The Bridesmaid Earns Her Wings

by Heather Horrocks

  She never wanted to leave his arms.

  Holy cow! She really was in love with Michael Murphy, attorney at law!

  Was it even possible to fall in love so fast?

  The stars in her eyes said yes. The thrum of her heart cried out yes. Even her lips whispered yes.

  She was going to go for it.

  He was handsome. He was romancing her. He was trying to show her what he could offer — and that was a lot.

  She didn’t care about the house, gorgeous as it was, but she did care about his lips on hers, the gentle possessiveness in his touch, the way she felt when she was around him. The way she always felt safe and protected — and alive, vibrantly alive, buzzing with life.

  As difficult as it was, Michael released Dixie, slowly, reluctantly.

  She pulled back, her face flushed, the pulse in her throat calling, her lips parted. She looked well and freshly kissed.

  He forced himself to step back and take her hand.

  So much for moving slowly. Apparently she didn’t want to go slow any more than he did.

  But he knew something now that he’d only wondered at before. The feeling that thrummed through him couldn’t be mistaken.

  Dixie was his lifemate.

  She was his. And he was hers. Forever.

  Now they’d just have to convince her father; the king who hated his guts.

  Piece of cake, right? More like humble pie.

  Which Monster Do You Want to Be Today?

  TIME FLOATED BY — OR DIXIE floated through time. She wasn’t sure which.

  She floated up the stairs of the Wildwood Hotel after Michael dropped her off around 11:00, barely noticing the front desk people bowing to her. She floated up the elevator, down the hall, and into her room.

  When she checked her phone, there was another missed call from her mother and a text asking her to call. She’d been ignoring them all until she figured out what she wanted to do.

  On the table, there was a note from Stacy saying she’d gone to dinner and a movie with Birch and wouldn’t be back until about midnight. When she got back, they exchanged stories: Stacy had had a good time, and Dixie had had a phenomenal, falling-in-love candlelight dinner. And a kiss. Kisses — many kisses. Stacy admitted that Dixie won that night’s lifemate-finding moment.

  “Do you think Birch could be your lifemate?” Dixie asked.

  Stacy shook her head. “No, but he’s a nice guy.”

  After that, Dixie lay in bed awake for a couple of hours, thinking about Michael. About midnight, he texted her: I had a great time. Thanks for coming over. See you later today.

  Warmth filling her, she typed back: Me, too.

  She finally drifted to sleep about two.

  The next morning, she floated to the office and drifted through the morning with her head in the clouds.

  The other secretaries kept giving her strange looks, but she just smiled at them.

  She loved her job! She loved this town. She loved Michael!

  Michael had been in court all morning and had texted her to let her know he’d be there for a few more hours. Then she texted Stacy to see if she wanted to go to lunch, but Stacy had taken an early lunch. So Dixie left the office and wandered back to Town Square and the food stand with the delicious hot dogs. Diggity Dogs. The vendor actually smiled at her this time. “You’ve come back!” He had a slight Spanish accent.

  “Yes. I’d like the special again. Whatever you gave us before.”

  “That would be a Vampire Bite.” The man beamed as he quickly and efficiently put the gourmet dog together.

  “Thanks,” she said, and handed him money.

  He put up a hand. “My treat.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  She ate it on the bench she’d sat at before and then threw her wrappers in the trash.

  When she turned, a man was walking toward her. A large man who looked vaguely familiar to her, though she had no idea why.

  “Here you are,” he said in a booming voice.

  “Yes. Here I am,” she said in a wary voice. “And I only have a few minutes to get back to work, so I must be going.”

  The man put out a hand and took hold of her arm and she jumped back, yanking her arm free. “Don’t touch me or I’ll scream.”

  “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic, Pixieanna.”

  Would these townsfolk never get that her name was Dixie, not Pixie? At least this guy had done a more creative twist on it with Pixieanna. “Look, I’ve really got to go.”

