Chapter Eleven
It Could Be Worse
Shimmering slivers of silver moonlight spun over her as she awoke, slightly disoriented. Where was she? Then memories of the past twenty-four hours came flooding back. This was Stefan’s house. Hers was, well, uninhabitable currently. The vivid blue numbers on the bedside clock read 12:05 a.m. I’ve been asleep for nearly eighteen hours. A loud rumble from her stomach confirmed the thought.
Sitting up in bed, she wrapped her arms around herself and snuggled into the warm flannel shirt he’d given her. She pulled the shirt around her face and sniffed. His spicy, outdoor scent remained in the shirt and was somehow comforting.
The room had a chill to it. He probably kept the cabin cooler than she was used to and forgot to turn the heat up before he left for work. Leaning over, she turned on the bedside lamp. Silhouettes of moose, bears, and wolves danced across the walls, the soft light escaping through the lampshade cutouts. She glanced around the room for the clothes she’d worn this morning. Dressed in only a flannel shirt, she decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to go outside and retrieve her bags of clothing.
Gingerly, she touched her bare feet on the cold tile floor and walked over to the dresser where Stefan kept his sweats. Opening the top drawer of the dresser, she stared down at her lingerie neatly folded where the sweats had previously been. Her cheeks heated, when she imagined his large hands folding her delicate lingerie. She sniffed hesitatingly. No ode-to-fireworks smell. Just a freshly laundered fragrance drifted from the open drawer. Apparently, he’d washed them too.
In the carved oak chair next to the bed, neatly folded, were a pair of clean jeans and her favorite purple cable-knit sweater. On a hunch, she opened the closet door. The scent of laundry soap and fabric softener wafted into the room. Her clothes hung neatly on one side of the closet. Huh, he was busy while I slept.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on her jeans. This living arrangement would make keeping her hands off that sinful body of his difficult. He is so damn sexy and instinctively knows how to touch me. A shiver of desire shot through her all the way down to her toes and back to…to…well…She shook her head vehemently. The final act of intimacy was unthinkable, not to mention forbidden, without the love and commitment of both. Yet so was commitment of one without the other, and she’d already failed that requirement miserably. Now she could only hope he’d come to realize what was in his heart for her and act on it before she surrendered completely to him.
Knowing the carnal ways and needs of the vampire, she was aware that withholding herself from him could eventually drive him to satisfy his needs elsewhere or, in the heat of passion, insist on her submission to that final act, which would bind her to him for eternity without his commitment.
She had to break through that damn wall he’d constructed around himself. She could feel his yearning and seeking heart even through his barrier. Even if he wasn’t aware, his support and thoughtfulness last night confirmed what she already knew, making her more determined to destroy that barrier and claim every part of him.
Smiling to herself, she wriggled into her sweater, noticing his faint scent on it, and reached for her phone.
****
After finishing most of his personal paperwork, Stefan whistled his favorite tune as he walked out the door on his way to the station. When he approached the control room, his sunny disposition disappeared. The backup CD players were haphazardly stacked on the counter next to Cody and the computer screen was dark. Synn perched on the guest chair across the counter from Cody, filing her long red fingernails. God, this is the last thing I need. She sure as hell better be leaving with Cody.
“Morning, everyone,” Stefan said cheerfully as he glanced at the play logs scattered all over. He flashed a quick smile. “What’s wrong, Cody?”
His jaw clinched, Cody jerked his hand toward the blank monitor. “Damn computer system just quit, so there is no programing. Pulled out the reliable backup CD players but can’t find the damn CDs.”
Synn sauntered across the floor and stood next to Stefan, reaching her hand out to stroke lightly up and down his arm. He merely gave her an icy stare and roughly brushed her hand aside. Standing beside the control room door, he motioned her out the door. “Only jocks allowed in here. If you have production to do, better get it done, otherwise leave. No one allowed in the station after midnight except authorized personnel.”
Synn straightened, jutting out her chin. She tossed her head defiantly and flounced out the door. “I’ll get authorization.”
“You do that.” Stefan crossed to the cabinet standing just outside the control room and unlocked it, throwing both doors wide open. “Pick your poison, Cody. Remember Russ told us they’d put the CDs in here under lock and key so they wouldn’t walk off after we converted?”
Color rose in Cody’s cheeks as Stefan tossed him a couple CDs, and he loaded them in the players. “If I’d remembered, I wouldn’t have asked,” Cody said sarcastically. “Thanks. I should’ve simply called you.”
“I’d really rather you didn’t. I do have a life of my own now and don’t care for interruptions. But it looks like your mind and bod…ah…was otherwise engaged.” Stefan winked at him and grinned. “Have an interest in the station’s newest employee?”
“Yeah, I wish. All she wants to do is talk about you. I told her you were not available. Then she asked about Brandy.”
Stefan stiffened and snarled, “What did you tell her?”
“Oh, relax, stud. I told her that was none of her business and changed the subject back to me. For all the good it did.” He waved his hand in the air as if to wave the whole thing away.
