Page 5 of The Vampire’s Temptation

His easygoing smile reassured Alessandra he wasn’t offended. “No need to apologize. I just moved in this week.”

Toni would die.

“And I didn’t mean to hijack your run.”

“No,” she said. “It’s fine. Although I probably can’t keep pace. I’m just getting back into it after a slight hiatus.”

“How slight?”

She grimaced. “Two years.”

In fact, Alessandra had expected to have started feeling winded by now, especially after last night, but she felt great.

“You seem to be doing just fine.” And though they were running, he stuck out his hand. “Lawrence.”

She shook it, noticing the firm grip. “Alessandra. Pleased to meet you.”

“Same here.”

They moved aside for a biker riding toward them. It was still a bit early in the season for tourists, so she wasn’t surprised when she recognized the young man. Not one of her students, but he’d recently graduated from Stone Haven High School. A biology major, if Alessandra remembered correctly. She’d taught his sister.

“So, what brings you to Stone Haven?”

When he didn’t answer, Alessandra looked at his perfect face. Literally. His features were as close to the golden ratio as she’d ever seen. And now he was a member of Stone Haven’s small community. Oh boy, Toni really was going to lose it. This guy would certainly give Tyler a run for his money.

A good thing. She couldn’t stand her friend’s boyfriend.

“I’m a bit of a wanderer after I won a pretty big lottery a few years back. Stumbled on Stone Haven recently and thought it would be as good a place as any to settle in for a spell.”

There was something odd about his accent.

“Where are you from?” And then a strange thought popped into her head. “You didn’t buy the Henry Hutton Mansion, did you?”

It made sense. Only someone who hit it big or whose last name was Rockefeller could afford either of the two historic mansions on the outskirts of town—one a popular bed-and breakfast and the other a tourist destination. They had both apparently been sold within days of each other. No one knew why, or who had purchased them.

“No,” he said.

Of course he hadn’t. It had been foolish of her to ask.

“I bought the other. The Addy Hutton Mansion.”

Oh. My. God.

“Seriously?”

His smile must have broken many girls’ hearts. “Seriously.”

She wanted so badly to ask more questions, but she’d been rude enough already.

“Wow. Do you know who bought the other one?”

Lawrence’s smile slipped. “I do,” he said.

Apparently he didn’t see fit to enlighten her.

“So what does a bachelor do on a Saturday night here in Stone Haven?”

Was he fishing for information about her dating life? If someone else had asked that same question, she would have assumed as much, but Alessandra wasn’t getting an interested vibe from him. The conversation felt friendly rather than flirty. Which was a good thing since Toni, annoying boyfriend aside, had seen him first.