The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) (26 page)

“You…you. With me?”

She sucked in a ragged breath. “Yes. Don’t worry. I’m not letting the marriage go to my head. I know it’s part of the—”

He came off the bed in a graceful burst of energy to pull her into his arms and kiss her soundly. He wrapped her in his embrace, holding her close. His kiss was wild and a little rough and she swore she felt the scrape of his fangs over her bottom lip.

Warmth suffused her and put an end to her jangling nerves.

At last he broke the kiss, leaning back to look into her eyes as his blazed with the glow of his kind. “I feel the same way toward you. And I don’t know how or why you’re falling for me, but I promise you, I will endeavor to be worthy of your affections. You are absolutely my type. I just didn’t know it until I met you. I’m sure I don’t deserve you. Or this sort of result from my mangled machinations, but thank you for being so kind and understanding.”

She stared at him. “Are you saying you care about me?”

“Irreversibly.”

“Even knowing what you do about my past? My temper?”

He kissed her again, a gentle, brief press of reassurance. “You were sixteen. Have you done anything close to that since then?”

“No.” But she hadn’t drawn her sword in all that time, either.

“And even if you do, what harm could you bring me? I’m an old, old vampire. Very dangerous in my own right.” He cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t know me that well yet. I might have a little temper of my own.”

“Do you?”

“I suppose. If provoked enough. Who doesn’t?”

“Yes, but my temper almost got a man killed.”

“
Almost
means it didn’t. And I’m willing to take my chances if the reward means I get to spend more time with you. And build a real relationship. Look, this marriage will be in name only. I’m not going to expect anything different, if you understand what I’m saying. In fact, once Evangeline is packed off, I’d very much like for us to attempt as close to normal a relationship as possible. Dating and all that. I’ve never actually done it, but I suppose it can’t be that difficult if my brothers can manage it.”

She laughed softly. “Okay, I’d like that too.”

He held on to her. “Maybe…if it’s not too forward of me to suggest it, you could stay here?”

“You mean live here? In the house?”

He nodded. “You’d have your own room, of course.”

It was a very sweet offer. Not to mention the perks of being close to him and having access to that incredible library. “I don’t know. That might be a little awkward with you being my boss and all.”

He hid his disappointment poorly. “Yes, I guess it would be.”

“I might be talked into the guest house, though.”

His eyes lit up again. “It’s yours. It’s not very much space, but if you want it, it’s yours.” He smiled. “I will insist you come for dinner at least three nights a week, however.”

She laughed. “You mean take out?”

“I’ll hire a cook. I’ve been meaning to do it for ages.”

She raised her brows. “I doubt that.”

“Well, Greaves has suggested it. He’ll be thrilled.” Sebastian smiled. “I like this plan. And if you run out of space over there, you can always move back in here.”

“Just how small is the guest house? Will Duncan’s new cat tree fit?”

Sebastian’s smile flattened. “Hmm. It hadn’t occurred to me you’d be taking him with you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Did you think I would leave my cat here?”

“He is rather settled in.”

She rolled her lips in. “For someone who didn’t want him here at all, you’re suddenly very attached to him.”

They both turned to look at the kitten, who was attacking something only he could see on the comforter.

Sebastian nodded. “He’s…good company.”

“You have Greaves.”

Sebastian gave her a look. “My rook hardly compares. And he’s never half as entertaining as the little beast.”

He leaned in and kissed her again. “I feel as though I owe you my life, Tessa. You’re doing so much for me. I will be in your debt for an eternity.”

“No. I don’t want that. You’ve already had that with one woman.”

“True. But what you’re doing for me isn’t something that’s easily repaid.”

She smiled. “It’s what friends do. And we’re friends now, so…” She patted his chest, a little embarrassed by his sharp focus on her. She knew she was doing him a huge favor, but she couldn’t imagine
not
doing it. There was too much at stake for him. “I’m pretty sure I remember a bridal shop in town. I don’t know if they can supply me with a dress on such short notice, but I should probably give them a call.”

“The woman who owns it, Corette, is engaged to Hugh’s rook, Stanhill. She’ll make it happen. She’s a witch and if she has to use her magic, she will. I’ll go down to my office and call Corette now and tell her you’re on your way. I’ll make sure she knows I’m taking care of the charges, too.”

Tessa didn’t argue. She wouldn’t be buying a wedding dress if not for this new drama. “And I’ll call my sister and see if she wants to go over there with me.”

Sebastian hesitated. “Is she going to give you a hard time because of this?”

“A little, but nothing serious. She’s pretty good that way. And really, what can she say? She’s the one who offered me up in the first place.”

“True.” He tipped his head. “I’m sorry we’re not going to dinner tonight. I’ll make up for that as soon as I’m able.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

He gave her a quick kiss and left smiling. She pulled out her phone and sat on the bed next to Duncan. She gave him a little scratch on the head and he immediately started gnawing on her thumb. She pulled her hand away to tap her sister’s number.

“Deputy Blythe,” Jenna answered.

“Are you still on duty?”

“Hey, Tessa. Sorry, I didn’t look at the caller ID. Yep, on duty until six. You need me?”

“Sort of. There’s been a new wrinkle in the
situation
.”

“Oh boy. What now?”

Tessa took a breath. “How would you like to go wedding dress shopping with me?”

