Читать книгу Love Me Forever - Rosemary Laurey - Страница 7

“How long can we stay, Mom?”

Stella Schwartz smiled at her son. Her feet ached and she longed to get home, but she’d promised—and after a childhood of broken promises, she’d long ago vowed to never go back on her word to Sam. “How about fifteen minutes?”

Sam slammed a clenched fist against his free hand. “Right on, Mom! Thanks!” he paused. “And I know, Mom. Just to look, right?”

Heaven help her! She hated not having money to buy him more, but groceries always took more of her paycheck than anticipated. Thank goodness she didn’t have to find money for rent. “Next time we’ll buy you a book. This time just look, okay?”

Sam seemed more than content. She turned the car up Fifth Street toward the tiny shop on the corner of Jackson. Two large pumpkins sat on either side of the limestone steps and spiderwebs and furry bats decorated the window. They were definitely ready for Halloween. Sam grabbed the knob, pulled open the solid wood door and all but skipped into the Vampire Emporium.

It had to be the name that first attracted him, or maybe just a nine-year-old’s fascination with spookiness, but Sam loved this little shop. For Stella, it was a hard reminder of all the things she couldn’t afford, but Dixie, the owner, never seemed to mind that they seldom bought anything and she encouraged Sam to read the books.

“I used to be a school librarian,” she once told Stella. “I miss the kids.”

The shop sold mostly books, everything from paperback children’s books to signed first editions and leather-bound collectors’ volumes. They also stocked plastic vampire fangs and capes for the tourists that filled German Village at weekends and the place was now crowded with costumes and face paint for Halloween.

“Hi, Dixie!” Sam said as he opened the door and then stopped in his tracks.

Dixie wasn’t there. Instead of a young woman with a soft southern accent, the shop was manned by…a man. Stella all but gaped. Talk about a hunk! Tall, with chestnut brown hair brushed back from a face that could give Mel Gibson serious competition and dark eyes that seemed to scan her, taking in every detail, but not in a leering way, more like a surgeon evaluating an interesting case. His wide, full mouth smiled at Sam, and her.

“Good afternoon,” he said in a smooth, British accent that set Stella’s toes curling. “I’m afraid Dixie isn’t here. Could I, perhaps, help you?”

He could go on talking all afternoon as far as Stella was concerned. After staring at him a good minute, she made herself reply. “We’re just browsing.” She found herself smiling back. “Sam likes to look at the kid’s books.”

“Browse right ahead, Sam,” Hunk replied.

“Thanks!” Sam took off to the far corner and curled up on one of the giant pillows with a copy of Bunnicula, leaving Stella the other side of the narrow counter from a fantasy-come-true with a voice like Hugh Grant.

“I’m Justin,” Hunk said, “Justin Corvus. I’m a friend of Christopher and Dixie’s, just over for a bit of a visit.” He held out his hand.

“I’m Stella Schwartz.” His palm was smooth and cool against hers, his handshake just strong enough to feel good. He held her hand firmly but without a macho finger crush or a smarmy squeeze, a very, very nice handshake. So nice in fact, she had to remind herself to let go. She took her hand back and half-wished she hadn’t. She found herself breathing fast and all but staring into his beautiful dark eyes. This was nonsense! She had to say something to break the silence that seemed to sizzle around them. “You’re visiting them and they left you minding the shop…literally!”

He even shrugged with style. “Not to worry. They had a problem with the house and I offered to fill in the gap. They’re talking to someone about a sump pump. Seems their basement sprung a leak in that storm a couple of days back.”

Stella understood. “I think a lot of houses round here took in water then.” Heck, she still had a vast puddle in her basement. “It’s the price of living in an old house.” And keeping a promise to her mother.

“You live in German Village, too?”

When pigs flew. “No,” she shook her head. “I live on Lubeck but I work in the Village. Sam goes to a sitter near here and this is his favorite stopping-off place.”

“I’m glad you came by.” He offered a slow smile. “It’s been pretty solitary here. You made it worthwhile staying open.”

