by Jane Cousins
And okay she had done that very thing. But he’d managed to make her retract her decision, hadn’t he? So yeah he was just going to have a little chat with her about being honest with him, he needed to know what he was up against if he was going to - fight was the wrong word - manoeuvre her into his bed and a relationship. Because he was pretty darn sure after kissing the woman just once that he was never going to be able to let her go.
After five minutes of futile knocking he opened the door and entered her apartment. Maybe something was wrong. Maybe she’d fallen in the shower and was even now just lying on the bathroom floor naked … wet, those long limbs of hers glistening with beaded moisture. He could only hope.
He called out her name but only silence greeted him in return. The living room, the kitchen area, the bedroom and unfortunately the bathroom were all empty. It was a mystery. Taking a seat on her immaculately made bed he looked around the room for some sign of what in the name of Maat was actually going on. Nothing, no clutter to give him a clue, then out of the corner of his eye a glimmer of light caught his attention. The closet, had she left the light on in there?
Striding over he yanked open the door and nothing … it was just a normal closet; filled with very few clothes and three pairs of boots. But hold on hadn’t her cousin disappeared using the closest in Washington? Feeling a little more than silly he stepped further into the closest pulling the door closed behind him. Maybe the magic involved here was like the wardrobe in Narnia. He tapped the back and sides of the closets but they remained stubbornly dense and real. Blowing out a breath he couldn’t help but laugh at himself, he was in a closet acting liking a lunatic. Turning he yanked open the door and stepped out into …. someone’s kitchen?
And there smack dab in the middle of it was Hadleigh, chopping salad ingredients, looking entirely edible herself in a strappy chocolate brown sundress that clung to those curves of hers like a winding mountain road.
“Hello there.”
Hadleigh visibly jumped, the knife coming down at a bad angle. “Shoot…” She flung the knife down grabbing a nearby tea towel to stem the flow of blood.
“Here let me see that.”
Vaughn was standing next to her playing tug of war with the tea towel between one breath and the next. Hadleigh would have laughed at the look of concern on his face over a simple little cut if she wasn’t so horrified at his presence here.
“You have to go … now.” She hissed. Trying to step back.
“Not until I see that cut.” He tugged once more on the tea towel.
Hadleigh blew out a deep sigh, her eyes swivelling between Vaughn and the living room door. Ripping away the towel she held out her hand. “Look, see, all better. Now go, you can’t be here.”
Vaughn grabbed her hand in his and inspected it carefully, pleased that no trace of injury remained. Still holding her hand he looked up to find her kissable lips only inches away. “Hey you’re wearing heels … nice.”
Hadleigh rolled her eyes, yanked her hand out of his, grabbing him by the shoulders trying her best to herd him physically back towards the pantry door he’d emerged from. “You’d be the only man ever to think so, now leave ... you can’t stay here.”
Vaughn laughed at Hadleigh’s failure to budge him even a little. “Is this what they call being manhandled? If so I like it and I like your dress too by the way.”
Hadleigh growled at him, her grey eyes darkening in a split second. “If you call it fun, flirty and feminine I’ll deck you.” Still she tried and continued to fail making the mountain of a man move even an inch towards the pantry.
“I was thinking more along the lines of dangerous, challenging and gorgeous.”
He flashed her a smile which only resulted in Hadleigh rearing back and slamming her shoulder into his. Actually forcing him back two steps, Maat she was strong and the fact she could make him move only made him want her more. This close he couldn’t avoid seeing the horror flood her eyes at the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Run.” She instructed in an urgent whisper, giving him one last desperate futile shove.
Vaughn stayed resolutely in place. If there was an approaching threat he would be happy to deal with it, anything for Hadleigh.
Accepting that she was out of time and that Vaughn was immovable Hadleigh scrambled back to the counter, picking up the knife, trying to act natural.
Vaughn turned to face the threat, tensing he waited poised as the door swung open.
“Sweetheart I think we’re going to need more….”
