Summit at Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 3)

by Primo, Jaz

  Should you decide to make the journey, I’m certain you’ll enjoy seeing Europe, as well as spending some quality time with Katrina. By now, she’s probably already reading this message over your shoulder, so I will close. Please give her my regards. Naturally, I’ll be expecting a ring from her very soon. However, please call me when you have time, Caleb.

  Best Wishes,

  Alton

  Caleb quirked his lips as he finished reading. “He’s got you pegged, Kat.”

  But she was less amused and immediately groused, “Harrumph. Reading over your shoulder, indeed. And the couch is definitely not going in our living room.”

  His right arm snaked around her waist, and he bent his face up to kiss her lightly on the neck. She lifted her head slightly to allow his lips easier access, but muttered, “What’s he up to?”

  Such an unusually chummy letter for him, she reflected.

  While it was obvious to Caleb that his mate was displeased with Alton’s message, he was quite excited about the prospect of going to Europe. Slovenia, in particular, sounded exotic to him. Also, he had already come close to deciding not to teach this summer at the college, anyway.

  If nothing else, it gives me more time with Kat.

  “So,” he gently ventured, “We’re definitely going, right?”

  Her mind raced with a host of thoughts. She contemplated Alton’s message, a storage location for the couch, the prospects of the upcoming conference, and the preparations that needed to be attended to leading up to their departure. Then she peered down at her mate and noted his appraising expression. Her features softened somewhat, and she quickly kissed the tip of his nose.

  “I’m considering it, my love,” she replied. “Alton’s correct, of course. It would be an ideal opportunity for you to see more of Europe. However, I’d like more details regarding the nature of the conference first. With Alton, nothing’s ever as simple as it appears.”

  “It would be a longer vacation for us,” he said temptingly. “I mean, I had a great time in London. But the week flew by so fast.”

  She noted his thoughtful expression. Great time in London, she sardonically recalled. When you weren’t trying to avoid being killed! Still, it’s just like him to be so forgiving.

  “Too true,” she muttered, still deeply in thought.

  Slovenia is a curious selection. I wonder whether it’s the northern or southern region.

  It had been years since she had traveled to that part of Europe. The country was conveniently situated near the beautiful Mediterranean. And while the southern part was very classic and touristy, the northern part was very mountainous and often remote.

  I’ll call Alton later.

  “Any ideas where we should place the couch?” he asked.

  She warily observed him and ventured, “The Salvation Army, perhaps?”

  “Hey, you can’t just give away my memento-couch,” he retorted with a pleading look in his eyes.

  Granted, the couch isn’t particularly practical, but it’s a hell of a conversation piece from our adventures in England.

  She rolled her eyes at him and disdainfully conceded, “Fine. But it’s certainly not going in our living room.”

  What an utterly ugly piece of furniture, she thought irritably. Alton has the oddest sense of humor sometimes.

  “My man-cave?” he countered. The estate’s small library had been hastily converted into his study when he had moved in.

  “How about the garage instead? We’ll need to move furniture around in your study before it will fit.”

  He carefully measured her disapproving tone. At least he had won a small victory in maintaining possession of it.

  Today the garage; maybe someday the study.

  * * * *

  A few days later, Katrina was trying her hand at baking a cake. Her cooking skills had waned in the centuries since becoming a vampire, as none of her previous human mates were the type of people that fostered such domestic endeavors in her. Aside from her only human husband, Samuel, whom she had lost to influenza while she was still a human, the only person that caused her to consider cooking was Caleb. It pleased her to cook for him, and he genuinely appreciated her efforts. She had already mastered a host of breakfast-related specialties, so desserts were her latest endeavor.

  She was on her third, and most successful, attempt of the day with a devil’s food cake when the phone rang. Darting to the phone with her uncanny speed, she whipped the receiver up to her ear amidst a small cloud of flour.

  “Hello?” she asked in a polite, yet curious voice.

