Saved at Sunrise

her. Was it a good widen or an “oh
     shit” widen? She didn’t know.
    Leave! Don’t stand here and look pathetic. But her feet felt concreted to the restaurant floor and pathetic was all she could
     feel. Her gaze locked on his as he stood up and started moving toward her. Right toward
     her. And she knew she looked even worse than pathetic.
    She looked pitiful.
    Sad.
    She looked alone and heartbroken.
    Embarrassment and shame washed over her. But she didn’t have time to let it engulf
     her. Someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. Shocked, she looked
     up at … at Steve. He smiled down at her.
    “I missed you already,” he said and then he kissed her. Not a simple sweet first kiss,
     but one that involved tongue and … lots of desire.
     
    Chapter Three
    Della felt the embarrassment seep out of her as something else seeped into her. And
     it wasn’t just Steve’s tongue. It was … passion. It was the feeling of being alive.
     It was hope that her sad little life wasn’t over. Since being a vampire, since she’d
     lost Lee, she’d thought she couldn’t feel this anymore. Or maybe she just thought
     she wouldn’t feel it anymore.
    Someone cleared their throat. Realizing the familiar disapproving sound came from
     Lee, she put a hand on Steve’s chest and reluctantly pulled back.
    She met Steve’s eyes briefly. She knew he’d kissed her to save her ass, but she also
     knew he’d enjoyed it as much as she had. The evidence was there in his warm brown
     eyes. Even with one of those eyes bruised, she saw the just-been-kissed heat in his
     gaze.
    She turned to Lee. Only to realize she still didn’t have a clue what to say to him.
     “Uh, hey. I…”
    “What are you doing here?” Lee asked. “Besides making out in the middle of a restaurant?”
    Hadn’t he just been kissing his date?
    As crazy as it was, Della saw something in Lee she hadn’t seen before. Her dad. Or
     at least his disapproving attitude. Had Lee always been that way and she just now
     noticed? Or had he changed?
    “What’s wrong? Can’t you talk?” he asked.
    His words ran amok around her head and she couldn’t decide how they made her feel
     or how to respond. And if she did decide she wasn’t sure her tongue could take speaking
     orders, it was still in shock at having just had company—Steve’s tongue.
    “We were having dinner,” Steve answered for her. “Actually, we’re celebrating our
     three-month anniversary.” His gaze went to Della.
    “Three months?” Lee asked as if annoyed she’d started dating so soon. But hell, the
     guy was engaged. Where did he get off thinking … She opened her mouth to say something
     again but Steve jumped in first.
    “I’m sorry,” Steve said. “I didn’t introduce myself. You must be an old friend of
     Della’s. I’m Steve…?”
    Lee ignored Steve and looked at Della. “I thought you were at that school.”
    That school? Could he not even remember what school she’d been attending? “I am.” She finally
     got two words out. “We … just slipped out.”
    “So you met him at school?” Lee asked and damn if he didn’t sound upset. Anger started
     to spark inside her again. He had no right to be upset. None!
    Steve spoke up again. “Love at first sight.” He glanced at her and ran his warm hand
     around the curve of her waist and pulled her a little closer. His gaze shot back to
     Lee. “Still don’t know how I got so damn lucky.” If so much honesty didn’t resonate
     from his voice, it might have sounded false. For a second she wished she had listened
     to his heartbeat—another little vampire talent. Had Steve been interested in her at
     first sight?
    Lee’s fiancée rose from her chair behind them and stopped at his side. Della couldn’t
     help but notice how pretty she was—pretty in a very traditional Asian way. Her hair
     was longer, sleeker, and blacker than Della’s. Her facial features were doll-like.
     Beautiful and perfect—a tiny nose, a bow-like mouth, and slanted black eyes that sparkled
     with intelligence. No doubt, Lee’s parents had chosen well.
    Or had Lee chosen her? Had he planned to break up with Della all along? He’d seemed
     pretty happy sitting next to her until Della showed up.
    Not that he looked too happy now. He frowned when the girl slipped her arm through
     his, but he did the right thing and introduced them. “Mei, this is Della, and her …
     friend.” The word friend came out sounding