The Vampire's Accidental Wife (Nocturne Falls Book 8)

by Kristen Painter

  He sighed. “Me either. Could this be a jilted lover?”

  She laughed. “I think you know the answer to that. And if you don’t, no. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”

  He nodded. “I know how you resisted me. Who else, then? One of your friends?”

  “I don’t have many of those.” It was just easier not to get close. “Do you think it could be another performer who’s jealous?”

  “Maybe. That seems like a big risk on their part, though. Getting found out would ruin their career. Is there someone specific you’re thinking of?”

  “No. All the performers in the show seem like really good people. Just thinking out loud and trying to make some sense of this.” She mulled the possibilities a little more. “What if it is a fan? One who’s gone over the edge?”

  He narrowed his eyes like he was thinking. “It absolutely could be. But that’s like trying to find the proverbial needle in a hay stack.”

  She put the tea on the nightstand and scooted forward. “Maybe not. I could ask the ticket office to run a list of people who’ve seen the show repeatedly in the last six months.”

  “That’s a great idea. You know that I’m going to show up on that list.”

  She smiled. “Yes, but you’re not out to kill me.” She winked at him. “Not yet anyway.”

  He laughed softly, then leaned forward. “If this is a crazed fan, they’ve been interested in you since before the garlic bouquets started showing up. You should tell them to run the list for at least six months before the first bouquet arrived.”

  “Okay, I will. I’ll send an email before I go to bed. It’ll probably take them a day to get the info together. Any other ideas until then?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Any chance you have the notes from the bouquets and the silver crosses?”

  “It’s all in my carry-on bag in a big envelope. I thought you might want to see that stuff.”

  “Good. I do. I’m going to take it into the sheriff’s department tomorrow. Our sheriff is a werewolf. Great nose. Maybe he can pick up a scent from them, tell us if we’re dealing with a human or not.”

  “I never would have thought to do that. Thank you.” She got off the bed and dug the big envelope out. She offered it to him. “I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

  He took the envelope. “That’s what friends do.”

  “Except I know your feelings for me go beyond friends. I’m sorry things can’t be different between us.”

  He smiled sadly. “Me too.”

  Before she could say anything else, he got to his feet. “I’m exhausted. You must be too.” He kissed the top of her head. “Sunrise is only a few hours away. Get some sleep. I’ll most likely be gone when you wake up in the afternoon, but please, don’t leave the house until I get back tomorrow.”

  “I won’t.” She smiled. “I can’t, remember? Not if the sun’s out.”

  He chuckled. “Right. Sorry.”

  She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Thanks again.”

  “Of course. Good night.”

  “Night.” She watched him leave, then stood there a little longer, thinking about how fortunate she was to have a man like Julian in her life. He wasn’t just a good man, he was a patient man. For all her rejection of him, he still treated her like she was worth his time and effort. And he didn’t even know her reasons for rejecting him. For the first time in a long time, she was actually considering what it might be like to fall in love again.

  But she couldn’t entertain that thought without also remembering the consequences of such foolishness. Julian wasn’t Alonso, but he was a man who put great value on things. His home and car and closet were proof of that. And as much as he professed to love her, Alonso had done the same.

  No, being friends was as far as this relationship was going to go.

  She shut her bedroom door, then pulled out her tablet to email the show’s director about the ticket sales. After hitting send, she changed into a nightie, tied her hair into a scarf, and climbed into bed. Julian’s choice of sheets was impressive. The cotton felt like silk.

  She propped herself up with the pillows and turned on the television in search of something to help her escape her thoughts.

  A documentary on Nefertiti seemed like just the thing. She sipped her tea and tried to disappear into ancient Egypt, but her mind kept returning to Julian and all the possibilities he represented.

  Did she dare attempt love again? Could she handle it? Could she risk losing her heart again? Or worse?

  After all, the first time she’d given her heart away the cost had nearly been her life.

