Maggie laced up her sneakers and rubbed her hands together as she bounced on her toes for a minute. Her gaze went to the window across from her and the dawn starting to brighten the sky. Dawn had become her favorite time of the day to run, and right now she needed to run as far and fast as she possibly could.

She’d been exhausted when she crawled into bed last night, but her dreams were haunted by a pair of leaf-green eyes and kisses that heated her blood. She’d awoke feeling edgy and aching for more than Aiden’s kiss.

She doubted there would be any more of those kisses though, as she’d probably never see him again. He’d knocked twice more before giving up the ghost. She hoped he never came back.

The sad thing was, she didn’t buy her own lie.

She wanted her life back, but how could she return to her simple life with everything she’d experienced last night? What would happen when she went to work today? What had become of Harding and the other officers? What did they know? What didn’t they know?

Even if they couldn’t remember going to the alley, there would be a record of the call, and she hadn’t been with Roger when they found him. She had no idea what to tell anyone that wouldn’t possibly land her in jail or the nuthouse.

And what of Roger? Where was he? How was he? Then there was Glenn and Walt. How would that be explained? Had it already been explained somehow? Had they even been found yet? They had to have been discovered by now, but with everything that happened last night, she’d completely forgot to call someone about them. She took a deep breath to try to calm the guilt and anxiety building within her.

A good run would clear her mind of vampires and help her sort out the pieces of her life. She also needed a phone. Savages didn’t go out in the sun, so she would be safe now if they did discover where she lived, but would she be safe from them if she reported to work later?

They might not know where she lived; they definitely knew where she worked.

The memory of that thing tearing her blood from her sent a shudder down her spine. Her limbs locked again, and it became difficult to breathe. How could Aiden’s bite have been almost orgasmic while that thing’s bite was excruciating?

Deep breaths. One obstacle at a time, Mags. And you can’t conquer any of the obstacles while standing here.

Right. She undid her deadbolt and cracked the door. She heard nothing in the hallway, and when she opened it further to poke her head out, no one stood there. The intensity of the disappointment crashing through her almost caused her legs to give out.

She’d shut the door in Aiden’s face, so of course, he would go, but she hadn’t expected this loneliness to creep through her at the confirmation of it. Stepping into the hall, Maggie was about to close the door when a step on the stairwell halted her. If one of those crazed vamps came at her, she’d duck back inside.

Instead, Aiden stepped off the last stair and turned toward her. The smile that lit his face caused her pulse to skyrocket. At some point, he’d showered and changed. Bare-chested and wild, he’d been magnificent last night, but now he robbed her of her breath.

The jeans he wore hugged his thighs and legs in all the right ways. She tore her gaze away from the obvious bulge in the front of his pants before running it over the black sweater cleaving to his broad shoulders and chest. The black shirt made the green of his eyes stand out and caused a twinge of yearning in her heart. Free of blood, she saw the hint of a curl at the end of his short black hair. The trench coat he wore was similar to the one she’d cut off him last night, and she suspected there were weapons stashed in these pockets too.

“Good morning,” he greeted, and the scent of coffee and food hit her.

For the first time, she noticed the two large coffees stuck into the tray set on top of the pink Dunkin’ Donuts box he carried.

“Were you here all night?” she asked.

“Most of it. Declan stayed for a bit while I went to shower and change,” he replied. He’d also gathered some weapons and picked up a replacement wallet with ID and money. “I sent him home when I came back from the donut shop.”

“Why did you stay here?”

“To make sure you remain safe.”

“Oh.” She had no idea what else to say to that.

He lifted the donut box a little higher. “I wasn’t sure which type of donut you liked, so I got you one of each.”

“One of each?” There she went parroting him all over again.

He stopped before her. “Yes. Plus some bagels and cream cheese, in case you don’t like donuts.”

“Oh,” she whispered. She hated the tears pricking her eyes, but she’d experienced kindness from only a rare few people in her life, and this was something so simple, yet so sweet.

“I’m also told you humans like this place,” he said and tapped the name on the front of the box.

She smiled at him. “Dunkin’ is the only way to go, at least for me. Thank you for this, but I was on my way out.”

Aiden’s heart thundered as he gazed at her. He lowered the box to cover his growing hard-on as he took in the body-hugging yoga pants emphasizing her shapely calves and thighs. She wore a black jacket and had her hair pulled into a knot on her head. Healthy color tinged her cheeks.

“You’re a runner,” he said, stating the obvious but unsure of what else to say to keep her from stepping inside and closing the door in his face again. He could make her leave here, but she’d hate him for it, and he’d already botched their meeting enough without making it worse.

“I’ve been training for the Boston Marathon. Some coworkers and I are going to run it this year.”

He didn’t tell her she probably couldn’t return to her old life; she would come to that conclusion in her own time.