What was she to make of that? Was he hitting on her? No. He seemed genuinely friendly but didn’t appear to realize Lubeck was a world away from these expensively restored houses and neat, tidy streets. “Been a slow day?”

“Pretty much. A couple of people are supposed to pick up costumes. Other than that I’m spending the time sticking stamps on postcards.” He paused and reached into the stack beside the register. “Here, if you’re a regular customer you’ve probably got one coming in the post, but until then…” He handed her a rectangle of shiny, cream card stock. “They’re having a big open house for Halloween. Maybe you and Sam could come? I gather Halloween is quite an event here.”

Where had he been living? The moon? “It isn’t in Britain?”

“Not the way it once was.” He paused, as if thinking back.

“In some country parts they still carve turnips for lanterns and make masks and bob for apples and so forth, and in recent years, we seem to have imported some of your American customs of costumes but it’s nothing like you have here.” He shook his head. His most definitely, very handsome head.

“Dixie’s been filling me in on local traditions.”

“Beggars’ Night really is a major, big deal. It was when I was a kid, and still is. I can’t imagine not having it.” Heck, that sounded a bit rude. “I bet you have other things, right?”

“Yes,” he agreed, “we do. But I must admit, I’m rather looking forward to my first, genuine, American Halloween.”

“And all the witches and vampires and goblins?”

His dark eyes seemed to gleam as his wide mouth curved at the corners. “Especially the vampires.”

“You won’t see as many as a couple of years back. Pokemon and the Hulk seem to be the biggies this year.” And she still hadn’t bought Sam’s costume.

“Your son’s going to dress up?”

“You bet! I couldn’t keep him home.”

“Be sure to come by the shop, won’t you?”

“Sure.” Why had she agreed? She’d need to drive up here. On the other hand, why not? It was a far safer neighborhood than their own. It might make sense to spend the whole evening up here. “See you on Beggars’ Night.” Ridiculously, she wanted to. There was something about this man that…would only complicate her life. “Sam!” she called. He’d reshelved the book and was eyeing a black velvet cape with the same look he used to give his bottle when he was a baby.

“Coming, Mom.” He was as good as his word, stepping up to the register with a happy grin on his face. “Excuse me,” he said to Justin, “but how much are those capes and do they come in kid’s sizes?”

Stella’s stomach sank. She didn’t need to hear his answer to know the price was way above what she could afford for one.

“We’ve only got adult sizes, I’m afraid,” Justin replied, and Stella all but hugged him with relief. That took care of that, and they’d get the Hulk one this very weekend.

“Could you get a kid’s one?” Sam persisted. “I want to be a vampire for Halloween.” She was going to have to talk money to Sam on the way home—something she hated to do, but he had to realize how things were.

“Possibly,” Justin said, “but those costumes aren’t the sort of thing you can buy with pocket money. You might need to talk this over with your mum. Doesn’t she have last say in these things?”

For that he did deserve a hug! Better not!

“Yes,” Sam admitted. “But one of those would be wonderful.” Stella’s heart tugged at the wistfulness in his voice. She realized Sam was watching her face, when he squeezed her hand. “Never mind, Mom. I don’t want one that much.” Hell, he was trying to make her feel better for not having money to buy the Halloween costume he wanted. Something was way off here. Time to go home.

“There is one thing,” Justin said. Sam’s face began to glow and Stella wished she’d dragged Sam out while she had the chance. This man had better not say they had a cape. “I don’t know for sure…” He paused, casting her a cautious glance before looking right at Sam. “No promise. Understand?” Sam nodded. Stella bit her lip. “I know Dixie has some old costumes at home, orders that weren’t picked up, or didn’t fit. Things like that. Why don’t I ask her to check and see if there’s anything that might be your size?”

Sam’s eyes were as big as golf balls. “You really think so?”

“It’s possible, that’s all,” Justin said. “Remember I said no promises. We can’t have you carrying on at your mother if one doesn’t turn up.”

“I won’t fuss, Cub’s honor.” Sam raised two fingers in salute.

Justin chuckled. “I knew I could count on a Cub Scout.” He reached under the counter for a tape measure. “Let me just get your size and I’ll have word with Dixie.”

