Smiling a little, she reflected on some of her favored places before answering. “I love Naples, Italy, in the spring. I love the smell of the city and the yowling of stray cats everyone feeds at the water’s edge. I love waking up and down the cobblestone streets to buy a loaf of fresh bread. I love sitting in an outdoor cafe and drinking small, strong cups of coffee while I eat the warm bread straight out of its white bakery bag.”

He took a sip of the tea, grimaced again and set it on the table. “So you do that alone?”

Isabelle fought the urge to defend herself. The comment pricked and she knew why. Yes, alone. She was always alone. Only until recently had that become tedious.

“I like being alone,” she answered simply.

He nodded, but his eyes said clearly that he didn’t believe her. He was right not to.

“So what about you? Why no vacations? Why no traveling?”

“My work has kept me in the States for the most part. I started working for my father when I was fifteen. When he died, the Coven appointed me head. This job has taken all my time and energy.”

Isabelle tched. “All work and no play.”

He gazed at her through hooded eyes. “Do you think I’m a dull boy, Isabelle?”

She smiled. “I wouldn’t say that. I would say that I might be a loner, but you’re a workaholic.”

“We’re the perfect pair.”

“A match made in hell.”

A speculative look enveloped his face. “All opposites, you and I. You can’t stay still and all I’ve ever done is stay still. I’m patient and a planner and you’re impulsive.”

“You drink champagne and eat gourmet food and I like Ho Hos and Diet Coke.” She rested her head on the couch back and dropped her eyelids to half-mast. “Like I said, a match made in hell.”

“Or somewhere.”

They sat for a while in companionable silence, Isabelle with her feet tucked beneath her. She closed her eyes for a moment, but opened them when she felt Thomas take the cup from her hand and set it on the coffee table.

“It’s time to sleep,” he murmured. “We have a demon to catch tomorrow.”

She nodded and stood, wavering on her feet. He caught her around the waist and she leaned into him, enjoying for a moment that he could take her full weight and not even notice it. Thomas guided her to the bed and undid the buttons of her shirt with deft fingers.

She gave him a heavy-lidded leer. “What exactly do you think you’re doing, Mr. Monahan?”