Chapter Nine
Utah watched Michelle’s friends exit the building, stroll hand in hand to the corner, and disappear in the blink of an eye.
It still astonished him that vampires truly did exist, but not as much as meeting, not one but two, in the same night.
Michelle exited the restaurant, sending Utah’s heart into overdrive. All he had to do was look at her and his emotions took over.
What was it about her that affected him so? Sure, she had beauty and grace, but his interest in her went beyond mere looks alone. She had a depth that warmed his dead insides.
A cab pulled up along the curb in front of the restaurant. Michelle opened the back door and climbed inside.
Utah knew he should return to the shipyard and leave her in peace, but he couldn’t seem to make himself do that.
Instead, he willed himself into the back seat of that cab with her.
She stiffened as if sensing his presence.
“Where to, miss?” the driver inquired over his shoulder.
Michelle rattled off her address, her fingers fidgeting in her lap.
“Why are you following me?” she whispered, keeping her gaze straight ahead.
Utah knew she spoke to him. He remained quiet, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to her from the driver.
The vehicle slowed to a stop outside Michelle’s home approximately five minutes later.
Michelle quickly got out, handed the driver a twenty-dollar bill, and rushed off without waiting for change.
Utah followed.
“What do you want with me?” Michelle demanded, spinning around to face him the second she entered her house.
Utah peered down at himself, realizing in more than a little awe that he stood before her in solid form. And that it had taken very little effort on his part. “I just want to talk.”
Michelle’s shoulders seemed to relax slightly. She blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. As much as I wish this wasn’t happening, it is. Stay here while I change clothes.”
She turned toward the hallway. “I mean it. Stay in there. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Utah would have waited in the street if she’d asked him to. “I won’t move. You have my word.”
Though Peanut allowed Michelle to pick him up the moment she’d entered the house, the little dog hadn’t taken his gaze off Utah. At least he remained quiet this time.
A squelch sounded from a table at the end of the couch, followed by voices.
Utah grinned. He’d owned a police scanner as well. He would listen to it on his days off to keep up with what happened in town.
Most everyone he’d worked with had owned one. He supposed it was the same in every county.
Michelle returned a couple minutes later, wearing a pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. If she thought that detracted from her sexiness in the least, she was sorely mistaken.
She gestured toward the sofa. “I would offer you something to drink, but I doubt you could taste it.”
Utah took a seat on the sofa, amused by her candor. “To be honest, I haven’t thought much about food and drink for the last three years. Of course, I’ve only appeared in this form a handful of times. And that took considerable effort and energy. But with you, it comes easy.”
A small indention appeared between her eyes. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted with a shrug. “I only know that when I’m near you, this form comes natural to me. It’s hard as hell to hold otherwise.”
She meandered over and sat in a chair across from him. “So, I’m the only person who can see you?”
“I thought so,” Utah explained, crossing his booted foot over his knee. “Your friends at the restaurant approached me also. Until tonight, I would have never thought that vampires really existed. Imagine my shock—”
“Wait—what? Vampires?”
Utah stilled. She obviously didn’t know about Cassie and Malik’s supernatural existence. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
Michelle surged to her feet. “You’re insane. I’ve known Cassie since we were children. What are you talking about?”
Utah stood as well, both hands coming up in front of him. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“First, you follow me around, breaking into my home. Now you make accusations about one of my closest friends? And vampires, for God’s sake? Everyone knows they’re a myth.”
“Like ghosts?”
That comment hit the mark. She stumbled back a step and bumped into the chair she’d just vacated.
Utah extended a hand. “Look, I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d thought you hadn’t known. I mean, you can see me…”
“You’re not the first dead person I’ve seen, and as much as I hate to say it, you probably won’t be the last. But you’re a spirit. Vampires… Well, they… They can’t possibly exist.”
He simply stood there, staring back at her in silence.
Michelle slowly shook her head as if in denial. “You can’t be serious. Please tell me you’re not serious.”
“I’m sorry. It came as a shock to me as well.”
Dropping heavily back into the chair behind her, Michelle stared up at him in disbelief. “How can this be?”
“How can any of this be?” Utah murmured, moving to kneel at her feet.
He took hold of her hands. “I know this is all a lot to take in, and I’m sorry for blurting it out like that.”
“Why are you here?” she whispered, pulling her hands free of his hold.
Utah glanced away and then met her gaze once more. “I wish I knew. I’m stuck for reasons unknown to me. I have been for the past three years. And as I’ve said before, until recently, you are the only contact I’ve been able to make with anyone. Alive or dead.”
She seemed to take in his words, her expression changing from one of dismay to acceptance. “I’m listening.”