The Nymph Next Door

J. L. Farey

Published by Jennifer AlLee, 2017.

Table of Contents

Title Page

A Note from Kristen Painter

1

2

3

4

5

6

A Note from Kristen Painter

Dear Reader,

Nocturne Falls has become a magical place for so many people, myself included. Over and over I’ve heard from you that it’s a town you’d love to visit and even live in! I can tell you that writing the books is just as much fun for me.

With your enthusiasm for the series in mind – and your many requests for more books – the Nocturne Falls Universe was born. It’s a project near and dear to my heart, and one I am very excited about.

I hope these new, guest-authored books will entertain and delight you. And best of all, I hope they allow you to discover some great new authors! (And if you like this book, be sure to check out the rest of the Nocturne Falls Universe offerings.)

For more information about the Nocturne Falls Universe, visit http://kristenpainter.com/sugar-skull-books/

In the meantime, happy reading!

Kristen Painter

THE NYMPH NEXT DOOR

A Nocturne Falls Universe Story

Copyright © 2017 by J. L. Farey

Cover design by Rebecca Poole

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction and was made possible by a special agreement with Sugar Skull Books, but hasn’t been reviewed or edited by Kristen Painter. All characters, events, scenes, plots and associated elements appearing in the original Nocturne Falls series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Kristen Painter, Sugar Skull Books and their affiliates or licensors.

Any similarity to real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or Sugar Skull Books.

Published in the United States of America.

––––––––

This is dedicated to my mom, Rose-Marie, who watched Dark Shadows with me, let me build cemeteries in the sandbox, and never doubted that one day, I’d be a real author. I miss you every day!

1

As a rule, Laurel Barker tried to keep a low profile. But that was difficult to do when towing an eight-foot tree on a flat-bed trailer hitched to an ancient VW Bus. In a town that celebrated Halloween 365 days a year, folks expected to see the unexpected. Vampires, werewolves, gargoyles and their ilk weren’t a big deal. But even the people strolling the sidewalks of Nocturne Falls looked at her bizarre caravan as if it had come from another galaxy.

Pulling up to the curb in front of the real estate office, she muttered a quick thank you to whatever deity had arranged for an empty area big enough to park in.

“Must be our lucky day, huh?”

She looked over at the black and white lump curled up on the passenger seat. Bailey – part pit bull and part mystery dog – lifted his head and responded with a whine. Then he flopped back down and exhaled a sigh so long it sounded like air escaping a slashed tire.

“I knew you’d be thrilled.” Laurel grinned as she shifted the bus into park. After rolling the passenger side window halfway down, she hopped out, slammed the door, then looked back into the vehicle. “I’ll just be a few minutes. You stand guard, okay?”

Moving nothing but his eyes, Bailey acknowledged her existence before expelling another sigh and letting his head flop over the side of the bucket seat.

Laurel shook her head as she stepped up the curb and made for the real estate office. She liked to think that if she was ever in real trouble, Bailey would snap into action and protect her. Hopefully, she would never have the need to find out if she was right.

The bells above the office door were set a-jingling as Laurel walked in. A young woman sat behind a desk on the other side of the room.

She looked up from the phone she’d been bent over. “Are you Laurel?”

“I am. Are you...Pandora?”

The girl laughed and shook her head, sending her ponytail swishing back and forth. “No, I’m Kaley. Pandora had to take a client to look at properties, so she asked me to wait here for you.”

“Oh. Well, I guess I can come back later, if–”

“No, it’s all good.” Kaley stood and snatched a manila envelope off the end of the desk. “Everything you need is right here.”

Laurel sighed with relief. She’d already communicated at length with Pandora through emails and phone calls, not to mention exchanging and signing all the necessary documents electronically. Although she’d been looking forward to meeting the friendly realtor in person, it could wait for another time. Right now, Laurel just wanted to go to her new home and get everybody settled as soon as possible. 

“I appreciate you being here to give this to me,” Laurel said. “Do you need to see my ID? Just to prove I’m really me?”

Kaley held the envelope against her chest and cocked her head to the side, considering Laurel. “Nah, you’ve got an honest aura.” She grinned and held out the envelope. “Besides, if you turn out not to be who you say you are, we know where to find you.”

“Good point.” Laurel smiled in thanks. “So, I’ve got an honest aura? Let me guess...you’re a witch.”

The girl nodded. “Yep. And you must be...give me a sec. You’re very green, earthy. A nymph?”

“A wood nymph, to be exact. Speaking of wood, I’ve got a tree and a dog outside to take care of. Thanks again.” Laurel headed for the door, but did a quick turn on the way to offer one last sentiment. “See you around.”

Kaley was already on the other side of the desk. “No doubt.” She gave a casual wave of one hand while she picked up her phone with the other. “Later!”

With the envelope tightly clutched against her side, Laurel felt a warm seed of hope sprouting to life. Things were finally going her way.

“Is this your vehicle?” A hulk of a man stepped in front of Laurel, bringing her up short and wiping the smile off her face.

Two things registered right away. One, he was drop-dead gorgeous in a scruffy kind of way, his sandy-blond hair short and spikey, eyes like drops of honey, and muscles that seemed none too happy being confined by his uniform shirt. Two, that shirt was part of a police uniform and the pad in his hand was probably for writing her a ticket. It was like the entire concept of yin and yang was summed up in this one guy.

“Yes, it’s mine.” Laurel did her best to be bright and upbeat, hoping a sunny disposition would win her points with Officer Hunk-O-Licious. “I know I shouldn’t have left my dog, but it was literally only for a few minutes while I ran into the realtor’s office. But I rolled the windows down and he has food and water in the back, just in case.”

The man blinked once, then shook his head. “You’re in a no parking zone.”

He motioned behind him, and for the first time Laurel noticed that the back tire of her trailer was mere inches away from a fire hydrant. Oops.

“I’m sorry, Officer. I didn’t see it. I’m new in town.”

His mouth quirked to the side. “So are half the people on the street.”

Did he think she was a tourist? What kind of tourist towed a tree into town with them? “I won’t be new for long, though.” She shook the envelope as if it explained everything. “I’m settling here, at least for a while.”

“Welcome to Nocturne Falls.” The pleasure of his words didn’t match his flat, uninterested tone.

“Thanks.” Maybe she’d pegged this guy wrong. No matter how hot he was, he was definitely coming off as more of an Officer Grumpy-Pants.

He glanced over his shoulder. “You’ve got a dog in there?”

Oh brother. “Yes.”

“You should never leave an animal alone in a car.” He frowned and stalked over to the bus.

She hurried after him, trying to explain as she went. “I know. And I never do. Except this once. Besides, it's a beautiful day. The temperature’s what...low seventies?”

“Seventy-two.” He was standing by the passenger side door, looking in the window. “Are you sure this dog is okay? He’s not moving.”

Laurel laughed. “That’s just Bailey. He’s very chill.”

At the sound of her voice, Bailey raised his head, his tongue lolling out in a doggy smile. Then, he noticed Officer Grumpy-Pants. Extending his head, Bailey sniffed the air. He gave a yelp and a moment later, he was off the seat and scurrying into the back of the bus.

“I’ve never seen him move that fast,” Laurel said. “I think you scared him.”

“Me? Why would I scare him?”

Oh, maybe because your sparkling personality was too much for him. Sarcasm aside, Laurel trusted Bailey’s judgement. If he didn’t like someone, she probably shouldn’t either.

“Look, Officer Gr–sorry, what’s your name?”

“Aiden Morris.”

“Officer Morris. I apologize, and I’d really love to drive away without a ticket. But if you’re going to give me one, can we speed this up? I have things to do, and I’m sure you’d like me to move my vehicle in case something spontaneously combusts and you need to crack open that hydrant.”

The ghost of a smile made his face a bit less severe and even more attractive. With a nod, he flipped the pad shut and tucked the pen back in his shirt pocket. “I’ll cut you some slack, since you’re new and all. But just today. If I catch you illegally parked again–”

“I know. You’ll throw the ticket pad at me. I won’t forget.”

Before he could change his mind, she hurried around the bus and hopped in behind the wheel. After several pumps on the gas pedal and two cranks of the key, the motor chugged to life. She took a last look at Officer Morris, now sporting a full-blown look of amusement as he stood on the sidewalk watching her.

As she pulled away from the curb, she waggled her fingers at Officer Too-Hot-To-Be-Legal and expelled a long, slow breath. A whine sounded behind her and Bailey made his way back up to the front seat. Once he was settled, Laurel shook her head as she scratched behind his ear.

“You’re probably right about him, but that’s one fine looking peace officer. Times like this I wish you could talk and just spell it all out.”

Bailey grunted and closed his eyes. Hoping for a distraction, Laurel pushed the button on the radio, filling the car with country music by a singer she didn’t recognize. She had a lot to do before committing to making Nocturne Falls her permanent home. It was best to concentrate on that. Later, when her life was less complicated, then she could think about making friends.

Or making something else.

*  *  *

Aiden scratched the back of his head as the mysterious stranger drove away.

“I thought the Panic Parade was last week.” The voice behind him carried a hint of amusement.

