Blood of the Innocent

by Cheryel Hutton

  He shifted in his seat. Why had he agreed to come to a place called The Diva Room? Across the table, Spencer was looking uncomfortable too. Joe bit back a smile, if he could tell that poker-faced Guardian was out of his element, the man must be miserable.

  “Relax,” Veronica said. “This will be fun.”

  “I’ve heard of these clubs, but I’ve never been to one.” Mike said. “I’ve always wondered what they were really like.”

  Joe turned to look at his buddy, who somehow had managed to land in a seat between Veronica and Charlene. “Maybe Tim will give you some tips on makeup and stuff.”

  Mike grinned. “That might be fun.”

  “Lyndsy would be so proud.”

  “Maybe she’ll go shopping with me.”

  Charlene rolled her eyes. “Tim’s a fantastic performer. It’ll be great, you’ll see.”

  Joe wondered what other kinds of crazy stuff he’d do for love. Then he looked at Veronica, and decided there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

  The show began, and the first performer took the stage dressed in a shiny pink evening gown, shoes with heels that could be used to kill, and enough jewelry to blind a guy if the light was right. Joe knew there was a man under all the flash and makeup, but without prior knowledge, it would be hard to tell.

  The guy launched into a decent rendition of an old Barbra Streisand song, and Joe decided to sit back and try not to be too freaked out by the whole thing.

  Veronica knew Joe was not thrilled about being at the club, neither was Spencer for that matter, but she was grateful they had agreed to come with her. She knew it might be a while before they could all be together again.

  Beside her, Charlene bounced in her seat. It was good to see her sister enjoying herself.

  “We should have invited Mom,” Charlene whispered.

  She turned to stare at her sister. “Why would you want to do that?”

  Charlene giggled. “To see her reaction.”

  Veronica turned back to the performer, who was just finishing up. As she applauded, she pictured her mother’s reaction to these talented human men dressing and acting like beautiful, talented women. By the time the next act came on stage, she was fighting the urge to laugh.

  “See,” Charlene whispered. “It would be hilarious.”

  “You’re bad.”

  “Yep.”

  Veronica turned back to the show with a new appreciation for her sister’s sense of humor.

  A “Judy Garland,” performed, then a “Marilyn Monroe,” a “Julie Andrews,” a “Cher,” and a “Madonna.” All talented and beautiful.

  Then came the part they’d all been waiting for. Tim, performing as T-Spot, took the stage.

  He was dressed in a rich blue gown with fitted sleeves and a full skirt. Completing the outfit was matching wrap and elbow-length white gloves. He had on a long, black wig pulled back into a perfect up-do.

  “Tonight I’m channeling Maria Callas,” Tim announced. “I’m singing her version of the aria “Un Bel Di Vedremo” from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.”

  Veronica gasped when he started singing. She’d known Tim for over a year, had seen him perform, but she had no idea the man could do opera.

  “What a voice!” Charlene whispered. Murmured agreement came not only from their group, but from surrounding tables.

  “She’s incredible,” someone from across the room said. Veronica had to agree.

  When he finished, there was a roar and the crowd came to their feet almost as one.

  Tim was wiping tears when Veronica dashed to the stage to give him the dozen red roses she’d bought. He hugged her, and his trembling vibrated through her. “I can’t believe this,” he whispered.

  “Believe it.” She kissed his cheek before heading back to her seat.

  ****

  Not quite three hours later, Veronica and Joe met the other three in the park at the center of Lobster Cove. Normally the area would be deserted at almost one in the morning, but the Harvest of the Sea Festival was at its height, so a modest number of folks still wandered about, buying food from vendors, playing games, just enjoying the unseasonably warm night. Joe smiled, and Veronica all but melted.

  The group found a couple of black wrought-iron benches that faced each other. Joe put his arm around her and pulled her close.

  Tim, sans makeup and wearing a lavender button-down shirt with black slacks, tried hard to keep his lawyer persona going, but he kept bursting into giggles. “Oh my God,” he whispered, “I hope nobody from the office sees me tonight.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing you work in Bar Harbor, and not Lobster Cove,” Veronica told him.

  He rolled his eyes. “Why do you think I live in Lobster Cove instead of Bar Harbor? Makes for fewer problems.”

  “Forget being a lawyer and take your show on the road,” Charlene told him. “You’d make a fortune.”

  That only provoked another round of giggles.

