“Nice work, Ember,” Aimee said. “Tell me, Alec. How does it feel to watch Ember enjoying herself?”
Alec gave me a cursory glance. “I take great pleasure in it.”
“Then why not join her?” Aimee asked. “You can see she’s having fun, yet you can’t seem to lift up your feet.”
“Is this how counseling works?” Alec asked. “You criticize one party in an effort to make them do your bidding?”
Aimee smiled. “Is that what you think is happening right now?”
Alec observed me on the swing. “To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what’s happening right now.”
Aimee punched the air. “Honesty, that’s a fantastic start! So how long have you two been together?” She crossed her ankles and made herself comfortable.
“We’ve actually just started dating,” I admitted. “We’ve known each other for a while though.” I found the swing to be every bit as relaxing as Aimee suggested.
“I see,” Aimee replied. “And you’re trying to start off the relationship on the right foot?”
“Something like that,” I said. “Alec has been…somewhat emotionally unavailable.”
The vampire’s cheek pulsed. “Miss Rose…Ember was dating someone else.”
I jerked toward him, red-faced. “So were you!”
“And were you involved with each other during those relationships?” Aimee asked. She held up her hands. “This is a judgment free zone, by the way. So if you were exchanging love blossoms behind your partners’ backs, you can tell me.”
“No,” I said automatically. And a big fat no to love blossoms, whatever that euphemism was supposed to mean. I’d deny it based on my rejection of the expression alone.
“We were not involved in any identifiable way,” Alec replied.
I looked at him as my swing swished past him. “That sounds like a lawyer’s answer.” I faced Aimee. “We work together. I guess we were involved in that regard.”
“That’s not what I’m referring to,” Alec said.
Aimee smiled encouragingly. “Go on then, Alec. Tell us what you mean.” She opened her arms wide. “Remember, these four walls represent the safe zone.”
Dear God. If she jumped up and started doing the safety dance, I was running for the hills.
Alec shifted uncomfortably on his swing. “Even during my time with Holly, I thought often of Ember.” He paused to adjust his cufflinks. “Far too often, in fact. I couldn’t escape her influence.”
I barked a short laugh. “Influence? How did I influence you?”
Aimee shot me a reproachful look. “Let him speak, Ember. He’s expressing himself. That’s what we want.”
I pretended to zip my lip. I was finding it hard to have a third party in the middle of this conversation, although I knew she was here to facilitate said conversation. Aimee was right—the goal was for Alec to communicate, so I needed to be quiet and let the vampire talk. At least I could swing in the meantime.
“It was quite obvious that I had, and continue to have, strong feelings for Ember,” Alec continued.
Aimee gave an exaggerated nod to show she was listening. “And what prevented you from expressing or acting on those feelings?”
“My relationship with Holly,” Alec said.
“So you met Ember when you were already with Holly?” Aimee asked.
Alec hesitated. “No.”
“Then what about before Holly?” Aimee asked. “What prevented you from pursuing a relationship with Ember then?” She looked at me. “Were you with your boyfriend?” She inclined her head. “What’s his name?”
“Granger,” I said. No need to call him the sheriff, even in the ‘safe zone.’ “No, I wasn’t with Granger when Alec and I met.”
“Her aunt owns my newspaper, so I am technically in her employ,” Alec said.
“My aunt is very powerful,” I said. “And opinionated. She wants me to marry within the coven.”
“And she will most certainly blame me for luring Ember away from that plan,” Alec said.
Aimee leaned back in her chair. “So you avoided your feelings because Ember’s aunt might disapprove?”
“Yes,” Alec said in a crisp tone.
“No,” Aimee replied.
“No?” I repeated. “You don’t think she’d disapprove? Ha! You don’t know my aunt. Her type of disapproval makes Gengis Khan look like Santa Claus.”
Aimee kept her focus on Alec. “He’s a vampire, one who’s been around for a long time. He didn’t avoid his feelings for you because of a witch, no matter how powerful and vengeful.”