“Huh?” Aiden asked as he turned.

Jason Raza came up beside him, bringing the vendor’s cart he was pushing to a halt. He jerked his chin in the direction of the street. “As long as I’ve lived here, I’ve never seen anybody drive a tree through town. And believe me, I’ve seen alotta things.”

“She’s new in town,” he parroted the woman’s words to his friend. “And she has a dog. I didn’t get far enough to ask her about the tree.”

“New in town, huh? Sounds like she’ll be around for a while.” Jason chucked him in the ribs with his elbow. “You can put your big-city detective skills to use and track her down.”

Aiden huffed out a please-be-serious breath. “I don’t think Sherriff Merrow would appreciate me tracking down people for fun.” No matter how pretty they were. Or how good they smelled, like lemon grass and sun warmed earth after a spring shower. To heck with his abilities as a detective. All he had to do was shift and he could sniff her out, no doubt about it.

“Okay, I get it.” Jason laughed. Then he sighed and his expression turned serious. “Do you ever miss it?”

“Miss what?”

“Your old life.”

“Nope.” Aiden winced. Even to his own ears, that answer came way too fast. “A little. Sometimes. But I enjoy my life here. What made you ask?”

The young man shrugged. “Dunno. I was just thinking, even though you’re not a detective anymore, you’re still a cop. It’s like you found what you’re good at. Where you belong. Must be nice.”

Aiden had met Jason through a mentor program set up to help people who had problems dealing with their powers. It was similar to the national Big Brother program, except that the mentees weren’t always kids. Jason was in his mid-twenties, but still hadn’t discovered what powers he had, if any. It was a source of concern for his parents, both highly respected in the supernatural community, and a matter of discouragement for Jason. That feeling of not belonging was something they talked about often. It was the reason that Jason was one of the few people in Nocturne Falls who knew everything about Aiden’s past.

“Professionally, yes,” Aiden said, “I know who I am. But it didn’t happen overnight. It took a long time to get to this point. And I’m still figuring out a lot of other stuff.”

A grin lifted the corner of Jason’s mouth. “Like whether or not to track down hot babes towing trees through town?”

Aiden forced a stern look and leveled a finger at Jason’s nose. “Hey, show some respect. She’s a woman, not a babe.” Then he dropped his hand and laughed. “But yeah, stuff like that.”

It had been a while since Aiden let himself think about pursuing anything more than friendship with a woman. He stayed so busy with work and volunteer projects, there wasn’t time to dwell on the lack of a female in his life. But every now and then, when he was alone at home, it would hit him. When he sat in his den watching the fire, he imagined putting his arm around someone special, instead of slinging it carelessly over the back of the empty couch. And when he climbed between the cool sheets of his bed, he longed to feel the warmth from another human being, someone to tease about stealing the covers, and hold in his arms until they both drifted off to sleep. How amazing it would be to share his home with a mate.

Aiden shook his head sharply. He was in sad shape if a few minutes talking to a beautiful woman had him thinking about a mate. Determined to change the subject, he looked at Jason’s cart with exaggerated interest.

“What are you hawking today?”

Jason’s salesman persona clicked in and he went into an entertaining shtick about the various doodads and geegaws meant to delight the tourists. Aiden picked up one of the stuffed animals. It was a bear with soft, golden fur and a red satin heart sewn to its chest. It was the kind of silly, romantic token he’d be inclined to give to a special lady.

Not that he had anyone in mind.

2

The realtor hadn’t been kidding when she told Laurel the cabin was secluded. After driving through residential streets and past a pretty impressive gated community, she’d turned onto a road that led to the edge of town. Just when she expected to see a sign proclaiming You are now leaving Nocturne Falls, the pavement made a hair-pin turn, then zigged and zagged its way to the base of the foothills. She eased up on the gas, not just because the pavement had given way to gravel, but to take in the sights along the way.

There were so many trees. They lined the road, stately sentinels guarding whoever passed by. From her window, Laurel glimpsed the glint of water beyond the sturdy trunks. She took a deep breath, inhaling the clean smell of pine and oak, the pungent tang of mildew from the bottom layer of fallen leaves, and the wild and wonderful mingling of scents that only came from a thriving forest community.

In the passenger seat, Bailey had exerted an uncharacteristic amount of effort to sit up and stick his nose out the open window.

“What do you think?” Laurel asked.

He lifted his nose higher, sniffed the breeze, and gave a short bark.

She laughed. “I agree. It’s amazing.”

After driving another five minutes, the cabin came into view. It was one story, made of rough, blond wood planks. On either side of a faded red door, two grimy windows looked at her like unblinking, hazy eyes. The porch seemed sturdy enough, unlike the remains of a deck chair heaped in one corner. The cabin needed more than a little work, but its condition, combined with the fact that it had been on the market for well over a year, had helped her negotiate a deal to rent with an option to buy at a rock-bottom price. So far, everything felt right about Nocturne Falls, but she had to be sure before putting down roots, figurative or otherwise.

Laurel cut the engine, got out of the bus, and went around to open the door for Bailey.

“Welcome to your new home.”

Gingerly, he stepped from the seat to the floor and then slid his stocky body to the ground. He walked in a circle, then looked up at Laurel as if asking permission.

“Go ahead,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Explore. Just don’t go too far.”

Tongue lolling out in a happy doggy smile, he trotted off, smelling anything that didn’t move.

Once she was sure that Bailey was secure in his new habitat, she went around to the trailer and hopped in the back.

“We made it, Horatio.”

The branches of the tree shook just enough to rustle the leaves, speaking in a way only Laurel could recognize. She checked the tie downs securing the huge container, then she hopped up onto the dirt, pulled her knees beneath her, and leaned her cheek against the rough bark of the trunk. Life affirming warmth infused her.

She sighed. “Ah, I needed this.”

The branches shook again, but this time, several leaves floated down to earth. One landed on her leg. She picked it up and rubbed it between her fingers. Too dry. Too sad.

“I know you want to get out of this bucket, but we need to wait a few more days. If you take root here and it’s wrong...well, you know.”

The answer emanated in her mind. I won’t survive another transplant. Neither will you.

He also couldn’t stay in those temporary quarters for much longer. She’d given him a good soaking before they left Tennessee, but it was past time for another one.

“Hang in there. I’ll hook up the hose.” With one last pat to his trunk, she left the trailer and got to work.

Pulling open the double doors on the side of the bus, she looked over the neatly organized collection of boxes. Her entire life had fit back there, with enough room left over for Bailey’s bowls and squeaky toys.

You’d think a person who’d lived as long as Laurel would have collected a warehouse full of things, but in her case, it was just the opposite. Decade after decade had taught her that things came and went and could be replaced with surprising ease. Still, there were a few items she held on to for sentimental reasons. Her VW Bus was one of them. Of course, that had more to do with Dillon than the bus itself.

The thought of him zinged through her mind, bringing with it the usual bittersweet pang. She had fewer regrets than she had possessions, but Dillon happened to be one of those, too.

Laurel shook off the memory before it could take hold. Focusing her attention back to the task at hand, she grabbed a coiled green hose from an open crate by the door.

She found the water spigot where she expected, on the side of the cabin. The rusted threads made it a bit challenging to screw on the hose. Once it was attached, Laurel turned the handle. A few gurgles, spits, and sputters to clear air from the pipes and then the water flowed. Laurel smiled. She’d arranged to have the gas, water, and power turned on and ready for her arrival. It was a relief to see the Nocturne Falls utility companies had kept up their end. The town had earned one more tick mark in the positive column of her mental list of pros and cons.

“Here you go, my friend.” She placed the end of the hose at the base of his trunk and watched as the water flowed over and into the soil. The branches gave a quick shudder, like a sigh of satisfaction.

“You’re welcome.”

Laurel looked back at the cabin. Bailey lay curled up on the porch, apparently done with exploring for the time being. Now that her tree and her dog were taken care of, she should probably tackle making the cabin suitable for living.

Mounting the two steps to the porch, she expelled a sigh. There was no putting it off any longer. She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open with a screech. A musty smell hit her nostrils as she flicked the switch on the wall beside her. Warm light from a fixture hanging in the middle of the ceiling illuminated the room. A fine layer of dust covered everything, including the once-white sheets that were draped over all the furniture. Despite the smell and the dust, it was a welcoming, open space with a living area on one side, a kitchen and dining table on the other.

“What’s this?” Laurel went to the table. It was covered with a clean, non-dusty linen cloth. On top of that was a huge basket sporting a black and orange striped satin bow. It was full of the bits and pieces needed to set up house: paper goods, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, and more. A card was propped up next to it. Laurel opened it. Written in swirling cursive was a message from Pandora.

Just a few things to get you started.

Snacks and drinks are in the fridge.

Welcome to your new home!

Clipped to the bottom of the note was a business card for Howlers Bar and scribbled on the back in slightly-less elaborate cursive was a short message. Stop by tonight and I’ll introduce you to some locals.

A thousand pinpricks assaulted her nose and Laurel blinked back the urge to cry. Nocturne Falls scored another point. She might have to reconsider making Horatio wait. With a town so welcoming and people so thoughtful, he might get to put down roots sooner than she’d thought.

