The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride (17 page)

He narrowed his eyes like he was seeing past her dumb joke. “We need some places of our own. The tourist side of things wears on you after a while.”

“By ‘we’ I assume you mean supernaturals?”

He nodded. “Of which you are about to meet a large group.” He jumped out of the car, a beautiful old Jaguar, and came around to her door and helped her out.

“Anything I need to know before we go in there?”

He shut her door and locked the car. “Trust your instincts. Just like in any club, there might be elements to avoid. But I’ll be at your side the whole time.”

He put his hand on the small of her back as they started toward the building, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Have I mentioned how ravishing you look?”

His warm breath tickled her skin, sending the most delicious shiver through her. “Not in so many words.”

She linked her arm through his. “I have to say tonight you not only sound like James Bond, but in that suit, you look like him too.”

“A high bar indeed.” He opened a rusted steel door and let her in, then pulled it shut behind them.

Rows of worktables and machinery lined the vast open floor. The odors of dust and grease accompanied the utter stillness of the place. “Yeah, you’re right, this is a happening joint. How was there not a line to get in?”

“Reserve judgment a moment longer.” He ushered her toward a freight elevator and punched a code into a shiny new keypad. The down button lit and the whirr of gears echoed through the warehouse.

When the doors opened, they stepped in and he pressed the button marked basement. When the doors reopened, Delaney’s eyes went wide.

She stayed at Hugh’s side, happy to follow him while she gawked.

The place was gorgeous, but dark. All that stood out immediately was the decor. Moody, industrial, and sleek, but plush at the same time. Leather seating, brushed metal accents, lots of blue neon, water features and the occasion blast of the smoke machine. “It’s like a dream.”

“That’s the idea. Insomnia and all that.” He led her toward the bar closest to them. “Let’s get a drink and get comfortable.”

The deep bass thump of club music rocked the place, but not at the ear-splitting level she was accustomed to. She leaned her back against the bar, too busy taking the club in to pay attention to ordering. “It’s nice that you can actually talk in here.”

Hugh tapped his ear. “Supernatural hearing. We don’t need the music blasting.”

“Neither do humans, but the clubs we go to seem to think we do. I take it you don’t need as much lighting either. I can’t see much more than what’s under the spotlights.” But as her eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting, she started seeing the faces around her in more detail. Faces that were not quite human.

She inched closer to Hugh.

He put his hand on her arm. “You okay?”

“Just…adjusting.”

“What would you like to drink while you adjust?”

“Wine. Red.”

“Keep in mind that this place allows a certain amount of laxness most supernaturals would never adopt while in mixed company. What you’re seeing are some half forms and some true ones.”

Her gaze skipped from face to face. With some she could easily tell what they were. The werewolves had a very canine look about them. A few others looked more feline—cat shifters of some sort, she guessed. Another group had Hugh’s luminescent eyes and fangs, so they were clearly vampires. The women who looked human might be witches.

Hugh placed their order with the bartender, then canted his head toward hers. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can go. Just say the word.”

“No, I’m fine.” Even better since he’d said that. “It’s just weird to be in a joint where being human makes me the minority.”

“Don’t be afraid. You’re here with me.”

She took him in: his gorgeous face and broad shoulders and the smile that seemed just for her. Her heart went a little achy at how beyond it all he was.
Don’t go falling in love.
“So are you the BMOC around here, since you practically own the town?”

“The BMOC?”

She twisted to face him and rested her elbow on the bar. The move put his arm directly beneath her leather-wrapped chest. “Big Man On Campus.”

He snorted. “I guess you could say that. I am one of the oldest supernaturals in this town.”

“Not to mention one of the richest.” Her fingers went to the dragonfly around her neck. He’d kind of skimmed that part.

“I don’t know about that.” Then the bartender arrived with their drinks and Hugh handed over a black American Express card.

She laughed. “They give those Centurion cards to just anyone these days?” Not even Rastinelli had one of those.

He handed her glass of wine over. “I’ve had plenty of time to get my financial house in order.”

A gorgeous redhead in a simple black dress and patent heels came up to them. She carried a black leather portfolio and black leather clutch under one arm. Oddly business-like for a night club. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I have a moment of your time, Hugh?”

“Delaney, this is Pandora Williams. She’s a witch. Pandora, this is my guest, Delaney James. She’s human.”

“Thanks for the species update,” Pandora said with a laugh and a wink at Hugh.

“Nice to meet you.” And it was. Even if the supermodel-beautiful witch was being awfully familiar with the man Delaney had just been kissing.

Pandora smiled back. “You too. Great necklace.”

“Thanks.” Delaney wanted to say Hugh had given it to her, to make it clear what kind of relationship she was in with him, but then she reminded herself that the jewelry was only a loan, and she had no clue what kind of relationship they were having.

“Are you new in town? If you’re looking for a place, I’d be happy to help you out.”

Hugh smiled politely. “Pandora is Nocturne Fall’s most-well-known Realtor. She caters to our kind.”

Delaney grinned. He’d said
our
kind. Like she was a supernatural too. “Well, I’ll store that away if the need to buy a town house pops up.”

“Excellent.” Pandora shifted back to Hugh. “Again, sorry to interrupt your evening out, but I was here talking to a client and saw you, so—”

Hugh shook his head. “If this is about Stanhill dating your mother, I swear I knew nothing about that.”