Sam happily stood still while Justin measured and jotted down figures on a notepad. Stella began to get a bad feeling. If he did find something, how in heaven could she afford it?

“That’s it, I think,” Justin said. “One last thing, your phone number.” Sam bit his lip—he knew as well as Stella did that it had been cut off again.

“Let me give you my work number,” Stella said. “They can take a message and I’ll call you back. I’m off tomorrow but I’ll be there the rest of the week.”

Justin looked up and straight at Stella. She felt herself sinking into his dark eyes. “I’ll give you a bell when I hear something.” She guessed that meant he’d call her and half-hoped he wouldn’t. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll work something out.” Ridiculously, she believed him and trusted him utterly.

So, it seemed, did Sam. “Yeah, Mom!” He all but skipped. “Thank you,” he added, bestowing his best smile on Justin. “Come on.” He tugged Stella’s hand. “I’ve got homework to do.”

In the car, Stella came to her senses. There was no way in creation she could afford one of those costumes. Even if it was discounted. She’d just have to call back tomorrow and make that clear.

“Justin!” Dixie would have gasped if she still breathed. “You want me to produce a custom-made costume in two days or sooner.”

“Is it too much to ask?”

No, it wasn’t and he knew it. She owed Justin a bunch, and if he wanted a rush costume job, he’d get one. It was just she couldn’t see Justin, Master Vampire with his Saville Row tailored duds, dressed up as a campy Hollywood vampire. “You really plan on going gung-ho for Halloween? Or rather Beggars’ Night, as they call it up here.”

“It’s not for me!” He sounded almost shocked—much more like the Justin she knew. “Let me explain.”

He did.

Dixie was silent a good minute as she digested this. “Okay, let me get this straight. You want a kid-sized custom costume but it mustn’t look custom-made and you’re going to give it away?”

“Heavens no, Dixie! Stella doesn’t seem the sort to take anything even whiffing of charity. I thought you could make it with a deliberate mistake.” His mouth curved a little.

“Make it up with a flaw near the hem. Something like a selvage showing. That would make it unsellable but if she turns up the hem it would do.”

“How come you know so much about sewing?” Stitching up people, he was good at. She still had faint marks on her forehead and under her breast, where he’d repaired injuries. Neither scar had faded after her transformation to vampire.

His eyes went distant. “Long before you were born, I knew a seamstress.” He looked back at Dixie. “Can you do it?”

“Of course.” She could hardly outsource this, the requirements were too odd. “Give me a day or so and I’ll see what I can come up with.” She smiled at Christopher, her love, her lifemate, who’d been listening intently. “You two going feeding tonight?”

Christopher shook his head. “No. You want to?”

“No.” Over a year vampire, and she still wasn’t comfortable with live feeding and used blood bags as much as possible. She was slowly getting use to living off blood but definitely missed Lindt chocolate and Starbucks ice cream.

“I thought Justin and I would take a turn round the village. Just to keep an eye on things.”

“You’re deputizing him, are you?” She had to smile.

“Just letting him see what I do with my spare time.” Christopher crossed the room and hugged her. “You worry too much, Dixie.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re taking on crooks!”

“Just discouraging petty criminals from targeting the neighborhood.”

They never would see it the same. Christopher wasn’t in-vulnerable, even if bullets couldn’t hurt him. “Be careful.”

“With you to come home to? Of course.” His lips were cool and inviting and she’d much rather he took her upstairs than left to wander the streets.

“Make sure you don’t come back with a whacking great hole in your shirt!” She’d nearly flipped out the time he did that. Even if the wound had half-healed by the time she saw him, the bloodstains and singed bullet hole in his broadcloth shirt would have given her palpitations—if her heart still beat.

“Don’t you think the pair of us can take care of anyone we meet?” Justin asked.

She scowled at Justin. Now there were two of them out to play “stop the bullet” or “trick the thug,” or whatever silly macho games male vampires played when no one was watching. “I don’t want to think about what the pair of you are likely to get up to!”