And she needed to hurry up and unload the bus if she wanted to have time to shower before going out tonight.

*  *  *

What a day it had been.

Try as he might, Aiden hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the dark-haired, green-eyed beauty and her mini-travelling circus. And boy, had he tried. So, when his friend, Wade, invited him to head over to Howlers after their shift, Aiden didn’t turn him down like he usually did. He’d have a beer, unwind, maybe shoot some pool. It could be just what he needed.

Except that the minute he walked into the bar, his eyes zeroed in on a table in the corner where Pandora Williams was sitting with the woman who would not leave his brain alone.

“Hey boys!” Bridget, the owner of Howlers, called out from behind the bar. “Two beers?”

Bridget was loud enough not only to get the attention of Aiden and Wade, but Laurel, too. She looked up just in time to catch Aiden staring at her. He jerked his head and made his way to the bar for his beer, then pretended to listen to Wade tell a story about a tourist who had tried to get the fountain gargoyle to blink. Carefully, he looked past Wade and saw Pandora jabbing her finger in his direction while leaning close to Laurel and chattering away.

Great. Pandora was playing tour guide and he’d just become the main attraction.

“Is that crazy or what?” Wade must have finished telling his story, because now he was waiting for a response.

“Yeah, crazy. Insane.” Aiden laughed and took a swig of beer.

Wade frowned. “You didn’t hear a word I said.”

“Sure I did. Tourists. Gargoyle. Crazy.”

“Uh huh.”

Wade started to turn around, but Aiden clapped him on the shoulder in what he hoped looked like a friendly gesture. “Don’t look behind you.”

“Why? Did Medusa come to town? Gonna turn me to stone if I look at her?”

Aiden huffed out a laugh. “Nothing so drastic. Just don’t look.”

“Why are you acting so squirrely? Wait a minute...” With a grin, Wade lifted an eyebrow and gave a slow nod. “You’ve got the hots for a woman.”

The only answer Aiden gave was a glare over his half-filled glass.

Wade took it as an admission. “See. I’m right. It’s the only thing that would make you act so weird.”

“With detective skills like that, it’s no wonder you can’t get off traffic detail.”

“Yeah, yeah, very funny. Now spill it. Who’s the girl?”

Aiden figured he had two choices: Continue denying Wade’s theory, in which case Wade would pester him about it for the rest of the night. Or, he could tell him about Laurel and get some of the frustration off his chest. As if seeing her might give him the answer, he glanced back at her table.

The now empty table.

He should be relieved that she was gone, but he wasn’t. Instead, a sense of loss washed over him. It was just more proof that he was right to stay away from her.

“Okay. Yes, you’re right. There is a woman. She’s new here and I met her this morning and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her all day. But it doesn’t matter now because she’s gone.” Aiden jerked his chin toward the back of the room. “So look all you want."

“That’s okay. My curiosity is satisfied.” With a smug smirk, Wade snatched up his beer and slid off the bar stool. “Now I’ve gotta go see a guy. About a thing. You know.”

He didn’t know, but he nodded.

As Wade walked past, he raised his glass to someone. “Welcome to town.”

“Thanks.”

Oh no. That voice.

Aiden turned slowly, and there she was. One elbow leaning on the polished wood of the bar, her head cocked to the side, making her hair a silky black waterfall that cascaded over her shoulder and brushed the top of what was no doubt an amazing pair of breasts. Her full, red lips quirked into an amused grin and her green eyes twinkled, lighting up the dim room.

Aiden’s mouth went dry. There was no denying it now. He had it bad.

He was in big trouble.

*  *  *

So, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Normally, it was the kind of thing Laurel wouldn’t want to hear. But she was feeling a bit reckless. Maybe it was the third drink. Or was it the fourth? Or maybe it was the euphoria of finding a new home where she could relax and be herself. For whatever reason, Officer Aiden Morris was too sexy and too adorably embarrassed to ignore.

“Imagine running into you twice in one day,” she said. “Are you stalking me?”

His eyes widened and he shook his head. “No ma’am. Just unwinding after a hard day.”

“A hard day.” Laurel giggled. “I’ll bet it was. Hard. You dirty boy.”

Aiden frowned. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Not too much. Two glasses of wine. And then I switched to ice tea.”

“Ice tea? From where?”

“Long Island! They make the best ice tea.” She took an enthusiastic swig, sending the ice smashing against her teeth and creating a little shower of amber liquid over her nose and cheeks. “Oops. I made a mess.”

“You could say that.” Aiden took the glass from her hand and set in on the bar.

“Hey, I’m not done,” she protested.

“Yes you are.” He motioned to Bridget. “Put whatever she owes on my tab. I’ll stop by tomorrow and settle up.”

“You got it. Is she okay?”

“I’ll make sure she is.”

Bridget smiled, then moved on to another customer.

Laurel wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by taking care of her, but she wanted to find out. She stepped forward, linked her fingers behind Aiden’s neck and looked up at him. “Can we go outside?”

“Good idea. We could both use some air.”

He unclasped her hands. She pouted and wobbled a little, which made him put an arm around her waist as he walked her outside. It was so good to feel the warmth of flesh and blood against her. She loved her trees, drew life from them, but this, the touch of a person, this fed her soul. And her soul was starving.

They moved through the crowded parking lot, Aiden gently pulling her to one side to avoid a row of motorcycles, then squeezing her closer to him to fit through the gaps between cars. They stopped in front of a wrought iron bench at the edge of the lot.

“Sit.”

He turned her back to the bench, but she resisted. “Will you sit next to me?”

A pause. Then he nodded. “Of course.”

His arm was around her shoulders as he helped her down. Before he could remove it, she leaned against him, putting her cheek against his chest.

“This is nice,” she said.

He didn’t respond. Not in words, anyway. But his heartbeat spoke loud and clear.

“I can hear your heart. It’s racing.”

Still no words. Laurel pulled her feet up on the bench and pushed herself more firmly against him. Behind the bench, the leaves of large oak tree rustled, even though there was no wind to speak of.

Laurel looked up at Aiden. “Why were you thinking about me?”

He grunted, refusing to look back. “I was thinking I should have given you that ticket.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping it was the same reason I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

That got his attention. He lowered his head and looked at her with eyes so intense she almost had to look away. If she was smart, she’d end it now. Being outside had done a lot to clear her head. On the other hand, being this close to Aiden was getting her drunker than any mixed drink could.

She shouldn’t be thinking how much she wanted to kiss him. She shouldn’t let her hand slide up his chest to his neck, her fingers entwining in the thick hair at the nape of his neck. She shouldn’t raise her lips, inviting him to meet her halfway. She shouldn’t do any of that.

But she did it all.

*  *  *

Kissing Laurel was like nothing he’d experienced before. It was an explosion of emotions and feelings, of images in his mind of everything good in his life. It was the piece of him that was missing, it was all the things he ever wanted, even the things he hadn’t realized he wanted.

It was home.

He didn’t know how long they sat on that bench, making out like they were the only two people in the world. It could have been a minute, it could have been an hour. For all he knew, the entire town of Nocturne Falls could have camped out around them to watch the show. Somehow, Aiden pulled together enough will power to break away. The moment her lips left his, he missed them. His breath came in hard, short pants, as did hers. She was almost sitting in his lap and his hand was twisted in her hair.

“Wow.” She uttered just one syllable, so low it was almost a whisper, but it pretty much said it all.

How had this happened? They hadn’t even known each other for twenty-four hours, yet here they were going at it in public like it was perfectly normal. He was acting like an animal.

The thought had the same effect as a bucket of ice water poured over his head. As quickly and gently as he could, he untangled his hand from her hair and pushed her away, putting some distance between them.

Her eyes were huge and she wrapped her arms around her knees as if protecting herself.

He’d really blown it this time. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I was out of line.”

Laurel shook her head. “No, it’s not your fault. Really. It was me. I–”

“I don’t know what came over me.”

“I do.” Her voice was tinged with shame. She let her forehead fall on her knees. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Not exactly the reaction one hoped for after a kiss like that, but what did he expect? “Look, it was just a kiss. Nothing else. I think we’ll both survive it.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She raised her head. “I mean, I’m going to puke.”

She jumped up, ran around the bench, and doubled over beside a tree.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.” She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth, then wrapped her arms around the oak. “I just need a minute.”

What was it with her and trees? Well, since there was no toilet around to hug, hugging a tree was probably the next best thing.

A few minutes later she walked back to him, a bit shaky but looking far less green around the gills. “That was a lovely way to end a first date.”

Aiden stood up with a laugh. “Are we on a date?”

“Oh yeah.” She wiped her palms against her thighs, using the denim to slough off bits of dirt and leaves. “I think that’s the only way we get through this night with any dignity at all. See, this is why I hardly ever drink. It doesn’t exactly bring out my best qualities.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think your qualities are pretty amazing. And I only had one beer.”

Even though he meant what he said, he was taking a chance, testing how she’d react.

A slow smile formed on her gorgeous lips. “That’s sweet. I’m just glad you’re a gentleman and didn’t take advantage of the situation.”

