The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride

by Kristen Painter

  “Hello to you too.” Hugh smiled tightly. “You look busy, so we won’t keep you.”

  Annabelle stuck her hand out. “Hi, I’m Annabelle. You must be a friend of Hugh’s. Love the getup, by the way.” She winked at him. “Very authentic.”

  Julian took her hand, turned it over and kissed it. “A friend? Sweetness, this bastion of boringness standing next to you is my brother.”

  “What?” She grinned and looked at Hugh. “This is Julian, the man whore?”

  Julian dropped her hand and his grin.

  Hugh’s smile was instantaneous. He might have fallen a little in love with her right then and there. “Yes, this is my brother.” He put his arm around Annabelle as he turned to Julian. “And this vision of loveliness is Annabelle Givens, whom you will not try to sleep with. Understood?”

  Julian clutched at his chest as though he’d been mortally wounded. “I would never try to move in on your territory.” He wiggled his brows at Annabelle. “Unless you’d welcome such an invasion.”

  She grimaced.

  Hugh sighed deeply. “She’s not my territory. She’s my guest, and as such, you will treat her with respect.”

  Annabelle reached up to where Hugh’s hand rested on her shoulder and interlaced her fingers with his. The unexpected contact sent a little jolt of heat through him.

  “Of course, brother dear.” Julian gave him a mock salute, then looked at Annabelle. “See,” he whispered loudly. “Bor-ing.”

  Annabelle gave Julian an appraising glance. “Boring is in the eye of the beholder.”

  “Don’t you have tourists to bite?” Hugh asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Julian flashed his fangs in a wide grin and a silvery glint seemed to light his eyes then he swerved around them and took off down the street only to be stopped again by another gaggle of female tourists.

  Annabelle watched him go. “Boy, he sure takes that vampire thing seriously.”

  “Well…yes.” Hugh wasn’t sure what to say. Did she not realize his entire family was vampires? Maybe she thought just he was. She had yet to mention it, which seemed odd.

  “He really sells it.” She shook her head. “I know he’s your brother, but he comes on a little strong.”

  “Sorry about that,” Hugh said.

  She shrugged but didn’t let go of his hand. “He’s your brother, not your son. It’s not like you’re responsible for how he turned out.”

  Hugh smiled. “You want to see the candy store?”

  Her eyes lit up, rewarding him. “I’d love to.”

  “C’mon.” They started walking again. They passed a witch in a pointy hat and purple robes. Every time she swept her wand through the air, sparks followed it. Tourists were getting pictures with her as she cackled. Hugh didn’t know the woman. Must be one of Julian’s new hires.

  Annabelle laughed and she shook her head as she stared back at the witch. “This place is crazy.”

  Up ahead, Sheriff Merrow leaned against his patrol car, parked in one of the emergency lanes. Hugh gave Merrow a nod as they strolled past. “Sheriff.”

  The werewolf-turned-officer of the law nodded back. “Ellingham. Ma’am.”

  Annabelle gave him a little wave as they continued past.

  Not until they walked into the candy store, Keller’s Sweets-n-Treats, did Hugh drop his arm from her shoulder. The place was full of customers filling bags with their favorite sweets, but despite his disdain for public displays of affection, he wouldn’t have minded holding on to her a little longer. “What do you think?”

  Instead of happy, she looked disappointed. “It’s nice.”

  “You don’t like it.”

  “It’s…not what I expected.”

  Vicky Keller, the owner, came up to them. “Hello, Hugh.”

  “Vicky.”

  She tugged her sweater together like she was covering up a national treasure. “Word around town is you and Piper Hodge broke up.”

  Old news, but apparently still worth mentioning. Or maybe Piper had put a notice in the Tombstone. He refrained from rolling his eyes. “Yes, we did.”

  She glanced at Annabelle then back at him. “I see you’ve moved on.”