  Julian slept until nine, which was late for him, but he’d gotten so little sleep the last two days it was no wonder he’d slept in a little. Fortunately, the older a vampire got, the less sleep they needed, unless they were injured or ill. And despite what Julian’s brothers thought about him, he was often up early. Normally, he’d get a workout in at the gym downstairs before anything else, but he had too much to do today. Helping Desi trumped his own needs at the moment.

  That was how a marriage worked, and those were the rules he was going to abide by until the marriage no longer existed.

  He showered and dressed, taking care to put on the shirt Didi had given him for Christmas. He’d never purposely call Elenora Ellingham that particular epithet to her face, but the pet name he and his brothers had given to their grandmother on account of her having once been a dowager duchess always made him smile.

  Mostly because he knew how grumpy it would make her.

  With Desi’s envelope tucked into the leather messenger bag hanging off his shoulder, he swung by her bedroom on his way out. Her door was closed, but he could hear the television playing softly.

  He hadn’t expected her to be up so soon. He lifted his hand to knock, but then realized she could very well have left it on last night. If he knocked, it might wake her. Vampires slept very deeply in daysleep, but with all that was going on in her life, he didn’t want to risk disturbing her. Instead, he eased the door open and peeked in.

  She was curled in the silk coverlet and as still as stone, a sure sign she was in the cradle of daysleep.

  Good. She needed to rest. He went in and turned the television off, then picked up the empty mug on her nightstand to carry it to the kitchen.

  He paused at her bedside to take her in.

  Somehow, she was even more beautiful asleep. He studied her for a moment longer, then grasped why that was. In sleep, her walls were down. Desi always had an air about her as if she was forever on the defensive. As if she’d been hurt and expected someone to do it again at any moment. Like it was a foregone conclusion.

  That made him sad for her. And angry that someone had scarred her that badly.

  A curl had escaped the silk scarf she’d tied her hair up in. He brushed the tendril off her cheek. “Love you,” he whispered.

  She didn’t move, didn’t stir. He was glad for that. She wouldn’t have wanted to hear his sentimental drivel anyway.

  He went to the sheriff’s department first. Well, technically second after a quick, but necessary, detour for supplies.

  “Why, Julian Ellingham, as I live and breathe,” Birdie Caruthers exclaimed when he walked in. “What a nice surprise.”

  “Birdie, you get more beautiful every time I see you.” He put the box he’d carried in on the counter. He knew Birdie well enough to know the three ways to properly grease her wheels. Flattery. Gossip. And sugar.

  Her eyes widened. “Are those from the new doughnut place in town?”

  “Yep. Zombie Donuts. Everyone’s raving about them, so I thought, why not bring Birdie something that’s almost as sweet as she is?”

  She grinned and waved a hand at him. “Oh, you.”

  “And they’re still warm.” The zombie smiled up from the box. His decaying grin sat just above the slogan that read better than brains. Julian leaned in. “Did you hear that the owner might actually be a necromance
r?”

  “I did! Haven’t met him yet, though, so jury’s still out on that one. Maybe at the next chamber of commerce meeting.” She opened the box and took a doughnut out, a lavender-iced monstrosity with green sugar crystals glistening on top like alien mold.

  Her gaze shifted from the pastry to him and took on a shrewd gleam. “What can I do for you this morning? I know you’re not here just to bring me doughnuts. Although both you and the sweets are always welcome.”

  He smiled. “I wanted to see you. But I also need to see Hank.”

  She tipped her head toward her nephew’s office. “He’s in. I’ll buzz him.”

  She took a bite of the doughnut, then punched a button on the phone. “Hank. Julian Ellingham is on his way in.”

  The words were a little muffled by doughnut, but Hank seemed to understand. Or at least the grunt that came back in response sounded like he had.

  “Go ahead,” she said to Julian.

  “Thank you.”

  She lifted her doughnut at him. “Thank you.”