“Look, I don’t mean to be difficult.” Stefan raked his fingers though his hair. “I don’t care what you do, but if she’s here with you, she needs to be gone long before I come in. Okay?”
“I got your back. No problem.” Cody raised his eyebrow in question, but didn’t say anything more.
Stefan’s phone vibrated in his back pocket. He yanked it out, groaning, and checked the screen. His lips curved into a smile, and he flipped it open. “Hiya, Sleeping Beauty, awaken without your prince?”
Brandy giggled. “Sure did. I really appreciate everything you did, but it’s a little chilly in here. How do I turn the heat up?”
“Oh, sorry. The thermostat is behind the entertainment center to the left. Just flip the switch to heat. It’s set at seventy from the last time you were there. It’ll warm up quickly. If not, there’s wood set up in the fireplace. Toss a match in the crumpled-up newspaper below the logs, and you should have a roaring blaze in no time. By the way, I picked up your car this afternoon. Didn’t think it was a good idea to leave it there. Thought we’d run by your house today when I get off, if you’re up to it?”
“Sure, I’ll be ready.” Brandy’s voice held a note of concern. “Stefan, is everything all right? You sound kinda tense.”
“Fine,” he snapped, his voice sharper than he’d intended. “Just computer problems at the station. Nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.” Brandy paused for a couple beats. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Synn left with Cody, under protest, and the rest of the night crawled by. Synn is going to be a problem. He wasn’t sure what her deal was but sensed the attraction she was displaying to him wasn’t genuine. He’d tried to read her thoughts, but she’d blocked him before he got more than a feeling, and that was unusual. There were few human thoughts he couldn’t read. Now, Brandy was another story. She allowed him in on occasion, but usually just shadows of her thoughts were available to him. It wasn’t intentional. Seemed more an unconscious effort on her part.
The remainder of his shift was uneventful. He prepared the incoming DJ’s first hour of music and was ready to bolt when Russ arrived.
Stefan snuck in the door to the cabin and saw Brandy standing in front of the roaring fire. Soundlessly, he crept up, caught her around the waist, and pulled her to him. His cool breath behind her ear made her shiver as his lips brushed the base of her neck. “Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured.
“Good morning to you,” she purred, turning around to face him. “Did you have a good night?” Her gaze was as soft as a caress and set his mouth to watering.
“I did.” He brushed aside his suspicions regarding Synn for now. Brandy had enough to worry about with her house and the ongoing investigation. The subject of Synn could wait until another time. He grabbed Brandy’s jacket and nodded toward the door. “Let’s get this over with, then come back here and enjoy a quiet evening together.”
****
“Sounds perfect.” It was too easy to get lost in the way he looked at her. Brandy slid her arm into the jacket he held out and followed him out the door.
He opened the truck door, grasped her around the waist, and lifted her in the truck, giving her nose a little tweak before he kissed her reassuringly. “This won’t take long.”
Growing uneasy and restless the closer they got to her house, she shifted in her seat several times, trying to dispel the feeling of foreboding. This is just plain silly. She lectured herself. I’m a grown woman with law enforcement training. Someone merely vandalized my home, nothing more. We’ll clean it up, and I can move back in tonight. She felt better with a plan.
Stefan parked in front of the house and reached for Brandy’s arm as she opened the truck door. “I want you to stay here until I check out the house.”
“I will not. It’s my house and I’m going with you.” She yanked her arm out of his hand and hurried toward the house.
He vaulted out of the truck, landing directly in front her. “You are not going in there until I have checked the place out top to bottom,” Stefan said in a dangerously quiet voice. “As you reiterated several times, this is too much like the scene in the woods to be a coincidence. A bit of caution is appropriate. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“No,” she declared, her hands fisted on her hips.
“Oh, come on, Brandy, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you’re not going into the house until I make sure it’s safe.”
Standing with arms crossed over her chest, she took another step around him.
He shrugged, grabbed her at the hips, and threw her over his shoulder.
A wave of shock flowed over her before fury set in. She kicked and pounded her fists on his broad back as he strode back to the truck.
Lowering her feet to the ground in front of the open truck door, he held her firmly by the shoulders and said calmly, “Now, if you’ll wait five minutes, I’ll be back. Then we’ll go inside together, if it’s safe. Otherwise I’ll use vampire persuasion, and you’ll stay here anyway. Your choice.”
She struggled under his grip, jerking her shoulders back and forth. Would his vampire’s thrall have an effect on her? Did she want to find out? Of course not. She conceded, attempting to reign in her temper.
“Think about it rationally. I know you’ll agree with me.” He smiled down at her, releasing his hold slightly.
If looks could kill…but she finally relaxed her stance. “Okay, I’ll give you five minutes, then I’m going in…” She looked at her watch to emphasize the point.
Stefan raised an eyebrow and gave her a hard stare. “Ten and, I’ll be right back.”
She nodded.
Because they’d sealed the house when they left, the strong stench of sulfur burst through the door when he shoved it open. She wrinkled her nose as the smell wafted through the air. Searching every room as she watched from outside, he opened all the windows and doors as he passed through.
