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become her caretaker?
    “What are you thinking, pretty Sarah? Tell me.”
    “You’ll laugh at me.”
    “I won’t laugh. Promise.”
    “Are you a vampire?”
    In spite of his promise, Heath laughed. “There is no such things as vampires. They’re myths. Made-up stories.”
    She felt foolish now that she’d asked such a question, so she tried to make light of it. “So you aren’t going to turn me into a creature of the night? Suck my blood and make me sleep in a coffin? Because I’m telling you, this girl won’t be sleeping in a dirty coffin.”
    Heath rocked with laughter. “You have some imagination.”
    “A girl needs to ask these things,” she said with a toss of her head. “Accommodations matter.”
    “Would a vampire wear this?” Heath sobered, reached inside his shirt, pulled out a gold chain and dangled a thick gold cross in front of her eyes. “It’s Byzantine,” he said. “One of my ancestors wore it fighting in the Crusades.”
    She somehow knew that vampires were warded off by crosses—a vexing thought, because she could recall such trivial information but remembered nothing about her own life. She crossed her arms. “Okay, nix the vampire. Are you a werewolf? A goblin? Maybe a troll? Maybe you’re a sorcerer? I know—a dragon slayer!”
    Still laughing, he grabbed her hand and guided her out of the mausoleum.
    Leaving the airless tombs and hearing his laughter buoyed her spirits and vanquished her dark mood.
    “All of the above,” Heath said when they reached thehorses, where he pulled her close against his body. “I’m just someone who adores you, Sarah. Now mount your horse. I’ve got a special surprise waiting for you in the woods.”
    Heath’s surprise was a picnic by a stream deep in the forest. A blanket was laid out by the stream’s banks, along with a large basket and a magnificent feast. Sarah saw salads, meats, cheeses, thick slices of dark bread, bowls of luscious fruit, delicately frosted cupcakes and a plate of delectable chocolates. Pewter goblets held cold cider. She stared at the bounty of food. “Who else is coming?” she asked.
    “It’s for us. Just us.”
    “We’ll never eat all this food.”
    “We can try.”
    “Well … if you insist.” She sat on the blanket, tucking her legs under herself.
    Heath sat beside her, reached for a strawberry and teased her lips with it.
    She grabbed it out of his hand and popped it into her mouth, making him laugh. “When did you do this?” she asked, after swallowing the delectable berry. “We’ve been together all day.”
    “I have my ways,” he said, his clear eyes sparkling.
    She glanced around. Except for the horses grazing on brush, they were alone. “You tell me there are others here, but I never see them. Why don’t I ever see anyone else?”
    His eyes darkened. “Aren’t I enough for you?”
    She drew back, not wanting to spoil his good humor. “I just want to say thanks to the people who take care of me. My room’s always cleaned, my sheets are fresh, my clothes are washed and put away. I have to see the good guys in order to thank them.”
    “I’ll pass along your good wishes.” He leaned back on his elbows.
    Sarah plucked a grape from the bowl of fruit and fed it to him. “Well, I like everything on the menu. Can I make you a sandwich?”
    “Make yours first.”
    She bypassed the bread and meat and grabbed a cupcake.
    “You can’t have dessert before lunch.”
    “Watch me,” she said, popping the petite cupcake into her mouth after licking off the sugary frosting.
    “You’re so bad.”
    The food tasted delicious. Sarah savored every bite, aware that she ate more than Heath did. She usually did; he wasn’t a big eater. She’d tried to hold herself back in the beginning, but she’d stopped doing that. She was hungry at every meal, so she ate as much as she liked. As for Heath, on this afternoon, he merely propped himself up on an elbow and watched Sarah eat.
    When she was sated, she