"Interesting. Were both her parents from Ireland?"

"No. I got the impression only her mother came from Ireland."

"Does this woman you talked to have any Irish?" she asked, more than idle curiosity lacing her tone.

"No. Her mother refused to teach her." Duncan picked up on his mother's vibe. She was definitely thinking deeply about something. Unfortunately Tressa Mordoor was the only person who seemed to be able to consistently block his mind-reading ability. Since she was his parent, he'd respected her need for privacy and never tried to break through her mental barriers.

"Ah, someone from my homeland. I would love to speak to this woman's mother. Do you know her name?"

"Rose never said her mother's name other than mentioning she'd passed away."

"That's such a shame. I would've loved to converse with her, since my boys aren't around often enough to speak our language. So tell me about this human you have so much interest in," his mother teased.

"There's nothing to tell," he responded in a brisk tone. "She was a case I took on for Ian. I saved her and now we've gone back to our own lives."

"A case? Unless things have changed in the last couple of weeks, I know only Ian hunts down rogue vampires. What does this woman have to do with rogue vampires?"

"Everything. A rogue vampire kidnapped her."

"Who kidnapped her?"

"James Connor, and holy hell did I learn an important lesson about the Sythens' vast shape-shifting ability. I'm going to kick the shit out of Ian for not warning me. My back still aches from the encounter."

"Everyone knows the Sythens can shape-shift to more than a raven," Tressa admonished with a chuckle.

"To creatures many times larger than their own body weight and mass?"

"Uh, no..." His mother paused, sounding tense. "I wasn't aware of that. Are you okay? Did you kill James?"

"I'm fine. James is currently being held until Eamon gets back from the summit. His fate is being decided by the council, but if they don't vote to eliminate him, I'll do it myself."

"Did James hurt the woman?"

"No, but he's obsessed with her and determined to possess her despite her wishes to the contrary."

"I'm sure the council will make the right decision."

"I'll make sure they do," he replied in a steely tone. Just then the call-waiting beeped on his phone. Work called.

"Gotta go."

"Duncan..." his mother called out before he could hang up.

"Yeah?"

"It was nice to hear from you. Let's not make it a year before we talk again, hmmm?"

"Yes, Mother," he replied, then hung up, switching to the other line.

"What do you have for me?"

Rose drove home that night, exhausted after her long day "branch hopping". She made a quick sandwich and went straight to bed. All night she dreamed of Ireland, her necklace and people speaking Irish all around her. Even Duncan appeared in her dream, speaking to her in Irish. She couldn't understand a word he said, but his sexy voice entranced her.

She walked up to him. "I can't understand what you're saying, Duncan."

He pulled her against his chest and ran his hands down her spine to cup her rear in his hands. Jerking her hips flush with his, he whispered in her mind, Then guess what I'm saying I want to do to you, a ghra.

Her heart racing, she ran her hands up his shoulders until she clasped his neck. Pulling his mouth close, her gaze locked with his burning golden one. Her lips met his at the same time she answered him mentally, There are some things that even transcend language barriers.

Duncan rocked his erection against her and growled low in his throat, thrusting his tongue past her lips. He plundered her mouth, aggressive and dominant, arousing her to a fever pitch of desire.

Clasping her buttocks tight, he lifted her up in his arms at the same time he spoke to her in Irish. The seductive tone of his words left no room for misunderstanding what he wanted. She slid her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist, clutching him tight as his fangs sank into her neck.

Rose awoke with her heart racing and a throbbing ache between her thighs. She vividly remembered her enjoyment of speaking mentally with Duncan, the excited anticipation of his teeth puncturing her skin and the tugging pull as he sucked, taking her blood. She'd love that kind of sexual power over him. To make him anticipate her bite like that. Then again, she'd have to have fangs-something she was definitely lacking.

She gritted her teeth in frustration that the man had not only made her body beg for his, but the vamp now invaded her psyche through her dreams. Rose threw back the covers and stomped off toward the shower, vowing to take a cold one.

While the cold water caused goose bumps to form all over her body, Rose disconnected herself from the emotions that her dream had elicited as well as her thoughts of Duncan in general. Instead, she focused on her need to discover what her mother's letter said.

She'd cleared her calendar for a week in order to fly to Ireland and visit this Saoi her mother insisted she see. After she'd fulfilled her commitment to Michelle tonight, she'd visit with her father once more before she took the first flight out to Ireland.