  The Kellers were the one hold-out family who’d refused to sell to Didi. As a result, there had been bad blood between the families. Vicky had no personal stake since it was her great-great-grandparents who’d refused to sell, but she acted like the Ellinghams had run over her dog. “Annabelle, this is Victoria Keller, owner of this establishment.”

  Annabelle nodded at her. “Hi.”

  Vicky stared back. “Heard you say you don’t like my shop.”

  “No, I think it’s lovely.” Annabelle smiled. “And so well stocked. Most of this candy is impossible to get anywhere but online.”

  Vicky softened a little. “That’s why we carry it.” She looked at Hugh. “Because tradition means something to us.”

  “Tradition is great,” Annabelle interjected. “But shaking things up is fun too.”

  Vicky’s exterior returned to its normal brittle shell. “I suppose you’re one of those who likes salt on their chocolate.”

  “I do.” She reached into a nearby bin and pulled out a handful of wax paper wrapped pastel discs. “But I also love Necco wafers. They’re one of the oldest American candies, you know.”

  “Yeah.” Vicky smirked. “I know. You actually going to buy those or are you just touching them for fun?”

  Hugh was on the verge of snarling at Vicky. “We’ll take the whole bin.”

  The woman’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Isn’t that generous of you.” She snapped her fingers. “Mary, ring up this bin of Neccos for Mr. Ellington.”

  “Ellingham,” he corrected, knowing the second that the word was out of his mouth that he’d given her exactly what she wanted. Recognition.

  With an evil little smirk, she spun on her heel and walked away.

  Mary Keller, Vicky’s daughter, ran up to help them. She smiled at Hugh and blushed a little. “Hi, Mr. Ellingham. I’ll take care of that right now for you.” She scooped up the candies and headed off to the counter.

  Annabelle shot him a questioning look that included crazy eyes.

  He snorted and nodded. “Yep.”

  As soon as they were back outside, he lifted the bag of candies. “You really like these things, huh?”

  “Ugh, no, I hate them. They’re chalky, flavorless discs of…chalk. I just didn’t want that woman to win the argument. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back.”

  A burst of laughter tore out of Hugh. When he caught his breath, he just shook his head. “You’re a madwoman. I can’t adequately express how entertaining you are.” He hefted the bag. “Best money I ever spent, so don’t even think about paying me back, but what are you going to do with all of these dreadful things?”

  She held out her hand for the bag. “Every day is Halloween, right?”

  “Right.” He gave her the bag.

  Two little girls dressed as whatever Disney princesses were currently the rage came toward them, their parents in tow. Annabelle crouched down. “Are you Elsa and Anna?”

  Shyly, but smiling, they nodded. “We are.”

  “Your dresses are beautiful,” Annabelle cooed. “Do you have treat bags?” They did. Every child in Nocturne Falls did. They held them up. Annabelle added a generous handful of Neccos to each one. “Happy Halloween,” she said.

  Then she linked her arm through Hugh’s. “I’ll have these gone before we hit the end of the street.”

  Delaney was shocked by how much the owner of the candy store’s treatment of Hugh had bothered her, but handing out the candy and seeing the kids’ faces light up was fun. Getting rid of the candy and being able to hold on to Hugh without being interrupted was even better. His hand was tucked in his pocket and her arm was laced through his. The connection was surprisingly easy and oddly comforting. Whether or not he felt the same, she couldn’t tell, but he’d made no move to change it. Either w
ay, she felt safe with him around. Not that she was in any danger here.

  “Piper was your ex, I take it?”

  He nodded. “Yes.” Then he changed the subject. “You’re really good with children. Actually, you’re good with people in general.”

  “Thanks. I like people.” Him included, which was almost worrying her. “Speaking of, why doesn’t Vicky like you?”

  “Long story.”

  “I have twenty-nine days left. If you can’t tell it in that amount of time, I don’t want to hear it.”

  He smiled. “Perhaps it’s not that long. Her family refused to sell when my family was buying up the town. She’s still bitter even though it was ages ago and she wasn’t even born yet.”