What a relief. While Aiden was one hundred percent positive their kiss had been mutually consensual, it was good to know she felt the same way. Because he had no intention of letting that be their last kiss.

Laurel put her hand to the side of her head. “I hate to ask, but would you mind giving me a lift home? I don’t think I should drive.”

“You read my mind.”

Putting a hand gently on the small of her back, he led her to a dark blue pickup. Once he’d help her step up into the cab, she smiled down at him.

“You’re a very nice man.” Her eyes squeezed shut in a wince and she crossed her arms over her stomach. “Something’s wrong.”

“Are you going to be sick again?”

“No. Not that. I need to get home.”

“Hang on.” After a quick check that her arms and legs were all the way in the cab, he slammed the door and ran around to the other side. He slid behind the wheel and cranked the ignition, bringing the engine to life. “What’s your address?”

Silence. She was leaning against the door, head against the window, eyes shut. Her chest moved up and down, so she was still breathing. Either she’d passed out or fallen asleep. Aiden touched her shoulder and gave a gentle shake. Nothing. Then a not-so-gentle shake. Still nothing.

Wonderful. He had a woman passed out in his truck and no idea where to take her. He looked around for her purse, then realized he hadn’t seen her with one. But she drove to the bar, so she must have ID. Probably in a wallet.

Aiden cleared his throat. “This is your last chance to wake up before I put my hand in your back pocket.” She didn’t respond. “Okay. Sorry. Again.”

He leaned her forward so he could look behind her. The snug t-shirt she wore rode up and the waistband of her jeans pulled down just enough for him to see a tattoo on the small of her back. It was a little yellow bird perched on a tree branch. Right below that was a piece of lace, hinting at what she was wearing under those jeans.

“Wallet,” he reminded himself. “You’re looking for her wallet.”

Zeroing in on her pockets, he found what he was looking for. As smoothly and professionally as possible, he slid the wallet out and leaned her back against the seat.

It was a man’s leather wallet and so old he wondered if it had once belonged to her father. It was also surprisingly thick. Unfolding it, he saw why. It was stuffed with money. He didn’t count it, but from the edges sticking up he knew there were at least two one-hundred-dollar bills. Okay, so she had money. No big deal. She probably hadn’t opened a bank account yet. Thank God, she also had a license. It was behind a protective piece of plastic that was so scratched and stained, he couldn’t see through it.

Aiden pulled out the license and something behind it came out too, falling in his lap. He sighed when he realized her license was from Tennessee. He should have realized she wouldn’t have any ID with her new address on it.

“I forgot. You’re new in town.” He slid the license back in the wallet, then picked up what had fallen in his lap. It was a photograph. Faded and grainy, it must have been taken some time in the sixties. A couple mugged for the camera, cheeks pressed together, smiles huge. Each one held up two fingers of one hand in a peace sign. The man wore a brown vest trimmed with fringe. It hung open, exposing a chest bare of anything but the love beads hanging around his neck. The woman wore a peasant blouse and her silky black hair was held back with a tie-dyed bandana.

“What the...”

Aiden turned the picture over. Written in ink so faded it was gray were the words, Dillon & me – 1969.

He flipped it back over, his eyes going straight to the girl. The hair, the lips, but most importantly, the eyes...even in an old photograph, there was no mistaking those eyes.

It was Laurel. He’d bet his life on it.

Since he himself was a being with unique abilities, Aiden knew there were any number of possibilities to explain how Laurel could look exactly the same now as she had forty-eight years ago. But that didn’t keep him from being intrigued. So much about her was a mystery, yet he was drawn to her, as if he belonged with her.

He had an overwhelming desire to protect her. Since he didn’t know where she lived, he did the next best thing. He shifted the truck into reverse, backed out of the parking spot and exited onto the street.

“We’re going to my house.”

3

Someone had put her head in a vice, and her body on a very comfortable mattress.

Putting her fingers gingerly to her temples, Laurel was relieved to find no torture device whatsoever on or around her skull. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the light coming in through the window.

Laurel sat up in the bed and looked around. Clean, floor-to-ceiling curtains hung at the window. A few nature prints hung on the beige walls. The head and footboards of the bed were crafted from dark wood, sanded to a satin finish. It was very nice, very tidy, and very much not her bedroom.

What had happened last night?

She remembered meeting Pandora at Howlers. They’d had a few drinks and talked about Nocturne Falls. Pandora had pointed out... oh no. Aiden Morris had been there. And Laurel had been more than a little forward.

The details were fuzzy, but she remembered sitting next to him. His heart beating. And that kiss. She’d have to suffer from total amnesia to forget that kiss. But what else had she done?

A pair of bedazzled flip flops were on the floor beside the door. Those were hers. She looked down at herself and sighed with relief. Her clothes were still on. Then, from behind a closed door to the left of the bed, she heard something. Or rather, she stopped hearing something. It had been like white noise in the background, but now that it was gone, the silence was unmistakable. It must be a bathroom, and someone had turned off the shower.

“Hello!” Not knowing what else to do, she called out. She immediately regretted it as the throbbing in her head increased.

There was a muffled response, but she couldn’t make it out. A minute later, the door opened, letting out a fair amount of steam and one half-naked, wet man.

With a striped brown and white towel wrapped around his waist, Aiden was more modestly covered than most men you’d find hanging out at a public pool. Still, the way droplets of water rolled down his chest, emphasizing the cut of his muscles, seemed far more intimate when she was looking at him from the middle of a bed.

“You’re awake.” He grinned as he rubbed another towel over his wet hair, making it stand on end. “How do you feel?”

“Confused. Why am I here?”

“You asked me to take you home last night.”

She frowned and snapped before he could say anything else. “This isn’t my home.”

“I know.” His voice was tinged with amusement. “You passed out in my truck before you gave me the address. It was either bring you here, or let you sleep it off in a holding cell back at the station.”

“Oh.” She vaguely recalled being in his truck. “In that case, you made the right decision.”

“I thought you’d agree.”

“Then we didn’t...you know...” She wagged a finger at herself, then at him.

It took him a second to get her meaning. “No. I swear, nothing like that. I carried you in and put you to bed and took your shoes off. That’s it.”

“Then why are you standing there...like that?”

He draped the towel he’d been drying his hair with around his neck. “This is the only bathroom and I needed to get ready for work.”

“And I’m screwing up your schedule. Sorry.” Laurel scooted to the edge of the bed, doing her best to ignore the persistent headache.

He held his palm out to her. “Slow down. No need to rush.”

He went back into the bathroom and fussed around for a moment. When he came back out, his hair was brushed and a plush, blue bathrobe concealed the majority of his body. Laurel was both relieved and disappointed. But mostly disappointed.

Aiden grabbed some things out of his dresser and a shirt and pants from the closet. “Go ahead and freshen up. Take your time. When you’re ready, I’ll give you a lift back to your bus.”

He left the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind him.

Laurel sighed. What a mess she’d created. And all because she wanted to experience the touch of skin on skin again. Still, that kiss...

It had almost been worth the consequences.

She took a few minutes in the bathroom to finger-comb her hair and swish around a gulp of mouthwash. She was about to leave when she had a second thought and gave one underarm a good sniff. Yuck. Hopefully, Aiden wouldn’t mind if she borrowed some deodorant, too. She grabbed the stick and swiped the green solid across her skin. As she put the top back on, she caught the spicy, musky fragrance and realized she might have made a mistake.

“Great. Now I smell like him.”

There was no way to fix it, short of taking a shower, and there’d been enough bare, wet skin in that room for one day. She’d just have to live with the reminder of Aiden until she could scrub it away in the privacy of her own home.

When she opened the bedroom door, she was greeted by the heavenly aromas of fresh coffee and bacon. Aiden must have dressed in the living room, because he stood, fully-clothed, at the cook top.

He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “I hope you like your eggs scrambled, ‘cause that’s the only way I know how to make them.”

“You really shouldn’t go to all this trouble.”

“I never start the day without breakfast. It’s no trouble to whip up enough for one more.”

There was obviously no point in arguing with him. And frankly, she was too hungry and the food smelled too good for her to try.

“If you want coffee, the mugs are over there.” He pointed with a wooden spoon. “You are a coffee drinker, aren’t you?”

“Does a bear do his business in the woods?”

He coughed, then cleared his throat, then coughed again. “From what I understand, yeah.”

She poured her coffee and held the steaming mug in both hands, taking a moment to enjoy the heat and smell of it. Leaning back against the kitchen counter, she watched Aiden as he worked. There was something incredibly sexy about a man who could cook. Laurel chuckled. She had a feeling she’d find something sexy in just about everything Aiden Morris did.

“Something funny?” Aiden scooped eggs onto a plate, added a healthy pile of bacon on the side and handed it to Laurel.

She set the mug down so she could take the plate. “The only thing funny is that you think I can eat all this food.” He opened a drawer of flatware and she took out a fork. “Thank you, though. It looks delicious.”

They took their loaded plates to the table, and after one more trip to the kitchen for her coffee, Laurel sat down. The first bite of flaky eggs and melted cheese elicited a moan of satisfaction and confirmed just how hungry she really was. She’d barely swallowed before shoveling in another forkful.

