The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride (22 page)

“Same thing.”

“Shuffle bowl?”

He frowned. “I don’t even know what that is.”

“It’s like bowling but on a table with a puck.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Your Lordship needs to get out more.”

He snorted. “And you need to spend less time with Stanhill.” Although he couldn’t deny his honorific title coming from her lips sent a jolt of heat through him. He kissed her, laughing as he did. This woman made him happy beyond description. He wanted to shower her with gifts, to spoil her in a way he imagined she’d never experienced.

Howler’s wasn’t the place to do that, but if she was having a good time, he would too. All while keeping an eye out for anyone paying too much attention to her.

Bridget waved at them from behind the bar. “Hugh, Delaney, over here.” She pointed at two bar seats that were opening up.

He’d met Bridget a few times before, but he couldn’t say they were more than acquaintances.

Another couple made a beeline for the stools, but Bridget bared her teeth and barked at them. The couple scurried away.

“All righty then,” Delaney muttered.

“Exactly.” Hugh took her hand and pushed through the crowd to claim the seats.

“Hank told me you guys were coming.” Bridget smiled. She was a little wild looking with all that auburn hair and those big gold eyes, but attractive enough if you went for that type. Which he didn’t.

Bridget stuck her hand out to Delaney. “Bridget Merrow, nice to meet you.”

Delaney hopped into the seat and shook the woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you too. Anyone in here we ought to know about?”

“Not yet. But I’ll keep you posted. I’ve got my staff on the lookout for them too,” Bridget answered. She waggled her finger between them. “What’ll it be to drink?”

Hugh took the seat beside Delaney, letting her answer first.

“White wine.”

“Whiskey,” Hugh responded. “Best you have. For both orders.” Which still didn’t offer much hope.

Bridget’s brows shot up. “You want the best white I have, I’m going to have to open a bottle.”

“Fine,” Hugh answered. At least that way Delaney wouldn’t end up with something that had been open too long and gone vinegary, although he imagined this establishment went through alcohol pretty quickly.

As Bridget went to fill their order, Delaney twisted her chair toward him and wiggled into position so that one of her knees was between his. He didn’t really need a drink. Her grin was intoxicating enough. She leaned forward, clearly enjoying herself. “You hate this place, don’t you?”

“What makes you say that?”

She shrugged. “What doesn’t make me say that? It’s loud, it’s full of tourists…” She glanced down. “I think there’s sawdust on the floor.”

He slid his hand up her leg, reveling in being able to touch her. “I hadn’t noticed.”

She laughed. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Maybe I was too distracted by you.” He gave her thigh a squeeze.

She blushed a little, but then seriousness came over her. “Thanks for doing this.”

“For having a feel in a public place?”

She smirked. “You know what I mean. For coming to Howler’s. And for agreeing to do the parade tomorrow.” As her expression sobered again, she traced a circle on the back of his hand, which still rested on her leg. “There has to be an end to this. I can’t live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.”

“No, you can’t. Doesn’t mean I like what we’ve decided to do, but I want you to be safe and happy.” As happy as she made him.

“I am happy.” Her smile reappeared. “More than I could have imagined. Are you happy?”

He swallowed. “I am.” So much it scared him.

Bridget returned with their drinks. “Don’t go look now, but the two guys that were in here before are now in the back room at a booth. There’s a third guy with them.”

Delaney’s leg twitched beneath his hand. He gave her a reassuring pat but kept his eyes on Bridget. “Have they seen us?”

She smiled like they were talking about something completely unrelated. “I don’t think so. They probably came in through the rear entrance. Most people use the front door, but there’s a little overflow parking lot in the back. Anybody who parks back there usually comes in that way.”

“Thanks. Text your brother, let him know. In fact, ask him to wait for us in that back parking lot. We might be able to draw them out.”

Delaney twisted her wine glass in place on its paper napkin. “I thought we were just supposed to let them overhear us talking about going to the parade tomorrow.”

“We’re going to do that. Then we’re going to take it a step further. See if we can wrap this business up this evening.” Then he could take her to the parade without the distraction of this threat.

“I’ll let Hank know.” With a nod, Bridget headed back to the kitchen.

The joy had left Delaney’s face, although she was clearly trying not to look frightened. “I’m not sure I like this.”

“Sweetheart, I promise I can protect you if something happens.” He lowered his voice, not that anyone could hear him over the ruckus in this place. “Three humans against one vampire is not much of a fight.”

She managed an almost convincing smile, and he hated that she was afraid. For that alone her former boss deserved to be punished. “What’s your plan then?”

“Have you ever done any acting?”

“Does a school play count?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then yes.”

“Excellent. Here’s what I’m thinking…”

Drinks in hand, Hugh and Delaney stumbled their way into the back room. There were enough people in the place that there was no way Rastinelli’s guys would try something in the bar. She pointed at one of the dart boards. “That one’s open,” she declared, hoping she’d gauged the perfect acceptable level of loudness for a supposedly drunk person.

Hugh raised his whiskey to her. “You wanna play darts, me love, we’re gonna play darts.”

Not only had his accent thickened, it had gotten less sophisticated. She threw her hands up into the air, spilling a little of her wine. “Yay!”