The woman who entered the kitchen paused; she was small by Vaughn’s standards, barely 5.9ft, beautiful, trim but with a great front porch as Nate might say. With dark brown hair pulled back in a loose plait, only a few laugh lines around her dark blue eyes hinted that she was older than Hadleigh. Her eyes scoped out Vaughn, flicked to Hadleigh and then back to Vaughn as a large smile broke out across her face, a smile that instantly reminded Vaughn of Hadleigh’s rare smile.
“Darling you bought a date!”
Out the corner of his eye he noted Hadleigh flinch ever so slightly.
“Mother, he’s not my date. This is ... this is Vaughn, my boss.”
Mother! Wow this was one great gene pool. “Temporary boss.” He amended, moving forward hand extended to greet her mother properly.
“And he was just leaving.” Hadleigh inserted neatly.
“Mrs Valhalla, it’s a pleasure. Working with your daughter is a real treat for me and my team.”
“You must call me Lucy and I absolutely insist you stay for lunch with the family Vaughn. We want to hear all about Hadleigh’s temporary assignment.”
Vaughn made slight noises about declining the invitation but made no move towards the exit, instead letting Hadleigh’s mother lead him over to a stool across the bench from Hadleigh whilst she went off to fetch an ice cold beer for him. Shooting Hadleigh a victorious look Vaughn settled in, surprised when she just shook her head shooting him a wry look. “Just remember when all this is over I tried to save you right?”
“Okay.” He couldn’t hide the smug smile that now clung to his lips.
* * *
Vaughn had never been formally tortured for information before but he was pretty sure that Lucy Valhalla could teach the world’s nastier element a thing or two about technique. Most men would have handed over the launch codes within five minutes of her relentless yet polite questioning and those miss nothing blue eyes. Like most mothers she was protective of who her daughter spent her time with, he could understand that. Yet at the same time the woman was desperate for grandchildren so while she not so subtly investigated his credentials she also strongarmed him into outlining his stance on the munchkin factor whilst doing a credible PR campaign on Hadleigh as a great catch and potential mother material of said munchkins.
Not that he had to be sold. In fact the only person who flinched, moaned and sighed throughout the ‘friendly chat’ was Hadleigh. When Lucy excused herself to set the table for lunch Hadleigh finally downed tools, grabbed the beer from Vaughn’s hand and drained the contents.
“I’m so sorry.” She looked at him, those clear grey eyes filled with sympathy.
“For what? She’s just being a mother.”
“But all those personal questions. I couldn’t believe how polite you were.”
Vaughn shrugged. “She loves you. She’s concerned for you.”
“What could possibly have possessed you to tell her you wanted children?”
“Well … because I do someday, with the right woman.” With you, he added silently.
“Honestly Vaughn it was like dangling a piece of meat in front of a wild animal.”
“It wasn’t like I could lie. Something tells me your mother can smell a lie.”
“It’s all well and good for you, once you’re back in Atlanta you’ll never have to hear about the topic again. Me, I’ll hear about it endlessly. Last month she tried to set me up with her mechanic. Nothing wrong with the guy except h
e’s barely 5.5ft and old enough to be my grandfather. She wants me wed and popping out grandchildren is what she wants … like that’s going to happen.” Hadleigh muttered, absently cleaning the counters.
Vaughn was about to pursue the conversation further when there came the sound of a door banging open and heavy footsteps approaching at a run.
“Goddess, I didn’t get time to warn you about my brothers.” Before Hadleigh could elaborate further the living room door popped open, a head appeared and then disappeared just as fast, leaving Vaughn with only the vague impression of navy blue eyes and a mop of auburn hair.
“Mom’s right.” The male voice sounded loudly from behind the closed door. “Gigantore’s here and she did bring a date.”
“Goddess help us.” Sounded a second male voice. “You warn the villagers, I’ll round up the men and the pitchforks.”
“Boys.” Lucy Valhalla’s voice drifted from behind the closed door, reprimanding them in a light chiding tone.
Hadleigh rolled her eyes. “My brothers.” She confirmed for him.