“Nobody’s going to take the plate away,” Aiden said. “You can slow down.”

“It’s just so good.” She put her hand in front of her mouth to keep the eggs where they belonged. “I don’t know why I’m so hungry.”

“I have an idea.” He picked up a piece of bacon and bit off the end. “You burned a whole lot of calories last night.”

Laurel rolled her eyes, but she was glad he was keeping the mood light instead of getting all heavy and emotional. It was much easier for her to handle.

This time, she swallowed before talking. “I don’t care how great the kiss is, it doesn’t burn that many calories.”

“Your memory seems to be a little hazy, so let me refresh it for you. That wasn’t just a kiss. That was kissing. Epic kissing. Burned at least a thousand calories.”

She took a sip of coffee and looked at him over the rim of her mug. “Is that so?”

“Oh yeah. And then you threw up.”

She almost dropped her coffee. “I what?”

“You threw up.” He sat back in his chair and puffed out his chest. “I have that effect on women.”

“Don’t take it personally.”

“Kind of hard not to, since I was the only other person there. Then again, you’d had more than a few drinks, so we can probably blame it on that.”

Laurel picked up her fork, then set it down again. She wasn’t quite as hungry anymore. “Did I do anything else embarrassing?”

“You hugged a tree. But that was cute.”

The tree. That, Laurel remembered. “Then we went to your truck.”

“Right. I helped you in, and you said something was wrong. I was afraid you were going to be sick again, but you passed out instead.”

Something’s wrong. Like a bolt of lightning it all came back. The whole night. The kissing, which had indeed been epic and something she’d want to think more about later. But feeling sick, throwing up, hugging the tree. It hadn’t been because of the drinks, it had been something far worse. Something had been wrong with Horatio.

She jumped up from the table, pushing the chair back so hard it hit the wall. “I need to get home. Now.” But she couldn’t because her bus wasn’t there. “How long will it take to get back to the bar?”

Aiden’s forehead wrinkled with concern. “About twenty minutes.”

She didn’t want to wait that long. For all she knew, Horatio could be dying. It was unlikely, since she felt fine now, but that feeling last night had been so strong.

Aiden was still talking. “We’re kind of off the beaten path. And the road out to the main drag is gravel, so we can’t speed through like–”

“Gravel?”

“Yeah.”

She looked around the room. The open floorplan had seemed familiar, but she hadn’t given it a second thought. What were the chances another house would be so similar to hers and be accessible by a gravel road?

Laurel ran out the front door onto a porch much like hers, only this one was freshly painted and had a wicker rocking chair in one corner. There was Aiden’s truck. And there were the trees, surrounding the cabin, just like she remembered.

“Are you all right?” Aiden came out behind her.

“Where’s the lake?”

“Uh, that way.” He pointed. “Why do you want to know?”

Sure enough, there was a trace of sun glinting off water winking at them through the trunks. If she was right... Laurel squinted, examining the area between them and the water. There it was. The top of the roof and the chimney blended into the background so well, she never would have noticed if she hadn’t been looking for it.

She whirled around on Aiden. “You’re not going to believe this, but we’re neighbors. That’s my house, over there.” She flapped her arm in the direction of the cabin while Aiden looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “I’m sorry to be so rude, but I have to go.”

“Okay,” said slowly.

The man was befuddled. He looked down at her with those gorgeous eyes, like two pots of honey, and for a second, she was torn between her responsibilities at home and staying with him. Responsibility won, but not by much.

“I’ll explain later.” She bounced down the porch and started down the path. Then she turned, ran back to the porch and threw her arms around him. “I’ll probably regret this later.” She drew his head down to hers for a kiss. Not nearly as epic as the night before, but absolutely memorable.

His hands were on her back and he pulled her to him, but she ended the kiss before they got carried away.

“Later.” She left the porch and backed down the path a few steps. “I promise.”

Then she turned and ran. She had a tree to take care of. And a dog to feed. And then she needed to get her head examined.

*  *  *

She was his neighbor?

Aiden sat on the porch step, watching Laurel run away from him. Her arms pumped and her flip flops kicked up rocks and dirt and leaves as she went. She tripped at one point and almost went down. She was going to regret running in those shoes. He sat there until she was completely gone from view. Then he sighed and stood up.

Back in the house, he got to the menial task of clearing the breakfast dishes. But even as he scraped eggs into the trash can and put leftover bacon in a plastic storage bag, he kept thinking about Laurel.

She was his neighbor. How had he missed that? Of course, he knew the other cabin was there, but it had been vacant for so long, he’d forgotten about it. And she’d only been there for a day. So, the question wasn’t really why didn’t he know she was his neighbor. The big question was, what was he going to do having a woman like that within running distance?

After putting the rinsed dishes in the washer, he closed the door but didn’t turn it on. There weren’t enough yet to run it. If he had Laurel over again, that would help.

“Way to go, Morris,” he grumbled at himself. “Now you’re looking for excuses to get her back.”

Work. He needed to stop thinking about Laurel and get to work.

He stalked into his room and went straight to the closet. A small safe was tucked away in a corner of the top shelf. He punched the combination into the keypad and it unlocked with a soft click. Grabbing his gun and badge, he went over a mental checklist of things to do once he got to the station. Considering the low crime rate in Nocturne Falls, it was a small list. So he added to it.

Check in on Jason.

Mingle with the tourists.

Follow up on the security schedule for the Zombie Prom.

He shut the closet door and his breath caught in his chest as his eyes zeroed in on the bed. Laurel had straightened the covers before she left, but Aiden wasn’t seeing it that way. He saw the comforter pushed to the side, the sheet twisted, and Laurel sitting in the middle of it. She was completely dressed, her hair wild, mascara smudged around her eyes, not a trace of lipstick, and she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

Work. Get to work.

Trudging through the house and out the front door, he wondered if the sheets still smelled like her. If they did, he might never change them.

Work. Get your mind in the game.

Wade had been talking about expanding the mentor program. This would be a good time to address that. Aiden knew of a gargoyle in town who’d be perfect. He’d run the idea by Wade.

Aiden was doing pretty well keeping his thoughts on the straight and narrow. But when he climbed into the truck and shut the door, it all fell apart. There she was in the passenger seat, eyes closed. He remembered looking for her wallet and all the other things he happened to see and feel in the process. That tattoo. The image changed. Laurel was back in his bed, but this time all she wore was a sheet wrapped around her body like she was a Greek goddess. He could see her tattoo, peeping out over the top of the sheet. She looked over her shoulder and flashed him a wicked grin.

“Like what you see?”

Squeezing his eyes closed, Aiden shook his head, demanding the image go away. What the hell? Being infatuated was one thing, but this was insane. He wasn’t just thinking about Laurel, his mind was creating scenarios so vivid, they were almost hallucinations.

He was out of control, and when a man like him lost control, people got hurt.

He needed to put an end to it right now. He shouldn’t see her again, but avoiding her would be difficult. At its heart, Nocturne Falls was a small town. They were bound to run into each other. Besides that, she lived less than a mile away. And he had to find a way to get her vehicle to her. He groaned as he looked at the console between the seats.

“And, I still have her wallet.”

It wasn’t a good idea to leave it in plain view, so he tossed it in the glove compartment. He definitely needed to return it, and there was also the matter of the picture he’d found. That was a mystery he’d still like answers to.

So...he couldn’t totally avoid her, but he could limit their contact. The last two days had proved he couldn’t resist her on will power alone. He needed the magical equivalent of a constant cold shower. Luckily, he lived in a town where magic wasn’t all that hard to come by. He’d stop by Illusions and talk to Willa. Maybe she had a ring, a pendant, something in her store to help a man ignore his animal lusts.

It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was better than nothing. Aiden revved the engine and hit the gas, spraying a bit of gravel as he drove off to work and away from Laurel.

4

By the time Laurel reached her house, her head was pounding, her mouth was dry, her once-adorable flip flops were ready for the garbage pail, and she was pretty certain Horatio had pulled a fast one on her.

As strong as the bad vibes had been the night before, she expected to find the tree half-dead and dropping leaves faster than a Vegas stripper drops her clothes. But there he was, standing tall in the big wooden tub atop the trailer looking no worse than when she left the night before.

“Hey, what gives?”

The leaves shimmied. Horatio seemed to be laughing.

Laurel stepped onto the trailer and leaned against the side of the container. Stretching her arm, she put her palm against the tree’s bark. Just as she thought.

She looked up into the branches and frowned. “You’re not sick. So why the act?”

Nothing. Not a thought, not a vibe. Laurel couldn’t discern a thing. It wasn’t often that Horatio gave her the silent treatment, but it sure seemed like it was happening now.

“Whatever the reason, your timing was lousy. I met this guy, and–”

There it was. A jolt of negativity so strong, there was no doubt what the problem was.

“You were jealous that I was having a good time and you’re stuck in this cramped tub.”

The branches shook with such force, a small shower of leaves rained down.

Tired.

Laurel sighed. “I know, buddy. I just want to make sure this is the right place.”

Decide quickly.

