The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride

by Kristen Painter

  “Or…” Merrow’s brows lifted. “You might want to talk to Piper yourself. She may tell you more than she told your brother. And at least it wouldn’t be secondhand.”

  “You know what you’re asking me?”

  Merrow nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll let myself out. Call me after you’ve seen her.”

  Hugh groaned as the door shut. He looked at Stanhill. “Piper.”

  Stanhill put Merrow’s cup in the sink. “It’s for Delaney.”

  Hugh grabbed his coat. “That’s the only reason I’d do this. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  The only male in Delaney’s bed when she woke up was Captain. He stared at her from the other pillow, judging her in the silent way of cats. She propped herself on her elbows and wrinkled her nose at him. “Be quiet. I’m a grown woman. I can sleep with whoever I like. And I like Hugh.”

  In fact, she liked him a lot.

  Captain licked his chops and burped a sulfurous, fishy cloud at her.

  “Ew. What have you been eating?”

  He put his head down and closed his eyes.

  “Fine, go to sleep. Your stinky cat breath isn’t enough to ruin my mood.” Not when she and Hugh had reached a mutual agreement about giving a relationship an honest try.

  She kissed him on the head then lay back down and grinned as a sense of nutty wonderment filled her. She was in a relationship with a vampire. She put her hand to her throat, but the dragonfly was gone.

  Bolting upright, she started patting the sheets. Crap. If she’d lost that…then she saw it on the nightstand. A simple ivory note card was propped next to it.

  She snatched it up and read.

  Had an errand. See you soon. Miss you already.

  -H

  She read it again, still smiling. “Miss you too,” she whispered to the note. She looked over her shoulder at Captain. “Your mother is gone, you know that? Gone hard.”

  With a laugh, she hopped out of bed and climbed into a long, hot shower that felt almost as good as last night. Hugh had been nothing short of amazing. Sweet, tender and utterly devoted while somehow dominant and demanding at the same time. He’d left her exhausted in the most pleasurable way possible.

  She rinsed the shampoo from her hair. No wonder Piper hadn’t wanted to let him go.

  A few more minutes of luxuriating under the hot spray and she got out, wrapped herself and her hair in towels, then tried to figure out what to wear. Her clothing options were getting more limited by the day. She ended up pulling on jeans and a T-shirt.

  If she was going to stay here, which she was, at least for a few more weeks, she needed more things to wear. She hadn’t spent a dime since she’d gotten here so she could spare a little bit. Maybe she’d drive into town and check out the boutiques she’d seen.

  She grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. She poked her head into the kitchen. “Stanhill?”

  No sign of him. Maybe he’d gone with Hugh. She checked a few other rooms, but couldn’t find him. She went back to the kitchen and left him a note, promising to be back in an hour or two.

  The drive into town wasn’t bad, but parking took her longer than expected. Finally, she snagged a spot and hit the sidewalk. The streets were busy, probably because of the parade tomorrow. Signs were posted showing the parade route. That would be fun.

  She walked past the park. The gargoyle at the fountain was telling jokes to the kids gathered around. She stopped for a moment as the realization struck her that the gargoyle was pretty real and not animatronic, like she’d first thought.

  On the other side of the park was one of the little clothing stores she’d seen. She stopped in and poked around, but the styles and prices were a little too upscale. “Is there a secondhand store in town?” she asked the clerk.

  The woman nodded. “A block down and turn right. It’s across from the Tombstone.”

  “The Tombstone?”

  “The newspaper building.”

  “Oh, right. Thanks.” The newspaper Piper’s family owned. Delaney followed the woman’s directions and found the shop easily, but did her best to ignore the building on the other side of the street. A chance meeting with Piper was not on her agenda.

  The store’s selection was great, and she had an armful of selections after only a few minutes. Jeans, a few tops and a new sundress, plus a vintage candy mold she didn’t need but couldn’t resist. She paid and, bag in hand, left the little shop behind.

  She stopped outside the door and stared.