  “She resents your money and your influence, despite the fact that without your family’s intervention, she wouldn’t have a business to run.”

  “Pretty much.”

  Delaney sighed. “People like that wear me out.”

  “You never did get your dessert, you know.” He glanced down at her. “Would you like something sweet?”

  “Always.”

  “What would you like?”

  She almost said a kiss. Where that had come from, she had no idea. Her pulse jumped at the freshness of her own thoughts. “Chocolate is always good. Unless you’re in the mood for something different?”

  The wicked glinted in his eyes lasted for half a second, then he looked down the street. “There’s a great little coffee shop just down the way. They have biscuits, er, cookies and little cakes and such, too.”

  “Homemade?”

  “Homemade.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Two blocks down, they turned onto Black Cat Boulevard and found the coffee shop on the side street.

  “The Hallowed Bean?” She laughed. “You guys really take this Halloween thing seriously, don’t you?”

  He shrugged as he opened the door for her. “As they say at the chamber of commerce meetings, Ween sells.”

  “Please tell me they don’t really say that.”

  “Sadly, they do.”

  She stepped inside, the delicious smell of roasting coffee and fresh-baked goods welcoming her with open arms. “I already love this place.”

  He nodded at the one open table. “Why don’t you grab that spot, and I’ll take care of ordering. What would you like?”

  She thought for a moment. “Surprise me.” He ought to know what the best stuff was, right?

  “Oh, good. No pressure.” He got in line.

  “You asked.” She wound through the other tables to snag the one in the corner. It was a prime spot, well suited for people watching. One very handsome person in particular.

  Hugh.

  Talking to him and being around him was getting easier by the second. She might not be his intended match, but she couldn’t imagine why any woman wouldn’t enjoy his company.

  That proved itself out when he got up to the cashier. She greeted him with a big smile and small talk before taking his order. He was obviously well known. Kind of like Nocturne Falls royalty, she imagined. When the woman handed his change back, her hand lingered on his a second longer than necessary.

  So maybe not royalty so much as the most eligible bachelor. That raised a lot of questions. Like why he wasn’t already married.

  He approached the table with a small tray, setting it down between them before taking his seat. “Let’s see if I got this right.” He picked the short cup off the tray and put it in front of her. “Drinking chocolate. Very strong, very rich.”

  She waggled her head and did her best imitation of Mae West. “That’s how I like my men.”

  The side of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “I hope you feel the same way about your brownies.” He slid the only plate on the tray off to her side. “Espresso cherry brownie. This combo is known as death by chocolate.”

  “Seems appropriate. What did you get?”

  “Black coffee. Simple and uncomplicated. Which is in no way an indication of what I look for in a woman.”

  She laughed. “Point taken.”

  He glanced at her cup and raised his brows. “So? How’d I do with my choices?”

  She bit into the brownie. The top was slightly crisp but then instantly gave way to a fudgy interior redolent of coffee and chocolate. Her tongue found a piece of cherry, and the fruity tang cut through the richness in the most perfect way. She tried not to moan. “Exceptionally well. That was easily the best thing I’ve put in my mouth in a long time.”

  The muscles in his jaw twitched, and she realized he was fighting hard not to say something about her inadvertent innuendo. He sipped his coffee instead.

  She laughed and tried the drink he’d brought her. It was like bathing her mouth in liquid chocolate. There was no holding back the moan this time. “Oh, that is…wow, yeah, good. Please tell me we can come here again.”

  His gaze fixed on her mouth for a long second. Then he shifted in his seat and answered. “Whenever you want. Although with the Panic Parade this weekend, it’s going to be mobbed.”

  The word made her blink twice. She shook her head to clear Rastinelli’s image. “Are we, uh, going to that?”

  “The parade?” He seemed taken aback by her question. “I wasn’t planning on it. Do you want to go?”