Okay, petty crime had dropped since they’d moved into German Village. So what? It didn’t ease her mind to know her lover was swooping the streets discouraging would-be burglars. She’d seen herself how closely Christopher skirted injury. “Take care of him, Justin. If I’m making that costume, I won’t have time to repair slashed and punctured clothing.”

“You know we’ll come back, don’t you?”

She’d never had much luck arguing with Justin. “Yeah.” She kissed Christopher and hugged Justin and watched them disappear around the corner before she shut the door and went up to her attic workroom.

Velvet. Justin’s suggestion of a missewn selvage wouldn’t work with the nap, but she did have a bolt end she’d put aside, as it had a row of flaws. Five minutes with a tape measure and Sam’s measurements and she had it figured out. She’d make the cape three inches too long and put the row of flaws at the hem. Stella could easily turn it up and make it the perfect length. Or better still—Justin could take it around and check the length and deliver it back after she’d fixed it. That way he’d be invited into Stella’s house and could reenter at will when he needed sustenance.

Dixie sat bolt upright and stared at the ceiling. Had she really thought of Stella as a food source? Dixie shuddered but slowly calmed. Yes. She had no other choice. She was vampire and fed off blood—when she ran out of blood bags, it had to be animals or mortals. That was the way her world was now ordered. She thought back to the times Christopher had fed off her before her transformation. Stella wouldn’t be complaining and Justin would do right by her.

And Justin would soon be back with Christopher, so she’d better get going. There was enough spare velvet to make a pair of pants. She’d leave the bottoms unfinished to add to the “just something I found” myth and Stella could add a tee-shirt or sweater. Busy with scissors and sewing machine, Dixie almost forgot her anxiety about Christopher. She was glad to be working, and particularly pleased to be making something for Sam.

She missed the kids she’d worked with in her librarian days, and Sam was neat. Bright, polite and an avid reader, heck he was the answer to a teacher’s prayer, and obviously Stella’s pride and joy. And Dixie liked Stella, admired her independence and determination to get the very best for Sam. Interesting really, after asking for the costume as a favor for Sam, Justin’s conversation had been ninety percent Stella.

Dixie chuckled. Could ethical, straightlaced Justin be smitten? She shook her head. Hardly likely. He’d been more adamant even than Christopher that mortals and vampires avoid emotional involvement. No, Justin was just being kindly towards a poor kid. Very typical of him. Besides, what chance was there of Justin ever linking with another female while he still carried a torch for Gwyltha? Not that Dixie understood that after all that had happened, but men were hard enough to understand at the best of times and add vampire to that complication. Dixie shook her head and reached for her tailor’s shears and started cutting.

“You’re not being injudicious over this venture, are you?” Justin asked.

Christopher braced his feet against the gutter and leaned back on the slate tiles of the school roof. “What do you think?” They had a perfect view over the park and the houses on Reinhart, and one house in particular.

Justin kept his sights on the shadows in the park. “That flamboyance has always appealed to you.”

“Can’t much help it, walking around with an eye patch gets people’s attention.”

“Walking around is one thing, setting yourself up as the neighborhood vigilante is another.”

Christopher replied without taking his eyes off the house on the corner by the alley. “Justin, I discourage young thugs from continuing a life of crime. Hardly vigilante activity.”

“But it will get you noticed. You can’t take that risk.”

“No one is noticing me, except a few juvenile delinquents and some petty thieves. I’m not out to obliterate crime.” He paused. “Now that would get noticed. I just aim to get the word out that German Village isn’t easy pickings.”

“Be careful, Christopher.”

Satisfied the two dark figures who turned down Jaeger had passed the empty house, Christopher relaxed a little.

“Surely you didn’t come all this way just to exhort me to discretion.”

“No.” Justin folded his hands behind his head. “I came out here at Gwyltha’s urging.”

That almost had Christopher falling off the roof. “I see.” It was an outright lie. What was going on? Had Gwyltha finally come to her senses and come back to Justin? If so, what was he doing this side of the Atlantic? And why would she send him here? “And I thought it was just for old times’ sake.”

“That too. But she convinced me that if my protégés were living in Vlad’s territory it behooved me to make peace.”

