Stag: A Masquerade Ball Romance

by Angela Blake

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Mmmhmm,” Rachel said and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep with a sigh of content.

  ***

  He took her to the vertigo inducing, awe-inspiring cliffs of Moher first. The utterly wild and ruggedly beautiful landscape took Rachel’s breath away. She could well imagine that some witch dwelling in this environment might think ‘stag’ when cursing an entire male line. The landscape was majestic, just like a stag. The cliffs felt lonely, with a raw natural power emanating from the very nature it sprung from.

  “This place kind of reminds me of ‘stag’ you,” she confessed to Brendan.

  “Oh yeah?” he asked eyes far away, “It looks rather breathtaking to me rather than simply weird.”

  “Don’t.” Rachel said taking his hand in hers, “Don’t put yourself down like that.”

  Brendan glanced down at her with a small smile, “Okay,” he said softly then leaned in and placed a warm kiss on her lips. They stood lost in each other’s eyes until a bird, calling to its mate startled them out of it. Rachel literally jumped. Their eyes met again, amusement shining out of them at their sappy behavior.

  “We should go get a burger. Or better yet, some fish offal…really get a taste for the local flavor eh?” he said adopting an Irish accent at the end.

  “Ugh. Speak for yourself. I’m sticking with burgers and fries thanks.”

  Brendan laughed, “Where’s your sense of adventure lass?”

  “I’m saving it for the Loch Ness Monster,” she replied.

  “Umm, did you hit your head and lose your sense of direction? We’re in Ireland, not Scotland.”

  Rachel stopped suddenly, “You don’t mean for us to go back to the States without at least trying to see the Loch Ness Monster do you Brendan? What kind of tourist guide are you?”

  “I figured you’d had quite enough of monsters at the noo,” Brendan muttered.

  Rachel turned to him, cupping his jaw in her fingers and kissing him hard, “You. Are not. A monster Brendan,” she growled glaring into his eyes.

  Brendan smiled, “Yes ma’am.” He said.

  “And don’t call me ma’am,” she admonished, threading her fingers with him as they resumed walking.

  “Yes m’- I mean…of course dear.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes, “You’re really asking for it dude,” she said as she tugged him along, “Come on, I’m hungry.”

  Chapter Twelve: Back Home

  The flight back to the States seemed twice as long as the one in the opposite direction. Even though they were flying first class, Rachel still felt tired and jet lagged when they arrived. She looked down at her swollen ankles and shook her head.

  “Wow. These long haul flights are the worst huh?”

  Brendan reached for her hand, “You should try New York to Hong Kong with no stopover anywhere. Now that’s a flight.”

  “You sound almost nostalgic.”

  Brendan laughed, “I’m just proud I survived it without hulking out you know?”

  Rachel glanced at him with an indulgent smile, “You’re really enjoying this whole, being able to talk about the whole shapeshifter thing huh?”

  Brendan’s grin widened as his hand tightened on hers, “You have no idea.”

  They walked to the car park, not talking much, “Are we taking a taxi or what?” Rachel asked as they stood outside arrivals.

  “My driver will pick us up.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, peering around for a likely looking car.

  “You tired?” Brendan asked peering at her with narrowed eyes as he reached for her bag.

  “Aren’t you?” she replied in lieu of an answer.

  “Nah. Beast metabolism,” he said with a smug smile.

  Rachel laughed loud and with delight, “By the way,” she said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Is this like a total secret or can I tell my best friends about it?”

  Brendan just gave her a look.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “I mean, my parents would freak the hell out if they found out I’d told you. They are very worried about someone finding out and wanting to cart me off to a government lab somewhere.”

  “I get it. The more people know, the more dangerous for you.”

  “I’m sorry you can’t talk to your friends about this.”

  “No, it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine. I can tell them we’re dating though right?”

  “Are we dating?”

  Rachel boxed him on the arm, “Hey. You don’t take my virginity and then start prevaricating about being my boyfriend.” She admonished him.

  “Wait, boyfriend?” he asked feigning shock.

  Rachel snorted, “Ass,” she said.

  “I am an ass,” Brendan agreed, “And you can absolutely tell your friends about your fabulous new boyfriend. Are they going to want to meet me? Ask me what my intentions are?”

  “Get you to buy them copious amounts of drinks? Absolutely,” Rachel assured him.

  “I can’t wait.”

  ***

  Barry burst into the Split Bean and hurried behind the counter to envelope her in a most dramatic fashion as soon as he heard she was back.

  “Mi amor! How was your trip?” he asked hands still firmly on her arms, looking with concern into her eyes, “You don’t call, you don’t write…”

  Rachel smiled bashfully, “It was…surreal.” She said.

  “Oh don’t be all mysterious. Tell me, did he get to first base or not?”

  Rachel laughed, “Oh Barry, you are so crazy. Yeah he got to first, second and third base.”

  Barry gasped theatrically; hand on his chest, mouth open. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the secluded booth in the corner, “Tell me everything,” he said eagerly.

  A cloud passed across Rachel’s face as she thought that she absolutely could not tell him everything. But she could tell him what he obviously wanted to know.