  Hugh was leaving the Tombstone building. What errand had he been doing, exactly? She could just make out the image of the woman watching him from inside the lobby. Tall, blonde and unmistakably Piper.

  Betrayal gut-punched her. This was shades of Russell all over again. And after what had happened last night…she shook her head. She was jumping to conclusions.

  Hugh got in his Jaguar and drove off. He didn’t look happy. That might be a good sign. If he’d just had a happy meeting with Piper, he’d have a smile on his face, wouldn’t he?

  None of that erased the sick feeling in her belly. She walked slowly back to her car, her thoughts continuing to spin out possibilities. Maybe Piper had called him about something. Maybe she was trying to blackmail him over Delaney’s real identity. Except her real identity was basically public knowledge now.

  Forcing herself not to freak, she drove back to Hugh’s and went inside.

  He and Stanhill were in the middle of a heated conversation in the living room. The last thing she heard was Hugh saying, “I don’t want to tell her any of this yet.”

  That didn’t sound so great. She walked in, not caring if she was interrupting. “You don’t want to tell me what?”

  Hugh looked relieved to see her. “There you are. You shouldn’t have gone into town alone.”

  His concern wasn’t nearly as touching as it should have been. “Why? Because I might see you meeting with Piper?”

  He frowned, then shook his head. “No, but about that—”

  “Yes, please explain. I’m dying to know why you didn’t tell me you were going to see Piper. I thought we were going to be honest with one another now? Especially after we just slept together.” She dropped her bag on the floor and took a seat on the sofa, kicking her feet up on the coffee table and settling in.

  Stanhill made for the door.

  She pointed at him. “You. Stay.”

  He cleared his throat and took a seat in one of the occasional chairs.

  Hugh sighed. “Our sleeping together had nothing to do with me going to see her. Not directly anyway.”

  “Then why’d you go?”

  “Because she threatened you.” His eyes took on a predatory gleam. “And I am not okay with that.”

  “What?” All traces of frustration vanished from Delaney’s gorgeous face. “What do you mean she threatened me? How?”

  Hugh sat near her on the sofa. “First things first. I know you’re mad I went to see Piper.”

  “No, I’m mad you went to see her without telling me and that I had to find out about it on my own. But maybe that’s just my own insecurity talking and maybe I don’t have a right to that with you. Not yet.”

  “No, you do. I know your last boyfriend cheated on you. I am not that man. Nor will I ever be.” He never wanted her to feel betrayed again, especially not because of something he’d done.

  “Even better.” Her smile broadened. “Now tell me about Piper threatening me.”

  “Remember when we were at Insomnia and Julian said Piper was out to get you?”

  Delaney nodded. “Sure, but that’s not really a threat.”

  “I didn’t think that much of it either, until I talked to Sheriff Merrow again—”

  “When was that?”

  “Right before lunch. You were still asleep.” Still lounging in the bed they’d shared. A bed he wished he’d stayed in longer. “Merrow came by to give me an update. His sister, Bridget, runs Howlers, a local dive bar in town and—”
/>   “Wait. Is Bridget a werewolf too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Howlers? That’s not a little on the nose or anything.” Delaney grinned. “Go on.”

  “Bridget had some customers come in who caused her some concern.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “Sheriff Merrow told her about your situation. That family is pretty close, and because of Howlers, Bridget has her finger on the pulse of this town.”

  “Got it. So what about these customers?”

  “They were from New York and asked where other New Yorkers tended to hang out in town.”

  Delaney froze. “You mean like they were looking for me?”

  He nodded. “Maybe. They paid cash so we don’t have any names, but Bridget is looking through her security footage to see if she can find a clear picture of them.”

  Delaney hugged her knees to her chest. “Where does Piper fit into all this?”

  “Merrow wanted me to talk to her after I told him what she’d said to Julian. He thought she was more likely to tell me what she might have done than anyone else.”

  “And?”

  It wasn’t good. But Delaney deserved to know. “Piper heard your name during the confrontation we had here. She researched you and found out there was a missing-persons report on you in New York.”

