by Fiona Roarke
“Usually, I have to go looking. It’s not unlike hearing what people say out loud. For example, people all around us in the club are talking, but I’m sure none of us hear word-for-word what they are saying unless we focus on someone in particular. Every so often a stray thought from someone particularly susceptible will fly into my mind.”
“What do you do when that happens?”
“Ignore it as best as I can.”
“Why?”
“If I’m not at work getting paid, no need to seek anyone’s thoughts but my own.”
“Good point.” Viktor gave Warrick a look that he didn’t have to be a mind reader to interpret. His brother liked Bianca and Warrick’s already smitten heart melted more for this amazing woman. Viktor backed up the look by saying, “I really like her.”
“So do I.” Warrick gave his brother a speaking look in return, but this one said he could leave anytime.
The vampire laughed. “Well, I’ll do my best to keep my thoughts as pure as the driven snow when I’m around you, Bianca, just in case.”
Warrick snorted. “Good luck with that.”
Viktor gave him a mock insolent look and exited the booth.
“I like your brother.”
“I like him, too.”
“You aren’t upset that I can read his mind, are you?”
“No. Not at all. It’s better that you can’t see my thoughts right now.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
Warrick cupped her chin to lift her face up to his. He kissed her passionately and thoroughly. “I have very strong feelings for you and I don’t want to frighten you away.”
“I have very strong feelings for you as well and you don’t scare me, even if you are a dragon shifter.”
“You’re afraid of dragon shifters?”
Her head tilted to one side. “I used to be until I met you. Then again, I don’t actually know any dragon shifters. At least, I don’t think I do.”
“What else are you afraid of?”
She grinned. “I used to be afraid of vampires before I came to Nocturne Falls, but there are a lot of nice vampires here in town. Especially your brother.”
“He’s okay.”
“I’m not even afraid that you have marriage on your mind. My mother would be ecstatic.”
Warrick laughed. “So would mine.”
“Remember my two engaged sisters? My mother thinks that since I’m the oldest I should get married first.”
Warrick laughed. “My mother thinks the exact same thing.”
Bianca said, “I can’t wait to meet your mother.”
“She will love you.”
“How do you know?”
“She’s on the hunt for grandchildren. You should have seen her face when I told her I had a date tonight. She told me to hurry up and go. When I paused, she got up and practically pushed me out the door.”
Bianca laughed. “I’m glad, although marriage and children have never been at the forefront of my mind.”
“Me neither, until I met you.”
Her gaze was electric. “I feel the same way.”
“I also know this relationship of ours has moved very fast, but I don’t want to stop or slow down.”
“Neither do I.”
He didn’t know how long they stared at each other, but enough time passed that the waitress came by to ask if they wanted anything else. She had a particular gleam in her eye when she asked Bianca.
“You must know by now that I know better than to order anything else from you, right?” she asked the waitress, who only shrugged and moved on, leaving the bill on the table. He threw a couple of twenties on top of the slip of paper without looking at it, but he was angry.
“Okay now I’m definitely going to report this to the management. She should not be working here.”
“I appreciate that, but don’t bother.” She looked at the waitress across the room, talking intently with a bartender. “Trust me. She’s not going to last much longer.” He followed her gaze, watching the intense conversation.
“Okay. If you’re sure.”
She turned back to stare at him. “I am. Thanks for standing up for me.”
“My pleasure.” Warrick looked deeply into Bianca’s eyes. “Would it be sketchy on my part to want to take you back to my place to show you my medieval weapons collection?”
She straightened in surprise. “That isn’t your way of inviting me to come see your etchings, is it? Do you have a medieval weapons collection?”
“I do. I love weapons.”
Bianca’s head tilted in that little way he’d noticed she did when she was intrigued. “Would I really get to see it? Or are you luring me to your home for private kisses and to see if I’m as limber as our waitress thinks she is?”
He laughed. “Yes. I promise I’d really let you see it. But I’m not gonna lie. I’d also like to learn firsthand all about your agility. Not tonight, of course, but eventually. And the sooner the better.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Warrick glanced at his watch. It wasn’t quite nine o’clock yet. Part of him was waiting for her to get that certain look in her eye and request that he shift fully so she could ride him into the sky, just like all the other women he’d ever dated had once they discovered his heritage.
Maybe that would be the ultimate test for whether this new relationship would work. However, Warrick worried that even if Bianca did ask him to give her a late-night sky ride he’d do it, but be forever heartbroken way deep down inside if that was all she sought.
Chapter Eight
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Bianca was on top of the world. The exhilaration of being with Warrick made her feel whole for the first time in her life. She was anxious to see his medieval weapons collection, but more than that she wanted to see where he lived. It would help her discover who he was, what he enjoyed, and maybe offer another chance to see if their tastes meshed on yet another level.