  “It was mind blowing Barry. I can’t even describe…”

  Barry’s face softened, “Aww. My baby’s in love.” He murmured.

  Rachel smiled, “Yeah, I kinda suspect I am. Am I the world’s worst fool?”

  “That depends,” Barry said leaning forward, “How does he feel?”

  Rachel could feel her face flaming, “I think he feels the same,” she said.

  “Then no, you’re not the world’s worst fool. So when is he coming to dinner with Sergio and me? You can come too.” He waved airily at her as he said the last bit.

  “Ooh, thank you,” Rachel said sarcasm dripping from every word, “I sure do ‘preciate that.”

  “Well you should. I’m being extremely generous not giving him the third degree by himself.”

  Rachel laughed, “Oh Barry, I love you.”

  “I love you too. Now tell that man of yours to present himself at our place on Saturday, 9pm.”

  Rachel’s face fell, “I gotta go home and check on mama. She might not allow me out again.”

  “So don’t go home. Simple.” Barry said with a shrug.

  “But…”

  “But nothing. Your mother was fine while you were away, and she will continue to be fine while you and your boyfriend have dinner with us this Saturday.”

  Rachel sighed, “Okay, if you say so.” She said sounding a little bit skeptical but also hopeful.

  “Seriously Rachel,” Barry said leaning in to stare intently at her, “I appreciate your dedication to your mother but you need a life of your own.”

  “I have a life of my own,” Rachel protested.

  Barry sighed at her, rolling his eyes, “Girl, you are a real life Cinderella, don’t even trip.” He said. Rachel laughed trying to imagine herself in a sewn up apron, sweeping up the hearth and singing songs with animals. Then she looked down at
her apron, and then lifted her eyes to land on the broom leaning against the kitchen doorway…and her mirth disappeared. Save for the singing animals her life was pretty Cinderella pathetic.

  “Well. At least I’ve been to Ireland now. And I have a boyfriend.” She said.

  “Yes you do. So don’t go backsliding into that life of servitude your mother would prefer you to live in.”

  Rachel laughed uncomfortably, “I gotta get back to work Barry. See you later?”

  “Yeah okay. Sergio is making fajitas so pass by before you go home today.”

  “He just wants the sexy details too doesn’t he?”

  “You know him well,” Barry said with a smirk, “we’ll expect you by six?”

  “Okay.”

  ***

  Rachel was just about done with the afternoon rush when Brendan walked in, clad in a charcoal grey suit, a suitcase in his hands. She looked up at him, eyebrows raised at his look, but admiring how dapper he looked nevertheless.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked with a grin as he leaned in to kiss her in front of God and everyone.

  “Well, I brought your contract.”

  “Contract?”

  “For the investment capital you wish me to inject in your business.”

  “Oh,” Rachel said face falling, “I didn’t know we were still doing that.”

  “Do you not want to?” his face was so earnest.

  “Um of course I do but I’m not sure how that’s supposed to work now that you’re…”

  Brendan took one step back face closing, “Now that I’m what?”

  “My boyfriend,” Rachel replied like it should be obvious, and watched Brendan’s face lighten.

  “Oh well…I imagine we can handle both okay if we keep it professional. Don’t you?”

  Rachel shook her head, “Brendan, you don’t have to do this okay? Just because we’re like-”

  “Rachel?” Brendan cut in, “I made up my mind to do this before we went to Ireland.”

  Rachel examined him critically, looking for the lie. He stared back at her, eyes wide and guileless in his strong face. She was distracted by his beauty, noticing the tiny gold flecks in his eyes and just a hint of freckles across the bridge of his nose.

  “Okay then,” she said at last, nodding her head.

  He grinned wide and happy, “Great,” he said brandishing the suitcase in her face, “So shall we get these documents signed so my lawyer can be happy?”

  Rachel looked down at the intimidating sheaf of papers he was extracting, “Um, I should probably get a lawyer to look those over first,” she said hesitantly.

  “Of course! I wouldn’t let you sign without that,” Brendan said ferociously as he handed her the papers.

  She took them carefully and turned away, headed for her office. She would just put them in the safe until she could contact her mother’s lawyer, Pierce Alexander, to come have a look at them. Her heart was going so fast and she didn’t know if it was because of the potential for growth in her hands or the man who had handed it to her. All of this was so new, and so different from her normal humdrum existence that she hardly knew how to handle it all. It occurred to her that Brendan might expect to take her out on dates once in a while, maybe have her spend the night with him? How would she explain all that to her mother? There was no scenario she could imagine where her mother would be happy to know about Brendan…even without the shapeshifter thing. But Barry was right; she had to start living her own life. She could not let her mother dictate her every move. It was just hard, after a lifetime of blind obedience, to think about forging her own path.

  She deposited the papers in the safe, making her note in her diary to take them to Pierce at the end of the work day and then went out to see if Brendan was still there. Maybe he’d just come to drop the papers and head back to his glamorous life.

  He was sitting at the booth, with Angela standing over him with a notepad. They were evidently chatting quite amiably, Angela throwing her head back and laughing in that way that she had when she was totally flirting. For just a second, Rachel thought about firing her on the spot; but she reined in her jealousy and instead sauntered out to the counter, smiling widely at the person in line, “What can I get you?” she asked as Miguel went back to the kitchen now that she was back.