Vaughn frowned for a split second then grinned, an evil glint in his golden eyes. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
* * *
Could this day get any worse? Goddess what was she thinking, of course it could. First Vaughn pops into the kitchen looking ten kinds of delicious in worn jeans, boots and a simple khaki t-shirt stretched tight across his massive frame. Then her mother proceeds to interrogate the man about his feelings on settling down and children. For the past two years her mother had been rabid crazy on the subject of grandchildren. But did she plague her three older brothers with her hopes and dreams? Set them up on blind dates with all too inappropriate partners? Of course not.
For Goddess sake one man she’d tried to hook Hadleigh up with was the very fugitive she was seeking in her job as an enforcer. Their date had consisted of her detaining and transporting him back to his clan of dream sucking vampires.
Her brothers were no help what so ever, at times even egging their mother on. Her father bless his heart was the model of disinterest on the topic, all he wanted for her was her health and happiness.
When it came time to bow her head and give thanks before eating she prayed fervently for this day to be over soon.
* * *
Vaughn was having a hoot and half. He hoped this day would never end. He had Hadleigh sitting directly across the table for eye candy and her mother at the end of the table regaling him with stories from her early years. There were only two potential flies in his ointment.
The first was Hadleigh’s father. Gunther Valhalla was an intimidating man size wise. Not quite as tall as Vaughn but at least three times the width. He had muscles on his muscles and fists the size of hams. Seated at the end of the table Gunther said very little, just ate and scowled. Except when he occasionally looked either at Hadleigh or his wife, then there was a definite if very slight softening to the man’s granite like features.
In the filtered sunlight through the rose covered arbour where they were seated for lunch his long hair glinted red, a few shades lighter than his daughters. And it was obvious whom Hadleigh had inherited her clear grey eyes from, though Gunther’s were a little more disconcerting in that occasionally tiny streaks of lightning flashed across the pupils. They had done just that very thing when he’d been introduced and the man had squeezed his hand in greeting just a smidgeon shy of bone crushing.
Vaughn might have taken the appearance of lightning as a deterrent but he quickly noticed that the lightning streaks also appeared anytime one of the three Valhalla boys opened their mouths to make a teasing jab Hadleigh’s way.
Which bought him to the brothers, or the teasing hounds from hell as he’d come to nickname them in his head. Locke the oldest was a lawyer, next came Erik the sculptor and finally the closest in age to Hadleigh, Fen, the fireman. At just over six foot all three had to varying degrees their mother’s dark blue eyes and dark chocolate brown hair with a dash of auburn tints thrown in from their father’s side. All three had broad shoulders but none carried themselves or moved like a warrior, like their father did … like Hadleigh.
They’d only been seated a minute or two when the first jab came from Erik, regarding the size of Hadleigh’s butt. It stunned Vaughn into silence when Hadleigh gave no response, other than to tighten her grip on her cutlery. Gunther’s eyes flashed lightning whilst Lucy only shook her head, smiling, saying Erik’s name in a manner that held more fondness than reprimand.
Vaughn decided then and there he didn’t want to hear another crack like it at Hadleigh’s expense so he proceeded to become the clumsiest man on earth. Erik and Fen on either side of him suffered the most. He accidently elbowed Fen hard in the ribs after he made a comment regarding Hadleigh’s weight. Fen shot him a hard suspicious look despite Vaughn’s profuse apology. As the lunch proceeded he trod on Erik’s foot twice, spilt his drink on Fen and somehow managed to elbow the man in the exact same spot three more times.
Only Locke sitting across the table next to Hadleigh was getting away unharmed, that was until he oh so clumsily shot a pea off his plate right into the man’s eye.
He felt a little guilty as silence descended on the brothers for the remainder of the lunch whilst they tended their various injuries, eyeing him with wary sullen looks. Only Gunther’s mood seemed to have improved, even going so far as to bestow a small half smile in Vaughn’s direction at one point.