Alec slid the sole of his shoe back and forth on the floor. Not quite swinging but there was movement. “Then what are you suggesting?”
Aimee’s broad smile returned. “That’s what we’re going to explore in the safe zone.”
I slowed my swing. The rush was starting to make me dizzy. “Alec had a difficult relationship with a fairy.” I opted not to mention Tatiana’s murder. That wasn’t the point of raising the subject.
“And do you think this difficulty may have had an adverse effect on Alec’s attitude toward relationships?” Aimee asked.
I shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him.”
Aimee winked. “Good thing he’s right here.”
“Tatiana certainly eroded my trust,” Alec offered. “She could also be cruel at times. You would say something personal…reveal a bit of yourself…and she’d find a way to use it against you later.”
“Wow. I guess that made you clam up, huh?” Aimee said. “I sure wouldn’t feel great about sharing with someone like that.”
“She was manipulative,” Alec continued. “She used magic to influence those in her sphere.” He shook his head. “I had no interest in relationships after that.”
“Until you met Holly,” Aimee said.
“No, until I met Ember,” he clarified.
“I see.” Aimee scribbled a few notes.
“What are you writing?” I asked. I hopped off the swing and tried to peer at the notepad. Aimee snatched it up and held it against her chest.
“There’s no need for you to see my notes,” Aimee said. “They’re for me.”
“So what? You’re making a grocery list while we’re pouring our hearts out to you?” I said.
“No, of course not.” Aimee looked at me askance. “I’m making notes so I can properly assess the situation and prepare for our next session.”
Alec reached forward and patted my arm. “It’s fine, Ember. Let her have her notes.” I moved back to the swing.
“So you had an interest in dating Ember when you met her?” Aimee asked.
“Yes, a very strong desire,” Alec said. “I felt drawn to her immediately.”
“Same,” I said. “I mean, I found him a little scary, having never met a vampire before, but it was like there was a neon sign flashing above his head with an arrow.”
“And what did that signify to you?” Aimee asked. “The flashing sign?”
“The universe was telling me that he’s the guy I’ve been looking for,” I said.
“So you were looking to meet someone?” Aimee asked.
“Not exactly,” I said. “I’d already been married and I hadn’t really been interested in dating since Karl died.”
“Karl was your husband?”
“Yes,” I said. “He’s the father of my daughter, Marley.”
“And how old is Marley?” Aimee asked.
“Eleven,” I replied. I couldn’t help but smile when I talked about her. “She just came into her magic, so it’s been an exciting time at our place.”
Aimee smiled back at me. “I can imagine.” She shifted her focus to Alec. “Did the fact that Ember has a child by another man give you pause?”
“Certainly not,” Alec said. “Marley is an absolute treasure.”
Aimee held up her hands. “I have to ask. Not all males are comfortable in that situation.”
“Marley adores Alec,” I said. “She’s
been rooting for us this whole time.”
“And what is it about Marley that you like, Alec?” Aimee asked. “Vampires like yourself aren’t exactly known for bonding with human children.” She paused. “Magical or otherwise.”
Alec pondered the question. “Her innocence, I suppose. The fact she’s Ember’s daughter. Her love of books.”
“You like books, too?” Aimee asked.
“He writes them,” I said.
“Which genre?” Aimee asked.
“Fantasy,” Alec replied.
“I see.” Aimee scribbled more notes.
“What do you see?” I asked. “Share with the class.”
Aimee set down her pen and addressed me. “That someone who is uncommunicative, avoidant, and emotionally unavailable chooses to spend much of his time in a fantasy world.” She brightened. “I can certainly see why you’re here.”
Alec stiffened. “I simply enjoy creating worlds of my own.”
“Worlds where you can dwell and not deal with reality,” Aimee said. “Worlds where you control everything that happens and you’re not risking anything. Got it.”
Wow. That was some quick insight on Aimee’s part. “I’ve read some of his books,” I said. “They’re very good.”