“I’ll be right back.” He left his drink with her and went to see about getting darts as planned, while she leaned against the back wall and used one of the bar mirrors to check on her new friends in the booth.

They were definitely Little Tony’s sort of crew. She could practically smell the garlic on them. And judging by the direction of their gazes, they were sizing her up as well. It kind of terrified her to think that these men might be here to kidnap her and take her back to Rastinelli.

Or worse.

She covered her shudder by having a sip of wine and remembering she was supposed to be tipsy. Then Hugh returned to her, darts in hand, and her thoughts shifted back to the fact that she now had a very dangerous boyfriend. Who was a mother-freakin’ vampire. Let the bad guys come after them.

“Hello, lover,” she purred at him.

“’Ello, angel.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to nuzzle her neck. “They’re watching us,” he whispered into her ear.

She laughed like he’d just said something very naughty. “Mm-hmm.”

“Let’s drop the hint about the parade, then see if we can get them to follow us out.” He leaned away and leered at her before announcing, “And that’s not all I’m going to do to you.”

“You’re a bad man.” She swatted at him playfully, missing on purpose.

Leaving their drinks behind, he walked them toward the dart board and closer to the trio of thugs. “I might be bad, but you’d better be a good girl or I won’t take you to the parade tomorrow.”

She stuck her lip out in a pout. “You promised. I want cotton candy.”

He tossed the darts onto a table, the glow in his eyes positively devilish. “I’ve got something for you that’s even sweeter.”

She bit her lip and did her best to look overcome with desire. Not that hard to do considering she knew
exactly
what he had for her. “I don’t want to play darts anymore.”

“Brilliant.” He grabbed her hand. “Neither do I, love.”

She bumped the back door open with her hip, and with their hands and arms entangled, she and Hugh spilled into the dark parking lot like a pair of crazed lovers oblivious to the world.

Hugh gestured with a nod. “Over there where the light’s burned out. Against that wall.”

She did a quick scan of the parking lot. “Okay, but I don’t see the sheriff.”

“He’s close. I can smell wolf.”

That was slightly reassuring. She let Hugh guide her to the spot he’d indicated, and then he pushed her against the wall and started kissing her. His hands roamed her body with reckless abandon. The brick was rough on her back, but the soft heat of his mouth made up for it. She gasped at the urgency of his affection. He might be acting, but her moans and writhing were one hundred percent genuine. The man had no idea what he did to her.

His mouth strayed to her ear. “Back door just opened. They’re coming.”

She tensed, her breath coming in gulps. She hadn’t heard a thing.

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.

Then she caught the sounds of shoes scuffling on pavement, but it was dark and Hugh blocked most of her field of vision. A dark shape moved behind him.

A bottle crashed down on his head a second later, showering them both with shards of glass and drops of stale beer. Before she could scream, Hugh jerked his elbow back and caught one of the thugs square across the nose. He went down with a grunt.

Hugh twisted to slug the second one and Delaney ran, a gut reaction. But not a good one. A hand grabbed her from behind and another hand clamped down on her mouth.

“You’re going with me,” the thug holding her said. “Sorry your boyfriend can’t come with us, but—”

A loud crash was followed by a car alarm going off, and then somehow Hugh was standing in front of her. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

The thug pulled her to his left, then threw a right hook at Hugh.

Hugh caught the man’s fist and squeezed until bone crunched. The man howled in pain and let go of Delaney, curling his uninjured hand into a fist.

Before he could swing, Hugh shoved the heel of his hand into the man’s solar plexus with such force that the thug went flying into the wall. He collapsed onto the pavement.

“You didn’t leave much for me.” Sheriff Merrow walked toward them.

“Thought you’d be here sooner,” Hugh answered.

“You had it handled.”

“Yes, I did.” Hugh smiled at Delaney, turning her insides to warm, gooey appreciation. “Are you all right, my darling?”

She nodded, not quite capable of speech.

The sheriff walked over and clamped handcuffs onto the unconscious thug who’d accosted her, then he squeezed the walkie-talkie at his shoulder. “I need another squad car at Howler’s.”

Hugh took Delaney’s face gently between his hands. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale. I’m sorry he put his hands on you.”

She tried to smile. “I’m fine. A little shaken up, but that went way faster than I expected.”

“Better that way. Less time for something genuinely awful to happen.”

“How’s your head?”

“My head?” He looked puzzled. “Why?”

She laughed. “You got hit with a beer bottle.”

He ran a hand through his hair, sending a few pieces of glass flying. “Hard vampire head. No damage done.”

A squad car careened into the parking lot, and a deputy jumped out. “Bar fight?” he asked Sheriff Merrow.

“Something like that. There are two more perps by the wall where the light is out.” Sheriff Merrow hauled his semi-conscious thug to the car, threw him over the trunk and started patting him down. He pulled out a handgun. “Bet you don’t have a permit for this, do you?”

Before the thug could answer, the sheriff shoved him in the squad car and shut the door. He held up the gun. “I’m going to need you two to come down to the station and make a statement.”

Hugh nodded and put his arm around Delaney. “We’ll be right there.”