The Vampire's Protector

The Vampire's Protector
Michele Hauf

OUT OF THE GRAVE . . . AND INTO HER LIFEFor over a century, muscician Nicolo Paganini had rested in peace. Until Summer Santiago’s innocent touch raised him from the grave. Awake in a world suddenly so foreign, he needed Summer’s help. Yet his protector was a vampire…with a deep desire for Nicolo’s blood.Despite the raving attraction between them, the pair had something more dangerous than bloodlust to contend with. The devil had a plan for Nicolo’s eternal life. Should Nicolo play the cursed black violin, his fate would be sealed. But if he resisted Satan’s call, he would lose the woman who had made his life worth living.

She wanted to bite him, to taste his blood and learn if it was as rich and exciting as the man.

But there was a certain danger in that. Summer had no idea what Nicolo was.

What would she impart in Nicolo’s mind if she drank his blood? If he were merely human would she drive him mad?

Couldn’t risk it. He needed her. And she wanted him to trust her.

“Don’t let this happen,” Summer muttered.

But they were only words. Her heart had already made a leap. And while that scared her, she was always one to follow adventures. Even the kind Summer had never pursued before, like the adventures of the heart.

MICHELE HAUF has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for more than twenty years. France, musketeers, vampires and faeries usually populate her stories. And if Michele followed the adage “write what you know,” all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries and creatures she has never seen. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and at www.michelehauf.com (http://www.michelehauf.com).

The Vampire’s Protector

Michele Hauf

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To all the orchestra geeks. You rock!

Contents

Cover (#u6f90fd66-d98b-593a-bc8e-1fbbb47f0f4e)

Introduction (#uee2913e7-873e-57e4-904c-161f44c79dbf)

Title Page (#u5f19bfcc-802a-56b5-a13b-16ccc18bdd25)

About the Author (#ub0e5e840-254b-57fe-8d93-137a085d42ef)

Dedication (#uf804f65a-3dae-5c67-a903-2bc5f419df75)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 1 (#u221af7d0-0de6-5385-baf8-290a41e727d3)

Summer Santiago followed the scent of dust and dirt down the hallway of a nineteenth-century brownstone nestled in the middle of the tiny Italian village of Cella Monte. The place had been shuttered up and locked for decades. She’d been told so by the village sindaco—the mayor—who had given her a key after she’d explained she wanted to conduct some historical research. She’d flashed her credentials indicating she was an archaeologist who worked for Rutgers University.