Sebastian called Corette, filled her in on what was happening, then asked Greaves to drive Tessa into town to Corette’s shop. Once they’d gone, he closed his office door and made another phone call.

“Ellingham residence.”

“Stanhill, it’s Sebastian. Is my brother in?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m on my way over.”

“I’ll let him know.”

As much as Sebastian loathed leaving Evangeline in his home alone, it couldn’t be helped. The talk he was about to have with his brothers couldn’t happen where she could hear it. And Greaves was just dropping Tessa off at the bridal shop. He’d be home again until she called him to be picked up, so Evangeline would be unattended for only twenty minutes tops.

Sebastian locked his office and drove to Hugh’s, calling Julian’s cell on the way.

“Hello, Sebby. Please tell me you’re not calling because you suddenly decided to change more things in the budget.”

“I hate that name.”

“Sorry, I do know that. Guess I heard Evangeline say it one too many times. Apology accepted?”

“No, but if you meet me at Hugh’s in the next ten minutes, I’ll give you far less grief about it than you can imagine.”

“I can manage ten minutes.” Julian hesitated. “Does this mean I’m getting the catering team?”

Sebastian nearly drove off the road. “Catering team? A wedding chapel doesn’t need a catering team.”

“That’s too bad. My schedule just filled up. I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it to Hugh’s on such short notice after all.”

“We’ll talk about it.” There was no way Sebastian was going to approve additional funds for catering at a wedding chapel. Not with all the capable restaurants in town. But now was not the time to hardline that issue with Julian. “I need you at Hugh’s. It’s imperative I talk to both of you.”

Julian’s voice finally took on an edge of concern. “Did something happen to Tessa? What’s Evangeline done now?”

“Show up at Hugh’s and I’ll tell you.”

And to Julian’s credit, he did, arriving eight minutes after Sebastian. Once they were seated in Hugh’s living room and Stanhill had started pouring a round of whiskeys, Sebastian explained what had occurred.

His brothers blinked at him.

Hugh was the first to speak. “You can’t seriously mean to do this.”

“Tessa’s agreed to it. I wouldn’t be going through with it otherwise. And what’s my alternative? Let Evangeline go to the council? That’s all well and good until the outcome is in her favor.”

Julian shook his head. “But truth is on your side. She’s the one who abandoned you.”

Sebastian nodded. “I know that. We know that. But you know what she’s like. She’s very convincing. And I have no physical proof that she ever cheated on me.”

“We’ll testify on your behalf,” Hugh said.

“I appreciate that but as convoluted as it sounds, marrying Tessa is easier. And it might be the only way to get Evangeline to sign the dissolution papers.”

Julian swirled his glass, turning the amber liquid within into a miniature cyclone. “Sounds like you have your mind made up, but have you really thought this through? What if Tessa gets a grand idea about what this means? What if she turns into another Evangeline?”

“She won’t. She’s nothing like Evangeline. And we’ve talked about it. She’s doing this to help me.”

Hugh snorted. “And the job you offered her has no part in this? Do you think she’d be so agreeable if the position of dean suddenly evaporated?”

“I’m not about to rescind that offer. But yes, I think she would be. She’s…not like any other woman I’ve ever known.”

Julian let out a loud, “Oh.” He shook his head. “I see exactly what’s going on now.”

“What?”

Julian’s eyes sparkled. “You like her.”

“Of course, I like her. She’s whip-smart, funny, kind and doing me an incredible favor. What’s not to like? She’s the anti-Evangeline if ever there was one.”

Julian smirked.

Hugh glanced from Julian to Sebastian. “Is that true? You can’t be in love with the woman. You’ve only known her three days.”

“I’m not in love.” Not that he would confess to his brothers. “But I do like her. And what if I was in love? That’s my business.”

Hugh stood, leaving his drink behind on the coffee table to pace toward the French doors that led into his garden. “Sebastian, you deserve happiness more than any of us, but to tie yourself down again before the first entanglement is even over is ludicrous.”

“I’m not tying myself down to Tessa. I am, at most, starting a relationship with her.” Sebastian massaged the back of his neck, trying to keep his emotions at bay. “I appreciate your concerns, I do, but I came here seeking your assistance, not your judgment on my life.”

“We’re not judging you.” Julian looked suddenly very much like the little boy Sebastian still remembered him as. “But you’re our brother and that gives us some right to be concerned. That’s all. We don’t want you mucked up again just as you’re about to be free. But if you care about Tessa, truly care about her, then I say good for you. You’ve been alone a long time and that can’t have been easy.”

Julian’s words couldn’t have surprised Sebastian more if his youngest brother had suddenly announced he was joining the priesthood. Julian was the last of them he’d expected to understand.

Even Hugh turned to stare at his playboy brother with an expression that said he wasn’t sure what he’d just heard. “This is one of those rare occasions when Julian is right. I cannot imagine my life without Delaney. To think how long you’ve been without that sort of companionship…” He shook his head. “We’ll do whatever you need. That goes without question.”

“Thank you.” Sebastian took a sip of whiskey, then set the glass aside. “I would like you both to be at the chapel when Tessa and I marry.”

“Done,” they said in unison.

Sebastian nodded, thinking to the future. “I also need you to make sure Evangeline doesn’t leave until she signs my life back to me. And you may use any means necessary to ensure that outcome.”