The girl shook her head, her dangle earrings bobbing against her cheeks. "He's not in right now, but the assistant manager is available. Would you like me to get him for you?"

She nodded and waited while the girl went to one of the offices and knocked on the closed door.

She came back to Rose, smiling. "Go on in, he'll see you now."

Rose clutched her purse and approached the short man who'd exited his office with his hand extended. "Hello, I'm Dan. How many I help you today?"

Grasping his hand, Rose gave it a firm shake. "Rose Sinclair. I'm here to discuss safety deposit boxes."

He nodded, asking, "So you have an account with us?"

She released his hand and shook her head. "No, that's what I'm here to discuss with you."

His smile broadened and he turned with a sweep of his arm toward his office. "Then by all means, come in and let's talk."

Preceding him into his office, Rose sat down across from the man's neatly organized desk.

Once he was seated, Dan began. "So what kind of account are you looking to set up at Stanton, Ms. Sinclair?"

Rose shook her head and pulled her driver's license from her purse. "Actually, I'm here about a safety deposit box I believe my mom has at this branch." Handing him a piece of paper with her mother's name and the safety deposit box number on it, she continued, "Here's the information."

Dan looked at the piece of paper and nodded. "Yes, this is one of our box numbers. I'll need you to provide an ID before I can proceed."

Glad to know the bank took their customer's privacy seriously, she handed him her driver's license.

He glanced at the ID and nodded his approval before handing it back to her.

While she put her license away, Rose's heart rate picked up as excitement filled her. It would be the very last branch though, she thought with an inward groan. She should've gone in reverse order when she went down the list of branches... Argh!

The assistant manager met her gaze and put out his hand. "I presume you also have the key?"

She bit her lip, then shook her head. "My mother died when I was a little girl. Our house was sold so I have no idea where the key is."

Dan smiled and turned toward his keyboard. Tapping the keys, he said, "Well, let's see if you're listed as a co-owner or beneficiary."

After a few seconds, he frowned and mumbled, "That's strange."

Her heart jerked at his comment. She sat forward in the leather chair, gripping the edge of his desk. "What's strange?"

Dan looked at her and shook his head. "The account is flagged for manager approval only. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait until Mr. Wainright gets back from his errand."

Disbelief washed over her. To be so close. "Are you serious?"

He nodded. "Yes. You're welcome to wait in the lobby. Mr. Wainright should be back in about twenty minutes or so."

Frustration mounted as Rose walked into the lobby. Man, I sure could use some of Duncan's vampire powers right about now. What I wouldn't give to be able to compel the man to let me see my mother's safety deposit box.

Rose couldn't help but wonder about the effort her mother went to in order to hide this safety deposit box. She'd bet her last dollar her father didn't even know of its existence. Settling onto the lobby's cushioned couch, she regretted leaving her cell phone behind. At least while she waited, she could've been catching up on phone calls. One of which needed to be to Mr. Reed to let him know he'd need to find someone else to take his case.

After thirty minutes, Rose glanced at her watch impatiently. The tellers were balancing their drawers and putting their money in the vault, ready to lock up for the evening.

Firm resolution stole over her. No way was she leaving this bank until she had a look at her mother's safety deposit box.

"Ms. Sinclair?" Dan said from behind her.

Rose looked up, her stomach tensing. She was ready to refuse to leave.

"Mr. Wainright will see you now. His office is the first one on the left."

Rose stood and walked over to Mr. Wainright's office.

An older man with snow-white hair came around from behind his desk, an apologetic look on his wrinkled face.

"I'm Frank Wainright. Please come in and have a seat, Ms. Sinclair." Clasping her hand briefly, he apologized. "I'm sorry you had to wait so long. My meeting took longer than anticipated."

"As long as you tell me I can see my mother's safety deposit box, I don't mind," she said with a smile as she shook his hand then sat down across from his desk.

He shut his door behind her, chuckling. "I see you inherited your mother's forthright ways."

"You knew my mother?" She jerked her head in his direction, following him until he sat down behind his desk.

His blue eyes twinkled. "Indeed I did. She was a wonderful woman and very protective of you, I might add," he finished with a smile as he pointed to her.

"Really?" Her stomach knotted at his comment. "In what way?"

Tapping the keys on his keyboard, he said, "She was very particular about her safety deposit box. I tried to get her to put your father's name on it, but she said it was for your eyes only." A sad look crossed his face. "I'm sorry your mother has passed on, but she was insistent no other name be put on the box but yours. So I followed her wishes."

Rose smiled. "Thank you for doing that." Lifting her empty hands in the air, she commented, "I don't have a key. Is that going to be a problem?"

Frank slid a key across the desk toward her. "Here you are."

She glanced up at him in surprise. "You had the key?"

He nodded. "Yes. Your mother said she didn't trust to leave it at home. That it might get lost. She asked that I keep it safe for you."

Rose picked up the key and stared at it, her heart racing.

"Ready to check out that box now, young lady?"

She nodded and followed him out to the empty branch lobby. It was eerily quiet since all the customers and other employees had gone home.

"I'm sorry to make you stay late," she thought to say as she followed him into the vault.

"It's not a problem." Stopping in front of a row of metal boxes he inserted a key in box 1345 and looked at her expectantly. "Your turn."

Rose glanced down at the key in her sweaty palm. Butterflies flitted around in her stomach as she inserted her matching key into its slot and they both turned their keys at the same time.

Frank slid the safety deposit box out and Rose followed him out of the vault to a side room.

Setting the box down on a small round wooden table, he met her gaze. "I've got some paperwork to do, so take all the time you need. Just give me a yell when you're ready to put it back."