  “Sure. Sounds interesting at the very least. I’m here, right? Might as well see what this place is all about.” She canted her head. “You don’t come to town much, do you?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s just…not my thing.”

  “I don’t know why. Except for Icky Vicky, the townspeople seem to love you.” She took another bite of the brownie, hoping he’d share something to dispel some of the mystery surrounding him.

  “I’m just more of a private person.”

  Hello, open door. “Is that why your grandmother thinks you need help finding a woman?”

  “It isn’t so much that she thinks I need help finding a woman as it is she thinks I need help learning to commit.”

  “And an arranged match was going to do that how?”

  He growled softly in frustration. “She believes if I meet the perfect woman, I won’t find a reason to break things off.”

  “Oh, I get it. You’re a love ’em and leave ’em type.”

  “No,” he said sharply. “That is Julian. I have been in plenty of meaningful, long-term relationships—”

  “You just can’t put a ring on it.”

  He frowned. “Something like that.” He sat back, twisting slightly so he could cross one long leg over the other. He planted his hand on his ankle and studied her. “Why did you need a matchmaker?”

  “I…” Think, Delaney. You’re not you, you’re Annabelle. “I just got out of a relationship.”

  “Not rich or strong enough?” He smiled.

  “Not faithful enough.” She rolled the edge of her paper napkin under her fingertips. “Money and physical attributes I can take or leave. After all, they’re both attributes that can come and go depending on the circumstances. But I will not abide a cheating man.”

  “Is that why your last relationship didn’t work?”

  She nodded, thoughts of Russell ruining the taste in her mouth. “He forgot his phone at my place.” She held her hands up. “I didn’t snoop on purpose. It chimed, I looked and the rest is history. He knew when he came to pick it up he’d been found out.” She forced herself to smile. She was sitting across from an exceptionally handsome man, eating the most amazing brownie she’d ever had. Now was not the time to mope about Russell. “How about you? Why’d your last relationship fizzle?”

  “The same reason they all did.” He stared at his coffee. “She wasn’t the right one.”

  “How long did it last?”

  “Five months. I’ve had longer. Ten months. But she wasn’t the right one either.”

  She nodded. “Five months or ten months, either one is long enough to know. Clean break?”

 
“Not exactly. She thought I was proposing. I wasn’t.”

  “Yikes.” Delaney’s brows shot up. “Is this Piper we’re talking about? The woman Vicky mentioned?”

  He nodded. “Her family owns the local newspaper.”

  “I think I know why you don’t like coming into town.”

  He snorted softly. “My relationships don’t often end that badly, but…” He shook his head.

  “You probably want to go home, huh?”

  He hesitated, and a slow smile curved his mouth. “I’m actually having a pretty good time.”

  “Me, too.” She took another bite of the brownie. Hugh was a nice guy. She’d judged him based on his initial reaction to her, but that had been all wrong. He was a guy reluctant to make a commitment for whatever reason, and that was okay with her. After her mother died, her father had remarried so fast she’d doubted the institution of marriage herself for a while. Whatever Hugh’s reason for staying single, it would certainly make things easier. “Why don’t we make a deal?”

  Curiosity sparked in his eyes. “What kind of deal?”

  “You’re not looking to get married, but you have to make a good show of things for your grandmother, so let’s just agree to have fun for the next twenty-nine days, no strings attached.”

  “No strings attached. I can do that. Except…” He squinted. “Didn’t you come here trying to find a husband?”

  She couldn’t very well say no to that. Instead, she shrugged. “Sure, but I’m also not going to freak out if that doesn’t happen. You might not even be my type.” He was so her type. She just hadn’t known it until now. She drank the last of her chocolate. Darn, that had gone way too fast.

  “And if you fall in love with me? What then?”

  “Conceited much?” She laughed. “I could ask you the same question.” She gave him her sexiest look.

  He laughed. Ouch. Not the response she’d been going for. Then he pointed to the corner of his mouth. “You have a little chocolate right here.”