“I will. I promise.” She gave the trunk a few strong, encouraging pats, then hopped down and headed for the house.

Before she reached the porch, Bailey started barking. Woof. Pause. Woof. Pause. Woof. The slow, monotonous bark was Bailey’s equivalent of losing his mind. She’d only opened the door halfway when he ambled past her and headed around the back of the house to answer nature’s call.

“If that dog was any more mellow, he’d be in a coma.” Chuckling to herself she went straight to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and chugged it right there in the middle of the kitchen.

What a fine mess she’d gotten herself into. After her time with Dillon, she’d promised never to become emotionally involved with another non-magical human. There was too much pain for everyone involved. She’d done a good job, too. For over forty-five years, she’d kept to herself. It got lonely at times, but overall she’d been happy. So how, in the course of one day, had she become attracted to a man, made out with him, and woken up in his bed?

Laurel shook her head and tossed her empty bottle in the trash. She knew better. It was a mistake to let him see her true feelings. She needed to be aloof, make him realize the only kind of relationship they’d ever have was a platonic one. Problem was, the idea made her heart hurt. When she thought of him, all she wanted to do was pick up where they left off.

Something she’d forgotten popped into her head. A hand on her backside.

Both of her hands went to her back pockets. Her cell phone was in one. The other, where her wallet should have been, was empty. Not for a second did she believe Aiden was a thief, but after she asked him to take her home, he no doubt looked for her address. Laurel groaned. Thanks to her impulsive choice to run home, she had no money, no transportation, and no way to avoid Aiden.

At least she still had her phone. She could call the police station, but what would she say? I’d like to report a missing wallet. When did I lose it? Last night, while I was taking advantage of one of your officers in a bar parking lot. Which reminds me, I left my vehicle there, too, since I was in no shape to drive. Oh yeah, that would go over like a lead balloon.

The best thing to do was wait and ask Aiden for help. Later tonight, after he came home, she’d walk to his place. Until then, there was no use fretting about it. There was still a lot of cleaning to do. Thankfully, she’d brought all her boxes inside last night before she went out, so she could unpack those, too.

She headed for the bedroom, stripping off her t-shirt as she went. Her intention was to get rid of Aiden’s scent, but with her underarms exposed, it only made it worse. It was as though she was back on that bench, pressed against him, listening to his heart beating.

Determined to focus on anything but him, she went into the bathroom and scrubbed at her underarms with a wet washcloth until the scent was gone.  If only it were that easy to scrub him from her mind.

*  *  *

Hard work turned out to be a pretty effective mental washcloth. With the exception of the time she took a break for lunch and bemoaned the meager offerings in the fridge – which made her think of going shopping, which reminded her she didn’t have transportation or money, which took her right back to the person she was trying not to think of – she was able to keep her mind on making her home clean and cozy. When she was finished, the dust was gone, all the sheets were off the furniture and in the washer, and she’d unpacked most of the boxes.

Standing by the sofa, Laurel stretched her aching muscles, her fingertips reaching to the ceiling. She was hot, sweaty, and desperately wanted a shower. But first, she needed to get her visit to Aiden out of the way.

She looked at Bailey who was stretched out under the kitchen table. “Want to come with?”

He raised his head, then slowly raised the rest of his body and plodded to her side. Obviously, he was thrilled.

A soft, warm breeze greeted them as they left the cabin. The sun was in the midst of setting, turning the trees into lacy silhouettes against an orange, pink, and gold sky. She’d heard that the water from a spring in Nocturne Falls had magical properties which blurred the edges of reality for human tourists so they never questioned if the supernaturals were real. Standing outside her home, Laurel couldn’t help but wonder if maybe there was some magic in the air, as well. Something in the breeze that made a person feel that the universe was watching and taking care of them.

Woof.

Laurel turned around. There was Bailey, one leg up, relieving himself on the tire of the VW Bus. That warm, magical, taken-care-of-by-the-universe feeling vanished and was replaced by prickly irritation. Aiden must have brought it back while she was cleaning and didn’t bother to let her know. Not a knock on the door, not a honk, not even a message through a bullhorn. Just drop the bus and run.

“How rude can a guy be? And you,” she pointed a finger at Bailey, “you have no respect for a classic. Go do that somewhere else.”

Bailey lowered his leg, gave her one of his tongue-hanging-out smiles, and trotted off to smell something.

She opened the bus door and looked inside. Thank heaven, there was her wallet on the front seat. Propped up between the wallet and the back cushion was a piece of paper. She picked it up with two fingers, gingerly, as if it might come to life and attack her. But it was just a note written in a bold hybrid of printing and cursive.

I didn’t want to put your bus in impound, so another officer helped me get it back.

He’d signed it simply, A.

Well, that was unexpected. He’d kept it simple, concise, and without any indication he might want to see her again. Good. They were on the same page, then. Even though it was what she’d wanted, disappointment sat like a rock in her gut. 

There was no reason to visit him, now, so she might as well head in and take a shower. The breeze blew, stronger this time. All around her, leaves rustled. Closing her eyes, Laurel attuned herself to the flora and fauna around her, listening to nature, hearing what no human ear could detect. A line of ants marching through the ground cover; an owl spreading his wings; the gentle splish splash of fish playing in the lake.

She opened her eyes and grinned. Now she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

*  *  *

Aiden had read the same paragraph four times and he still had no idea what it said. Something about a man covered in tattoos that came to life. He slid a piece of paper between the pages to mark his place, then tossed the paperback on the coffee table. Tattoos that came to life. Huh. He wondered if Laurel’s tattoo came to life.

With a grunt, he let his head fall back against the sofa. The whole reason he’d gotten Wade to help him drop off the vehicle without telling her was so he could avoid contact. If he didn’t see her, it stood to reason that he wouldn’t think about her. Yet, there he was, pondering her tattoo and thinking how much he’d enjoy discovering if she had any others.

He had to get a handle on this. Ignoring her didn’t help. Distracting his brain with a good book didn’t help. There was one thing left to try.

He had to shift.

Just considering it brought his mother’s words back. “You’re my son, not an animal.”

There was no doubt that his one-hundred percent human mother hadn’t realized the one-night stand who left her pregnant was a shifter. All his life, Aiden had tried to atone for the sins of his father. He’d been a good son, fought the urge to shift, but it wasn’t enough. The bear was part of him. Denying who he was only made things worse.

It wasn’t something he did often, and when he did, there was always a twinge of guilt. Guilt for giving in to his animal instincts, and guilt for enjoying the feeling of power and freedom that came with it.

In the bedroom, he took off his shoes, pants, shirt, until all he wore was a pair of boxer shorts. There was a time when he wouldn’t have worn anything before a shift, but an embarrassing run in with a park ranger had taught him to be prepared.

Outside, stars lit up the sky. The breeze caressed his skin. The woods called to him. He couldn’t wait any longer. Now that he’d made up his mind, the desire to shift was almost unbearable.

Feet apart, Aiden stood tall, arms lifted to the sky. With his head thrown back, he let loose a roar that rumbled up from the back of his throat. Fur covered his body, absorbing the shorts he wore. He dropped his arms, going down on all fours. His large, furry paws tested the ground, enjoying how the leaves crunched and twigs snapped. A contented rumble sounded in his throat as he loped into the woods and bounded through the trees.

In his ursine state, time didn’t matter. He swung his head from one side to the other, sniffing out his favorite berry bush. A small, brown rabbit huddled beneath it, body shaking and whiskers quivering. Aiden stretched his neck until they were almost nose to nose, then backed away before he gave the rabbit a heart attack. He ambled along, stopping to roll in the dirt, or to look up at the moon that hung in the sky like a wedge of cheese. This state was so easy. No worries about money, responsibilities, relationships. Just his furry old self and nature.

A noise caught his ear. Splashing, as if the fish were living it up in the lake. Ooo, fish. That would be a nice second course to his berry appetizer. But then he heard something else. Something that didn’t belong in this peaceful forest setting.

A person was yelling. More to the point, a woman was yelling. He lifted his nose, sniffing the air. He caught the scent of wet dog first. Then the distinct aroma of a female human and the faint smell of lemon grass.

Laurel.

When a bear has a reason to run, he can eat up the ground, and Aiden had all the motivation he needed. He tore through the underbrush, sliding on rotting leaves, ignoring thorn bushes that grabbed at his fur. After what seemed like far too long, he burst through the trees. He would have kept running and gone straight into the lake, except Laurel started screaming in an entirely different way.

Aiden slid to a stop, sending up a cloud of dirt. On the bank of the lake, Bailey was as low to the ground as he could get, whimpering and shivering. As for Laurel, it appeared she’d been fine until a bear stampeded out of the woods. Now she scrambled toward Bailey and picked up a stick that was beside him.

“Get away!” She brandished the stick as if it was a club. It didn’t seem to bother her that she was standing in front of Aiden wearing nothing but her bra and underwear.

Of course it didn’t bother her. She didn’t know the bear was him. Aiden shook his head.

“Don’t you shake your head at me.”

Aiden stood up and took a step forward.

