by Candace Colt
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Sure. Love to, bro. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you." Connor waved his hand toward a scowling Ryan.
She guessed she could spare five minutes, even if she’d stepped into something between these two. Her metal chair grated over the concrete and vibrated through every bone in her body.
Or was this her body sending caution signals?
Connor slumped half-horizontal in his chair, legs spread like a cocky high school quarterback. Fine for a seventeen-year-old. But Connor was twenty-six.
Jess sat tall and erect. Had she spent years on a crippling puppy love for this guy?
"So how’ve you been?" Connor asked.
What had she expected? ‘I’ve been empty since the day I dumped you like a potato sack.’
Bull crap.
She could lie. Say her career had taken a meteoric rise. With more money than she knew what to do with, she was passing through on a visit.
But Ryan probably already told him everything.
"Fine." Mighty impressive answer. "I understand you’re getting married."
"Yes." Connor’s voice dropped. He looked inside for his brother. "How long does it take to get coffee?"
"Is the lucky bride from here?"
He shook his head. "North Carolina."
"A shifter?"
"Falcon like us," he said in an unenthusiastic murmur. "So is Ryan’s fiancé."
Fiancé? Funny how that never came up yesterday. But, why would it? Two people sitting across from each other at a table didn’t mean a real date.
Of course, the Ford brothers chose falcon-shifter mates. Solange Ford must be over the moon. Even for a minute, she’d never accepted that her son might have an interest in a non-shifter. Though Connor’s interest had been debatable, it had served to torque Solange.
Ryan returned and handed his brother a cup. "Too long to stand in line for overpriced coffee. You owe me."
"Next time," Connor said.
"This was the next time," Ryan said.
The Fords were among the richest in town, and these two clowns were playing price ping pong? These guys were something else.
The drink’s heat had diminished in direct proportion to her lost patience and she was ready to split.
Life was too short to babysit bickering brothers. How handy to shift into a bird and fly away right now. Better yet, why didn’t they?
"Well, guess I’ll see you tonight." She gathered her packages and disappeared into the crowd.
*~*
Ryan tapped his cup while keeping an eye on Jess.
Who blamed her for leaving after the asinine rant about coffee prices? Had the woman even spoken ten words?
Their mother didn’t need to worry about anybody holding torches for either Ford.
"Happy with yourself?" Ryan asked.
Conner shook his head in bewilderment. "What did I do?"
As far as Ryan remembered, Connor hadn’t done anything consequential. But this time he had. "You ran her away." He spun the cup Jess left behind.
"She’s sure a little hottie. Wonder if she’s dating anyone?" Connor asked."Did you forget you’re getting married in two months?"
"And?"
Ryan fisted his hands, disgusted at the lustful look in his brother’s eyes. "Leave her alone. She’s a nice kid."
"That, my brother, was no kid."
"Stay away from her."
Connor rocked his chair on two legs. "I told her you were engaged."
Consumed by anger, Ryan fought the urge to punch the smirk from Connor’s face. "Why’d you do that? It’s not true."
"In mother’s world, officially, you are. Don’t you think you should break the news to her?"
"That is none of your business."
"Really? And nosing into my business is yours?"
When it came to Jess Callahan, it damn well was.
Chapter Six
"Your grandmother is adorable." Sierra Everest said. "And your house is out of this world."
As were most things in Nocturne Falls. Jess muted a laugh.
Zoey Houston never stopped scanning the dining room. "I’ve seen vintage houses, but nothing like this. Are those the original chandelier crystals?"
"Trust me, they are. I washed every single one. Speaking of water, I apologize for the heat. We’re in a drought." Jess pushed unopened water bottles closer to her friends. "I’m big on hydration."
"I’m floating. We drank water the whole drive from the Atlanta airport," Zoey said.
Sierra took a bottle and read the label. "Moonbow Water? That’s so clever.”
Jess’s hopes rose, then crashed when Sierra put it down.