Dropping to the ground in shock got more probable by the minute. “We’re hardly in his ‘territory.’ That’s why we picked this part of the Midwest. To stay clear of him.”

“Seems the Northwest is overpopulated and vampires are migrating.”

That made sense. Too many vampires in an area meant trouble all around. “He’s moving in here?” If so, how could he and Dixie oppose him? Damn! They’d just got settled and, hell, he liked it here in German Village. It took him back to the narrow streets of the London of his youth. “What do we do?”

“Nothing right now.” Justin stretched, seeming relaxed, but Christopher knew him better. “He’s established a colony in Chicago and is looking to spread out. I’m meeting with him there next week.”

“And…” Surely Justin wasn’t going cap in hand to the man who’d taken Gwyltha. They’d up tents and scatter before he let that happen. “Look, you don’t have to do this.”

“It’s no matter,” Justin interrupted.

Christopher didn’t believe that for one second. “Look here…”

“No!” Justin shook his head. “It isn’t…now. Funny, really. When Gwyltha gave me the ultimatum, I all but went into a snarling fit. On the flight over, I kept telling myself it was inevitable and to get it over with. But now, sitting here looking at the stars, it doesn’t seem that hard. I’ll meet with him, claim Ohio for my kindred and that will be that. I don’t even feel the rancor I have for the last century or so.” He gave a dry chuckle. “Must be the invigorating air of the New World changing my outlook…or maybe just seeing you and Dixie together tells me Gwyltha and I weren’t suited after all.”

Christopher forbore pointing out Gwyltha and Justin had been suited, on and off, for fifteen hundred years until Vlad Tepes took advantage of one of their off times. Still, if Justin was at peace at long last…“What next?”

“What next is,” Justin paused, head angled to listen, “trouble I think.” He stood up and crossed the roof, Christopher right behind him. “Thought so.”

Justin was right. A van without lights was parked on the school side of Stewart. “Never thought they’d go for the school,” Christopher muttered. “Makes sense. Most houses have one TV, one VCR and one computer. A school is full of them.” And if the three louts getting out of the van had their way, it would soon be empty of them. “I’ll take care of them.” He clapped a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “Want to join the fun?”

“What exactly do you have in mind?”

Christopher laughed. “Mayhem!”

“And you deny you’re flamboyant! Use your sense!”

“I will. And I’ll be careful. Dixie will throw a wobbly if I come home again with bullet holes in my shirt.”

“You really think petty thieves will be armed?”

“Justin, this is the United States. Pickpockets pack guns. Hell, children take them to school.” Christopher ran his hand through his hair. “We’re outnumbered. There’s bound to be a fourth driving the car. Let’s wait until the others get inside. You get Fred there to open the bonnet and then send him bye-bye and I’ll take care of the van.”

Justin smiled. “I think I get your drift. Nonviolent intervention?”

“What did you expect? I might be an ocean away from the rest of the colony but I’m still part of it. I’d never harm a human. Give them a bit of a scare, you bet. Terrify them into lawfulness, okay. But harm anyone? What do you take me for?” Kit grinned. “Watch me and follow my lead.”

They hung over the gutter and watched. These weren’t amateurs. In minutes they had disabled the alarm and seconds later all three climbed in through a ground floor window.

“Time, I think,” Christopher said and dropped to the ground three stories beneath.

Justin was right behind him. Brushing off his hands, he strolled up to the driver and requested he open the bonnet.

“They call it a hood, here,” Christopher whispered and darted to the front of the van.

Justin’s reworded request got results. In moments, Christopher had the distributor cap in his hand, and just in case they happened to carry a spare one with them, he yanked out all the spark plugs as well. And, in the unlikely event they had the foresight to bring another set of plugs, he slipped to the back of the car and pulled off his socks and stuffed them up the exhaust pipe.

“Everything all right.” he asked Justin, who was gently patting the driver’s shoulder.

“He’s out for a while and…” Justin reached into the open window. “Hell, you were right.” He pulled a gun from the driver’s jacket pocket. “Nasty things.”

“Never mind, we’ll get rid of it. Up for a bit of flying?”