  Joe leaned toward Veronica. “He’s happy.”

  She looked into his eyes. “So am I.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yeah.” She put a hand against his cheek. “In fact, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

  His lips twitched as if he wanted to smile, but he kept a guarded expression on his face. “Any special reason?”

  “Actually, yes. I found my beloved—a huge deal for vampire. Or, to put it another way, the man I love asked me to marry him.”

  Hope flashed in his eyes. “So, are you thinking about saying yes?”

  “No.”

  His body seemed to collapse forward. The light went out of his eyes, and his expression was one of sadness. “I understand.”

  She touched his cheek. “I don’t have to think about it anymore. I’ve decided I can’t imagine not having you in my life. I’d be honored to be your beloved—your wife. So, yes.”

  He stood, pulling her to her feet at the same time. He kissed her within an inch of her life, then swung her around in a circle.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Mike asked. His voice was gruff, but his lips edged toward a smile.

  Joe grinned. “She said yes. She said she’d marry me!”

  There was a moment of stunned silence, then a cheer went up, not only from their group, but from people close enough to hear. “Congratulations,” sounded from all around them. Cell phones and cameras raised to snap photos.

  Charlene grabbed them both in a big hug. “I’m so happy for you two.”

  Mike slapped Joe on the back so hard Joe took a step forward. “You will have the best bachelor party ever.”

  Tim was crying. “I’m so happy for you,” he managed, then dissolved into tears again.

  A hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to see Spencer standing beside her, concern in his expression. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Positive.”

  “Then I’m happy for both of you.” He hugged her. “If you need me, just call.”

  “Thank you.” she wiped at a tear that had escaped her efforts not to cry.

  The party involved at least half the festival crowd, everybody laughing and dancing around trees, and benches, and flower beds, and the little water fountain with its tiny concrete pond. The celebration lasted until almost dawn, but before the sun became an issue, the group went their separate ways. Tim headed to his apartment, Spencer escorted Charlene to hers. Mike went to the apartment that had been Justin’s.

  Veronica and Joe went to her apartment for some alone time. Once inside, Joe pulled her close. “Are you sure marriage is what you want?”

  She smiled. “Yes, I’m sure. You?”

  “Oh yeah.” He sighed, the thought of leaving her now was almost more than he could handle. “I guess I need to go back to Tennessee and finish the semester.”

  “I’m thinking of taking some time off,” she said. “I have a feeling the lab will be shut down while they investigate what Todd did—and clean up his mess.”

  “I like that id
ea.” He took her hand. “I’ll have to find out if any colleges around here need a new teacher.”

  “Or you could work at the lab.”

  He stared. “Somehow I don’t think that will work.”

  “Other labs have humans and vampires working side by side.”

  “They probably have special skills your people find useful.”

  “Your skills would be useful.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for your faith in me.”

  “You were strictly a research scientist before you took your teaching position, right”

  “Yes.” He narrowed his eyes. “Did you read that in my mind?”

  She laughed her clear, sparkling laugh. “No, I Googled you, silly.”

  “Did you now?”

  “Yes, and I see in your mind that you want to get back to pure research.” she frowned. “Why did you start teaching in the first place, if you dislike it so?”

  “Ex-wife,” he told her. “I thought changing jobs would save our marriage. I was mistaken. And, before you ask, I guess I stayed at the university because it was easier than to look for a new job. Teaching isn’t so bad.”

  “But not your true calling.” Her bright eyes searched his. “I want you to be happy.”

  He grinned. “Know what would make me happy?”

  “I’ll bet I can guess.”

  “Then let’s celebrate some more.”

  He swept her into his arms and headed to the bedroom.

  A word about the author…

  Cheryel Hutton is a dragon whisperer. She can hear dragons when they tell her fantastic stories. Sometimes they tell her stories about humans and their adventures. Sometimes the stories are about bigfoot, or werewolves, or aliens. Sometimes, the dragons even tell stories about other dragons. There is really no way of knowing what tales the dragons are going to tell next. Cheryel writes down what the dragons tell her, and shares the tales with all who want to read them.

  Cheryel has two beautiful, talented daughters and several extremely adorable grandchildren. She lives near Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, two dachshunds, and a muse named Quill who, of course, is a dragon. She is the author of Keepers of Legend, The Ugly Truth, and Secrets of Ugly Creek, all published by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  www.cheryelhutton.com

  www.dragonwhisperer.me

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.