Moonshade (Vampire Conclave: Book 1)

by S. J. West

  “How did you end up meeting him again?” Kaylee asks.

  “We were getting gas at the same time at the Stop and Go here in town,” I answer quickly, surprised the lie just fell out of my mouth so easily without giving it a second thought. I should have known Kaylee would want all the details. If I had been thinking straight this morning, I would have concocted a better story before I came over here. “I had supper with him last night, and we’re supposed to go out again tonight.”

  Kaylee sits back in her chair, unconsciously rubbing her belly as she looks at me thoughtfully. “What’s his name?”

  “Julian Movila.”

  “What’s he look like?” Susan asks.

  “Gorgeous,” I have to admit. At least that isn’t a lie. “He has soft brown hair that’s silky to the touch, and hazel eyes so deep you could get lost if you stared into them for too long.”

  “Uh-oh,” I hear Kaylee say knowingly as she continues to stare at me. “I think I know that look.”

  “What look?” I ask, convinced Kaylee has misread my expression.

  “Could it be that our girl has finally found someone she can fall in love with?” Susan asks, looking at Kaylee in a conspiratorial way.

  I get the distinct impression that the two of them are planning something. Whatever it is, it probably doesn’t bode well for me.

  “I think we should meet this man,” Pete says unexpectedly. “Why don’t the two of you come to our house for supper tonight?”

  My heart literally leaps into my throat. This isn’t what I had planned.

  “He’s already made a reservation for us at the Dancing Rabbit for tonight. You know how hard it is to get reservations there,” I say, hastily coming up with something plausible that will get me out of bringing Julian face to face with my family so soon. “Plus, we’ve only gone out once. Things might not even work out between us. I don’t think you guys need to meet him just yet.”

  Pete’s eyes narrow on me. I fear he might know I’m lying because I’m a notoriously bad liar. It’s one reason I hardly ever do it.

  “Why don’t we let Sarah decide when she wants us to meet her new man?” Susan suggests to her husband, trying her best to hint that maybe he’s pushing things a little too fast for me.

  “If he’s someone you might get serious with,” Pete says, “I want to meet him eventually.”

  “I promise you’ll get the opportunity to meet him one day. Just let us get used to one another first before you put the blindfold on and make him stand in front of the Hughes firing line of questions.”

  Pete smiles because he knows I’m right.

  About an hour later, Kaylee’s parents leave to do some grocery shopping at the local Super Wal-Mart. I help Kaylee clean up the breakfast dishes.

  “Where’s Ben this morning?” I had meant to ask that earlier but food and talk about Julian got in the way.

  “He had to go over to his dad’s house to fix his computer. Something about a virus I think. You know that old man is addicted to downloading free porn. It’s a wonder he doesn’t get more viruses on his computer than he does.”

  I laugh. It’s either that or get sick to my stomach at the indecent picture that forms inside my mind starring Pete’s dad.

  “So, do you have any plans for today?” I ask her.

  “Nope, Em and I are as free as birds. Want to do something?”

  Kaylee and I end up going shopping for baby clothes. She has a ton already, but we both reason that a girl, even if she’s a newborn, can’t have too many clothes and shoes. We spend most of the day at the mall until I become so hungry I have to stop and eat. Luckily, the local Mexican restaurant is having a lunch deal, two meals for the price of one. Kaylee laughs at me when I make my order and mirrors her mother’s question about me being pregnant.

  “I am pregnant and I don’t eat that much,” she says while I’m eating my second dessert.

  “I know. I’m just really hungry for some reason.”

  “You know,” Kaylee says with a knowing grin. “I almost always get hungry when Ben and I are having great sex.”

  “TMI,” I exclaim between spoonfuls of chocolate lava cake. What was with everyone telling me about their sex lives lately? First Julian and Helen, and now Kaylee.

  “Well spill,” she says, leaning forward as far as her belly will allow. “Did you and Mr. Gorgeous have sex last night?”

  I almost choke on the cake in my mouth. “Have you lost your mind? You know I wouldn’t do that with someone I barely know.”

