by Victoria Zak
Charlee, he’s just a man. You can handle him.
On the kitchen table, Charlee set down a vase and quickly arranged the roses. Before returning to her guest, she ran her fingers through her hair and fidgeted with the straps on her dress. She inhaled, trying to calm herself as she made her way back to Mace.
He had her jacket, offering to help her into it. She smiled and accepted his offer.
“Shall we?” Mace motioned toward the door.
Like a true gentleman, he opened the passenger door to his steel-blue Aston Martin, inviting her into his domain equipped with black leather trappings, and smelling every bit of two hundred grand.
As Mace sank down into the driver’s seat, his shoulder brushed again hers making her completely aware of how close they were. From the corner of her eye she noticed him looking at her thighs. Her body heated under his smolder. This man is dangerous.
“May I say, you look rather divine tonight.” He took another glance at her legs.
Seductively, she crossed them, and covered her thigh. Calm and confident, she tipped his chin, bringing his eyes back on hers. “Mace, it’s not nice to stare. If you can’t treat me like a lady, this date is over.”
“You’re right. From here on out I promise to be good.” He started the ignition and drove down the winding gravel road.
The conversation during dinner was interesting, if you wanted to know which buildings he owned in downtown Diablo. She got the point he was a wealthy man after the fifth law firm had been mentioned. Charlee picked at a carrot in her salad as her thoughts drifted elsewhere—RC Reid. She wondered where he was tonight and if he was staying out of trouble. She wished it was her cowboy sitting across from her, telling her how much he missed her; making plans for the future.
The ambiance was stunning; she’d never dined on top of a high rise before. Twinkling lights lined the roof’s edge, and glowed softly against the night sky. A gentle breeze blew through the private alcove where they sat, flickering the candle flames as they ate their dinner salads, finally uninterrupted by the wait staff. Charlee found it rather excessive for five people to be waiting on them.
Mace sipped his Merlot, eyeing Charlee from over the brim of the wine glass. “You don’t like carrots?”
She laid down her fork. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Is there something you want to talk about?” He set the wine glass down and gave her his full attention.
Charlee didn’t know where to start or how much to tell. She kept her troubles to herself, but there he was again being sincere. “I don’t want to burden you with my problems. Things always have a way of working out.” She picked up her fork and began eating, then she noticed he hadn’t touched his salad. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Mace smirked, apparently amused by her comment. “Charlee, I have an offer for you that I think will help you in your situation.” He reached inside his suit pocket and pulled out a folded set of papers. “I want to buy your ranch.” He flattened the papers on the table. “I’m willing to pay triple what it’s worth.”
Triple! Charlee coughed, choking on a crouton. She grabbed a glass of water and drank.
“Are you alright?” Mace began to stand.
She waved her hand for him to sit down. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “That’s very generous of you, but I can’t accept.”
“And why not?” Mace sounded perturbed that his offer had been so quickly refused.
“My gran left the ranch to me when she passed away. It’s where I grew up and all I have left. It’s my home.” Charlee looked down into her lap. It was all she had left worth fighting for.
Mace reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m trying to help. Look, I’m not going to act like I knew your Gran, but would she want you to suffer just to keep the ranch?” He circled her wrist with his thumb. “What would she think if she knew you were stripping to keep out of foreclosure?”
Charlee arched a brow and her heart sunk. How did he know she was a stripper? She hadn’t shared that intimate piece of information with him. Slowly she glided her hand away from his grip.
“There comes a time when you have to do what’s right for you. With the money I’m offering you’ll be well set for the rest of your life.”
“Wait, how do you know I’m a stripper?” Charlee reluctantly asked.
He leaned back and crossed his legs. “I know everything that happens in Diablo. I am the heart and soul of Diablo, Texas, sweetheart.”
