Page 115 of Eternal Surrender

“Watch where you’re going!” I pointed to the road. “One of us is undead, let’s not make that two.”

She grabbed the clutch and changed gears with verve. “The museum’s still cordoned off.”

“I was careful.”

“Well?”

“It was a professional job.”

“I assumed that.”

“You did ask me to help you.”

She shot me an annoyed look.

“At some point, you really should talk about it,” I said.

“Talk about what?” She shook her head and shifted the gearstick with brute force.

“I want to help you.” I reached for the handrail above the window.

Her eyes went wild. “You mean manipulate me?”

“Your fear of abandonment, shall we explore it?”

Her fingers clutched the steering wheel.

“If you marry someone you don’t love,” I continued, “and he leaves you, there’ll be minimal pain. Am I right?”

She steered wide on Sloane Street. “You had no right to visit James’s flat.” She adjusted her seatbelt. “I think I’m starting to hate you.”

My fingers slipped off the rail. “Pull over.”

“Driving helps me think.”

“You call this driving?”

“All I’m asking is that you call ahead, and don’t go around trashing crime scenes.” She raised a finger. “Don’t turn up uninvited.”

We drove on in silence, with Ingrid seemingly in a quiet rage and I trying to fathom her indignation.

She swerved toward the pavement and the car jerked to a stop.

“Why do I get the sense that your recklessness isn’t reserved just for your driving?” I asked.

“You want me to have a normal life, well this is me having one.” She reached for my arm. “It was only natural I would be drawn to you. Blake was right, you did swoop in and save me.”

“What are you saying?”

“Promise me something.”

I waited for her to continue, hoping she’d come around and see it from my perspective.

Her cheeks blushed. “You must never touch me like that, ever again.”

My mind raced to remember those intimate moments we’d shared, exploring each instance to disentangle the truth and recall if I’d truly be the one to initiate them.

Without waiting for my answer, she was out of the car. There was something in her expression as she looked up, studying one of the taller Edwardian buildings.