  “I miss you. You’ve got to come back home. You could be in danger here.”

  “I feel totally safe.” That much was true, at least before this possibly homeless guy had accosted her. She took two steps away.

  He followed her. “I understand you’re spending time with Michael Murphy.” He spat out the name.

  “Yes,” she admitted, wondering how on earth this guy knew that.

  “He’s the most dangerous one of all. Stay away from him.”

  “Are you kidding? I love him, not that it’s any business of yours.” Wow. She’d announced it. Just like that, and to a complete stranger.

  The man groaned. “Not a vampire. And definitely not that particular vampire. Have you gone insane?”

  She stared at the man. Vampire? Apparently one of them had gone insane, but it wasn’t her.

  The poor man. She felt so sorry for him. Using her talking-to-the-crazy-person voice, she said, “Is there anyone I can call to help you?”

  He frowned at her. “No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Do you need money? I don’t have much, but I’m willing to share.” She reached into her purse.

  He shook his head. “Stop that. Come home with me. Now.”

  Okay, time to get off the crazy train. “I’m really sorry, but I have to get back to work now.”

  She stepped away from him and started walking away. Over her shoulder, she said, “Good luck with everything.”

  For the next two days, Michael was so busy with court and a special project for his father that she barely saw him. On the third day, Saturday, Michael called and invited her to a movie.

  She’d been thrilled to accept. “At the studio?”

  After all, they were only a short drive away from Moonchuckle Bay Studios, Monster Movie Capital of the World, and the makers of Creature Feature productions.

  “That’s a full-day adventure, and I do intend to take you, but today I was thinking the Woo-Woo Revue.”

  They parked at the Town Square parking lot and walked to the theater, crossing Mane Street, passing Wild Things Gift Shop, and Dorian Gray Photography. “Ohh, we should get our picture taken there today.”

  “Okay.” He grinned. “Let’s go in.”

  Inside, it was like one of those old-west picture places, only with a theme of — of course — monsters. There were some posters showing different backdrops and monster costumes — the Empire State Building and King Kong, a full moon and a broom with saddle, a full moon and a howling wolf, to name a few.

  “Which monster do you want to be today?” A short man greeted them from behind a counter. “A vampire and a pixie?”

  Michael shook his head. “We thought we’d go for something more original, Herb.”

  Dixie studied the pictures. When she got to a scene with a witch and a frog, she nodded. “This one.”

  “Ahhh.” Herb nodded. “You’ll look stunning as a witch, Princess.”

  “Dixie,” she said automatically, and turned to Michael. “Do you like this one?”

  “I love it,” he answered with a smile. “Except the part about me being turned into a frog.”

  As soon as Herb jumped off the stool, she realized how short he was; maybe five-feet tall, but not much over. He scurried around, rolling the backdrops until a full moon came into view, then handed her and Michael some props.

  She put on the proffered witch’s hat and robe. When Herb wheeled around the saddled broom, she climbed aboard.

  Herb handed her
a magic wand and said, “Don’t hex me with that. We don’t want any real frogs in here or anything.”

  She studied Michael, who now looked like a giant frog, wearing a silly green suit and a hat with large eyes. “Looks like I already hexed somebody.”

  Michael looked at himself in the mirror, and shook his head. “You’re lucky I like you.”

  “I am lucky you like me.” She smiled at him.

  He walked across to her and sat on the large lily pad provided for giant frogs.

  She started to giggle.

  “I look totally ridiculous, don’t I?”

  “You look simply adorable as a frog.”

  “You look absolutely beautiful as a witch.”

  Herb said, “Now hold out the wand, pointing toward the frog, as if you’ve just turned him into one.”

  She reached out slowly and sparkly dust came out of the end, as if it actually were a magic wand. The sparkles floated in the air.

  Herb snapped several pictures, instructing them how to move. Finally, he said, “You both look great. Michael, I wouldn’t have believed it, but you make an excellent frog.”