  “What?” Delaney pressed her hand to her forehead. “That piece of—one of my co-workers texted me to say that if I didn’t show up, Rastinelli was going to call the police and tell them I’d gone missing. I thought it was just a scare tactic. I never thought he’d actually do it.”

  Hugh shoved a hand through his hair. “Sounds like another indicator that he’s got some dirty cops on his payroll. Bloody hell. Those men at Howlers might actually be here looking for you.”

  Hugh’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out to see a text from Sheriff Merrow. He opened it. “Bridget found some clear shots of the men. Merrow wants us to come down to the station so you can see if either of them are familiar.”

  “Okay.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “What if they come after me?”

  He kissed her knuckles and smiled. “Sweetheart, I don’t care how dangerous those men think they are, they’re nothing against an aged vampire and his rook.”

  “Damn straight,” Stanhill chimed in. “They won’t get a chance to lay hands on you, miss.”

  She smiled.

  Hugh squeezed her hand. “I want you to feel safe.”

  “I do.” Her smile faded a bit and her gaze turned wistful. “I guess this means no parade, huh?”

  He knew she’d be disappointed, but there was nothing he could do. Her safety was more important. “Probably not.”

  “That kinda sucks.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s go see the sheriff. Get this over with.”

  Stanhill stood. “I’ll bring the car around.” He grinned at her. “If it’s all right that I leave.”

  “Yes.” She laughed. “Sorry about ordering you around like that.”

  He winked at her. “I assure you, I’m used to it.”

  “Oh please,” Hugh said. “Just go get the car.”

  “See?” Stanhill shook his head as he walked out of the room.

  Delaney’s soft laughter continued. “You two are quite a team.”

  Hugh looked after his rook. “He’s a good man.”

  She took his hand. “So are you. I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time about going to see Piper. That wasn’t fair of me.”

  He pulled her close. “Considering your history with men not being honest, I’d say you get a pass.” He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb and heat spiraled through him at the thought of having her in his bed again. “I will never intentionally hurt you, Delaney. If I have to tell you that every day, I will.”

  He sealed his promise with a slow kiss. “And I will never let anyone else hurt you.” He looked into her eyes. “If these men come after you, they will have to go through me. If they attempt to hurt you, I will kill them.”

  She swallowed. “It’s totally wrong of me to be turned on by the thought of murder, but that’s kind of hot.”

  Her words caught him off guard, and he laughed out loud. “You never fail to surprise me, woman. For someone of my age, that is a rare and outstanding quality.”

  Two quick honks broke the mood. “Stanhill,” Hugh growled as he got to his feet. He raised a brow at Delaney and offered her a hand up. “That impudence is all for your benefit, I hope you know. He likes you. And he’s a tough critic.”

  She smiled and took his hand as she stood. “I like Stanhill, too. When I first got here, I thought he was you.”

  Hugh frowned. “You seem as though you would have been okay with that.”

  “He’s a very handsome man, but he’s a little old for me.” She pursed her lips and leaned into him. “Of course, that was before I knew you were three hundred and seventy-seven.”

  He started to argue that vampires aged differently, but she pressed a finger to his lips and smiled slyly. “Who knew I had a thing for older men with really sharp teeth?”

  Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting in the sheriff’s office. It was a block off Main in a pretty brick building with a small front parking lot. Sheriff Merrow’s office sat just beyond the receptionist’s desk, which is where she and Hugh sat now. When they’d come in, she’d seen a smaller, second office, maybe an interrogation room, and a hall with a sign above it that said “Holding,” but not much more than that. Apparently, when your town’s sheriff was a werewolf, crime wasn’t that big of an issue.

  “Appreciate you coming in,” Sheriff Merrow said.

  He was about to close his office door, when the receptionist barged in. “Can I get y’all a Coke? We have bottled water too. Or coffee.”