Conquering her fear of both dragon shifters and vampires in the same night had been daring of her, but after seeing inside Viktor’s head, she noted that he loved his brother and thought he was a good person. The fact Warrick hadn’t shifted into a fire-breathing dragon or even asked if she wanted to see him do it had gone a long way toward lessening her fears. Maybe someday, after they’d been married for ten years or so, she’d say, “Hey, sure. I’d love to see you shift into the second scariest monster from my childhood.”
Bianca had no doubt that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Warrick and the idea was daunting. It was so unlike her, she stopped to ponder the revelation. She was a practical person. She wasn’t in the least flighty or impetuous. It was entirely out of character for her to fall so hard and fast for someone without first considering all the boring practicalities. She had never plunged into anything in her life, let alone a relationship.
She’d never been so focused on another person, especially a man, to the exclusion of all else. But every single time she looked Warrick’s way or even thought about him, her heart trembled in delight and the butterflies in her belly did a dance of joy.
Was this love? Real love? Love-at-first-sight love?
Bianca didn’t believe in love at first sight. Did she? Well, she must now. Because she loved Warrick. She loved everything he did. Every move he made. Every word that came out of his mouth. She loved all of him. Just breathing in his scent made her wobbly and happy.
Something else she knew, without a doubt. If she went home with him, she would likely spend the night there. Was she ready for that? Yes, she wanted to. Maybe she shouldn’t. No, she would not go home with him on their first date when she hadn’t even known he existed at this time yesterday.
They walked very fast toward his big black SUV until Bianca stopped in the middle of the street. Warrick also stopped. A concerned expression shaped his gorgeous face. “What’s up?”
“I’m afraid.”
“Afraid?” He looked around as if a horde of bandits with cutthr
oat intentions was about to descend and murder them where they stood. Of course, they were alone and unthreatened. “Why are you afraid?”
Bianca swallowed hard. “If I go home with you, I’m afraid I’ll spend the night.”
Warrick slipped his arm around her waist and led her back to the sidewalk, keeping her from getting mowed down by an approaching car she hadn’t noticed.
He took both of her hands in his. “I promise you, that is not my intention.”
Bianca smiled as a tear slid down one cheek. She didn’t mean to cry, and it wasn’t precisely a sad tear. “This whole day has been something out of a dream. And I mean that in a good way. I’ve never met anyone like you. I have never been so happy to be in the company of a man. But I know that if I go home with you, regardless of how innocent our intentions are at the start, I am seriously afraid I won’t be able to control my longing for you.”
He whispered, “You long for me?”
“Every second,” she whispered back.
“I feel the exact same way.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I’ll tell you what. Forget about the weapons collection for tonight. Why don’t I drive you to your place and we will make a date for tomorrow and see how we feel then. Okay?”
Another tear slid down her cheek. He was so perfect. So understanding. She felt a burning desire to toss caution into the air, go see his weapons collection and to heck with any consequences.
Bianca inhaled deeply to squelch the fire within that urged her to do things she shouldn’t. “That would be great. Thank you so much for understanding.”
Warrick started them moving toward his vehicle again. When he opened her door for her, Bianca wrapped her arms around him and kissed him like there was no tomorrow. He reciprocated and began to press her against his SUV, but abruptly stopped. “Time to get you back home,” he said in a low, urgent tone.
“Yes. I guess so.” Bianca wavered. What’s the worst thing that will happen if I go home with him to look at his medieval weapons collection? said the imp on her shoulder.
Go home right now, ordered the angel on her other shoulder.
Warrick backed up a step, helped her inside his vehicle and slammed the door. He got in and drove her directly home. They didn’t say a word that didn’t need to be said as she mostly guided him to her apartment by pointing either left or right.
Once he parked, he got out to escort her to her ground-floor apartment in the small building, which housed only five other apartments.
“Are you mad at me?” she asked.
“No. Not at all. I’m mad for you and we are doing the right thing.” He put a finger under her chin, lifting until they gazed at each other. “If I kiss you, will you promise not to knock me in the head and drag me into your apartment?”
That startled a laugh from her. “No promises. Kiss me at your own peril.”
“I’ll take my chances.” He kissed her with the utmost tenderness. She kissed him back the same way, not wanting to tempt fate by going too far. He broke the kiss before she wanted him to stop.
“Until tomorrow.” He backed up a step, but wouldn’t let go of her hand.
“Yes. Where shall we meet?”
“How about high noon at Mummy’s Diner? You know the food is to die for there.”
Bianca grinned. “So I’ve learned. It’s a date. And thank you for tonight. I did have a good time.”
“So did I. Can’t wait for tomorrow.” He released her hand, reluctance in the slow slide of his fingers.
She unlocked her door, opened it and hurried inside, just as hurriedly closing it behind her so as not to fulfill the prophecy he’d cited earlier. She’d never know if she was strong enough to knock him in the head and drag him inside her apartment, but she’d have to live with the wondering—and so would the imp on her shoulder still shouting for her to give it a go.
She shook off her insidious longing and checked her phone messages. The only message was from Bubba, asking her to meet him at work whenever she could the next day even though she wasn’t scheduled to be there. Perhaps he needed extra psychics on stand-by in case of a rush. Pretty much every day since they’d opened the shop was rushed, but she’d go.