  “Hello, this is Tammy Mendez with Atlanta Central Realty,” the soft, feminine voice prompted. “May I please speak with Caleb Taylor?”

  Katrina’s eyes narrowed, and she guardedly replied, “Caleb’s not in at the moment. Can I take a message for him?”

  There was a pause. “Actually, I’m sorry. I thought I was dialing his cell phone when you answered, but I see that I accidentally called his secondary number. I have information for Mr. Taylor that he requested regarding available town houses in the Atlanta area. I thought he might want to go over the results and perhaps tour some of the prospects.”

  Katrina was caught off guard by the realtor’s response, and her mind raced to understand why Caleb would be looking at town houses.

  He hasn’t said anything to me about this recently.

  “Oh,” she absently commented. “Well, you can probably reach him on his cell. He’s at the college until later this evening.”

  “Thanks very much. I’ll do that,” the lady politely replied. “Sorry to have bothered you.”

  “No trouble at all,” Katrina said before hanging up the phone with a perplexed expression. Then she glanced back towards the kitchen stove where she had been baking the cake, feeling her motivation wane by the second.

  Her mind raced to try and understand the nature of the phone call.

  What’s going on with Caleb? Have I done something wrong? Is he unhappy living with me? Why hasn’t he said anything? Is this about my not letting him put that old couch in the house? Why wouldn’t he have said something?

  It appears the only answers lie with Caleb.

  She checked her watch and determined that there were still a couple of hours left before sunset.

  Trapped at home until then, she ruminated. I guess I should go ahead and finish his cake.

  “I can always press his face into it later, I suppose,” she muttered under her breath as dark emotions began to overtake her while she mulled the topic over and over.

  A couple of hours later sunset had fallen, and Katrina changed into a turquoise blouse, fashion jeans, and knee-high black leather boots. She finished tying her hair into a tight ponytail and headed towards the garage.

  She made her way to Robert Fulton, where the parking lot was rather empty by that time. As she walked through the parking lot, she reflected on when she had enrolled in Caleb’s history class the previous fall semester, as well as the enjoyable experience she had while listening to his lectures. He had a real gift for teaching, and she loved how fulfilling it was for him.

  Her features fell slightly as a wave of sadness rolled through her at the possibility that her mate might be unhappy living with her. She breathed in heavily as she pulled the door open leading into the social sciences building.

  His office door was closed, and she failed to hear anyone inside. She confirmed the time, having estimated that he was likely finishing his last class that evening. She bit her lip and decided to slip up to his classroom.

  Maybe I’ll stand outside and listen to the last part of his lecture for old time’s sake.

  Then a sinking feeling shot through her stomach as she contemplated what the evening’s conversation with him might reveal.

  As she approached the classroom, she noted that the door had been left cracked open a sliver, and she heard his voice carry out of the room. She wanly smiled at the sound of him in “lecture mode” and peered in to see that his bac
k was turned to the doorway as he scribbled notations on the chalkboard. She slipped into the classroom in virtual silence and sat into an empty seat on the back row near the doorway.

  “So that’s why the Texans were unable to relieve the troops at the Alamo before the Mexican Army overtook the fort. Keep in mind that the facility was never intended as a tactically defensible point, so its own inadequate design contributed to the fall of the defenders as much as their relatively outnumbered forces and poor logistics,” Caleb explained, completely oblivious to Katrina’s entrance.

  However, as he turned and scanned the room’s faces, his eyes immediately fell upon her, and he smiled.

  She felt a wave of confusion flow through her as she once more sensed a disconnect between his behavior and the phone call from the realtor.

  He smoothly fell back into his lecture without drawing further attention, “However, on April 21, 1836, Sam Houston and the Texan Army marched against and defeated the Mexican Army at San Jacinto. While this was a tactical victory for the Texans, it hardly resolved the issue of settlement in the largely contested Mexican territory. It’s not until we discuss the Polk Administration and the Mexican War during the late 1840s that any resolution occurs on that matter. But let’s stop there for tonight.”