Now that she had a solid plan in her mind, Rose turned the shower off, toweled her body dry, then stood in front of the mirror combing out her wet hair.

Thoughts of Duncan kept creeping into her mind, but she pushed them away, resolving to focus on her upcoming trip and not the seductive vampire who seemed to occupy her thoughts way more than a one-night stand should.

As Rose pulled her motorcycle into a parking spot reserved for Five Star Casino guests, Sam walked out of the riverboat's main door and headed down the walkway. Birds flying overhead squawked as he crossed the dock toward the parking lot.

She got off her bike and removed her helmet, waiting for him as he approached. Minus the do-rag wrapped around his head, his short blond crew cut accented his square jaw well. The navy suit jacket, khaki slacks and dress shoes he now wore transformed him from the rough biker guy she'd seen three days ago, to the imposing-looking head of security he portrayed at the casino.

"Lookin' sharp there, Sambo," she teased as she opened a compartment on her bike and withdrew her purse.

He narrowed his gaze on her before he pulled her into a bear hug. "Why the hell didn't you come visit us the other day? You mentioned stopping by when I saw you getting gas."

Man, Duncan's mind erasing really does work. Wrapping her arm around Sam's waist, she walked with him toward the entrance of the casino.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I ran out of time before I had to meet my client." Dang, she hated having to lie to him.

Glancing back at her bike, he returned his gaze to hers. "We need to go riding together. We haven't done that in a long time."

"How about a rain check?" she asked as she walked side by side with Sam across the dock and up the gangway to get to the boat.

He tapped the end of her nose, a smile on his face. "And I'm going to hold you to it, Rosie."

As they entered the boat, several casino workers called out "Rosie!" interrupting their repartee. Rose smiled and waved, enjoying the early morning quiet. A couple of slot machines pinged in the distance and a few diehard gamblers littered the blackjack tables. There was always a general buzz of conversation that accompanied the casino, no matter what the time of day.

But by nightfall, people staying in her uncle's Five Star Hotel across the street or concert attendees from the Five Star Pavilion next to the hotel would be packed on the boat, gambling away. Loud voices and cheers could be heard as people won or lost a round. The bells and pings of all the slot machines going at once always made a cheerful accompaniment. She'd thrived in this vibrant yet unconventional environment.

"Where's Nigel?" she asked, scanning the room for her energetic uncle.

"Rose, my lovely," her uncle called from across the casino as he entered the main room from a side door. He waved to her, while he pressed his cell phone to his ear.

Even if Nigel hadn't called her name, she'd have spotted him in two seconds flat as soon as he entered the room. His bright orange hair was hard to miss.

"Orange, eh?" she said with a fond smile. "That's a new one."

Sam chuckled. "Yeah, he's getting more daring in his old age. And strangely it works for him."

"Tell my uncle I'll be in his office," she said as she turned and headed for the closed door to the left of the cashier's booth.

Closing the heavy wood door, Rose walked behind her uncle's desk and flopped into his expensive, cow print leather chair. Now that the sounds of the casino no longer distracted her, she thought of Duncan again and how easy it would be to ask him for his help translating that letter from her mother. She wished she had some way of getting in touch with him.

Opening the drawer to her uncle's see-through, Plexiglas desk, she chuckled that Nigel had commented he had "nothing to hide" the day it was delivered to his office. Once she pulled out a phonebook, she flipped to the Ms and wasn't surprised she didn't find a Duncan Mordoor listed. He struck her as a loner-type, not one to draw attention to himself or make it easy to find him.

She was in the process of putting the phonebook back when her uncle walked in, still talking on his cell phone.

The strobe light tip of his cell's antenna was pressed against his bright orange hair, making it seem to glow. Rose smiled. Unlike Duncan, her uncle attracted attention like a magnet. He thrived on it.

"Can you hear me better?" he said as he closed the door. "Good. Listen, Jane. I want the band for two nights. I know I already have him for one night. I'll pay his blasted fee for the additional night. He's a hot commodity and my Pavilion could use the headline."

As she listened to her uncle negotiate with the booking agent, she was reminded all over again why he'd been so successful. For all his flamboyant ways, Nigel was a shrewd businessman. He didn't mince words as he went after what he wanted. He constantly amazed her.