As long as she was able to leave on time for her lunch date with Warrick. Or she’d go to work after her date with Warrick. Better idea.
Chapter Nine
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Warrick practically skipped to his shop early the next morning. Even though he hadn’t expected to, he’d slept like the dead. That was a favorite saying of his brother, who tried out vampire humor at every opportunity. Viktor was like a lawyer who couldn’t resist collecting lawyer jokes.
Warrick was willing to admit he was uncharacteristically giddy this morning. And he was in love with Bianca Forrester. She was the first thought in his head when he woke up. The only question he cared to think about was how Bianca felt upon waking in the morning light, especially about him.
He opened his showroom and entered, putting the old-fashioned sign in the front window from closed to open, and headed straight for his workshop. He needed to finish the cheval mirror, as it was due for his client in a few days. All he needed was to preserve the wood, insert the mirror, wrap it up and deliver it.
Before he started his day, Warrick checked his phone messages. Viktor had left one the night before. He listened, but the only thing his brother said was, “Hey, Bro, I just found something out that you need to know. Call me tomorrow night and I’ll tell all.”
Warrick put his phone away and got to work on the cheval mirror, setting an alarm on his phone to ensure he made it to Mummy’s Diner on time to meet Bianca.
The morning’s work went by quickly and before he knew it the alarm on his phone sounded. He put the finishing touches on the cheval mirror to seal his dragon-kissed design. After lunch, he would apply the sealant. It needed a whole day to dry completely. Then he would insert the mirror, make all the finishing touches and get it ready for delivery.
Warrick did his best not to fast walk to Mummy’s Diner, but it wasn’t easy.
He was more than ten minutes early. He scanned the diner, but didn’t see Bianca anywhere. He got a table for two near the front window and waited, not very patiently. At exactly twelve o’clock, the door opened and Bianca stepped inside. He watched her search the room with her gaze. Her eyes found his and her expression, along with her whole body, seemed to light up. Like every wish she’d ever uttered had just been granted. Warrick stood up and gave her a little finger wave, smiling like a fool because he was so happy to see her.
When she got close enough to hear him, he said, “Hey, good to see you. I’m glad you made it.”
Bianca launched herself at him and hugged him tight, burying her face in his throat. “I missed you so much.”
Warrick hugged her back, kissed her forehead and directed her to the chair across from his. She sat, but didn’t let go of his hand.
“I didn’t sleep at all last night,” she said. “And I’m not sure I haven’t had enough coffee yet to be coherent.”
“Interesting. I slept like it was my job. But my first thought this morning was of you.”
“I thought of you all night as I was tossing and turning. And again this morning when I staggered out of bed.”
“Are you awake enough to order food or should I order for you?” Warrick said.
“That depends. What are you going to order for me?”
“Blueberry pancakes, of course.”
Bianca nodded. “That’s what I get every time I come here.”
“That’s because you have great taste.”
They each ordered a big stack of blueberry pancakes, even though it was lunchtime. Apparently, today’s waitress didn’t make any inappropriate mental suggestions, because Bianca simply smiled at her.
They had steaming pancakes in front of them with a side of bacon to share in no time. In between luscious bites of pancakes laden with syrup, they chatted about innocuous things
. He told her about the cheval mirror he was finishing in his workshop. She told him that after lunch, she had to go meet her boss, even though it was her day off.
“What do you think he wants?” Warrick asked.
“I have no earthly idea.”
“That’s funny.”
She grinned. “Oh, because an alien wouldn’t have an earthly idea, is that it?”
Warrick grinned. “I’m just sayin’ that was funny.”
After they made very large dents in their stacks of pancakes, Warrick took a leap of faith. “How do you feel about me this morning? Or rather, this afternoon?”
Bianca pushed her plate away to fold her arms on the table and lean forward. “The truth is, I still long for you. Nothing has changed. I couldn’t wait to see you today. I feel a little like a foolish schoolgirl in love with the popular boy at school. But there you have it.”
“I’m not gonna lie. I feel a little punch-drunk myself and I even slept. I want to keep seeing you, but given our volatile feelings for each other, I’m certainly willing to take things as slow as you wish to go.”
Bianca’s eyes glowed. “That’s because you’re perfect.”
Warrick shook his head. “I’m so not perfect.”
“I’ll bet your mother thinks you’re perfect.”
“Touché, but I bet your mother thinks the same thing about you.”
“I know she wants me to get married as soon as possible, but until I met you it wasn’t really at the top of my list of things to do.”
“Wait a minute. You’re trying to lure me into marriage?”
“Oh my gosh! You have found me out. Now you know that I psychically forced you to propose to me yesterday in front of a witness and family member.” She laughed out loud and her lyrical giggle made his soul burst with love.
“I knew psychic forces were used against me. So that begs a question.”
“What?”
“Where would you like to go for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t care where we go to dinner. I want to end up at your house, though. I still want to see your medieval weapons collection. I just want you to kick me out afterward.”