"Tonight’s a costume event, and I don’t have a thing. Aren’t there clothes downstairs?" Zoey asked.
As they spun through the Carpe Diem costume racks, Sierra and Zoey alternated nods of approval or vetoes.
Sierra held up an adult’s princess dress and quickly put it back on the rack. "So what’s this contest your grandmother was talking about?"
Jess picked at a non-existent spot on her leg. "It’s a charity Showcase."
Zoey shook her head at another offer of water. "A talent thing?"
In a way. Jess sifted for the right words in her brain-o-dex. "Call it a fashion show."
Sierra perked up. "Fashion?"
"Not what you might think." Come on, don’t dodge this one. These are smart women. Too bad they weren’t thirsty ones.
"The contestants will show animals from the local Sanctuary. They’ll be judged on how well their costumes complement the animal they’ll be showing." Jess wondered if this made any sense.
The girls nodded that they understood, though that was unlikely.
"So these contestants are locals?" Zoey asked.
"Right." Jess bit her tongue. Explaining that the contestants were the human form of their shifted animal might be a little much.
"Any available men going to be there?" Sierra asked.
That question was bound to come, sooner or later. But, an hour and a half after they arrived?
"I’m sure you’ll get an eyeful. There are plenty eligible men in town," Jess said.
Some even human.
*~*
"Over your fit?" Connor hefted up on a workbench.
Dogged by his brother, Ryan had retreated to his workshop after the disaster at the Hallowed Bean.
He wiped his hands on a rag and ran a critical eye over the wooden horse. "Don’t you have anything to do besides harass me?"
"Not really. The joy of being filthy rich. Nowhere to be. Nothing to do. "
Ryan loathed doing nothing as much as his brother reveled in it. "Well, I’m on a deadline. She ships in a week," he said.
"This is the best thing you’ve done yet."
A shocking glimmer of rare sincerity. "That sounded like a compliment. I hope the Fareeds love it as much as I do," Ryan said.
"Why wouldn’t they? How are you getting it there?"
"Their family jet."
"You freaking kidding me? Why don’t you ride along?"
"They invited me." And he hadn’t refused, yet.
"I’d go in a minute." Connor slid down from the counter. "Look, I was over the line about you and Melanie. But if Mother hears the news from someone else first, you’ll be disowned. Not all bad, come to think. Then maybe she’ll move me to number one son."
"Sorry you can’t stay, bro. You flying or driving to Harmswood tonight?"
"I’ll drive. Can’t tell how the evening will end. Been awhile since I dated a redhead. Ciao."
Ciao. That pretentious word again. Like talons down a blackboard.
Connor went through women like a spoiled kid who ignored week-old toys. His next plaything would not be Jess Callahan.
Nothing left to do on the stallion. He knew it. The truth was, he’d didn’t want to part with it.
One last time he went
to the sculpture.
"Friend, if you could run free, what would you do first?" He stood in silence as though the two-hundred-pound hunk of wood could answer.
*~*
"We’re ready," Jess called from the bedroom.
"Wait for the music," Echo said.
Seconds later Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ resounded throughout the old Victorian home. Zoey and Sierra cast sideways glances, amusing Jess.
"Let’s just say my grandmother does everything with flourish."
"Ladies, you may begin," Echo proclaimed.
"Sierra, you first. And the more theater, the better. Nana loves it."
Jess announced, "May it please your majesty, your first visitor is Salty Sierra."
"Seriously? The best you could come up with?" Sierra murmured.
They looked at each other and giggled.
"Just work it," Jess said.
Salty Sierra, her chest poured into a leather bustier, swaggered from the bedroom. At five foot eight, and thigh-high stiletto boots, she towered over her friends.
In her magenta skirt slit from her hip to the South Pole, Salty Sierra removed her tri-corner hat and bowed. Her curly black hair fell to her shoulders in a messy tangle. "My queen, I’ve been at sea twenty months and claimed a hundred islands in your name."