“I’m sure they are,” Aimee said. “He wants to spend time somewhere that he enjoys and is comfortable. He’s not going to build a garbage world.”
I snickered. Raoul would be all over a story about a garbage world.
“Our goal is to explore why you’ve chosen these defense mechanisms or what we also call coping skills.”
“If they’re coping skills, isn’t that a good thing?” I asked.
“Not when they’re unhealthy,” Aimee said. “If Alec isn’t communicating or engaging with the important players in his undead life, then it’s a problem.”
“My stories are a matter of creative expression,” Alec said. “I’m not hiding in them.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked. “You wrote a character based on me, didn’t you? Instead of having a relationship with real me, your hero had a relationship with fictional me. I mean, she was awesome—don’t get me wrong—but you focused on her because it was easier.” I looked at Aimee. “Am I right?”
“Do you often feel the need to be right?” Aimee asked.
Alec half smiled. “She prefers it to being wrong.”
“We’ll have to explore that another time because I’m afraid our session is over.” Aimee tilted her head at Alec. “Maybe next time you could swing just a little bit? I think it will relax you.”
“It’ll take a lot more than a swing and a cheerful attitude to relax this guy,” I said.
She set aside her notepad. “In that case, I’ll bring my harmonica. Everybody loves a harmonica.”
I didn’t have to look at Alec to know that he was ready to bolt for the door. An orchestra. Maybe even a guitar. But there was no way a harmonica was the key to unwinding Alec.
We were barely out of the building when he took my hand. “I promise you that I am not trying to avoid counseling, but another professional is in order. It will be difficult enough to share my innermost thoughts. I must at least endeavor to retain my dignity in the process.”
“Okay,” I said.
He stopped walking and faced me. “Okay?”
“Yep.” I brought his hand to my lips and kissed it. “This will be a bumpy road for us. I want us both to be as comfortable as possible. I don’t want a sore butt, do you?”
His mouth quirked. “Depends on the reason.”
I wrenched my hand away and groaned. “Way to ruin a nice moment, Hale.”
Dana was right about one thing. Jake Goode was hot. The werewolf was in the middle of a weightlifting set when we arrived at the Body By Jake fitness center. A variety of cardio machines and weights were scattered throughout the room. Colorful fabric ribbons hung from the ceiling. I had no idea what they were used for—trapeze training? Whatever they were, they looked like the kind of fitness equipment that would kill me slowly and painfully.
“Hey, new customers,” Jake said affably. He stepped away from the weights to greet us. “Always happy to see new bodies ready for sculpting.”
Jake had a combination of Granger’s swagger, Wyatt’s cockiness, and Florian’s gorgeous looks. I could absolutely understand the attraction. So could Deputy Bolan, apparently. He seemed unusually tongue-tied from the outset.
“Hello, Mr. Good-looking,” he began and his tiny cheeks flamed. The combination of red and green made his face look like a Christmas decoration. He cleared his throat and started again. “Mr. Goode. I’m Deputy Bolan and this is my colleague, Ember Rose. Just my colleague. Nothing else. We barely like each other, if you want to know the truth.”
Jake didn’t even try to hide his amused grin. “Are you being specific for your benefit or hers?” He observed me from head to toe. “Because I’m open to suggestions.”
Great balls of…balls. The leprechaun and I would both be clutching our pearls right now had we been wearing them.
“We have a few questions,” the deputy choked out.
“Yes, I’m one hundred percent real,” Jake said. “Nothing surgical or enhanced.” He patted his impressive bare pecs.
“Um, that’s not the question,” the deputy said. “I hate to ask, but would you mind…putting a shirt on?”
Jake flexed. “Can’t handle Body by Jake?” Sweat glistened under the fey lights and I was fairly certain a drop of drool appeared in the corner of the deputy’s small, pink mouth. I had a feeling his ‘free pass’ list was going to be rearranged this week.
“We’re here to discuss a serious matter and clothes are better on than off,” the deputy said.
