Summit at Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series, Book 3) (45 page)

Katrina warmly smiled at him.

I simply adore you, my love.

He winked back at his mate and looked up to scan the room of silent faces before him. Among others, Hakizimana appeared notably pleased.

“From the mouth of a young man who’s a quarter of a century old,” he observed. “Look at us, beings of history and longevity, many of us ten-fold older than he is, or more. Ask yourselves, how can we dare expect less from ourselves given what this beneficent human has already done for us?”

There were sobering looks and nods of silent approval as the tall vampire gracefully returned to his seat. Alton adopted a pleased expression, much like the cat that ate the proverbial canary, and looked up at Caleb with overt approval.

“Thank you, Caleb,” he genuinely offered. “Both for your service and your welcome sincerity.”

Caleb bowed slightly to the stately vampire and reached down to take the manila envelope on the table before him, but Alton gently placed his own hand over it.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this for you, dear boy,” he whispered.

Caleb observed him with a wry grin and quietly departed the room. He had no idea how much might be in the envelope, but was grateful for the gesture.

Any amount would be welcome
.
I’m unemployed now, after all.

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After the conference ended for the day, Alton and Katrina met Dori and Caleb in the main dining room for dinner and were joined by Paige and Ethan, who arrived together. Caleb noted that the large manila envelope was on the table to Alton’s left.

Following some cursory visiting and the arrival of wine for the group, Alton turned to Caleb, pointedly placing his hand atop the envelope.

“I hope you’ll excuse my presumption earlier, Caleb,” he diplomatically offered. “But Katrina and I feel that it’s best to look after this for you. I have some wonderful investment plans for you that will grow and develop this little nest egg of yours into something formidable.”

Despite feeling somewhat ashamed for discussing the matter before everyone, he was also dying of curiosity.

“Um, what kind of nest egg are we talking about, exactly?”

Alton withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket with a figure written on it and slid it across the table between them.

Caleb’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. He had never envisioned that kind of figure in his earlier estimations. It easily reflected ten years worth of gross salary as a college professor...at one of the premiere ivy-league universities.

“Well, uh, that’s pretty impressive,” he stammered in agreement and glanced up at Katrina, who was smiling.

“I’m confident that you’ll like where this goes,” Alton assured him. “And of course I’ll send quarterly statements so you’re kept apprised.”

“Oh, sure.”

This must be a dream, right?

“Now, a toast to us and the ones we love,” Alton neatly interjected.

Everyone raised their glasses, and Caleb surveyed those at the table. Alton and Dori stared into each other’s eyes while Ethan smiled at Paige.

Paige appeared surprised, but winked at Ethan, and then her blue eyes quickly darted over to catch Caleb’s. She smiled at him as his eyebrows rose.

Caleb’s gaze continued on its way around the table to settle upon Katrina, whose stare bored into his, appearing both sultry and sincere at the same time. A warm, satisfied glow spread across his face.

My vampire, my love
, he thought while sipping his wine.

*    *    *    *

The final day at the conference was spent handling last-minute motions among the attendees and assigning post-conference activities and responsibilities. Naturally, Alton and Katrina were assigned a number of them, which she immediately lamented.

More time being distracted from Caleb
.

Still, a number of the attendees did offer to assist in smaller ways, which held the promise of continued collaboration for the success of the endeavor.

After word spread about Caleb’s comments at the prior day’s committee, he found himself a bit of a rock star around the facility. Apparently, his off-the-cuff comments had gone over well, which he found encouraging.

He was busy the next day packing and saying goodbye to his newest acquaintances, including a number of vampire guards. He spent extended time with Maddy and Aiden, clearly two of his favorite new human acquaintances. He promised the New England electrician that he would call to arrange a camping and fishing trip together. In Aiden, he found a kindred male spirit who also happened to have a vampire partner.

He did manage some additional fishing at the site’s miniature lake. Though it was both therapeutic and relaxing, thoughts of his return to Atlanta pervaded the forefront of his mind on more than one occasion. He almost dreaded his return home, if only for his new career status in life.

Still, his current circumstances were better than he would have expected a few days ago, although one glimpse of the security guard perched not far away from where he fished confirmed that he was still notorious, despite his newfound popularity among vampires. The fact that the guard was both unassuming and congenial suggested a positive reputation, at least.

Towards the end of the day, Caleb found Paige and Ethan sitting in the small coffee shop near the shopping area. The two were smiling and chatting just like two old friends.

It made him happy that his surrogate vampire had found someone to spend time with. He wandered over to the pair, who looked up together at his approach.

“Hey, if it isn’t the vampire world’s newest diplomat,” Paige teased with a sparkle in her bright, blue eyes.

“Hi, Caleb,” Ethan happily offered. “How do you feel today?”

“Much better, thanks. Just a little dizzy now and again.”

“That’s to be expected,” Ethan replied. “But we’ll need to keep an eye on you for a time, just the same.”

“I guess that’s for the rest of today, then,” Caleb suggested. “We’re leaving for home tomorrow, after all.”

Ethan’s eyes darted to Paige, and he grew solemn. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”

Caleb adopted a curious expression and nonchalantly asked, “So, Ethan, where’s home, again?”

“Hamburg, for now,” he wistfully replied. “Big city, interesting people,” he added with a shrug.

Paige’s expression turned somber as she listened.

Such a nice guy
. The truth was that she liked the handsome doctor more than she cared to admit, which was unusual given how briefly she had known him.

Face it
,
good chemistry makes a difference. Of course, really great sex doesn’t hurt, either
, she thought.

Caleb observed his surrogate’s reaction and ventured, “Ethan, I don’t have a regular family physician back home and was wondering something.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever considered moving back stateside?”

Paige’s eyebrows rose as her blue eyes met the brown-eyed doctor’s.

He smiled back at her and then looked at Caleb.

“On occasion,” he said. “I haven’t been back in the States for years, actually.”

“I’ll be relocating to Atlanta after this, as a matter of fact,” Paige interjected. “It’ll be nice living closer to Red and tiger, here.”

“Is that so?” Ethan replied with intrigue.

He glanced down at his cup of coffee with a probing expression. He patiently took a sip of the dark liquid and observed both Paige and Caleb over his cup.

After a few moments, he ventured with a smirk, “I suppose it wouldn’t be good to abandon my new patient to a cold, cruel world of anonymous physicians, now would it?”

“That can’t be ethical,” Paige solemnly agreed.

Interesting, very interesting
, she mulled.

“It’s hardly in the spirit of the Hippocratic Oath,” Caleb suggested.

The vampire physician studied Paige at length, as if weighing his options.

She regarded him with a thoughtful, yet hopeful, expression.

Finally, he smiled and nodded.

“Why not? Atlanta it is, then.”

Paige cast an appreciative, nearly elated, expression at Caleb. Her attention quickly returned to Ethan, staring into his eyes like someone who had just won the lottery.

She grinned.
Oh, I can’t wait to see where this goes. And I just love playing doctor!

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About the Author

Jaz Primo is an author, history aficionado, “pun-master”, and all-around fan of things vampire and urban fantasy. He has enjoyed a fulfilling background and career in higher education, including teaching U.S. History classes during evenings. He is a native of Oklahoma where he lives with his wife and a long-lived cat. Visit his website at
www.jazprimo.com
.

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