The Braddock Boys: Brent. Kimberly Raye

pressing against his jeans as he walked out of the shop. Hell, he still wanted to, a feeling that intensified when he pulled up at the Skull Creek Inn and saw her car sitting in the parking lot.

      His stomach hollowed out and he sat there for a few minutes, staring, wanting.

      What the hell was she doing here?

      But he already knew. They were smack dab in the middle of small town central. Skull Creek wasn’t exactly a tourist mecca which meant the Skull Creek Inn was it when it came to motels. Damn straight she’d be here.

      But understanding it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. He needed to stop thinking about her and with this new turn of events, he wasn’t placing any bets on that possibility. He stiffened as he caught sight of her through the lobby window. His muscles clenched and electricity sizzled up his spine. Anticipation coiled inside him and his gut contracted.

      His fangs tingled as he watched her follow Winona down the concrete walkway toward his room. They stopped just one door shy and Winona shoved the key into the lock.

      No way. No friggin’ way.

      Even as the thought struck, Winona pushed open the door and led Abby inside. A switch clicked and yellow light spilled through the slats of the shade that covered the room’s one and only window. He caught a glimpse of Abby, her eyes sparkling and her lips slightly parted, before the shade closed. The air conditioning unit groaned and started chugging away, keeping time with the frantic race of adrenalin through his veins.

      She’d checked into the room right next to his. Forget pushing her out of his head and avoiding her for the next few weeks. He was sure to run into her again. That and there was no escaping the fact that he was a vampire. Meaning, despite sheetrock and tacky wallpaper, he would be able to hear her. Smell her. Feel her. Want her.

      Like hell.

      He keyed the ignition, shoved the car into reverse and peeled out of the parking lot. And then he headed for his brother’s place.

      6

      THE FAMILIAR ROAR of an engine echoed in Abby’s ears and awareness rippled through her. She glanced at the motel room door and fought down the sudden urge to haul it open and see who was outside.

      But she already knew.

      The notion struck and she quickly pushed it aside. Just because the engine was loud, didn’t mean it belonged to a ‘67 Camaro. That was her own wishful thinking caused by deprived hormones and a desperate lack of sleep.

      She gave herself a mental shake and forced her attention back to the old woman standing in front of her.

      “… looks like you got lucky tonight.” Winona Adkins wore a blue and orange flower print dress, a pair of sagging knee-high panty-hose and white orthopedic shoes. “This is the only room we have open on account of the rodeo is in town, so we upgraded you. This here’s the executive suite.”