  He glowered at the woman. “Mrs. Caruthers, I am trying to—”

  “You hush, Hank. Where are your manners? And for Pete’s sake, call me Aunt Birdie.” She shook her head and looked at Delaney. “I changed his diapers, you know. And his brother Titus’s.”

  “Mrs. Ca—Aunt Birdie.” Sheriff Merrow pointed out the door. “Back to your desk please.”

  Delaney hoped her shock wasn’t registering on her face. She could not imagine changing a werewolf’s diapers. “I would have thought it was more of a housebreaking situation,” she muttered under her breath.

  Hugh coughed and shot her a pointed look.

  “What was that, dear?” Mrs. Caruthers asked as she soundly ignored Sheriff Merrow.

  “Nothing,” Delaney said. “We’re good on the drinks.”

  Mrs. Caruthers’s grin widened. “If you change your mind, just let me know. And y’all can call me Birdie.”

  Sheriff Merrow pointed with greater enthusiasm.

  Birdie left.

  He shut the door. “Sorry about that. She’s a force of nature, that one.”

  “Is she really your aunt?”

  Sheriff Merrow’s nostrils flared. “Yes.”

  Delaney stifled a snort of laughter. “I like the pushiness of Southern hospitality, although it’s going to take some getting used to.”

  Sheriff Merrow sighed, opened a file and pushed it across the desk toward her. “Pictures are grainy, but it’s the best Bridget could do. Resolution on her security feed isn’t great.”

  She studied the pictures, finally pushing the file back toward him. “Sorry, neither of these men look familiar, although they do look like the type of guys that Little Tony—that’s Anthony Rastinelli’s son—hangs out with.”

  Sheriff Merrow closed the file and moved it to the corner of his otherwise pristine desk, then looked at Hugh. “What did you find out from Piper?”

  “Not much,” Hugh said. “Just that she found a missing person’s report on Delaney.”

  Sheriff Merrow tapped a finger on the file. “That doesn’t help me eliminate these two at all.”

  “Probably makes them even more suspicious, huh?” Delaney sighed. “Hugh said we probably shouldn’t go to the parade
tomorrow with those two in town.”

  “Actually…” Sheriff Merrow sat forward. “If you went, we might be able to draw them out. If they are indeed in town after you.”

  “No,” Hugh said. “We’re not using Delaney as bait.”

  She put her hand on his arm. “Wait a minute. If it means getting rid of these guys—or maybe finding out there’s no one here after me—then why not?” She looked at the sheriff. “I’d be totally protected, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “By you and two deputies?” Hugh snorted derisively. “I wouldn’t call that totally protected.”

  Sheriff Merrow’s already squinty-eyed gaze got a little squintier. “We’re all werewolves. And I’d assumed you’d be at her side the whole time. Are you saying you plus three of us wouldn’t be enough?”

  Hugh leaned forward, clearly not amused, considering the stern set of his mouth. “I’m saying I don’t want to put her into any more danger than she already is.”

  “The thing is,” Delaney started. “We don’t actually know if I’m in danger or not. This would be a good way to figure that out.”

  Hugh shifted his gaze to her. “I don’t like it.”

  “I’m not madly in love with it, but it’s a solid plan.” She nodded at Sheriff Merrow. “I’m willing to give it a shot.”

  Hugh frowned. “What about your new friend, the gargoyle? You think he’d be up for helping out? Just to add a little sheer brute force.”

  “I talked to him for five minutes. I have no idea.” But it was nice to know Hugh was over being jealous of Nick. She looked at the sheriff. “He said he knew you from the Army. Nick Hardwin?”

  Sheriff Merrow’s head did a slow bob. “Nick Hardwin. Good guy. Just into town. I could deputize him if it makes you feel better.”

  “Yes, it would.” Hugh stared at Delaney. “Are you sure you’re all right with this?”

  “With three werewolves, one gargoyle, one vampire and Stanhill? I can’t think of how I might be safer.”

  “I can,” Hugh groused.

  “Yes, I know. If I wasn’t there at all.” She bit back a laugh. “Sheriff, what about the possibility that these men don’t even see me at the parade?”