Garden of Darkness (33 page)

She looked up. In the dim light she caught a glimpse of dark lashes and a pale jaw. “Not everybody can be a vampire.”

He laughed. “Very funny.”

Let him think she was kidding, but she’d seen him take on the traits and features of the Pale Immortal.

He reached for the baby, cautiously touching a small, perfect fist. Smitten. “I’ve been thinking about our garden,” he said softly.

Could it work? “So have I.”

“What flowers should we plant? Other than night-blooming jasmine?”

“Daylilies.” In brilliant shades of orange and red.

“How about lavender?”

“I think that’s considered a plant, not a flower.”

“I like the way lavender smells.” He paused. “I love the way it smells.”

The baby whimpered. Unfocused eyes opened and little arms moved frantically.

“Poor sweetie. Do you need to be changed?” Rachel pressed a button on the bed’s control device, and muted blue light fell across the sheets.

Father and son simultaneously flinched and turned their faces away.