Burnett continued, "He said he was getting on the next flight available back to Texas. It may be Thursday before he arrives."

Kylie got tears in her eyes. "It's really going to happen, isn't it? I'm finally going to get my answers." She still felt fear, but less than before. She needed her answers. Deserved them.

"It looks like it," Burnett said.

Kylie jumped up, stopping herself just before she wrapped her arms around him. "May I hug you?"

He grinned and grimaced at the same time. "Make it quick."

She did. When she backed up, Holiday watched with tears in her eyes.

Burnett nodded at Holiday. "And this is for you." He pulled out another envelope and handed it to her.

"What is it?" Holiday asked, sounding unsure.

"It's a donation to help cover future costs for Shadow Falls ... and my resignation."

Holiday stiffened. "That's what you want?" She sounded so hurt that Kylie's heart gripped.

"It's what you want," he said.

"I didn't ask you to resign."

"The hell you didn't!"

"Should I leave?" Kylie asked.

But no one was listening to her, and Burnett was blocking the door.

"Hello?" Kylie said, but they were too busy staring daggers at each other to pay attention to her.

"I said, if you couldn't understand my not letting Kylie go in for tests by the FRU, then you'd best leave."

"Because you don't need me anymore now that you have other investors lined up, right?" Burnett sounded hurt.

"What investors?" Holiday asked.

"Don't lie to me, Holiday! I saw the file. You have four possible investors waiting in the wings."

"You went through my desk?"

"I wasn't snooping! I had to pay the bills while you were away, remember?"

"Well, next time you go rummaging in my desk, you should read the dates on the paperwork!" She went to her desk, opened her drawer, and tossed the file at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't find these people just now. I found them before you signed on."

He stared at her in growing confusion. "You said the only reason you chose me was because you didn't have anyone else."

"I didn't say that. You assumed it."

Burnett stared at Holiday. "Are you saying you chose me over these other people?" He moved closer, leaving a slight opening to the office door.

"I'm gonna just slip out now." Kylie took a step forward.

They ignored her. And Kylie hesitated for just a second.

"So you care about me," Burnett grumbled. "Why the hell can't you admit it, Holiday?"

"Hiring you was a business decision, Burnett."

"Bullshit!" Burnett said. "Each one of them has more money than I do."

"A business decision, not a financial one."

"Is that why you kissed me?" he demanded.

"I did no such thing. You kissed me."

"And you enjoyed it!"

"I'm out of here." Kylie eased around Burnett and walked out, but she carried with her a smile and a lot of hope. She was pretty sure Burnett wasn't quitting now. And in two days, she would have answers from her grandfather Malcolm. God, she hoped it was true.

"Hey." Derek met her on the porch.

"Hey," she said, still smiling.

He stopped, obviously hearing Burnett and Holiday bickering in the office. "Is everything okay?"

Kylie chuckled. "They're arguing. So it's pretty much back to normal now."

"Better than when they weren't talking to each other."

"My thoughts exactly," Kylie said.

Derek studied her. "Can we talk?" He motioned to the two rocking chairs.

"Sure."

She sat in the first chair. He took the other. For a second, she got the image of them here before. Of him moving in and kissing her while she reclined in the chair.

She pushed that image away. They weren't kissing now. They were just talking. Two friends, talking.

He started to speak, but then his eyes widened. "You got good news?"

She grinned, knowing he'd read her mood. "My real grandfather is coming to see me in a few days."

"Damn!" His eyes filled with contentment for her. "You'll finally get your answers. Kylie Galen will know what she is. No more mystery."

"I hope so." An odd thought hit: What would her life be like when her quest changed? A wash of cold moved in behind her. She glanced back and just as quickly turned back around.

"I heard about your grandmother," Derek said. "And the rogue vampire. He really sacrificed himself for you?"

"Yeah." Her emotions took a nosedive. "All I saw in him was evil, Derek. But it wasn't true."

"It wasn't just you," he said. "That's what I saw, too. So I get how that makes you feel."

She sighed. That was the thing about Derek. He always understood her feelings.

"Thanks." Someone walked past, and for a crazy second she thought it was Ellie. But of course, it wasn't.

"I miss her, too," Derek said, reading her again.

Kylie looked up toward the sky. "Sometimes, I just wish heaven wasn't so far away."

Things grew quiet. When she looked back, Derek was staring at her. Staring at her the way the old Derek used to stare. The gold flecks in his eyes brightened against his green irises. She felt the world go fairy tale around her, and she noticed things. Things like how his shoulders looked like a soft place to rest her head.