10
RC was going out of his damn mind. The rhythmic sound of the tennis ball bouncing off the wall did nothing to soothe his nerves. Thud after thud, he whipped that yellow fucker harder with each throw. Nothing. Stuck in lockdown at the Cowboys’ compound, all he could think about was Charlee: her dancing, in his bed, her icy glare before she left with Kit. Fuck! Showing no mercy, he flung the ball faster.
He’d begged Clay for the keys to his truck. When Clay didn’t budge, he’d turned the place upside down looking for them but it was useless; they were on lockdown and he wasn’t getting out of there anytime soon. When begging didn’t work, he’d checked in with Kit, and hovered over his shoulder, watching the surveillance monitors dedicated to Charlee’s house. Kit eventually kicked his ass out for excessive badgering, complaining that he couldn’t do his job with him breathing down his neck. Two days had passed, and there were no leads on the gunmen. RC’s jaw clenched thinking about the fuckers.
“If you don’t stop throwing that fucking ball, I’m going to hog tie your ass.” Tibbs shuffled out of his bedroom and into the kitchen, wearing nothing but boxer briefs.
RC ignored the Cowboy.
“Damn it.” Tibbs stepped between RC and the wall, catching the ball.
“What the hell?” RC shot up.
“Uptight much?” Tibbs squeezed the ball so hard it popped, then threw it on the floor.
RC ran his hands through his hair. “I’m going insane. I should be with Charlee. She’s in danger, I feel it.”
“Nah, Kit has her wired up good.” Tibbs headed back into the kitchen, scratching his ass. “Cereal?”
“I’m good.”
For a moment he admired Tibbs. The Cowboy worried about nothing. For once he wished he could be as free, but he wasn’t, and he didn’t trust that security system to keep his Charlee girl safe. The only thing that could ensure her wellbeing was himself.
Tibbs sat down next to him. “I wish I had a good girl to come home to.” He handed RC his truck keys. “Go get your girl.”
RC glanced at Tibbs, surprised. “But—”
Tibbs waved him on as he munched on a mouthful of corn flakes. “If anyone asks, I haven’t seen you all morning.”
RC took the keys and stood.
Tibbs rested his feet on the table, flipping through the cable channels. “Oh, you have about ten minutes before Clay gets back from the gym. I can only stall him for so long.”
With that said, RC grabbed his cowboy hat and rope, and left the compound, praying he’d stay clear of Clay.
She’s not home. RC pulled the keys out of the ignition. It was after ten PM and Charlee’s vehicle wasn’t in the driveway. “Where could she be?”
He got out and headed to the white, two-story farmhouse. Time had weathered the exterior paint, but the soft pink front door was still inviting like he remembered. How many kisses had he stolen from Charlee at the door? He missed those days so much.
RC took his time making his way to the front porch, taking in all the memories he’d left behind. Two wooden rocking chairs sat to the left of the door, creaking with the light breeze. He remembered Gran sitting on one of the rocking chairs, waiting for him to bring Charlee home after their dates. And if they were late, Gran would give RC a piece of her mind, but a hug always followed. If it hadn’t been for the old woman’s love, he would have been a real hellion.
RC peeked inside the closest window. It was dark.
“So, when
did RC Reid become a peeping tom?”
He froze. Shit. Charlee was standing on the bottom step of the porch with her hands on her hips, staring him down with those bright blue eyes.
“If you want to come inside, all you have to do is ask.” Charlee walked up the steps to the front door and unlocked it. When RC didn’t make a move, she looked at him. “You comin’?”
“Um. Yes, ma’am.”
As soon as RC walked inside, Hank’s ears perked up and the dog ran to him.
“Hank!” RC bent down and was greeted by wet kisses. Hank jumped in his lap, almost causing RC to fall over. “I can’t believe you’re still alive, ol’ boy.” He scratched his belly.
“When your momma sold her place, Hank wouldn’t leave. So I took him in,” Charlee said from the kitchen.
“Figures. She’d sell her soul if the price was right. We didn’t have much, but damn she could have at least kept our home.” He stood, adjusting his hat.