  Barely two seconds following the end of his statement, the students scrambled for the door. He shook his head at their hasty departure, as well as the passing glances that a number of male students gave to Katrina on their way out. As he gathered his notes together, he failed to notice that she had moved to stand beside him. When he turned to pick up his textbook he lurched slightly at her unexpected proximity, and his eyes immediately noticed the intense look in her eyes.

  She looks sad, he noted.

  “Is everything okay, Kat? I was surprised to see you at the back of the room,” he ventured. “Although it was a nice surprise, actually. It reminded me of when you took my class last fall.”

  She towered before him, staring silently down into his eyes. “I was going to ask you the same thing, actually.”

  He gently placed his notes and textbook back onto the podium and reached out to take her hand in his as he stared up into her eyes.

  “What do you mean? Kat, what’s wrong?” he pressed. But then he felt a wave of nausea in the pit of his stomach and insisted, “Has something bad happened to Paige or Alton?”

  She squeezed his hand while shaking her head. “No, they’re fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”

  His eyes narrowed. Me?

  “Caleb, are you happy with us?” she asked as her emerald eyes drilled into his. “Is this about that old couch Alton shipped to you? Have I done something that you’re displeased about?”

  “Hardly, Kat. I’ve never been happier,” he countered.

  “Then why are you looking at properties in the Atlanta area? Are you moving out?”

  His face went blank, and she immediately sensed his confusion. His expression changed to shock, and his eyes widened as if in realization of something.

  Okay, that’s definitely not the response I expected from him.

  “Moving out?” he asked. “Why would I move out? Are you wanting me to move?”

  “What?” she retorted. “No, of course not. But I got a call for you from a realtor late this afternoon...”

  His pale blue eyes reflected immediate understanding, and he welcomed the feeling of relief that settled over him.

  “Oh, you mean Tammy Mendez,” he said. “A fellow professor recommended Tammy after buying a new home and selling his old one through her office. And her assistance isn’t for me. I’m just helping scope out a place for Paige to move into, that’s all.”

  “A place for Paige?” she blankly asked.

  A split-second later, a sense of embarrassment began to form as she registered the nature of his endeavors. Paige Turner, a young vampire that Katrina counted as one of her dearest friends, had promised to relocate from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area later in the summer. Paige was also Caleb’s surrogate vampire, a designated protector for him who would take care of him if anything ever happened to her.

  “So, you thought I wanted to move out?” he queried with a suspicious expression. “Kat, that’s crazy! I love you, and I’ve never been happier living at the estate.”

  She had only convinced him to move in with her the past December after they confronted the dangers presented to them by a rogue vampire named Chimalma. Since then, he had enjoyed the increased time with her. He also appreciated how much their relationship had strengthened.

  She pulled him to her and enveloped him in a warm embrace, heedless to the sense of foolishness that she felt. She was just so relieved that the entire affair had been merely an unfortunate misunderstanding.

  I’m so paranoid, she chastised.

  Caleb appreciated the closeness of her body, and his arms wound around her slim waist in response. While no longer bewildered by her behavior, he felt bad that his helpful efforts for Paige had caused her to misinterpret the situation.

  “Sorry, Kat. I should’ve mentioned it already, but my mind’s been so preoccupied with so many diversions this week.”

  She rested her chin on his shoulder, and her eyes narrowed to slits. “Yes, you should have mentioned it, I think. But I suppose I’ll forgive you,” she conceded. “This time.”

  “Paige texted me a few days ago to ask for my help. And honestly, I didn’t expect the realtor to get back with me so quickly. I explained to her that, with Paige taking that security contract job overseas, there’s all summer to scope out prospects.”

  “Except that you might be in Slovenia with me part of the summer,” she reminded him.

  He patted her lightly at the small of her back and whispered, “Well, sure, there’s always Slovenia. I hope that we’re able to go.”