Echo offered her hand, and Sierra made a grand gesture to kiss one of the many rings that adorned the old woman’s fingers. "Rise my dear and take your place beside me. And who’s next?" Echo’s voice sang.
"The cat goddess, Bast," Jess said.
It took an hour to get the eyes right, but after laughing through the afternoon, the elaborate kohl artwork had channeled down Bast’s cheek. They had decided to call the new look zombie meets cat woman.
To heighten the effect, Zoey borrowed Jess’s favorite gold dress. "If you don’t sit down, you’ll be fine," Jess warned.
"Not sure how I’ll manage this all night." Zoey wiggled the tight-fitting dress over her hips. "Oh, my staff."
Zoey made a quick turn to the bedroom and retrieved the wooden spoon they’d sprayed and glittered, then stood in the dining room doorway. "May I approach?"
"Come forward," Echo said.
"Greetings from the Nile." Zoey made a skirt-hike prevention bow.
"You are most welcome here. Where is my last visitor?"
Jess ran her hands down her sleeveless crocheted smock layered over a beige hemp jumper. Shiny work boots completed her outfit.
Sierra had styled Jess’s hair in relaxed braids. Platinum gray shadowed her brown eyes, and crimson cherry lipstick glazed her lips.
Echo embraced her granddaughter and adjusted the floppy silk flower clipped in Jess’s hair. "You look magnificent." She gathered all three girls into a hug. "You’re all magnificent. I love you all."
Zoey fanned with the spoon. "I sure hope wherever we’re going is air conditioned."
"How about some cool water?" Jess prayed they’d drink at least a little bit before the show. Soon, they’d be seeing Nocturne’s best-looking shapeshifters parade across the stage.
Make that a lot of water.
"Still no luck?" Echo whispered.
"Nope. They haven’t touched a drop. Where’s Crealde?"
"Sleeping on my bed."
Relieved, Jess rejoined her friends. What was wrong with Sierra? Her lips were swelled like bee stings. Allergic reaction?
"What’s going on with your mouth?"
Sierra’s stretched lips grew to a wide-open, jaw-cracking smile, revealing fake vampire teeth.
Jess groaned. If her vamp friends saw this.
"Honey, they’ve seen worse." Echo said.
Jess closed her eyes. "Where’s your bracelet?" Her Nana had promised.
Echo raised her hand. "Wearing it all along. Sometimes it’s a lucky guess." She clapped to get the girls’ attention. "I have an announcement. I’ve arranged for a driver."
Driver? Which one of her grandmother’s friends would that be? "It’s not necessary. I’ll take us."
"A chauffeur? I love it," Zoey said.
"This is so awesome." Sierra pulled her phone from her bustier. "Photos. Photos. Photos. Downstairs to the porch."
Echo tapped a number into her jewel-encrusted cell phone. "Darling, can you bring the car? Splendid."
Jess opened a bottled water and gulped it down. What other little tricks did her Nana have hiding in her culottes?
Chapter Seven
Salty Sierra and Bast took selfies downstairs while Jess stayed behind, perspiration flowering under her arms.
"We do not need a chauffeur," she said, each word measured with alchemist precision.
Echo steadied on Jess’s elbow as they walked down the stairs. "You’re my granddaughter and a prestigious contest judge. This is a big deal. You must arrive in style."
The big deal would be when this was over and done. "I’m pretty sure who you called won’t get any votes for safe-driver."
"Because someone’s departed doesn’t mean they have forgotten how to drive. If that were true, a third of this town would sell their cars." Echo cackled. "Get it?"
She got it all right; though it was true. Maybe Nocturne Falls would be safer with fewer immortals behind the wheel, but Echo missed the point.
"Relax, precious. Making sure people have happy memories is the most important thing you can do. It’s how I hope I’m remembered."
"Does scaring them senseless with a ghost driver equal happiness?"
"Do they act scared?"
Sierra and Zoey took more photos, this time beside the 1955 pink Fleetwood Cadillac in the driveway. And dressed in a white jumpsuit, Elvis posed with them.