When he hung up the phone with a slight frown still on his face, she said with confidence, "You'll get him."

His brilliant blue eyes met hers. "I don't know, sweetie. This is the hardest I've worked to get an act in a long time and for a guy who's never recorded an album, no less," he said in frustration.

"Really?" she asked.

Nodding, he sat down in the guest chair across from his desk and crossed his legs. He gave her a stern look as he smoothed out his black leather pants. "Enough about business. Tell me...what has caused my absentee niece to grace me with her presence?"

She frowned. "I've been around."

Nigel snorted. "The last time you were here, I'd just revamped an entire floor on the boat."

Had it really been that long? Two months? Straightening in her chair she replied truthfully, "Sorry, Nigel. I've been working several cases."

Sitting forward, Nigel put his elbows on his knees. "Is this about the money you need for your procedure?" He frowned. "Damn it, Rose. You're so freakin' stubborn. You know I'll pay for it, just like I've offered to pay for my brother's expenses."

"I wish I'd never told you about that," she mumbled as she sat back in the seat.

"I'm family. Though I think wanting to be a single parent is a bit unorthodox-" he began before she interrupted him.

"Like you can talk, Mr. I-can't-make-up-my-mind."

"Hey, I can't help the fact everyone looks beautiful to me," he replied, totally unapologetic about his bisexuality.

"The point is, you made our not-so nuclear family work for us and I turned out just fine."

"A little too stubborn for my tastes."

"You love me just the way I am."

"So true." He sighed and sat back in his seat. "Okay, so what gives? Why the impromptu, early morning visit?"

Rose stilled herself, hoping she worded this just the right way so as not to raise her uncle's suspicions. Handing him the banker's business card with her savings account number handwritten on the back, she said, "I wanted you to know that I've made sure you can get to my savings if, heaven forbid, something should happen to me."

Nigel sat forward again, worry creasing his brow. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shrugged in a nonchalant manner. "I just wanted to make you aware."

"No one 'makes arrangements' unless they think something is going to happen to them. I deserve to know."

"Really, Nigel, it's nothing. I'm just going to take a trip to Ireland to learn a little about my mom's heritage. When I eventually get pregnant, I want to be able to share it with my child. So I wanted my affairs taken care of before I left...just in case."

"Ahhh." He nodded his understanding. "How about someone to go with you to Ireland? Here I am, fifty years old and I've never been outside the US. I'd love to see the beautiful island. I could help you share the memories with my grandchild."

Rose's heart swelled at the love that shone in her uncle's eyes and how easily he called a future child of hers his "grandchild". What kid wouldn't want to grow up surrounded by so much love?

"Awww, now you're making me all teary," she said as she came around his desk.

As he stood and straightened to his full five-foot-ten-inch height, Nigel pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "I love you like my own, Rose. You know I'd do anything for you."

She nodded as she buried her nose in his white cotton shirt, inhaling the sweet, yet commanding cologne he wore. A scent that was so Nigel.

"Yes, I know you would, but I need to take this trip to Ireland by myself. Hey, if you're in the mood for visiting, you could go see your brother," she insisted, wishing she could bridge the twenty-year generation gap that had always been a wedge between the brothers.

Nigel sighed. "I know George loves me, but you know we've never really talked on the same level. He'll never accept my bisexuality. It just makes visits with him, well...tense."

She nodded her understanding. "I know, but you can't blame me for trying."

"Keep trying, my sweet. Maybe one day, I'll go and he'll accept me as I am."

She kissed his cheek. "I'm here to hang with Michelle and then catch the act tonight at the Pavilion."

"That band better be worth what I'm paying them," he grumbled, then a hopeful look crossed his face. "You know your room's always available if you decide to stay the night," he suggested.

Rose chuckled. "Always finagling..."

"Why is it so hard for you to consider selling your house and moving into the hotel? I'd like to see you use the suite I have reserved for you more than a night or two. You'd have food and everything you need...for free. You have no idea how much I regret that I couldn't help you early on when you had to sell your parents' home to pay for George's medical bills. I wish you would allow me to help you now."

Nigel had never stopped trying to get her to come live in one of the suites. It had always been a longstanding battle of wills between them.

She pinned him with a stern look. "When I have a child, I'd like him or her to grow up in a house on a quiet neighborhood street."

"You did just fine."