“I said, stay back.” Her eyes narrowed and her head cocked to the side. “Animals usually pay attention to wood nymphs. You’re not an average animal, are you?”

She was a wood nymph. Now things were starting to make sense. Aiden shook his head again.

Laurel crouched beside Bailey and stroked his side. “It’s okay, boy. I don’t think we’re in any danger.”

They may not be, but Aiden was afraid he’d be in a boat load of danger if he shifted now and she found out who’d been ogling her in her makeshift bikini. The alternative was to turn and run away, keeping his identity concealed. With anybody else, that’s exactly what he would have done. But with Laurel, he couldn’t. He didn’t want to deceive her.

Before he could change his mind, Aiden lowered his head, arched his back, and groaned. A chill prickled his skin as his fur vanished and his human form returned.

“Aiden?”

He sat back on his heels and waved sheepishly. “Surprise.”

*  *  *

First, she was laughing and splashing with Bailey, then she was trying to scare off a bear, and now, Aiden was kneeling across from her in nothing but boxer shorts. Looked like it was going to be another weird night in Nocturne Falls.

Laurel dropped the stick she was still holding and snatched her clothes from the rock where she’d left them. She pulled her t-shirt over her head, then looked pointedly at Aiden.

“You’re a shifter.”

“Guilty as charged.” He stood up and looked down, no doubt making sure his boxers were where he left them. “You don’t seem surprised.”

She wriggled into her denim cutoffs, then pushed her wet hair away from her face. “That shifters exist, no. I’ve known a few...wolves, cats, a peregrine falcon...but never a bear. That’s a new one. Honestly, I’m more surprised I didn’t figure out that you shift. I must be losing my touch.”

He seemed relieved that she wasn’t upset. “What about me? Woman comes to town with a tree in tow, and I don’t know she’s a wood nymph. Doesn’t make me much of a detective.”

“I guess we’re even.”

Aiden crossed his arms over his chest. “So, now that the cat’s out of the bag–”

“And the bear’s out in his boxers,” she interrupted with a laugh.

“Ha. Very funny. Now that we’ve got all that out of the way, maybe we can start over.”

She couldn’t resist giving him a verbal poke. “If I recall, you left my bus in front of my house and didn’t even say hello. That sounds more like someone who wants to end things.”

He looked up, as though searching for an answer in the sky. “You’re right. I’ve been trying to convince myself since I met you that we shouldn’t get involved.”

A rivulet of water slid from her hair and down her spine, sending a shiver along with it. “So have I. But I may be reconsidering.”

A slow, sexy smile spread across his lips. “I definitely am. What do you say? First date tomorrow night?”

“You mean our second date.”

“So you do remember.”

She shrugged. “It came back to me.”

“That’s good, but I intend to make new memories, ones that neither of us will forget.” He stepped closer until he was right in front of her. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 7:00.”

He was so close, she felt the heat coming from his body. No doubt shifting made a man hard...uh...hot. “Where are we going?” she stammered.

He leaned down and put his lips against her ear. “It’s a surprise,” he whispered.

The ability to think coherently had somehow vanished. “How, uh, where, I mean, uh...”

With a laugh, he moved back just enough to look down at her. “What was that?”

That laugh was all she needed to pull herself together. “If I don’t know where we’re going, how will I know what to wear?”

“No matter what you choose, you’ll put all the other women to shame. Just wear what makes you feel good.”

He moved closer as if to kiss her, but she put a finger against his lips and shook her head. “Oh no. Don’t think flattery’s going to get you anywhere tonight. You have to wait.”

He sighed. “If you say so. But I already got one thing tonight that I wanted.”

“What’s that?”

“I wanted to know if you had more than one tattoo.” He inched up the bottom of her t-shirt and traced his finger around a daisy right above her hip. “Now I know you have at least two.”

The heat from his finger seemed to ignite her skin, sending a flush or warmth throughout her body. If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget everything she already said and drag him home with her right then. “You have to go. Now. Really.”

“Really? Why?” He was enjoying tormenting her.

“Because I’d like to have at least one honest to goodness, official date before we start acting like sex starved teenagers again.” She put her palms flat against his chest and pushed him back a step. “Please.”

Aiden took several steps back of his own accord and grew serious. “Of course. I was just playing. Sorry if I took it too far.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I like that. But that’s the problem. I like it way too much.”

“Got it.” He looked down at his feet, as if he’d suddenly turned shy. “I should get home. Will you be okay if I take off?”

Laurel laughed. “I can see the cabin from here, so, yeah, I’m good.”

He pointed back toward the spot where he’d burst out of the trees. “I’ll go back there and shift so I don’t scare Bailey.”

Before he could walk away, she stopped him. “You know, it might help Bailey if he saw you shift. If you don’t mind us watching.”

Something in him changed in that moment. As though a light came on and banished a shadow that had hovered around him. He wasn’t smiling, but she could tell he was happy. He was serene.

“I don’t mind at all.”

Laurel crouched next to Bailey again and put her arm around him so he’d know he was safe. Then she nodded to Aiden.

The transformation was amazing. It was quick and fluid, like an expertly done special effect in a blockbuster movie. Except it felt like she was part of it, experiencing the shift with him. When it was over, she looked in his eyes and saw the same molten pots of honey looking back at her. Then he swung his massive body around and walked away. She watched him until she could no longer distinguish his body from the trees.

Laurel sighed.

There was something sexy about a man in fur.

5

Aiden was whistling when he walked into the station the next day. From her spot at the front desk, Birdie Caruthers looked up and pointed a pencil at him.

“What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re so cheery. And whistling. It’s like you swallowed the bluebird of happiness and he got stuck in your throat.”

With a laugh, Aiden patted the corner of her desk as he walked by. “You know what they say. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Wade was already sitting at the desk they shared, so Aiden plopped down on the chair in front of it.

“Okay.” Wade picked up his coffee mug and leaned back. “Spill.”

Aiden quirked an eyebrow in question.

“Birdie nailed it. You’re obnoxiously happy.”

“I’m just in a good mood,” he said with a shrug. “Is that against the law?”

“Nope.” Wade sipped his coffee, staring into space and smiling to himself. Finally, he put the mug down and looked at Aiden. “It’s that girl, isn’t it?”

When Aiden didn’t answer, Wade kept digging. “The hot one you picked up at Howlers.”

Aiden frowned. “I did not pick her up. She had a little too much to drink, so I took her home.”

“Uh huh. Right. That’s why you’ve been acting so weird lately.”

“Believe what you want.”

Wade smirked. “Hey, I get it. You bagged a hot babe and you want to keep her to yourself.”

The joke had gone too far. Aiden leapt up and a growl rumbled in his chest. “You show her respect.”

Wade’s eyes snapped, his pupils narrowing to slits as he stood with deliberate slowness. “Or what?”

“Boys, remember Hank’s rule,” Birdie called out nonchalantly. “No shifting in the office. It scares the tourists, and the hair is a pain to clean up.”

They both backed down and Wade burst out laughing. “I was just messing with you. Oh man, you’ve got it bad for that ba– I mean, that lovely young woman.”

Feeling a little sheepish, Aiden squeezed the back of his neck and nodded. “Yes, she is. And she might have something to do with my mood.”

Birdie piped up again. “Maybe you should share all that sunshine with the folks on the street.”

“Is that your way of telling us to get out of here?” Wade asked.

“As nicely as possible.”

“You heard the woman.” Wade walked around the desk and clapped Aiden on the shoulder. “Let’s beat it.”

Outside, the town was already buzzing. Just because Nocturne Falls celebrated Halloween all year long, didn’t mean things were dead in the daytime. In front of a sidewalk café, diners ate al fresco at glass topped tables beneath huge black and orange striped umbrellas. In the park, children in costumes ran and played, pretending to be whatever creature or character they were dressed up like. Sometimes, Aiden missed the electricity and excitement of working in the city. But small town life had its charms. There was so little crime in Nocturne Falls, he and the other officers were able to spend most of their time walking a beat and getting to know the community. It was one of the things he looked forward to every day.

He glanced at Wade and noticed he’d put on his sunglasses. “You don’t need to wear those things every time we step outside.”

“Hey, you may not care about damaging your retinas, but I do.” He pointed up to the sky and made a noise which clearly meant he thought Aiden was an idiot.

Aiden knew better. “So it’s got nothing to do with the...unique color of your eyes?”

“Give the man a prize,” Wade snapped.

When Wade shifted, he became a big cat. A snow leopard, to be exact. Most shifters lost all their animal attributes when in human form, but thanks to some genetic anomaly, Wade’s eyes were always the same. What should have been the whites of his eyes were a pale, ice blue, surrounding a deep blue iris, and a pitch-black pupil. It was striking, but could throw people for a loop the first time they met him.

“Sorry,” Wade said. “Didn’t mean to bite your head off. It’s just easier to wear the glasses than to keep making up explanations.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I hate that you have to hide the real you.”

They walked on in silence, smiling and nodding at the people along the street. Eventually, Aiden spoke up. “I shifted last night.”

“About time. I’ve never thought it was healthy to hold back when nature calls, so to speak.”

“Mmm hmm.” More silence, then Aiden said, as casually as if he were commenting on the weather, “Laurel saw me.”

