Lost in Magic (Night Shadows Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

up.
    “Looking sharp,” Allison teased as she came to a stop before him. “Are you meeting a girl?”
    Mick grinned and straightened. “I think I just did,” he said. “I even took the liberty of booking a table for two already.”
    Her heart pitter-pattered and she couldn’t stop herself from looping her arm through his as they entered the restaurant. “How thoughtful.”
    They were quickly ushered to a waiting table off to the side, facing the water view but not actually beside it. Despite the crowd and constant flow of staff the view was incredible. Framework of the standard white architecture of the ship accentuated an almost unobscured view of endless rolling waves. The mostly-set sun reflected off the deep blue, making the water look almost white on top. She could have spent her dinner just staring out over the ocean and been happy. Having a sexy man to split her attention between just made it better.
    As Ali pulled her focus back to Mick she caught a glimpse of the old man she’d met on the dock. He was several tables down, eating with a younger man. He smiled when their eyes met and she smiled back before looking away.
    “So have you decided?” Mick asked. He was examining his menu when she looked back to him.
    Reminded of her earlier dilemma, Ali sighed and reached for her menu as well. “Not yet. I have a weakness for good seafood and a craving for crisp salad.”
    Mick chuckled, the deep rumbling carrying effortlessly across the table. “Well it’s a good thing this place will still be here tomorrow. We may just have to come back.”
    “We may,” Ali agreed as she skimmed the salad section of the menu. And, just as she’d hoped, there it was. Her salvation. Seafood salad. Her stomach growled just thinking about it.
    Their waiter stepped up with a smile moments later to take their drink orders.
    Allison folded her hands in her lap after their waiter disappeared with their menus. “I have a confession,” she said. Mick arched a dark brow with silent curiosity. “I wasn’t expecting to meet someone on this cruise. It never even occurred to me.”
    He grinned. “I hope it’s a happy surprise.” The twinkle in his gorgeous green eyes assured her he wasn’t worried.
    Still, she met his grin with one of her own. “It is so far. I came out here looking for a distraction from my life. You’re definitely helping.”
    “Good,” he said. “I’d hate to be putting a damper on your first cruise.”
    As if you could. But she swallowed the heavily flirtatious response and instead said, “Don’t worry, you’re not.”
    Their drinks were promptly delivered, as well as a promise that their food would be out soon, and then they were alone again.
    Mick reached forward and lifted his glass. “To fate, or serendipity, or whatever you might believe in. For letting me be the one to catch you on the deck yesterday.”
    Ali felt her cheeks flush as she lifted her glass to tap it against his. “And to your arms, for being sturdy enough to catch me.” He chuckled and they both took a swallow of their respective drinks. Allison watched his lips on the glass, watched his Adam’s apple bob, and was reminded of the other dream she’d had the night before. The one that had involved those lips teasing parts of her body currently covered.
    You’re not that easy, Allison. Oh, but she wanted to be. This one time. Mick Darringer was supremely tempting, even when he hadn’t made a move to get into her pants. And maybe that was part of it—he was decent. She’d found a decent, respectful, attractive man. They were neither extinct nor all vampires. What a concept.
    “Okay,” Mick said as he set his glass down, “what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?”
    Ali licked her lips. Probably the craziest thing she’d ever done was march up to a condo being rented by a vampire and demand something he hadn’t wanted to give. But she couldn’t tell him that—she didn’t even want to think about it—so