  “I know, but I was hoping.” Kaylee sits back and sighs. “I worry about you being so celibate. It just isn’t healthy.”

  “Neither is hopping into bed with a total stranger. Just let me go at this at my own pace, ok? Who knows,” I shrug, “maybe Julian is the one.”

  “Do you really think so?” Kaylee asks, her face filled with newfound hope for me.

  “You never know,” I say, detesting myself for giving her false expectations.

  It’s almost three o’clock by the time Kaylee and I make it back to her house. After we unload everything, I tell her I need to go get ready for my fictional date with Julian. What I really end up doing is dropping by the grocery store and loading up a cart with food. I end up spending three hundred dollars on groceries. At this rate, I’m sure I’ll need to dip into my savings account just to keep myself fed.

  After I put away all the groceries, I grab a bag of Oreos and a gallon of milk before planting myself on the couch in front of the TV. There isn’t much on so I pop in a DVD, World War Z with the handsome Brad Pitt. I don’t know why but zombie movies relax me. Maybe I should have taken that as a hint that the undead were my thing.

  I’m munching on two Oreos in my mouth when my cell phone rings. I don’t recognize the number so I hit ‘silent’ to stop the ringing. A few seconds later it beeps, indicating that I have a new voicemail. I hit the button to listen to it.

  “Sarah,” it’s Helen’s voice, “I was just calling to see when you will be returning home. I have supper ready. And…” she seems to hesitate before saying anything else. In an urgent whisper, she says, “Julian has been a complete bear since you left this morning. Please, for the sake of my sanity, can you come back home as soon as possible? I’m not sure I can take much more of him and his insufferable attitude.”

  I let out a heavy sigh. I don’t want Helen to have to contend with the consequences of my little tantrum. Refusing to give in to my need to be with Julian is only meant to hurt him. I hadn’t even thought about how it would affect those I left behind to contend with his wrath.

  I quickly grab my purse and keys and head back to the mansion.

  As soon as I step over the threshold, the hole in my heart heals itself. I silently curse under my breath, wishing Julian didn’t have this type of hold over me.

  “Oh, thank heavens!” Helen says, walking up the hallway to greet me. She immediately hugs me as soon as she can. “Thank you for coming back so soon. I don’t think I could have taken another minute of his abhorrent behavior.”

  “I got your message,” I reply, returning her hug. “I’m sorry he made your day miserable.”

  “Think nothing of it, dear,” she replies, taking a step back from me. “He deserved it.”

  She looks at me and raises an eyebrow. “I assume your absence was because you heard our conversation this morning in his room?”

  I don’t see any point in lying to her. She has obviously already figured things out, and I need at least one ally with whom I can be completely honest.

  I nod my head. I don’t need to say or do anything else for her to understand.

  Helen sighs. “I can’t say I understand what’s going on in that addled brain of his when it comes to you. I’ve never seen him act this way before with someone he’s bonded to.”

  “Is there something wrong with my blood?” It’s a question I kept asking myself that day. Is there something I’m feeding him that makes him act so out of character? He did say t
he night before that my blood tasted sweeter to him than anyone else’s before me. Maybe there is something wrong with me…

  “I don’t think so, dear,” Helen says, taking my question quite seriously. “I’ve never known anyone to have something wrong with their blood.”

  I was out of ideas then. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense to me.

  “Come on.” She puts one of her arms around my shoulders. “I made you and Daniel some supper. He said he wanted to eat in the kitchen tonight since Adrian is out.”

  “Out where?” I ask as we walk towards the back of the house.

  “I think he went to Biloxi. I didn’t ask too many questions. The longer he’s out of this house the better, is my opinion.”

  I totally agree.

  As I walk into the kitchen beside Helen, I already know who will be waiting for me there.

  Julian is sitting at the table with Daniel, who has already started to eat his supper. When Julian looks up at me, I feel a jolt of electricity course through my body. Damn it, why does he have to affect me the way he does?