All the time Lucy Valhalla remained oblivious to her too quiet daughter and her injured sons. When she managed to bring the now stilted conversation yet again back to the topic of grandchildren Vaughn decided to intervene one last time, anything to get the hunted expression off Hadleigh’s face.
“I would have thought Hadleigh’s brothers being older might have provided you with a grandchild or two of your own by now.”
Lucy laughed. “Not a one of them settled down, being single is like an epidemic around these parts.”
“Is there something wrong with them?” He whispered the question, even though the whole table was privy to his words, Gunther covering up a snort of laughter with a cough.
“My boys? Of course not. It’s just with a daughter.” She smiled Hadleigh’s way. “It’s different when your daughter has a child.”
“Is it?” Vaughn acted surprised. “I would have thought you would be much more involved … needed when it came to helping any daughter-in-law you might have with raising a child. Ensuring they understood and participated in Valhalla family traditions, guiding them, advising them.”
A big smile adorned Lucy’s face as she began to look at her sons in a new light. “I’d never thought about it like that.”
“You vicious bastard.” Fen muttered under his breath.
Locke shot him a death look from across the table.
Whilst Erik sought to bring the situation under control, offering his sister up yet again. “But look at those hips.” He pointed towards his sister. “They’re so wide, they scream child bearing.”
Hadleigh’s fork snapped in two but she did no more than glare Erik’s way. Lucy sucked in her breath and for the first time pinned one of her sons with a hard look. “You apologise to your sister right this minute Erik Jorgen Valhalla.”
With the entire table’s focus on Erik Vaughn couldn’t afford to do any obvious damage to the man, but he didn’t have to as a massive wide hand swung out and cuffed the back of Erik’s head so hard he slammed forward banging his forehead onto the table.
“You heard your mother.” Gunther growled, and the smell of ozone filled the air. “Apologise to your sister.”
Rubbing both the front and back of his head Erik sat up muttering an apology Hadleigh’s way.
“Well I guess it’s time for desert.” Lucy smiled down the table.
“My thoughts exactly.” Gunther stood up so abruptly his chair shot back and fell over. Striding around the table he grabbed his wife by the arm pulling her up, a flustered yet pleased look on her face.<
br />
“Really Gun, we have a guest.”
Gunther just grunted. “Something tells me he’ll be back. Come on woman I want my desert.” With that he pulled his wife up into his arms and strode out, with Lucy waving her hand in Vaughn’s direction, calling out that she loved Hadleigh and in a surprisingly stern tone told her sons to clean up.
Staring after them Vaughn looked across at Hadleigh slightly puzzled, even as the sound of stomping footsteps and giggles drifted back their way.
“What just happened?”
Hadleigh stood up like someone had thrown a fire cracker under her. “Come on we need to get going before the...” Then the moaning joined the giggling sound and Vaughn suddenly got a clue ... oh. Hadleigh raced around the table and grabbed his hand. “Come on, we’re out of here.”
Dragging him back into the house towards the kitchen and the promise of a distant place where she wouldn’t have to try and block out the sound of her parents enjoying a noisy nooner.
“What about your brothers?” Vaughn let her set the fast pace.
“Let ‘em suffer.”
They slammed into the bedroom of Hadleigh’s apartment back in Atlanta gasping for breath.
“How does that thing work?” Vaughn eyed the now closed closet door.
“I told you about the family grid right?” Hadleigh eyed the door warily for a moment and then relaxed, no sound travelled through the barrier. “I need a drink.” She swivelled abruptly striding out to the living room.
“You were saying about the grid?” Vaughn went to stand by the living room windows, noting the thunder and lightning storm lashing the Atlanta night sky.
Hadleigh rummaged in the bar fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine, holding it up in a silent query towards Vaughn, who nodded. Whilst she found some glassware Hadleigh explained about the grid. “Think of it like an actual grid, only invisible, the family, everyone who uses magic in the Sanctuary both feed and pull from the grid. We use it to power the portal system. The only limitation to it is that you can only travel to a place previously seen and mapped by a sanctuary member.”