Jake winked. “That’s never been my experience, but whatever you say, Deputy. You’re in charge.”
Deputy Bolan puffed out his skinny chest. “Yes, I am.”
Jake bent over and pulled a black T-shirt from the bag on the floor. “What’s this serious matter? Another health and safety complaint?”
Another?
“We don’t work for the healthy and safety board,” I said.
“Good, because Martha Barr needs to get a grip,” Jake said. “That harpy is not getting communal showers here, no matter how many lies she spreads about my business.”
“She wants communal showers?” I asked.
Jake began to wipe down the fitness equipment. “She’s three-times widowed and eager to date and seems to want the showers to act as a shortcut.”
“Ew,” the deputy and I said in unison.
Jake nodded. “Yeah, and you haven’t even seen Martha.”
“Well, we’re here to talk about a different man-eater,” the deputy said. He surveyed the empty fitness center before continuing. “We’d like to know about your relationship with Tati…”
The leprechaun didn’t even finish her full name. Jake held up a hand. “What are you trying to do? Send me back to therapy? We do not speak her name out loud in Body By Jake.”
“What do you call her then?” I asked.
“Hellbeast,” Jake replied. “Or Satan’s Favorite Child. Elsa.”
“Elsa?” I repeated. “How is that on par with the other nicknames?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever seen that movie with the frozen chick?” He shivered. “Ice queen.”
“Didn’t you cheat on your fiancée with her?” I asked. He seemed awfully angry for a guy who participated in the betrayal.
Jake’s bicep bulged as he continued to wipe down the equipment and I found myself as distracted as Deputy Bolan. “Yeah, that was me. Hellbeast cost me my fiancée, my future, my respect. It was a terrible time. Took me a long time to move on.”
I nudged Deputy Bolan out of his stupor. The leprechaun snapped back to reality. “Why did you cheat if Tatiana was so horrible?” he asked.
“It’s not that simple.” Jake pressed his full lips together. He seemed reluctant to say more.
“She�
��s a gorgeous fairy,” I said, careful not to reveal the news of her death. Not yet. “It makes sense that you were attracted to her.”
Jake threw the cloth aside. “I wasn’t attracted to her. In fact, I hated her. I hated that Dana could be friends with someone like that. All she did was cause trouble. I was so relieved when she finally left town. The damage was done by then, though.” He paused and squinted at us. “Why are we talking about her anyway? What’s going on? She’s not back, is she?” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Oh gods. Please say no.”
“She returned to Starry Hollow for a brief stay,” the deputy said. “You didn’t see her?”
“No way,” Jake replied. “I’d run the opposite direction if I saw her.” He let loose a low whistle. “Dana will freak out. Ha! Good.”
“Good?” Deputy Bolan asked.
Jake’s expression hardened. “Dana treated me like garbage after she called off the wedding. She didn’t want to hear my side of the story.”
“Put yourself in her shoes,” I said. “I’m sure she was deeply upset.”
“She went into typical vampire mode,” Jake said. “I should’ve known better than to get involved with a fanger. My mother warned me, but I didn’t listen.”
“Dana is aware that Tatiana was in town,” I said. “We spoke to her.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. “When? Why?”
“Because Tatiana’s dead,” I said. “Someone killed her.”
Jake swallowed hard. “Here?”
“In her aunt’s swimming pool,” I said.
Jake laughed awkwardly. “Wouldn’t surprise me that she could enrage someone that quickly, though. If you’d ever met her, you’d understand.”
“If you hated her so much, why sleep with her?” the deputy asked.
Jake’s nostrils flared. “If I tell you this, will you promise not to tell anyone?”
“It has to be part of the investigation,” the deputy said, “but I won’t spread it around.”
Jake crossed his arms, making his biceps appear even bigger. “I didn’t cheat on purpose.”
“So you what…tripped and fell in?” Deputy Bolan asked.
“No! She used fairy magic on me. She convinced me I was in love with her.”
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