  Julian went into Hank’s office, not quite sure what to expect. He never was. Hank Merrow was a gruff sort. No-nonsense and short on words, but still a damn fine sheriff who’d always been there when the family and the town had needed him. “Morning, Sheriff.”

  “Ellingham.” Hank nodded at the chairs across from his desk. A stack of paperwork sat in front of him. The top file was open. Hank saw Julian look at it. Hank closed the file. “What can I do for you?”

  Julian took a seat. “I need your help.”

  “Uh huh.”

  Obviously, that was obvious. Julian restrained his urge to roll his eyes at himself. Instead, he pulled out the envelope Desi had given him last night. “This is an odd request, but can you tell me if the scents on these determine if they originated with a human or a supernatural?”

  Hank’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not a bloodhound.”

  “I realize that, but I’m trying to protect a friend of mine, and whoever sent these is causing her some serious grief. In fact, they just threatened her life again.”

  Hank’s brows lifted. He held out his hand.

  Julian handed the package over.

  Hank opened it, dumped the contents out, then picked up one of the cards from the bouquets. He held it to his nose, closed his eyes and inhaled. His nose wrinkled and he opened his eyes. “Garlic.”

  Julian nodded. “It was attached to a bunch of the stuff.”

  He closed his eyes again, his mouth opening slightly like he was trying to taste the air. Abruptly, he put the card down and looked at Julian. “Human and supernatural.”

  “What about the crosses?”

  Hank frowned. “I’m not sniffing silver.”

  “Oh, right. Werewolf and all that.” Julian sighed. “So both, eh? Doesn’t do much to narrow it down. Any thoughts on what kind of supernatural?”

  “Vampire. Best I can do.”

  “Still no help, because Desi touched them and that’s what she is.” Julian was disappointed. He wasn’t any closer to figuring out who was behind this. “I appreciate the try, though.”

  Hank dropped the card back into the envelope, then held it out to Julian. He glanced down at the crosses. “You’ll have to get those.”

  Julian stood and took the envelope. He scooped the crosses up, putting them away himself. He wasn’t quite ready to let the conversation end, however. “Anything else you might have picked up? Even something that might not seem like anything.”

  “Perfume. Like flowers.”

  Julian shook his head. “That’s Desi too most likely. She wears a scent like orange blossoms all the time.”

  Hank’s eyes went down to slits. “What’s going on exactly?”

  Julian took his seat again and leaned back. “A very good friend of mine is being harassed, but like I said, we don’t know by whom. She’s staying at my house right now as things have gotten a little unsafe for her at home. I figured while she was here, we could get to the bottom of things.”

  Hank nodded slowly, like he was thinking. “Any trouble while she’s been here?”

  “Not so far, but she hasn’t been as quiet as I’d like about her visit, so the possibility exists there could be some in the future. Depends on how closely her stalker is watching her.”

  Hank tapped a finger on the desk. “And she’s a vampire.”

  “Yes.”

  “I could spare Remy if you need extra security.”

  There was a thought Julian hadn’t had. “I was actually thinking I might need him to pick up my VOD shifts, but Desi might like having another vampire around. Might make her feel safer. I know I’d appreciate it.”

  Hank nodded. “I’ll send him over when he gets in tonight. You want him in uniform?”

  “Plain clothes. For now.” Keeping Remy’s law officer status under wraps might give them an edge if Desi’s stalker did show up. “Very kind of you.”

  “Happy to help.”

  Then Julian remembered his manners. “How’s the little one?”

  For the first time, Hank smiled. “Good. Feisty like her mama.”

  The family had sent gifts when the baby had been born, but Julian had been too wrapped up in wooing Desi to pay much attention to the birth. “What’s her name again?”

  “Hannah Rose.” Hank whipped out his phone and showed Julian a picture. It was of Ivy, his wife, holding the baby. Hannah Rose was a precious little thing with bright blue eyes and chubby cheeks.

