Dead Perfect by Amanda Ashley Page B

Girl’s body found in dumpster. Neighbors claim killer was such a nice quiet man, never caused any trouble.”
    He grunted softly. “Since you’re the girl, I guess that makes me the killer.”
    He was smiling when he said it, but a chill went down Shannah’s spine. There was something in his voice, a knife-like edge beneath the mildly spoken words.
    She shook her head. “Don’t mind me. I’m just nervous. It makes me say silly things.”
    “You have nothing to fear from me, Shannah. Believe that if you believe nothing else.” He wasn’t so sure he could guarantee the safety of the hundreds of other people on the plane. Every breath he took carried the scent of prey. Like a lion prowling the jungle, he could sense the weak in the herd, the weary, the ones who would welcome death. “Whatever happens, I’ll keep you safe.”
    “I believe you.” With a sigh, she rested her head against the back of the seat. “I think I’ll take a nap.”
    “It’ll have to be a short one,” he said. “We’ll be there in an hour or so.”
    But she didn’t care. If the plane crashed, at least she wouldn’t be awake when it happened.
    She was almost asleep when she remembered she had missed her appointment with her doctor. No matter, she thought, she had never felt better. She would have to find time to call him when they reached Los Angeles. It was her last thought before sleep claimed her.
    Ronan listened to the even sound of her breathing, watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest. She knew there was something not quite right about him. He wondered how long it would take her to figure out what it was, and what he would do when she did.
    Looking at her, sleeping so innocently beside him, he feared he had done the unthinkable.
    He had fallen in love with a mortal. And not just any mortal, but one who was dying. He stared out the window, his gaze piercing the distance of eternity. He could keep her from dying, he mused. That was why she had come to him in the first place. But once the deed was done, would she love him for it? Or spend eternity regretting the night a vampire gave her what she had come looking for?
     
    Shannah was glad that it didn’t take long to fly from Northern California to Los Angeles. It was a rather bumpy landing and it had Shannah gripping the edge of her seat again and praying the plane wouldn’t sink in the Pacific Ocean or crash on the runway or land in someone’s backyard.
    She breathed an audible sigh of relief when the plane was safely on the ground.
    They collected their bags and found a taxi. An hour later, Shannah was drinking a Coke in her hotel room. She would have her first book signing tomorrow night at an exclusive bookstore in West Hollywood. It was a good thing Ronan would be there with her, she thought, because she knew she would be a nervous wreck without him. In spite of all his assurances to the contrary, she still wasn’t sure she could carry this off.
    She glanced in his direction. He stood at the window, gazing out into the darkness. She wondered what he was thinking about. Was he, too, having second thoughts about her ability?
    “I can’t believe we’re really here,” she remarked. “Have you been to Los Angeles before?”
    “Once or twice.” It hadn’t been called Los Angeles then, and California hadn’t been a state. It had been a beautiful place in those days, the air clean and sweet, the sky blue instead of brown with smog, wide dirt roads instead of clogged freeways. Progress wasn’t always a good thing. “It’s late,” he said. “You should get some sleep.”
    She smothered a yawn. “I think you’re right.”
    “I won’t be here in the morning,” he said, moving toward the door that connected his room to hers.
    “Why not? Where are you going?”
    “I’ve got some business to take care of.”
    “I’ll go with you.”
    “No. Sleep late. Go sight-seeing if you like, or spend the day out by the pool.”
    “You’ll be back in time for the