"No, but I sure wish they’d drink water." Jess pointed her jade-ringed index finger. "This one time, Nana. No more surprises while they’re here. You have to promise."
"Deal. Now go. Have fun."
Jess wrapped her arms around Echo who seemed to be growing tinier each day. "I wish you were coming with us."
"I’m getting into my PJs, finishing my lemon ginger cookies with a pot of tea, and watching "Charmed" season four CD."
*~*
When the last sunset hues waned, Nocturne Falls’ streetlights turned the town into a playful nighttime fairyland.
"I can’t believe it," Zoey said as Elvis drove down Main Street. "Is it always decorated for Halloween?"
"Yes, ma’am," Elvis said in a slow Southern drawl.
"And everyone wears costumes?" Sierra asked.
Jess smoothed her skirt. "The people in costumes are tourists." Most of the time.
Zoey and Sierra spun around shooting video.
"So, Elvis," Sierra said. "Where’s the best nightlife around here?"
His dark eyes sent a silent question to Jess who gave a tiny, quick headshake. The best club in town was Insomnia.
No law prevented humans from going to this off-the-grid spot for supers if they were with a member.
But, there might not be enough Moonbow Water on the planet to keep Zoey and Sierra from going into shock at what they’d see inside.
Think fast. These were two world-class partiers who didn’t think a whit about staying out all night. By their standards tame, but on short notice this might work.
"I bet I forgot to tell you about the after party."
Elvis waved as he drove away. "That was the best impersonator, ever. Even a spot-on accent."
"Uh huh," Jess said. Spot-on indeed.
"He must make a fortune at parties." Zoey tied her white souvenir scarf around her neck. "And handing these out was brilliant. Does he have an act around here?"
"Not so much anymore. You could say he’s retired." Change the subject. "I’ll be with the other judges. Your seats are on the first row behind me."
"Will Elvis be at the party?" Zoey wiggled the dress over her hips for the umpteenth time. "He’s kinda cute."
Pretending not to hear, Jess waved at and t
alked to, anyone she could. "Great Frankenstein’s monster." "Love your Dracula cape." "You look just like a zombie."
She pressed through the noisy crowd, settled her friends into their seats, and went backstage for final instructions.
Once the judges took their places, Elenora Ellingham stepped to the microphone, thanked everyone for their support, and explained the contest.
Winners would be selected based on confidence displayed in handling their animal, and their creative incorporation of animal traits in their attire. The judges’ votes would be averaged with audience votes sent to #nocturnecharity.
Elenora asked Jess to stand as the curtain opened. Lighting transformed the plywood stage into an enchanted forest, better than Jess ever hoped. Goosebumps covered her as the crowd erupted in applause.
She scanned the audience hoping to give Ryan a thumbs-up for all his help. Instead, she locked eyes on the one scowling face in the whole crowd, Solange Ford.
Gypsum jacked up mercy.
*~*
With a female falcon perched on his leather glove, Ryan stood in the impromptu green room and adjusted the bird’s hood. Around him were two dozen other Nocturne Falls shifters, each with an animal. This thing better start soon or the show would take a completely different turn.
"I need to take him out," the wolf handler said.
"Make it quick. You’re fourth." Impatient, the stage manager scrolled through her computer tablet. "People. Time to line up. Where’s the cougar?"
A breathless woman in a skintight taupe leather jumpsuit slipped into the room. "Here." Her big cat strained the leash.
"Calm your animal, madam." The stage manager continued roll call. Fox, eagle, crow, baby black bear, lynx, owl, boa constrictor, and on down the list.
"Where’s the coyote?" Frazzled, the stage manager called again. "Where are they? We start in five minutes. "
That woman’s shrill voice could split a hundred-year-old oak down the middle and did nothing to settle the animals. "They dropped out," Ryan said.
"I wish someone had told me. Mr. Ford, you’ll take their place."
Though this falcon was used to crowds, this was a new environment. He sensed the animal’s agitation, though she was much better with the coyote gone.