  He paused for a quiet moment before adding, “But since you mentioned the couch...”

  “One issue at a time, my love,” she gently cautioned him.

  “Oh, sure,” he conceded before changing the subject entirely. “So then, aside from being surprised by realtors, what else did you do today?”

  “I baked a chocolate cake for you,” she offered as she parted from their embrace. She hoped that it had turned out okay.

  He’ll probably like the frosting, at least, she anticipated.

  “I really lucked out then,” he said with a delighted expression. “Chocolate’s my favorite.”

  Luck is right. You actually get to eat it instead of being smothered by it, she contemplated, though with a vastly improved mood.

  Later that evening, while consuming a sizable slice of the cake, Caleb called Paige to discuss some of the available properties the realtor had recommended. The perky vampire listened to the variety of options and locations that he described and agreed to investigate at least six prospects.

  “Whatcha think, kiddo?” Paige asked after he finished highlighting the interesting ones.

  “Well, the market’s pretty slow here,” he admitted while switching the phone to his other hand. “It’s probably good odds that the homes may still be on the market by summer’s end.”

  While refilling a glass of water for him, Katrina listened with interest to the conversation, including Paige’s end of the chat. It wasn’t as if she were eavesdropping, really. Had her mate desired privacy he shouldn’t have sat in the kitchen, or at least should have made the overt effort of sequestering himself in one of the other rooms in the house. He’s well aware of how keen vampire hearing is.

  “Thanks, Kat,” Caleb absently muttered as she sat the glass down next to his plate.

  “Yeah,” Paige agreed. “Things are pretty slow out here, too. I guess I’d better put my townhouse up for sale pretty soon. I’ll put most of my personal belongings in storage before I leave. I want my place to be in show-worthy condition while I’m away.”

  He savored a mouthful of cake.

  “Caleb?” she asked.

  “It’ll be great to have you out
here, you know. We miss you,” he said in a muffled voice.

  “Are you eating?”

  “Mm, sorry,” he apologized. “Kat made this great chocolate cake.”

  “Twerp!”

  Katrina lightly ran her fingernails down the back of his neck, marveling at her mate’s keen appreciation for her friend and former pupil.

  I should be thankful they pair off so well, she reasoned as a somber mood overcame her and she stepped away. If something were ever to happen to me, I’m relying on Paige to look after him.

  “I miss you too, tiger,” Paige finally offered in an uncharacteristically soft voice. While she wasn’t one for displaying overtly intimate feelings to others, much to her surprise, Caleb brought that quality out in her. Suddenly self-conscious of her tone, she fell into a playful display of sarcasm. “And I miss that gruff old lady of yours too,” she quipped. “Tell her I said ‘hey.’“

  His eyes peered across the room at Katrina, who scowled.

  “Hey back at ya, shorty,” she wryly retorted, knowing full well that the vampire could hear her. “Spoiled brat.”

  Paige chuckled at that.

  “You know, it would really help my efforts if I knew what part of Atlanta you want to settle down in,” Caleb ventured.

  There was a pause at the other end before Paige finally replied in a quiet voice, “Oh, I dunno. Somewhere close to you guys would be fine.”

  Katrina’s eyebrows rose slightly as she put clean dishes away from the drain board, but she said nothing.

  Makes sense, I suppose, she mulled.

  Caleb’s eyes slowly swiveled over to Katrina before answering, “Okay then. I’ll focus my attentions within, say, twenty miles?”

  “Sure, that works,” Paige agreed.

  They said their goodbyes, and he finished eating his slice of cake.

  “This is a great cake, Kat,” he offered. “Thanks for baking it for me.”

  She happily beamed in response. “Anytime, my love.”

  He tentatively looked up at her from where he sat and wondered if his conversation with Paige had somehow bothered her. “You know, Kat,” he began, “If it bothers you for Paige to move so close to us...”