Christopher soared, Justin just seconds behind. Minutes later they landed on the riverbank.

“Nice spot,” Justin said.

“Jogging path really, but quiet this time of night.” As Christopher spoke he tossed the plugs and distributor cap into the water. “Throw the gun, too. I used to dump them in the pond in the park but decided that was too risky, in case they ever drain it.”

Pausing just long enough to slip out the clip, Justin tossed the gun one way and the ammo the other. Both made a heavy splash in the night but the sound died fast and they stood in silence watching the widening circles on the surface. “Now we go home?” Justin asked,

“Nah! Not yet. The fun’s just beginning. Come with me.”

Kit walked this time, a couple of hundred meters to an all-night petrol station. While Justin mentally translated the prices into pounds and decided petrol couldn’t be that cheap, Kit went up to a pay phone and punched in 911. “I just drove past Stewart School. Something’s going on there. You need to check. Looks like a robbery,” he said and hung up.

“That’s it?” Justin asked.

“It’s enough,” Kit replied. “Columbus’s finest always come to a call. They haven’t let me down yet. We can fly back and beat them there perhaps, or we can stroll by and observe the proceedings like concerned and horrified citizens. I prefer the view from the roof.”

They flew back and watched, hanging head-down from the gutter so as not to miss a single detail. Kit had a point, this was well worth watching. The burglars walked out the front door with the first load of computers, just in time to meet the first blue and white car with flashing blue lights. Two others arrived right behind and the getaway was beautifully botched. Nothing like a dead car to slow things down.

Lights came on in the houses opposite. No one could sleep through the sirens and the shouts. The thieves were cuffed and shoved in the back of police cars. Two uniformed policemen wrapped the van in yellow tape, and slowly the excitement died down.

“Seen enough?” Kit asked. “I’d like to get back to Dixie before dawn.”

“She still sleeps throughout the day?”

Kit grinned. “Let’s say she’s livelier at night.”

Justin refused to feel the pang at his friend’s words. Kit deserved Dixie after what they’d gone through together, but it underscored his own solitary state.

Sitting with an unread book open on his knees after Kit went upstairs to his companion, Justin tried to assess his own feelings and had a darn hard time of it. For decades, he’d mourned the loss of Gwyltha, felt an empty pang whenever he thought of her. Suddenly the pain had faded and all he could summon up were distant good memories.

If Vlad could give Gwyltha what contented her, so be it. Justin could hardly believe his own thoughts, but he meant them. He’d used up all his hurt. He hadn’t lied to Kit in saying he was untroubled at meeting Vlad. All that mattered now was that he establish a clear territory for Kit and Dixie, and that Stella accept his disguised “gift.”

“Have you heard what happened last night?” Stella’s neighbor, Mrs. Zeibel, stopped her as she got out of the car.

“What happened?” There was always trouble in this neighborhood.

“Young Sid Day got himself arrested.”

Stella wondered how they’d slept through it. “When? What happened?” Might as well know the worst.

“Over at the Stewart School. Four of them caught taking computers and suchlike.” Mrs. Zeibel clucked her tongue and frowned. “Those boys. I don’t know. Their poor mother.”

Their poor mother was no doubt resigned to having her sons arrested. She had to be to keep going. Between Sid getting arrested again and the younger one, Johnny, always hanging around with the drug dealers…Stella sighed. This was no place to raise a child. She only stayed because she’d promised her mother to take care of her house. Dumb promise.

No point in worrying about it now. She had plenty to do now that she’d dropped Sam off at school, but when she shut the door behind her, the man in Dixie’s store yesterday was foremost in Stella’s thoughts. Justin Corvus! She said his name under her breath as she scraped oatmeal off the cereal plates. It suited him. Polished, smooth—but not in a nasty way, good-looking to the point of dangerous, eyes that did strange things to her thought processes and as for that voice…He could talk her out of her panties in a heartbeat. No, he couldn’t! She had too much self-preservation instinct for that!

She laughed aloud as she reached for the drying cloth. Who was she fooling? Men like that dated bankers and lawyers, not dry cleaner clerks—and just as well. The last thing she needed right now was another complication in her life.