The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) (9 page)

“I wouldn’t.” Although he wasn’t entirely sure. His and Evangeline’s marriage had been arranged, so no proposal necessary. “We’ll say we met at the ball the year before. Good enough?”

“Yes. Now, how and where did you propose?”

He smiled. “At this year’s ball, since that’s where we met.”

“I like that. It’s romantic.”

“Evangeline won’t buy me being romantic.”

Tessa made a face. “Then she doesn’t know you very well. I think anyone can be romantic under the right set of circumstances.”

He smiled. He very much liked the way she thought.

The server returned with their drinks and took their order. When she’d left, Sebastian raised his glass. “To success.”

Tessa lifted her beer. “To success.”

They clinked glasses and drank.

He swallowed and tipped his head to one side. “What if she Googles you?”

Tessa shrugged. “What if she does?”

“Is she going to find anything about you online that says you live elsewhere? I apologize, I don’t recall where you moved from.”

“Ohio, and no, I doubt she’ll find anything. I used to run the Northeast Ohio Library’s Facebook page, but my name wasn’t on it, just the head librarian’s.”

“You’re not listed on the library’s main website, then?”

“Hah. Like Mrs. Unger would approve that.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “Nope, not listed on the website either.”

“Very good. I take it Mrs. Unger is your former boss?”

“Yes.” She wrinkled her nose.

“And not someone you’re fond of.”

“No.” Tessa sipped her beer. “I think she felt challenged by me. She’d been the head librarian for years and then I get hired right out of school with all these new ideas and…” Tessa’s brows lifted. “You know how it is.”

“Hmm. I guess I do, but I believe I might be Mrs. Unger in that scenario.”

Tessa grinned. “Why? Do you hate change?”

He nodded, reluctantly. “It’s not my favorite thing, no.”

“Why’s that?”

He leaned back, slowly turning his glass of whiskey. “If things are working the way they are, why change them?”

“What if there’s a better way to do something?”

“I don’t know if I believe that’s enough reason. And better by whose definition?”

“So if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

“Exactly.”

She stared at him over the rim of her glass. “Is that why you’ve never gotten officially divorced from Evangeline? That seems like a broken situation that would have been fixed by changing it, don’t you think? Plus, you’re not a bad-looking guy. You could have found someone else to be with.”

He took a small amount of pleasure in her compliment, but didn’t dwell on it. Vanity was a weakness. “
No
.” The word came out sharper than he’d intended, but bloody hell, she was asking questions she had no right to.

Her brows went higher. “Forget I asked.”

He sighed. And lowered his voice. “I never pursued any sort of official separation from her because I couldn’t.” For several reasons, not the least of which was the promise he’d made. He’d always hoped she’d come back. It would have made his life easier, that was for certain.

“Why couldn’t you?”

“For a sire to divorce the spouse they’ve turned, it requires either the signature of the spouse, something Evangeline wouldn’t have given me, or proof of infidelity.”

“That sounds like something you could have managed.”

He stared at the table. “Yes, I can. I choose not to.”

“Because?”

The tablecloth blurred in front of his eyes. “Because I am an old-fashioned fool. I don’t want to ruin her. Or be the one to end things so distinctly.”

She peered at him. “So you ended up paying the price for her sins. I can’t imagine in all those years of being alone you never once thought about being with someone else.”

He kept his gaze on the table. “What I thought about and what I wanted were two different things. Evangeline was always foremost on my mind.” Then he picked his head up. “Some might think my loyalty a respectable quality. Especially in this day and age.”

“I’m not judging you. Just curious. You must have had some kind of amazing marriage to hold out like that. To still be holding out.”

Except that wasn’t really how he was feeling these days. He frowned. “Our marriage was arranged. Most marriages back then were, especially for those of wealth and position.”

“Then I get the loyalty, which is definitely admirable, but letting her go at this point would be completely understandable. No one expects you to keep the vows you made three hundred years ago.”

“Almost four, actually.”

“Maybe you could talk to this council. Explain things. They might make an exception.”

He thought about it. No one had ever really questioned him about this before. His brothers had tried, but he’d always shut them down as soon as they started. Eventually they knew the topic of Evangeline was off-limits and stopped bringing her up. “And yes, maybe they would make an exception, but that’s not who I am. I am a man of my word. And I value the bond we had.”

Tessa swallowed a mouthful of beer. “Does she? I’m guessing not if she left you like that.”

“She was young and impetus. Becoming…” He lowered his voice. “Becoming a vampire was an enormous change. She had wild oats to sow. And she did. Now she’s done. Ready to be my wife again.”

Or so she claimed. Was he reading too much into Evangeline’s return? Perhaps. But he knew her better than anyone. She had been a good wife. Adept at the social aspects anyway. She had never been particularly warm or affectionate toward him, but he’d always chalked that up to them getting to know each other as husband and wife.

Tessa looked unconvinced. “I just don’t get it. What on earth is holding you to her?”

The truth was on the tip of his tongue, but before he could speak, a body shoved into the seat beside him.

Julian threw his arm around Sebastian’s shoulders. “Well, look at you, out on the town. I must remember to put a big red circle around today’s date on the calendar when I get home. This has to be some kind of lunar eclipse or unknown holiday, or did some alien force invade your body and take control of your faculties?”