Pandora laughed. “No. My sisters and I love Stanhill. Especially when he makes pancakes.”

Hugh winced. “That was more information than I needed.”

Pandora pinched her lips and nodded. “Got it. Keep the sleepovers to myself.” She looked at Delaney. “Not that my sisters and I sleep over. We have our own places. But on Saturday mornings…” She made a face. “Sorry, rambling.”

Hugh slid his arm around Delaney. It was a sweet gesture, but she still felt like a third wheel. His fingers rested on her shoulder and drew lazy circles. “What can I do for you, Pandora?”

“I see there’s a vacant store across from the Hallowed Bean. That’s your building, isn’t it? Any plans to list it? With me? I don’t usually do commercial, but I’d really love to broaden my reach.”

Jealousy poked at Delaney, but that wasn’t an emotion she had a right to. Before she did something she might regret, she put her hand on Hugh’s arm. “While you two talk shop, I’m going to find the ladies’ room.”

Pandora pointed across the club. “Back corner.”

Hugh caught Delaney’s eye. “Be careful.”

“I can go with you,” Pandora offered.

“I’ll be fine. You two carry on with business. Back in a sec.” She grabbed her purse and started threading her way through the crowd, watching where she was going in a peripheral kind of way. Without Hugh’s arm around her, without his fingers on her bare skin, it was easier to think.

Mostly about just how crazy over him she already was.
Stop being a fool. He only lent you that jewelry so you’d fit in.
Maybe. Maybe not. Her inner voice didn’t know everything. When she went back to him, if Pandora wasn’t still there, she’d ask him how he felt about…them.

There was a
them
, wasn’t there?

The door to the ladies’ room was in sight when she walked into the path of a mountain of a man. He peered at her, nostrils flaring.

“You’re human.” His eyes narrowed. “Tonight just got a whole lot more interesting.”

Hugh watched Delaney disappear into the crowd, bereft she’d left him so easily. He hoped she hadn’t left because of Pandora. If Delaney thought he was in any way interested in the witch, she was dead wrong. And now that she was out of his sight, a prickle of unease crawled over his skin. She was the only human here. “Excuse me, Pandora. Call Sebastian about the space. I have to go.”

“But I—”

He left his drink and Pandora behind and went after Delaney. The crowd seemed to have grown in the few minutes they’d been inside. Where the hell was she?

He pushed deeper into the club. People tried to stop him, tried to talk to him. He turned them away.

Finally, he spotted her. A man he didn’t recognize towered over her, blocking her path.

The edges of Hugh’s vision went red at the thought that she might be in danger. He stormed forward, anger charging him for a fight.

Then Delaney threw her head back and laughed.

The color at the edge of Hugh’s vision shifted from red to green, although his anger wasn’t completely gone. She was chatting up another man? What had he said to make her laugh? With a cacophony of emotions bombarding him, Hugh sidled up to her. “Everything okay?”

She smiled at him and lightly touched his arm. “Everything’s great. This is Nick Hardwin.” She turned to the big man. “Nick, this is Hugh Ellingham.”

Nick smiled respectfully. “I know who you are, Mr. Ellingham. Good to meet you in person, sir.” He held out a hand the size of a Christmas ham.

Hugh’s anger fizzled out. He shook Nick’s hand but couldn’t fake an expression to match his words. “Nice to meet you, too.”

Delaney chatted on, oblivious to the fact that Hugh had been about to take the man’s head off for a perceived transgression against her. “He’s new to town too. He’s a friend of the sheriff’s, but he’s not a werewolf, he’s a
gargoyle
.”

Nick nodded. “Merrow and I were in the same battalion. Shared a tour in Afghanistan.”

“Which totally deserves a thanks,” Delaney said.

Hugh grunted. “Thank you for your service.”

“Anyway,” Delaney went on. “He knew I was human right away and I told him I was here as your guest—Nick’s a bouncer here and is supposed to keep tourists out on the off chance any manage to get in—and then we started talking and, short story, I still haven’t made it to the ladies’ room.”

Nick seemed a little more aware of Hugh’s mood. A quick glance at Hugh’s face and Nick made his goodbyes. “I should get back to work. Nice to meet you, Delaney. Mr. Ellingham.”

“Bye, Nick.” She squeezed Hugh’s arm. “I’ll be right back, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”

Where did she think he was going to go? Before he could respond, she’d slipped away to the ladies’ room. He leaned against the wall and considered what had just happened.

How he’d been driven by the need to protect her. Then driven by the need to have her for his own. He’d been jealous. Over nothing, really. But jealous all the same. He shouldn’t have sucked that drop of blood from her finger. It was just a drop, and it wasn’t like he’d actually bitten her, but maybe with her, a drop was all it took. He was walking a dangerous line.

The reality of what was happening couldn’t have hit Hugh any harder than if Nick had punched him. He was falling for Delaney.

Hard.

Which also explained why he’d lied to her about the necklace.

That dragonfly hadn’t belonged to his mother. It had belonged to Juliette. A gift on her twenty-third birthday. There was no other reason for why he’d wanted to see it on Delaney except that he’d wanted to mark her as his. To lay claim to her before bringing her here.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt that kind of base, primal need. Yes, he’d loved Juliette despite their marriage being arranged, but that had come sometime into the marriage. The guilt he felt over her death, a death he’d brought upon her, that was just an extension of his love. Wasn’t it?