  “Thanks.” He laughed.

  Herb opened his eyes wide. “I just had an idea for a great photo. Mr. Frog, move over close to Ms. Witch. Yes. Closer. Now kneel down partially. Okay, great. Now kiss her.”

  Ms. Witch smiled. “Yes, Mr. Frog, kiss me.”

  Mr. Frog took a little hop closer and she smiled.

  Then he leaned up and she leaned down from the broom and their lips met.

  There was the click of a camera, many clicks, and the kiss lingered.

  Finally, Herb laughed. “Okay, we got enough.”

  Ms. Witch felt slightly dazed as they pulled apart.

  Mr. Frog grinned at her and stood, helping her off the broom. He asked Herb, “Where’s Marigold?”

  Herb shrugged. “She’s at a witch’s convention down in Vegas.” He turned to Dixie. “Marigold is the owner of the shop. She’ll be excited when I tell her you came in to her shop.”

  After they’d pulled off the costumes, dewitching and defrogging themselves, Herb motioned them to a monitor, where he put up a screen with six photos of them.

  Dixie studied them and pointed toward the third one. “I love the kissing one. And this other one.”

  Michael said, “We’ll take them all, and please give us two of the two she likes best. In fact, would you blow up the kissing picture to a large print?”

  “Sure. I can make it look like a painting, too, if you’d like.”

  Michael nodded.

  Dixie smiled at him as he paid and the photo printer whirred.

  As Herb handed him the bag with their photos, he turned and gave it to Dixie. “Two of those are mine.”

  “Thank you for doing this. I’m sure you’ve done it before, since you’ve always lived in this town.”

  “Actually, I haven’t done pictures before.” He waved at Herb. “Talk with you later.”

  Herb disappeared behind the tall counter, and then reappeared as he climbed back onto his stool. He waved back.

  As they left the building, Dixie took his arm.

  The next building was the Woo-Woo Revue — an ornate older structure, complete with sculptures of gargoyles interwoven with curlicues.

  The marquee announced that Lon Chaney’s son, Lon Chaney Jr., starred in the 1941 version of The Wolf Man.

  She looked up at him, her eyes full of stars. “I love this town.”

  He patted her hand. “Me, too.”

  Michael’s heart was full. He did love this town — but mostly he loved that Dixie’s hand was around his arm, and that the lifemate buzz was so strong when he touched her that he had no doubt whatsoever.

  They’d barely met, but it was time for him to propose. He’d need to speak to her father at some point, of course, but he’d wait until he’d asked Dixie, herself. He wasn’t sure when or how, but he knew it needed to happen. Soon.

  “I think I should pay for the movie, since you paid for the pictures.”

  He shook his head. “I’m old-fashioned. Please let me pay for our date.”

  “All right, if you insist.”

  He paid, and walked her inside, pushing open the heavy door. It creaked on its hinges, just like the creepy sound in scary movies; setting the ambience.

  He pointed toward the concession stand. “What would you like for a treat?”

  As they walked closer, she started to laugh. “But these are just normal treats. No monsters here at all.”

  “My favorite is the Red Hots,” Michael admitted.

  “I think I want to try some licorice.”

  One of the young women behind the counter grabbed their food.

  “And popcorn...?” Dixie asked.

  “Of course.”

  The girl packaged their candy, drinks, and popcorn in a cardboard container shaped like a coffin, and they went in to choose their seats.

  “This theater is amazing.” It looked like one of the old theaters from western movies, with a red curtain covering the screen, plush red seats with ornate metalwork around the edges, and a floor that sloped down toward the screen.

  “It was built in the mid-1800s.”

  The lights dimmed and the curtain began to pull to either side as an old-time news reel began to play. They settled into their seats, waiting for the movie to begin.

  The theater began to fill, and three human teenage boys about fifteen years old came in and sat in the row behind them, a few seats to the side.

