placed it on the table. “I’m stuffed.”

“No dessert?”

“Not for me. How about you?”

“I’m good.” Dominic paid the check when it came, left a generous tip for the waitress, and followed Maddy outside.

“Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked.

She glanced up and down the dark street. “I don’t know.”

“Just a block or two,” he said with a wink. “I need to walk off that dinner.”

“Good idea.”

They turned left and strolled down the sidewalk. Music drifted out of a nightclub across the way. Outside, several young men stood around, talking and laughing. Moving on, they passed a voodoo shop and a gift shop, a cigar store and a place that sold T-shirts.

They were near the end of the block when Dominic sensed vampire. A moment later, Claret stepped out of the shadows. She wore a vivid green dress that outlined her voluptuous figure and displayed a generous amount of cleavage.

Dominic moved closer to Maddy and took hold of her arm.

“Dominic,” Claret crooned. “How nice to see you again.” Her narrow-eyed gaze ran over Maddy from head to foot. “Who’s your friend?”

“What do you want?” he asked brusquely.

“I was hoping we could get together.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“No. Good night.”

---