  “I’m glad to see you were able to find your way back home,” he quips irritably, not even attempting to keep his aggravation with me out of his voice. “I thought you might have forgotten where we lived.”

  “No, I have a pretty good memory,” I inform him curtly, feeling my temper flare with his open animosity. “I just wasn’t sure when I should come back. I didn’t want to force my presence on anyone.”

  “You’re always wanted here,” Julian replies, taking offense at my retort. “You belong with me. Don’t forget that.”

  “I don’t think there’s any chance of me forgetting that.” I try to rein in my ire, but he’s making it almost impossible. I usually don’t let my temper show, but I’m not about to just stand and take his open rudeness. “I’m quite aware that we’re stuck with each other whether we want to be or not.”

  Julian’s chair makes a horrible scraping sound against the tile floor as he quickly stands from it. “Well, I won’t burden you with my presence any longer, Sarah. Enjoy your meal.”

  He storms past me and out of the kitchen. I hear him stomp up the stairs and slam his bedroom door. Secretly, I’m relieved he didn’t leave the house again. After a whole day of being apart I need to feel his presence, and I hope he needs to feel mine, too.

  I sit down at the table with Daniel, who is staring at me with a concerned expression on his face after witnessing the verbal altercation between Julian and me.

  “Are you all right?” he asks.

  “I’ll be fine,” I reply, even though I’m not actually sure I will be. How am I supposed to feel when I know how much Julian detests being around me? All I want right now is an explanation about why he dislikes being around me so much.

  “Here, dear,” Helen places a casserole dish filled with some sort of taco casserole on the table in front of me. “Maybe a good supper will perk your spirits back up.”

  One good thing about staying at Julian’s house is the fact that he can foot the bill for my increased appetite. Plus, Helen is a great cook; everything she’s cooked for me so far has tasted wonderful.

  I notice Daniel has the same casserole to eat in front of him but is already half- way through with his.

  “Would you like to go out for ice cream later?” Daniel asks. “It might make you feel a little better.”

  “I would, but I told my family Julian and I are going out on a date tonight. I can’t take the chance they might see me and you together,” I tell him regrettably.

  “Ahh, yes, the ruse to introduce him into your life more easily. You don’t seem like someone who enjoys lying to people.”

  “I don’t.” I take a spoonful of the casserole into my mouth before I can finish my thought. It keeps tempting me with its delicious aroma while it sits in front of me untouched. After I swallow, I continue, “I told them we were going out to eat at the Dancing Rabbit.”

  “Dancing Rabbit?” Daniel questions with an amused laugh. “That’s an odd name for a restaurant.”

  “Yeah, I have no idea why it’s called that but it’s been here forever. It’s a little upscale. I haven’t actually been there before.”

  It only takes Daniel a few minutes more to finish off his casserole. Just as I’m about to take the last bite of mine, Julian comes downstairs dressed in a pair of grey slacks, a plum dress shirt, and a jade green tie. Even though I’m still mad at him, I can’t prevent the small leap my heart does at how nice he looks. There’s no arguing that Julian is a devastatingly handsome man.

  “What are you all dressed up for?” Helen asks as she wipes the counters down with a wet washcloth.

  Julian looks at me. “I heard you say you told your family we are supposed to go on a date. I thought it might be a good idea if we actually did it.”

  “You have to make reservations in advance to get a table at the Dancing Rabbit,” I inform him.

  It’s the truth. Pecan Acres might be a small town, but that doesn’t mean people here don’t like to go out and eat at fancy restaurants.

  “I already called them. They had someone cancel a reservation this evening. If you can be ready within the next half hour we can make it there on time.”

  I should have thought about Julian being able to hear my conversation with Daniel. And if he heard that, he probably heard Helen and me talk when I first got back home. It’s obvious he’s aware I know how he really feels about me. I suppose it’s just as well. Secrets are always hard to keep. More times than not, they get found out.

  “Besides,” he continues, “if you’ve never been to the restaurant, how are you going to answer questions Kaylee will undoubtedly ask you about our date?”