“Julian, this is not the time—”

“Nope, you definitely sound like Sebastian.” Julian unhooked his arm and leaned forward, planting his elbows on the table and propping his chin on his hands as he grinned at Tessa. “And you must be my dear brother’s
fiancée
. How wonderful.”

“I…” She looked at Sebastian as if unsure how to answer.

Julian plowed on. “Nice ring. I hope you get to keep that in the deal. You’re certainly going to earn it.”

“No, she does not get to keep the ring.” Sebastian glared at Julian. “I thought you were in Las Vegas. Again.”

“I was. And now I’m home. Miss me?”

“Not particularly. We’re trying to have dinner.”

“Please tell me you got the porterhouse.” Julian looked at Tessa. “It’s the best thing you’ll ever put in your mouth.” He wiggled his brows and laughed. “Well…”

“
Julian
. Enough.” Sebastian had never hit his brother, but the idea suddenly had merit. “Did you have a reason for interrupting us or was it merely for sport?”

With an enormous sigh and a huge eye roll, Julian slouched in the seat. “I wanted to see where you were on the wedding chapel budget.”

“Nowhere. It’s ludicrous. The entire thing will have to be reworked.”

Tessa perked up a little. “What’s this about?”

Julian let out another sigh. “I’ve just opened a wedding chapel in town.”

“Like the ones in Las Vegas?” Tessa asked.

“Exactly. That’s where I got the idea. It’s all kinds of fun, something Sebastian hates, but the tourists will go nuts for it. We already had several weddings a month going on in town so adding this chapel seemed like a no-brainer. There are themed rooms and packages and all kinds of great stuff.” He glared at Sebastian. “I just need the working budget approved so I can do my grand opening.”

Sebastian scowled. “You asked for half a million dollars. It’s not happening.”

Tessa almost choked on her beer. “Wow, is that what it takes to run a wedding chapel?”

“No,” Sebastian said at the same time that Julian said, “Yes.”

Sebastian shook his head. “Nothing’s happening until this dinner with Evangeline is over with.”

Julian sat up. “Dinner? What dinner? When? Where? Are we going black tie or business casual? Hmm, what does one wear to a meal with one’s brother’s estranged wife?”

Sebastian snorted. “
You
are not invited.”

Tessa’s mouth curved into a little half-smile. “Why not? He would be great at distracting Evangeline.” She tipped her glass at him. “You’re very good at keeping the conversation going.”

Julian pointed at her as he spoke to Sebastian. “I like this one. She’s a keeper.”

Irritation simmered through Sebastian like escaping steam. He looked at Tessa. “You think he should come only because you don’t know him like I do.”

“Maybe. But it would be nice to have him there to help corroborate our story.”

Julian grinned, showing off his fangs. “I can corroborate like nobody’s business.”

Sebastian hung on to his sanity with his fingertips. “Fine. You can come on one condition.”

“Which is?” Julian asked.

“You leave us immediately so we can enjoy the rest of our dinner in peace and you behave yourself during the dinner with Evangeline.”

Julian stood. “That’s two conditions, but I agree because I don’t nitpick the little things. Like some people. And please, what do you think I’m going to do? Try to sleep with her? Even I have standards.”

He twisted on his heel and walked off, flirting with every woman he passed as he left.

Tessa pursed her lips like she was suppressing laughter. “Your brother is quite the character.”

Sebastian watched him go. “I’m aware.”

Thankfully, the server arrived with their steaks, saving Sebastian from further conversation about Julian.

He dug into his porterhouse, trying not to dwell on the fact that Tessa had taken to Julian so much that she’d wanted him at dinner.

Time ticked by as they ate. Sebastian couldn’t get past what had just happened. He shoved a forkful of meat into his mouth and chewed. Was Julian that much more interesting than he was? Sebastian had long ago accepted that he wasn’t to every woman’s taste, but what did it mean that not even the woman pretending to be his fiancée preferred him?

Was Julian really such a prize?

Or was he just that unappealing?

Tessa ate her steak in small bites, very aware that Sebastian’s mood had taken a dark turn. It stayed that way, too, even though their meals were more than half gone. At first she thought he’d just been upset by his brother’s visit, then she realized Julian’s sudden appearance was just the catalyst. She washed down her last bite with a swig of beer and stared at the vampire across from her. “You’re upset.”

He didn’t look at her, just went on eating. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You forget that I can judge character and intent. And you’re upset.” She tried to get a deeper read on the vibes he was throwing off. “With me. You’re upset with me.”

“No, I’m not.”

She narrowed her eyes, opening herself fully to the valkyrie senses she so rarely used. “Yes, you are. But you’re mad at yourself too.”

He frowned.

She put her fork down. “Want to tell me why? Because I’m absolutely clueless on this one.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she cared about a man this damaged and frustrated, especially when she’d done her best to avoid things that upset her all her life. They had one more day together. That was it. Unless she got the job.

He stabbed a piece of steak. “It’s childish and unimportant.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be so bothered.”

He went still for a long moment, then lifted his gaze to meet hers. “You prefer my brother over me and I am petty enough to care. I understand it, but I also don’t wish to discuss it further.”