  Michael and Dixie took turns dipping their hands into the popcorn, their hands touching now and then, sending little jolts through them both.

  When the credits began to run for the movie, she leaned over toward him. “I get scared easily. Don’t be surprised if I jump in your lap.”

  He chuckled. “Promises, promises.”

  She didn’t — but she did hide her face against his chest a few times. He kept his arm wrapped around her.

  After the scary parts, when she uncovered her eyes and lifted her face again, he leaned in — and kissed her.

  The kisses last night had been amazing, but this one nearly blew him away.

  He pulled back and looked down at her pretty face.

  Her eyes were wide and her breathing was shallow. “Do it again,” she whispered.

  He didn’t need another invitation. He pulled her closer and kissed her again.

  One of the boys tapped him on the shoulder, and whispered. “Dude, get a room.”

  He smiled at them and let some of the vampire light shine in his eyes. “Thanks for the suggestion.”

  Their eyes widened, and they apologized and decided to change their seats to the other side of the theater.

  “Wow. You’re pretty persuasive.”

  “When I need to be.” He looked at her and laughed.

  He put his arm back around her shoulder and she settled in next to him.

  He sighed dramatically. “I guess we’ll have to settle for holding hands during the movie.”

  “I guess,” she said with an answering dramatic sigh. “We don’t want to make the teenage population jealous.”

  “I can’t believe I’m acting more like a teenager than they are,” he replied wryly.

  She giggled. “Me, neither.”

  Nobody’s a Vampire

  ISAAC ROLLED HIS EYES. “WILL you please pay attention to what I’m saying?”

  Michael looked across his desk at his brother.

  “Did you hear anything I just said?”

  “Sure.” Though he’d been thinking of Dixie, whom he hadn’t seen since the movie Saturday night, though he could feel she was in the building today. “The Dawson deal is getting an extension.”

  “Anything after that?” Isaac got up and closed his office door. He came back, shaking his head. “You’ve got it bad, dude. You need to snap out of it. There is no chance for you. She is the princess. The fae princess. There’s no getting around that. Her father is not goin
g to let you marry her.”

  “You’re marshing my mallow,” Michael said, copying Edward’s words. Great. Now he was quoting a hostile ghost.

  “I’m going to marsh more than that,” Isaac replied with a roll of his eyes.

  “I love her,” Michael admitted to his brother.

  “I know. You seem to think she’s your lifemate, but she can’t be. There’s no way. Your brains have turned to marshmallow.”

  “There’s no making sense of love.” Michael smiled sloppily as he thought of the kisses he was going to give her at lunchtime.

  After the movie Saturday night, he’d taken her to dinner at Incognito, the fanciest restaurant in town. They had a lunch date today. He hadn’t dared take her to his house again, for fear he wouldn’t be able to control himself. He wanted their first time of being intimate to be after they were officially lifemated. He was old fashioned that way.

  Isaac pointed to the newspaper. “Your ghost went to the media.”

  Michael picked up the newspaper and unfolded it. The story about the ghost was above the fold. Edward was lamenting his exorcism and claiming that Michael and the law firm had refused to help. Rolling his eyes, Michael unfolded the paper and the words ‘fae king’ jumped out at him. The gossip column had been moved below the fold and it was a story about a visit from the fae king.

  He quickly scanned the article. The local gossip queen described the king’s visit to Moonchuckle Bay to address an issue with his daughter, Princess Pixie, and to bring her home. According to the article, the princess had run away to pursue a forbidden relationship with an unnamed vampire, which he had forbidden. Despite her father’s orders, she’d left his kingdom for the undead suitor.

  He leaned back in the chair, stunned. She’d defied her father … for him...?

  That proved she was his lifemate, right? And that she knew he was hers.

  A warm glow radiated from his heart. He needed to take her to lunch now. Though they’d agreed to meet for lunch at noon, he didn’t want to wait a moment longer. He glanced at his watch. It was 11:35 — close enough. They could go early.