Charlee walked into the living room and handed him a beer. “She didn’t have anyone to pass the property to, RC. She thought you were dead.”
Everyone believed he was buried six feet under. “Thanks for saving Hank.”
“He’s a good boy.” Charlee smiled at the dog who was happier than a pig in shit, wagging his tail.
Not much had changed in Charlee’s house. The floral couch where Charlee and he’d made out as teenagers still sat in the same place. He imagined the fire crackling and seeing her naked silhouette. It all came rushing back to him as if it were yesterday. Damn, what he wouldn’t do to go back in time, to be inside her again.
But things had changed between them. Charlee was so different, but familiar at the same time. If that made any damn sense.
“Charlee, we need to talk, sweetheart.”
“I’m all ears.” She wrapped her lips around the beer bottle and took a long pull.
Damn, this woman was already digging his grave. He watched her neck as she swallowed and imagined himself placing kisses below her ear. Her hair was curled in long strands cascading over her bare shoulders. His eyes traveled down her floral sundress. He itched to rip the silk off her body and have those long, tanned legs wrapped around his waist. How was he supposed to think clearly when his cock was doing the thinking for him? Wait, why was she in a dress and out late?
His brows creased. “Where were you tonight?”
Charlee rolled her eyes. “If you must know I was out on a date.”
“A date?”
“Look, I’m tired. Get to the point. Why are you here?”
It was time to fess up and tell her everything about the break up and his fatal last bull ride. She wasn’t the only one who had changed. Breaking her heart all over again could very well be the death of him.
He had to tread softly here; one wrong word and she’d throw his ass out faster than fuck. “Charlee, I’ve changed.”
“If this is another lame ass excuse to make you feel better for leaving and lying to me again, I’ve already been there, so don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split ya on the way out.”
RC grabbed her arm before she could walk away. He pulled her close and growled in her ear, “It’s not like that. Please, give me a chance to explain. If you want to throw me out after, then do it. I’ll never bother you again.”
She slipped out of his grip and crossed her arms. “Fine. My bullshit radar is charged and ready.”
“Fair enough,” he agreed. “Sit.” He gestured at the sofa.
“I’d rather not.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Fine.” RC sat down, resting his elbows on his thighs. “It’s true, something has changed me. I’m no longer the person you once knew. That night at the rodeo, I died. The bull rider you knew, the one who was fighting his way through his rookie year to make it to the championship to win the million-dollar prize money is long gone. He died right there in that arena trying to make something of himself so his girl would be proud to call him her husband. He did everything for you. What he didn’t know, was that he’d run out of time before he could tell you he was a damn fool for letting you go.” RC glanced at Charlee. “I only wanted the best for you, Charlee. I didn’t want you to give up your dreams to chase mine. I mean yes, I wanted you with me, but you had a chance to go to college and become something.”
“RC…”
“No.” He rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans. “Let me finish. There’s a part of me that I didn’t know existed until that night. The signs were there, but I didn’t know to look for them.” He sucked in a deep breath; there was no holding back. “This is going to sound crazy, sweetheart.” He took a deep breath, holding it hostage in his lungs as he held her gaze, then forced the words from his lips. “I’m a half-breed, a dhampir. I’m part human, part vampire.”
He expected Charlee to bust out laughing and call bullshit, but she just sat there, silent and emotionless. The poor girl was in shock.
“It’s more complicated than even I know, but my father was a vampire and maw was human. I know! It’s crazy, but that’s how it works with dhampirs.” RC shrugged his shoulders. “RC Reid died in that arena, Charlee. What’s left, what you see in front of you, it’s still me, but different. I’ve spent the last two years in training, like boot camp, learning how to deal with all this and how to protect our kind from extermination.”
Charlee’s eyes grew wide. Finally, a response.
“It’s a long, complicated story. Bottom line, I never intended to hurt you, Charlee girl. The more I wanted to provide for you, the harder I failed.”