  She served the line of customers in front of her, feeling Brendan’s eyes on her as he sipped whatever drink Angela had taken him. It couldn’t be her hot chocolate because Angela didn’t know how to make that. Once the rush was over, she let her eyes meet his, and he smiled at her, with a small wave. Suddenly she felt silly at her internal sulk. He’d just been ordering a drink from Angela damn it. He was allowed to do that. She didn’t own him. He could talk to other people. Rachel felt like she might be losing her mind.

  Brendan stood up to his full height, shuffling out of the booth and coming toward her, smile firmly in place. He leaned his elbows on the counter, eyes twinkling, “I love watching you work. You’re so efficient.”

  Her eyebrows went up at that, “Oh yeah? I’m surprised you noticed.”

  Rachel wanted to slap a hand over her mouth for saying something so snarky and exposing herself for the jealous nut she was, but it was too late now. Brendan was already frowning.

  “Why would you say that?”

  Rachel could feel the heat in her cheeks and her lashes swept downwards to cover her eyes, “Nothing. Don’t mind me. I’m stupid.”

  He leaned over the counter, bending his neck so he could see her face and look into her eyes, “You might be many things. But stupid isn’t one of them.”

  She couldn’t help the bashful smile that spread over her face at his words, “Thanks,” she replied softly.

  “So I was wondering if you might be available for dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner?” she repeated mind flashing to her earlier musings, “Probably not. Barry and Sergio have already promised me fajitas. By the way, they said to tell you you’re invited to dinner Saturday.”

  “Oh,” Brendan said his eyes going wide, “So soon? I thought I’d have some time to prepare myself for the third degree.”

  “Aww, are you scared? Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” She said patting him mockingly on the shoulder.

  “Ah, you say that now. But on Saturday I’ll probably find myself all on my lonesome being zero dark thirtied in their basement.”

  Rachel laughed palm hitting his chest in amusement, “I promise it won’t go that far. Pinky swear.”

  “Okay. But just in case…” he leaned in close whispering in her ear, “I reserve the right to hulk out.”

  Rachel shivered at the brush of warm breath on her neck. She hardly heard what he said.

  He moved back to his side of the counter with a smirk.

  “But you’re not going to make me wait until Saturday to see you are you? When can we have dinner?”

  Rachel thought quickly, trying to see how she could juggle things so that she could have dinner with Brendan the next day.

  “Can I call you in the morning?” she asked.

  “Honey you can call me anytime.” He said.

  Rachel rolled her eyes.

  Chapter Thirteen: Adjustments

  Rachel crept into the house, hoping that her mother hadn’t yet noticed how late she was.

  “Where have you been?” a sharp voice asked from the living room.

  No such luck.

  “Umm, hi mom. I picked us up some fajitas.” She said in lieu of an answer. Her mother loved Sergio’s fajitas. But she liked to pretend that Rachel bought them from the Mexican place down the street. That way she didn’t have to acknowledge that ‘those gays’ had any positive attributes. Even if it was just making excellent food.

  “I already ate,” Sarah Hart said.

  “Oh. Well okay I’ll just put them in the refrigerator for later.” Rachel said knowing that her mother would eat them before she slept.

&n
bsp; “You didn’t answer the question!” her mother said making Rachel’s heart sink, “You think just because I let you travel out of the country that you can come and go as you please now? Leave me here, helpless and alone?”

  “Well…not exactly alone,” Mrs. Blue, who lived next door and usually came to sit with Sarah if Rachel was working late said.

  “Yes well, if I fell or something you could hardly pick me up could you?” Sarah complained. Mrs. Blue was quite old herself if still spry. She cackled with derision, “Sarah, it’s not like Rachel could carry you anyway. I mean what is she? A hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet?”

  “I’m quite strong though,” Rachel felt compelled to interject.

  “Psha. Go on and eat your dinner girl. Your mama and I were in the middle of a game.” Mrs. Blue said.

  Rachel went leaving them to continue their usual game of Scrabble. They were both chronic cheaters and the game tended to get ugly with pointed accusations and angry silences. Whoever lost then challenged the winner to a rematch and they just kept going round and round the mulberry bush. Rachel divided the fajitas, taking two and leaving two for her mother. She sat down at the kitchen table, going over the contracts Brendan had left. She had called Pierce on her way home and he’d asked her to drop off the papers to his office the next morning. Meanwhile, she thought she might skim through them and try to understand what Brendan was offering.

  She almost gasped aloud when she saw the amount he was willing to put in. It was more than twice what she’d asked for. Way too generous unless he wanted more of the business than she was able to give away.

  She read through the terms of the contract, realizing that from what she could understand, he wasn’t just some love smitten idiot throwing money at her. He had some very specific plans for benefiting from her expansion including first refusal should she decide to sell and a five year deadline to get the business to profitability otherwise she would forfeit ownership. She took a deep breath feeling challenged rather than scared. If she could not get the business profitable within five years, she’d deserve to lose it.