Finished, he stepped outside, motioning her in. She had moved to the sidewalk and was talking to an older couple, pausing to glance at him as he motioned for her.
He walked out to join them as she said, “Yeah, someone broke into my house and apparently tried to start a fire. The living room rug appears burned in several places, the floor scorched, and sofa cushions ripped apart. We didn’t have a chance to see if anything was missing last night. That’s why we’re here today.” She turned. “Oh, Stefan, these are my neighbors, Janet and Max. This is my friend, Stefan. He was kind enough to take me in last night, but I’ll be back tonight.”
Stefan smiled in greeting.
“They were home all day yesterday and didn’t see anyone come in or out of my house. Strange, isn’t it?”
He reached his hand out to shake the one offered by Max and nodded in Janet’s direction. “Nice to meet you. Hope to see you again under better circumstances. Didn’t see anything, huh?”
They shook their heads with a frown. Max stared down at his hand, wiggling his fingers.
“Hope you’ll continue to keep an eye on Brandy’s house. I don’t believe it will be habitable until we get a repair crew in here. If you’ll excuse us, we’ve got an awful lot of work to do before sundown.” He smiled graciously at the couple and placed his hand on the small of Brandy’s back, guiding her toward the house.
She whirled around, teeth bared, and hissed, “What do you mean? I plan to get this place cleaned up and bring my things back later tonight.”
Stefan glanced behind them as Janet and Max walked back to their house. Brandy followed his gaze, her lips pursed.
Keeping his voice low, he said, “Well, first of all, the place is going to need to be professionally cleaned, new carpet installed, and minor repairs completed before you can stay here. With your permission, I’ll make those arrangements. Second, as you stated yourself, this is way too close to the earlier scene to be a coincidence. I don’t want to scare you, but finding your body in pieces next time I stop by would really piss me off.”
Stefan stepped through the doorway first and put his arms around her, drawing her close even as she fought against his hold.
The corners of her mouth finally turned up in spite of herself. “I guess you have a point, but I’m moving back in as soon as all that’s done.” She finally relented and leaned against him for a moment, feeling safe and enjoying his strong arms around her.
“Sure,” he said a little too quickly.
They spent the rest of the afternoon sweeping up the debris, wiping down the walls, and taking the broken furniture to the dump and another load of her stuff to his cabin. On the way back, he paused at a stoplight and looked over at her. “Hungry?”
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“You should eat something.” He pulled into a fast-food drive-through and ordered a burger, fries, and chocolate shake. “Don’t want you starving to death on my watch.” Stefan grinned and handed the food to her, pulling into a parking space.
To her surprise, the delicious aromas made her mouth water when she opened the bag. She took a big bite of the burger and chewed slowly.
“I’m going to call a professional cleaner that advertises on the station, then call a contractor Russ recommended. Maybe they can meet me at the house tomorrow at first light.”
Brandy agreed he should oversee the work himself since he was off during the day and he didn’t want her anywhere near the house.
Once they returned to the cabin, he built a warm, crackling fire and sat down on the couch, patting the place beside him. “Have a seat.”
She walked over and settled in next to him with her legs tucked up under her, glad to be back at his cabin. “Play for me, please.”
“You read my mind.” Smiling, he reached for his guitar, shifting on the couch to face her. His fingers strummed across the strings, teasing out the melody of the latest song he was working on. He cocked his head and frowned, listening to the song. “This doesn’t sound right.” Stefan walked to the hall closet and took out a large hard-shell guitar case. “I think this part of the song needs a fuller sound. See what you think of the twelve-string rather than the six.” He returned to the couch and ran his thumb across the strings, twisting the tuning pegs until he brought them into tune, then played the song again.
Brandy leaned her head against the couch and closed her eyes, listening. “You’re right. That sound fits the song much better. Do you play other instruments?”
“Keyboards. They’re set up in the corner of my office next to the computer. I use them sometimes to finish the song after working out the basics on my guitar.” He played several more tunes before the tension of the day began to fade away. Brandy’s tight, drawn lips relaxed into a slight smile. Stefan put the guitar away and gathered her in his arms.
Resting back against the couch, he slid an arm around her shoulders as he curled a soft strand of her red hair around his fingers. “Rough day, huh?”
Without opening her eyes, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, “Uh-huh, but what a wonderful way to end it.”
“Why don’t you hop in the shower while I tend to a few loose ends in the office? I’d like to get you settled before I head into work. When I leave this time, I’ll turn the security system on. You can move around anywhere inside, but it will go off if any of the doors or windows are breached, notifying the local authorities and me. I didn’t set it last night because I was afraid you’d go outside or open a window and set it off, being unaware it was on.”
“I have a sunrise hike tomorrow, so show me how to disarm it. I may be gone by the time you return.” She glanced at the alarm panel.
He frowned, narrowing his eyes. “Do you think that is a good idea?”
“I have a job and I want to keep it.”
The muscle in his jaw twitched as he clinched his mouth shut. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and reached for a pen and pad, scribbled a set of numbers on the paper, then demonstrated disarming the security system. “Please check in with me when you leave. I’ll see you after you get off.”
“You got it.”