RC’s heart was ready to plummet out of his chest if she didn’t say something soon. The anticipation was eating him alive. “I know this is a lot to take in, but I couldn’t go another day without telling you. Please, baby, say something. Hit me. Hell, kick me in the balls. Throw my ass out. Do something.”
Charlee took a step back. “I can’t believe it. I finally have you back and you’ve lost your damn mind.” She took another step back, keeping a watchful eye on him until she bumped into the coffee table. Taking her eyes off him for a brief second, she reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone.
“Hey Siri,” she spoke into her phone.
“I’m listening…” the device replied.
“What are you doing, Charlee?” RC questioned her odd behavior.
“Number for Diablo county mental health crisis hotline.”
RC bolted from the couch and grabbed the cell out of Charlee’s hands. He pulled her close; her body was trembling. “I’m not insane. I’m telling you the truth. Not even I could make this shit up.” He glared down into her blue depths. “I’m still me.”
“RC, I don’t know what to believe anymore. One day you’re dead, the next alive and now you think you’re a freaking vampire.”
He flashed her his fangs and all disbelief melted from her face. She lifted his lip and gasped. “Vampire?”
He’d expected her to doubt him. Words are only words. Showing her that he was the same cowboy she’d fallen in love with was the only way to reach her.
“Believe in me.” He snaked his hand around to the small of her back, capturing her body against his. He dipped down and slid his tongue past her lips, commanding her to kiss him. Her lips were soft just like he remembered. Surprised she’d opened up, he deepened the kiss as she melted against him. She quivered underneath his touch and he grinned in satisfaction that his plan was working. Hell yeah, he’d missed his Charlee girl.
“Okay, I’ve found one location for Diablo crisis hotline. Is that the one you want?” A robotic voice came from Charlee’s phone.
RC threw the damn thing on the couch while he continued to show his girl how much he’d missed her. He grabbed her ass, grinding his hardened dick into her stomach.
She placed her hand on his chest, breaking the kiss. “Hold up, cowboy,” she said, out of breath. “We need to talk.”
She led him to the couch where they sat side by side.
She removed his cowboy hat and set it on the coffee table. “Russel, all I ever wanted was this.” Her hand moved over his heart. “I never asked for a big house or fancy things. All I ever wanted was you.” RC swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “You have always been enough for me.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Even now, knowing what I am?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “You should be afraid of me. I’m a monster.”
“I know, but you’re the boy I fell in love with. Whatever happens, I’ll be right by your side. I love you.”
RC took her lips in a soft kiss, but his need was quickly building into a burning hunger. “Christ, I’ve missed you,” he breathed heavily between kisses.
He moved his hands up her thighs as she lay back on the couch. They kissed each other like they were love-struck, hormones-racing teens again. He positioned his broad body between her legs and a jolt hit his upper jaw when she wrapped her legs around him. He felt her heat and his fangs extended, elongating to a sharp point. Fuck! His arousal was going to cause him more harm than good. Charlee couldn’t see him like this; it was too soon.
Before he did something stupid, like sink his teeth into her delicate skin, he buried his face into a pillow behind Charlee’s head. God, he’d missed her touch, her hands threading through his hair, her nails raking against his scalp. His frustration only deepened when she left a fiery trail of kisses down his neck.
“What’s wrong?” Charlee asked.
Once his fangs retracted, RC pushed up, resting his weight on his hands. “You want to go for a drive?”
Charlee arched a brow. “I think that’s a good idea.”
He helped her off the couch and adjusted his Wranglers. He needed to put some air between them. Things were heating up too quickly. Grabbing his hat, he followed Charlee out the front door.
RC drove down the winding road between what had once been his home, and Charlee’s. The moon was shining bright. The night air, fresh and cool, blew in through the open windows, and he had Charlee snuggled up under his arm—nothing could be more perfect.