  He makes an excellent point. I did inadvertently back myself into a corner by picking a restaurant I’ve never actually been to myself. Kaylee and Ben went there to celebrate her pregnancy. If I can’t answer her questions about the place, she’ll instantly know I lied to her.

  I finish the last bite of my casserole before I stand up from my chair.

  “I guess I’ll see you when we get back,” I say to Daniel.

  “I’ll be waiting,” he replies.

  I brush by Julian in the kitchen entryway as I walk out of the room. I suddenly get a whiff of his cologne and make a note to myself to ask him what brand it is. Once I’m inside my room, I already know what I’m going to wear. I saw the dress hanging in the wardrobe the night before, but it seemed a little too fancy to wear to a supper in your own home. It’s made of a papaya-colored stretch-satin with a halter top, sweetheart neckline, and tucked side seams for a fitted silhouette. I pick a pair of simple thin-strapped silver sandals to go with it.

  Half an hour isn’t a lot of time to get ready for a fancy night out on the town. I don’t even have time to shower. Thank God I thought to shave my legs that morning. I put on a little bit more makeup and curl the ends of my hair quickly with a large-barrel curling iron. Having my hair up all day in a ponytail has given my strands some extra volume. Within twenty minutes, I’m ready for my fake date with Julian.

  When I go back downstairs I accidentally collide with Daniel, who was coming around the corner from the living room. He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders.

  “Sorry, Sarah.” His eyes quickly sweep me from head to toe. He lets out a slow, appreciative whistle. “Wow, you look amazing in that dress.”

  “Thanks.” I feel my face grow warm under his continued perusal of me in my new outfit.

  “Are you ready to go?” I hear Julian ask curtly.

  I look beside us and find him standing there with a slight scowl on his face. I’m not sure what I’ve done this time to earn such a look from him. Maybe he doesn’t like the dress I’m wearing, or maybe his features are cemented into a permanent glower whenever I’m around now.

  Daniel lets go of my shoulders and takes a step back.

  “You two have fun,” he tells us, even though he looks doubtful I’ll gain much enjoyment
from the evening ahead of me.

  “Thank you,” Julian says as he waves a hand in front of him, indicating he wants me to precede him out the front door.

  We walk to the garage in silence. The yellow Enzo is gone. I assume it must have belonged to Adrian. Julian walks up to the red Aston Martin and opens the passenger door for me. I slip into the black leather bucket seat and rest my arm on the large console separating the driver and passenger sides.

  Julian strolls around the front of the car and gets into the driver’s seat. The ride to the Dancing Rabbit is made in uncomfortable silence. It’s like the old expression of there being an elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.

  Eventually, we’ll have to talk about why he doesn’t like being around me. But it seems like a conversation he should initiate. Although, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep myself from asking him for an explanation. I desperately want to know what’s causing him to dislike me so much, and he’s the only one who can answer that question.

  It takes us ten minutes to drive to the restaurant. The parking lot is packed with cars when we arrive, but Julian gets lucky and finds someone near the entrance backing out to leave. I’ve always found it a little silly for women to wait on men to come open their car doors for them. So, as soon as Julian shuts the car off, I open my own door and get out. He doesn’t seem to mind my independent move and casually takes my hand when we meet at the front of the car.

  As soon as we step through the double glass doors of the restaurant, we’re only a couple of steps away from the maître d' podium. We walk up to it, and Julian tells the man standing behind it his name.

  The man grabs a couple of menus and quickly leads us to a table in the middle of the room. I would have preferred a table off to the side where we wouldn’t be the center of attention, but our location does ensure that everyone present will see us together. Besides, isn’t that the point of this whole charade? To have people believe we’re a couple?

  Julian pulls out my chair in a gallant maneuver before taking his own seat. He immediately reaches for my hand across the small table. I have no other option but to place my hand in his since everyone in the room seems to be watching us. I had put up my wall to block out the emotions of those around us, but I slowly let it down to see what people were feeling.