  “You’re going to have the boys lined up for miles with that one.”

  Hank turned the phone around to look at the picture himself. He nodded and smiled. “Yep.”

  “You’ll have to get her and George together for a play date soon.”

  “Ivy and Delaney already have one planned.”

  “Of course they do.” Julian stood and gestured toward the door. “I’ll see myself out. Thanks again.”

  “Keep me posted if you need anything.”

  “Will do. Have a good one.” Julian left, closing the office door behind him.

  Birdie was sitting at the reception desk with a fresh cup of coffee next to her and a new doughnut in her hand. This time it looked like a jelly-filled one, based on the pink squiggles of icing meant to represent a brain. “Get what you need?”

  “Enough. For now.”

  Birdie lifted the doughnut. “Come back any time.”

  Next on Julian’s to-do list was an unannounced visit to his grandmother. Elenora Ellingham’s estate sat up past the winery, in the hills of Nocturne Falls. It was a vast piece of land, which meant her closest neighbors weren’t that close at all. Just the way she liked it.

  He motored down the long drive and pulled to a stop outside the enormous double doors. The house would have been perfectly suited for the English countryside, which was exactly what Elenora had intended.

  She never let on as though she missed the old days when they’d been nobility in England, but then, his grandmother could be rather closed-mouthed about a lot of things, the past being just one of them.

  He got out, straightened his clothes and put on the sport coat he’d brought along for this visit. If there was anything Didi liked, it was proper attire. He hoped that balanced out the fact that he hadn’t called before stopping by, something she might be less appreciative of.

  But calling ahead would have meant this visit would have become something so much more. Most likely a fancy lunch, served in the dining room or possibly the solarium (although that was usually reserved for tea). And either way, it would have been, at minimum, a two-hour affair.

  He wanted a quick chat. In and out. Nothing more. And while he was counting on his presence being enough to put her in an indulgent mood, he was smart enough to know that might not work.

  If it didn’t, he would have to play his ace. Which he did not want to do.

  He went up to the door and banged the knocker three times.

  The always dour Alice Bishop answered. “Julian.”


  His first instinct was to ask if she was currently sucking on a lemon. He shoved that aside and went with charm instead. “Alice, how nice to see you. Is that a new blouse?”

  It wasn’t.

  She glanced down at her top, then tapered her eyes at him. “Your grandmother is in the garden.”

  “Perfect. I’ll just pop through to the back, then.”

  Alice didn’t move.

  He broadened his smile. It was nice that Alice was so protective of Elenora, but it could be a real bother too. He was family, after all. “If you could just—”

  She exhaled loudly through her nose. “I’ll go tell her you’re here.”

  “No need.” Julian wasn’t interested in being announced. He used his vampire speed to race ahead of the stubborn old witch and through the house, skidding to a stop at the French doors that looked onto the garden.

  He adjusted his clothes once more, then opened the doors and strolled out onto the patio and down the steps into the carefully cultivated garden that was his grandmother’s pride and joy. She was in the roses, doing whatever needed to be done to roses at this time in May.

  She straightened and turned at the sound of the door, her gardening snips in one hand. “Julian.” She smiled when she spotted him. “How are you, my darling?”

  “Better now that I’m here with you.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. She smelled of something fresh and floral, the garden itself maybe. Whatever it was, it wasn’t violets. That was a good sign. She wore a violet scent when she was feeling obstinate. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

  Elenora was about to answer when Alice walked out onto the patio and said, “Julian’s here.” Then she saw him, frowned, and went back inside.

  Elenora shook her head. “Why do you torment Alice so?”

  “I wasn’t tormenting her. I was just eager to see you.” He gave her his best innocent look. “Is it my fault if she’s slow?”

  “Julie, you’re a rotten child.”

  “I know.” He wasn’t fond of the nickname Julie, but he allowed it with Elenora, knowing it was one of her endearments for him. “But you still love me, don’t you, Grandmamma?”