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until he was entirely too close. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I guess I was excited to have some real company and I became uncouth.”
    “Uncouth? It seemed like you had company just last night to me.”
    He smirked, obviously fighting a grin. “That wasn’t really company, she was in a trance. We can discuss that more at a later time, when we are better acquainted.” He stepped toward the dresser. “Do I have to hold your clothes ransom or may I take you out to breakfast?”
    Sighing and submitting to the curiosity that bubbled within her, she shrugged. “You’re lucky I’m starving.”
    “Me, too.” Duncan laughed when Michelle’s jaw dropped. “Just kidding.”

Chapter Eight
    Duncan held open the white picket gate for her to enter the estuary first, but Michelle insisted that he walk before her.
There is no way he’s walking where I can’t see.
Leaving the vampire’s home together was strange. Michelle had walked the path through the estuary many times but never dreamed it would be with six-feet three inches worth of handsome vampire. The anise towered over her average height of five-feet eight but only came up to his broad shoulders. She kept her wits about her as she meandered the narrow path behind him.
    When the duo turned onto Park Street from the beach, she had no choice but to awkwardly walk beside him. She had a million questions, but she refused to be the first to penetrate the silence.
Weird that he doesn’t have questions about the shape shifting that took place in his bed.
As she walked, Michelle traced the faint outline of the old train tracks beneath the pavement.
    Duncan’s voice came out in a smooth, entirely too sensual voice. “There used to be many more tracks back in the day. Alameda was named after the bountiful orchards we had, the first of which was peaches.” He smiled in recollection. “They were planted by the city’s founding fathers back in the early eighteen-fifties.” He grinned at Michelle when her eyes went wide at the early date. “That was before my time, darling.”
    The walk to the waffle shop was less than two miles from Duncan’s home on the water, and the entire way Michelle had been buzzing in thought.
How old was he? How evil was he? He said he’s never killed anyone. But he has to drink blood. He’s dead. Does he have a soul? Maybe he’s lonely. He seems kinda nice …
    The entire time, Duncan kept up the one-sided historical dialogue as they made their way down the charming avenue. “You know, we had our own cable cars here in Alameda. Not as fun to ride though since we don’t have the hills of San Francisco.”
    “I haven’t gotten the chance to ride one yet.” Her easy response to Duncan’s small talk came as a surprise.
Damn it, way to play the silent card.
    “If you decide to acquiesce to your stubborn side, then perhaps I can rectify that. I would love to take you on a cable car ride. I’ve had quite some time to become intimate with the city.”
    “So, are all vampires so accommodating?” Michelle decided to ignore the sweetness of his statement and instead dedicate her time to discovering his ulterior motives. Instead, she realized that she had perturbed him. His eyes were dark, but she could see flicks of deep red within the irises like a carnelian storm.
    His voice grumbled. “It would be wise not to make a point of seeking out other vampires.” Duncan’s gaze was riveted on her so hard she thought she might melt under it. Then the red specks begin to disappear from his eyes and he spoke again. “But I haven’t seen a vampire here in Alameda since the forties, so we shouldn’t have to worry about that. Just witches and mermaids in this area mostly.”
    This statement piqued her curiosity, but not because his mention of the mythical beings.
We? Since when did I become a ”we” with a vampire?
But Michelle’s mental train of questions was interrupted as Duncan steered her through the door of an establishment that