Rose nodded and held her breath until he walked out and shut the door behind him.

Her pulse thundered in her ears as she pulled out the wooden chair and sat down in front of the long metal box. What had been so important that her mother went to all this trouble? And why had her mother not told her father?

Rose wiped her damp hands on her jeans and placed them on the box's metal sides to steady them. Taking a deep breath, she lifted the lid.

There were three envelopes in the box. Rose opened the first envelope and pulled out a folded letter. The sight of her mother's handwriting brought tears to her eyes. Swiping away the dampness, she focused on the letter.

My dearest Roisin, Rose's heart jerked at the name Roisin. That had to be her name in Irish, the same name Duncan used whenever he spoke to her.

Yes, that is your true given name. You always were my "little rose". If you can't read the letter in the second envelope, that's my fault. I thought to protect you by keeping you from learning Irish, but if you've gotten this far, then my guess is you already know a little bit. I wrote the other letter in Irish because I wanted you to seek counsel to better understand the importance of the history I was forbidden to speak of.

Don't talk to anyone about this. Instead, go straight to Galway City in county Galway, Ireland. There's a pub there called Lonan's. When you arrive, ask to speak with Siobhan. She'll take care of you while you're there and put you in contact with a man who will explain everything to you. Look for a deeper meaning in his words of advice, Rose. There's a reason we called him Saoi.

It's important you embrace your heritage now. Just be as prepared as you can in case you need to protect yourself.

Ta gra agam duit-I love you...that's your first lesson in Irish. Learn all you can.

Rose set the letter aside, pondering at the unspoken things her mother had been forbidden to talk about. She opened the second letter and true to her mother's word, it was a five-page handwritten letter all in Irish. Frustration filled her. She couldn't go to Ireland. It would cost a fortune. How the hell was she going to find out what it said?

Duncan.

The name popped into her mind, almost as if an echo. She instantly shook her head. Her mother was adamant she trust no one but this Saoi person to explain the letter to her. Now what was she going to do?

Duncan, her mind repeated.

Well, he did trust her with his own secrets. It wasn't every day one discovered vampires exist. Again, her mother's warning rang in her head and she dismissed asking Duncan for help.

Sighing, she opened the last envelope and smiled at the notepaper clipped to a stack of cash.

Did you really think I'd make it so hard for you to fly to the land of your forefathers, my darling? There's enough money for tickets, lodging and food while you're in Ireland. Spend it wisely and while you're there, keep your eyes open and trust your instincts until you can meet with the Saoi.

At least she already had her passport, thanks to a trip to South America a client funded last year. Rose put all the documents and money in one envelope and left the other two empty ones in the safety deposit box. Tucking the stuffed envelope away in her purse, she closed the box and walked out of the room.

Mr. Wainright came out of his office when he saw her in the lobby.

"Are you done now?"

She nodded and handed him the box. "Yes, thank you for your time. Do I need to sign that I took some of my mother's things from the box?" she asked.

He shook his head as he took the box from her. "No, but you'll need to come with me to relock the box."

Duncan pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of black jeans, his thoughts drifting to Rose once again. She'd haunted his mind for the past two days. Never had he relished satiating his hunger as he did with Rose. Yes, he'd needed her blood, but it went deeper than satisfying an empty stomach. While he'd reveled in every swallow he took, his only regret was that he wasn't driving his cock inside her sweet body at the same time.

A shudder of deep desire passed through him each time he played out their mind- blowing encounter in his head. Not only had he tasted her blood and heard her heart racing, but he'd felt every life-giving pound of her heart as if it were his own, experienced her euphoria at being bitten and the sexual power she felt when he came against her.

When it was over, his cock had immediately hardened again. He'd wanted to take her against the glass, hear her panting as he drove into her, experience her thrill when he sank his teeth into her neck again...and again.

The entire scenario was unlike anything he'd ever experienced and it scared the shit out of him. Too much emotion, too much mutual sharing, too much...everything.

After he'd bathed Rose, he'd been overwhelmed with all the emotions running rampant in his mind. Duncan sent her to sleep with his mind racing.

As promised, he took her home. He'd walked away with the hope he'd be able to forget how he felt when he was around her, how much she made him feel off-kilter.

Only, he hadn't been able to forget. Instead, for the last couple of days, he literally ached to know what her warm channel felt like surrounding him, taking him deep, her firm thighs wrapped around his hips.

Shaking himself out of his lustful thoughts, Duncan focused on returning a few phone calls and setting up another gig. But in the end curiosity got the best of him. He called his mother.

"Hey, Mom."

"Well, hello, my long-lost son," she replied.

"I'm not that absent," he shot back in a dry tone.

"I'm just shocked to hear from you. I'm usually the one who calls you."

He laughed at the smile he heard in her voice. "Wonders never cease. Actually, I do have a question."

"That's what I thought."

Duncan ignored her assured tone. She always did have a knack of knowing when something was on his mind.

"You remember that lullaby you used to sing Ian and me when we were kids?" He rambled off the last few lyrics that Rose had sung the other night.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Was that a very popular lullaby in Ireland? Last night I did a search for it on the net and I came up with zilch."

"It was regionally known, only in small pockets."

That's kind of vague, he thought, wondering at the hesitation he sensed in his mother's response. "Where did you say you were from?"

"County Galway."

"Do you miss your homeland?"

She sighed. "My life is here and has been for a very long time."

Before he could ask her another question, she said, "Now you've got me curious. What made you think of that lullaby?"

"A human woman sang it the other night."

"Human?" she asked, sounding intrigued.

"She's of Irish descent."