“I didn’t think I’d like running, but last year, I agreed to try to qualify for the race because our team will be raising money for foster children. It turns out, I actually enjoy running.” Maggie couldn’t stop herself from blathering out words like an idiot. What did he care why she was running or if she liked it? “Anyway, I have to get a run in today.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Why? You said the Savages couldn't go out in the day.”

“They can’t, but their cronies can.”

“Their cronies?” Stop repeating everything he says!

“Yes.” He glanced up and down the hall. “I’d prefer not to discuss this out here.”

Maggie examined her neighbor’s doors before her gaze fell on the box in his hands. Stepping back, she nudged the door further open with her heel. “You did bring breakfast, so you might as well come in.”

Aiden managed to stop himself from crushing the donuts as relief washed over him. This was a big step for her, he knew. One he hadn’t expected her to make. He vowed to bring her donuts and coffee every day for the rest of her mortal existence if it meant this much to her.

Entering the apartment, Aiden took in the threadbare furniture, small TV, and hall leading toward what he assumed were the bedroom and bathroom. Plants hung from hooks over the windows, orchids lined the windowsills, and sunflowers were in a vase on the kitchen table. The redolent aroma of the plants, the butterscotch of Maggie, and a soft cinnamon scent filled the air. The place was small, nothing within it new, but it was clean and obvious that she took pride in it.

He followed Maggie as she walked into the kitchen. Small paintings of landscapes hung on the walls, but he saw only one picture of someone else in the place. Setting the box on the counter separating the kitchen from the living room, he lifted the wooden picture frame to inspect the photo within.

In the photo, Maggie looked to be in her late teens. She was laughing and had her arm around the waist of a handsome young man. Love radiated from her eyes as she gazed up at the man. The man stared down at her with that same vibrant love evident in his eyes. He was also laughing at something.

Studying the picture, Aiden got a sense of closeness between them that made him think whatever they laughed at was a private joke meant only for their world.

He resisted crushing the photo in his hand. “Who’s this?”

Maggie nudged the top of the donut box open to peer inside. She didn’t glance at the photo as she replied, “A.J.”

“You two look very close.”

“We were.” She already felt herself shying away from this conversation. She poked a Boston crème donut before closing the box. “I should run before stuffing myself.”

Aiden continued to stare at the photo. “You were close?”

“Yes.”

“Was he your boyfriend?”

“What does it matter?” she replied impatiently.

“I’m trying to get to know you better.”

“Why?”

“Because I like you.”

Maggie blinked at him, unsure of how to respond to those honest words. “Are you willing to discuss all of your exes with me?” she inquired.

“So, he is an ex?” Aiden pushed.

“He was much more than that, and you didn’t answer my question.”

Aiden’s teeth ground together, but he knew he wouldn’t get any more out of her without giving her something too. “I don’t have any exes. I don’t date.”

“You don’t have even one ex-girlfriend?”

“No.”

Red flags waved all around Maggie’s face, but she ignored them all. “So you don’t have any exes because you don’t date; is that because you prefer to use prostitutes?”

After Carha’s words last night about not using her services again, Aiden knew why Maggie had asked that question. He dreaded the one he knew would follow his answer. “No.”

“Then what services of Carha’s were you using? Do you do drugs?”

“I don’t do drugs.”

Maggie tapped her fingers on the counter as she waited for him to explain more, but he remained silent. “Not going to tell me what she did for you then?” she inquired.

“There are things I’d prefer you didn’t know.”

“And there are things I’d prefer you didn’t know.” Taking A.J.’s photo from him, she traced his beloved face before placing the picture down. “I’m going for a run now.”

“There are things about me, Maggie, that I don’t want to touch your life.”

She’d been making her way between her countertop and the card table that served as the kitchen table she never used. His words stopped her. “Are you going to hurt me?” she demanded.

“No! Never!”

“I’ve seen and been through a lot in my life. I think I managed last night pretty well. Most probably would have shit themselves or run screaming. Believe me, there’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“You did handle last night well.” She’d certainly taken the knowledge of vampires with far more ease than he would have expected from someone who’d been doing her job one minute and plunged into a supernatural war the next.

“But you’re still not going to tell me what Carha was talking about?” she asked.

“No. Not now.”

“Fair enough.” She took another step forward before recalling his earlier words and halting. “What about these cronies you mentioned before?”

“Since they can’t tolerate the sun, Savages sometimes use humans to do their bidding during the daytime. If the Savages know where you are, they could send some of those humans after you to either monitor you or to take you to them.”

“Why would those people do anything the Savages wanted them to do?”

“There are some who will do anything for a chance at immortality.”

“You think the Savages would send those people for me?” she asked.

“Yes. You shouldn’t go out alone, at any time.”

“I’m not getting my life back, am I?”

“Not anytime soon, and maybe not ever.”

“I’m going for a run.”