The Vampire's Mail Order Bride

She growled softly when his lips brushed the soft spot behind her ear, then pulled away suddenly. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this with a man who isn’t willing to fully commit to the possibility of love. It’s the surest way I know to get my heart broken. And you said you’d never hurt me.”

He looked her squarely in the eyes. She was wily, this one, to use his own words against him, but she was right. “Delaney, I want no one but you. And if that means someday we have to face the very difficult decision about what a future together means then…I’m willing to take that chance. Even though you know where I stand.”

“And you know where I stand.”

“I do.”

She hesitated. “So, basically, we’ve got a big fight coming up.”

He laughed softly. “Yes, I suppose we do.”

She pushed his jacket off his shoulders. “Then I guess we’d better enjoy the honeymoon phase as much as we can.”

Delaney was still asleep when Hugh planted a kiss on her temple and crawled out of her bed. He let her sleep, especially since she hadn’t gotten much of a chance to do that last night. With a grin he couldn’t shake, he showered and dressed and went downstairs for coffee.

Captain and Stanhill were already in the kitchen. Captain was eating scrambled eggs and smoked salmon off one of the good china saucers while Stanhill read his paper.

Stanhill flipped his paper down and stared at him. “You had sex.”

“Don’t be vulgar.” Hugh poured a cup of coffee. “We’re two consenting adults.”

“I was just stating a fact based on your appearance. Can’t say I’ve ever seen you glow before. But then I suppose Corette has the same effect on me.”

That took the smile off Hugh’s face. “I don’t need to hear about your exploits with your witch paramour and I’m not glowing. I’m happy.” Which wasn’t a word he’d used honestly in a long time.

“Whatever you say. I’m surprised Delaney was so willing.”

Hugh glared at his rook. “Are you implying I forced her?”

“Not at all, just that she seemed like the type to want some sort of commitment first, and we all know that’s not your style.”

Hugh sat at the table. “Maybe I’ve changed.”

Stanhill barked out a laugh. “I doubt that.” He calmed. “Are you saying you’re committing to her? That marriage is on the table?” He sat up a little. “That you would turn her?”

Hugh bought some time by drinking his coffee. “We’ve agreed to have that discussion when the time comes.”

“Well, you have made progress.”

Hugh watched Captain. The cat was not a delicate eater. “Speaking of progress, when did the cat start eating off the Wedgwood?”

Stanhill flipped his paper back up. “You’d better not break her heart.”

Hugh sighed and drank his coffee. He would never intentionally hurt Delaney, but he still couldn’t see agreeing to turn her into a vampire. If it came to that.

Three rapid knocks sounded on the front door.

Stanhill put the paper down. “I’ll get it.”

He returned a moment later with Sheriff Merrow in tow. “Coffee, Sheriff?”

“Sure.” He took a seat at the table across from Hugh. “Did some digging on Delaney’s boss.”

Hugh nodded. “And?”

“He’s bad news. Racketeering, tax evasion, money laundering…and at least two suspected murders for hire, but they haven’t been able to nail him on anything. He’s like John Gotti, a real Teflon Don.”

Hugh’s gut clenched at the thought of a villain like that after Delaney. “Damn. She could very well be in danger then.”

Stanhill put a cup of coffee in front of the sheriff. Concern bent Stanhill’s brows, but he said nothing.

Merrow nodded. “If this guy finds out where she is, yes.” Merrow shook his head. “I don’t want to cause panic, but Bridget had a couple of out-of-towners at the bar last night and—”

“You told Bridget?” Merrow’s sister, Bridget, ran Howlers, a very popular local dive bar. The name was rather tongue in cheek seeing as how she, like both her brothers, was a werewolf, but the place was a Nocturne Falls landmark.

“I wanted her to be on the lookout since she gets a lot of traffic.” He drank his coffee. “Like I was saying, she had a couple of fellows in last night from New York. They paid cash, so she didn’t even get names.”

Hugh frowned. “I’d imagine New Yorkers aren’t that uncommon.” He also didn’t want to cause Delaney any unnecessary stress.

“No, but these guys were asking if there were a lot of other New Yorkers in town. Where they hung out. Where was the best place to catch a Yankees game on TV.”

Warning bells went off in Hugh’s head. “You think they were looking for Delaney?”

Merrow shrugged. “Don’t know, but it’s worth keeping an eye on them. I’ve asked Bridget to look through her security cams and see if she can find clear pictures of them. Just in case. Either way, thought you should be aware of this possible situation.”

The thought of Delaney in trouble made him want to chew nails. “I can protect her.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Merrow said. “I also don’t really want to do the paperwork on a double homicide.”

“I promised her we’d go to the Panic Parade.”