Wade’s surprise was evident from the way his eyebrows arched above the rim of his sunglasses. “Was it planned?”

“No. I was in the woods and she was in the lake, and we sort of ran into each other.”

“In the lake?” Wade smirked. “Please tell me she was skinny dipping.”

“Sorry, she was appropriately covered for swimming.” Aiden shook his head. “One of these days, you need to shift in front of me and prove you’re not a dog.”

“And you can do the same to prove you’re not a koala bear.”

They both laughed and stopped at an intersection, waiting for the light to change.

“Seriously,” Wade said, “how did she react?”

For as long as he could remember, Aiden had been anxious about shifting. Starting with his mother’s rejection of that side of him, to the incident that made him abandon his career in New York and run away, it had been one negative experience after another. He’d gotten to where the mere thought of shifting made him uneasy. But last night, with Laurel, it had been different. When she thought he was a wild bear, she was understandably frightened. But as soon as she realized it was him, her fear was gone. And each time he shifted, there was no revulsion, no disgust. Just an acceptance of who he was.

An elbow to his side brought him out of his reverie. “Light’s green. So, are you going to answer me? How did it go?”

Stepping off the curb, Aiden grinned. “I wasn’t whistling this morning for nothing.”

*  *  *

Sliding one hanger after another across the rod, Laurel rifled through her closet. Again. After seven decades of getting dressed, she should have something decent to wear on a date.

“What am I going to do?”

From his place on the floor, Bailey rolled his eyes up to look at her.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought you’d say.”

She moved over to the bed and fell backward on the mattress. What was she going to do now? It was too late to go to town and buy anything. And unless she fashioned a garment out of leaves and vines, her nymph powers wouldn’t help at all.

Maybe it was a sign. Maybe, the universe was telling her not to go out with Aiden. She snorted out a laugh. Sure. For the last however-many years, the universe had systematically culled through her wardrobe for the sole purpose of keeping her from going out tonight.

The truth was, Laurel was nervous. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man for romantic reasons. She’d been warned by her older sister, Aurora, that just by being near, nymphs could make human males fall in love with them and eventually drive them mad. But Aurora tended to be overly dramatic and Laurel figured it was her sister’s way of warning her to be careful around men. It wasn’t until Laurel was with Dillon that she realized her sister hadn’t overexaggerated at all.

Now, here she was, ready to give romance another try. Finding out Aiden was a shifter should have made her feel better, but it didn’t. She had no idea how she would affect another supernatural being. The attraction between them was already strong. She was drawn to him, and from the way he acted, it seemed he felt the same way. Was it real, or just a fragile illusion spun out of magic?

There was only one way to find out.

Laurel sat up, pushed herself off the bed, and went back to the closet. There was something in there suitable for a date, and she was going to find it.

A few hours later, she checked out the result in the mirror. She’d paired a simple, black tank top with a gauzy, lime green skirt that swished around her knees. Her hair was pulled up on the sides to show off earrings that looked like delicate gold vines. Wherever he was taking her, she hoped she’d fit in.

At 7:00 on the dot, her doorbell rang. Aiden stood on the porch, and when he saw her, he swallowed so hard she could see his Adam’s apple bob.

“You look gorgeous.”

She smiled. “You look pretty good yourself.”

He wore a long sleeved, charcoal grey dress shirt, open at the neck. The snug fit hugged his body and was tucked into black dress pants. Laurel licked her lips and tried to stop wondering how long it would take to unbutton the shirt and rip it off him.

“And you’re right on time,” she blurted out.

“To be honest, I got here ten minutes ago. But I stood outside and waited so you wouldn’t think I was overeager.”

Laurel laughed as she picked up her purse from the kitchen table. “Careful how much you tell me. You’ll blow your cool-guy image.”

“I doubt anyone around here sees me that way.”

She had a hard time believing that, but his humility was refreshing. “Okay, Bailey.” She squatted down and scratched the dog on the head. “Protect the house while I’m gone, okay?”

He responded by rolling onto his back and presenting his stomach.

“That should strike terror in the heart of anyone who tries to break in,” Aiden said from the doorway.

Laurel sauntered up to Aiden. “You have no idea. Beneath that calm exterior is an even calmer interior.”

She was about to walk past him when he put his hand gently on her arm and stopped her. “Speaking of calm interiors, are you nervous?”

Why was he asking? Did she look nervous? She wanted to deny it, but that wouldn’t be a very good start to the evening, or anything else that might eventually happen between them. “Yes. I am.”

Aiden nodded. “So am I.” His hand slid up her arm and to the back of her neck. As he lowered his face to hers, he said softly, “Stop me anytime.”

Without hesitation, Laurel lifted her lips and met his kiss. Unlike the first time, this kiss was sweet and slow. Mere seconds later, they broke apart and Aiden smiled.

“I meant that to put us both at ease.”

“I like how you think.” Laurel exhaled a breath. “It worked.”

He offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”

Sliding her arm through his, she grinned. “Absolutely.”

*  *  *

So far, so good.

That kiss back at Laurel’s front door had been risky, but Aiden didn’t want to pretend their physical attraction didn’t exist. They both knew it was there, so why fight it? With the physical tension broken, now they could relax and get to know each other better.

Their first stop was an Italian restaurant, Guillermo’s. Laurel’s face registered delight as the hostess led them through the main dining area and outside to their table on the patio. Candles flickered from the middle of every table, and twinkling mini-lights surrounded them, woven through the black iron rails of the fence. It was the most romantic setting Aiden could think of for a first date.

“This place is amazing,” Laurel said, scooting her chair closer to the table. “Just beautiful.”

A waitress came to the table, all smiles and holding out a menu to each of them. “I agree. There are so many magical places in Nocturne Falls, but I think we outshine them all. I mean, people fall in love here. What’s more magical than that?”

Aiden cleared his throat and he could have sworn a blush colored Laurel’s cheeks. “We’d like to start with a loaf of the garlic rosemary bread.”

The waitress nodded as she jotted on her order pad. “Excellent. And may I get you a bottle of wine or a cocktail?”

“I’ll just have an ice tea,” Laurel said. “A regular, unsweetened tea.”

Aiden held back a laugh. “The same for me.”

When the waitress was gone, he leaned back in his chair. “Are we abstaining tonight?”

Laurel lowered her menu far enough to look over it at him. “You certainly don’t have to. I might have a drink later, but after the last time, I think it’s wise to start slow.”

Aiden nodded. “Smart woman.”

Dinner went as well as any dinner could for two people still learning about each other. Aiden ordered salmon. Laurel ordered chicken. He used so much pepper that she sneezed. She dumped three packets of sugar in her tea. They both ate so much bread, the waitress brought over a second loaf. The conversation flowed, they told jokes and laughed. And when a man dressed to look like an old, Italian street performer came to take their picture, they leaned closer to each other with such enthusiasm that they clunked heads. They were still laughing when the flash went off and the shutter clicked.

“Ah, senor and senora, thank you. If you will-a give-a me your address, I send-a dee picture.” He set a pad and pen on the table in front of Laurel.

“How much?” Aiden reached for his wallet, but the man held up his hand to refuse.

“It’s twenty dollars. Just add it to the check.” The man looked flustered and he let the accent slip.

Laurel wrote down her address and handed him the paper. When he took it she looked up at his face and paused. “You remind me of someone. Have we met?”

The man took a step back. He shook his head so hard Aiden feared his wig might fall off, but he did remember to use his accent again. “No, no, senora, I know see-a how. Good-a night to you-a.”

The fellow hurried away and Laurel giggled behind her hand. “That’s the worst fake Italian accent I’ve ever heard.”

“Obviously, he’s going more for humor than for authenticity.” Aiden motioned at her plate. “Are you finished?”

“Oh yes. It was delicious.”

“Want dessert?”

“Oh no. I have no room.” She puffed out her cheeks and held her stomach, as if she might explode in an instant.

“In that case, we can move on to the second part of our evening.” He waved at their waitress.

“There’s a second part? What is it?”

“A secret.”

She wrinkled her adorable nose at him, and Aiden wondered why he had ever thought it possible to get her out of his mind. Or why he would ever want to try.

*  *  *

“You brought me to an abandoned factory.”

Laurel peered out the window of the truck, wondering if there’d ever been a shifter-turned-serial-killer. This was certainly the kind of place that brought episodes of America’s Most Wanted to mind. There were two large, boarded up windows on the side of the brick building facing them. Above that, the name Caldwell Manufacturing had been painted in white, but the letters were faded and half-missing in spots.

Aiden shifted the truck into park and cut the ignition. “Trust me, it’s much nicer inside.”

Dozens of cars were parked around the building, so unless he was part of a serial-killer club, Laurel figured it was safe. The pavement in the parking area was cracked and rough, so she held onto Aiden’s arm until they were inside.

The huge, open space was dimly lit by a few flickering florescent tubes in ceiling fixtures. A hodge-podge of old, grimy equipment covered the dirty floor. Cobwebs stretched across corners and draped from one machine to another.

If this was his idea of nicer, she might need to buy the man a dictionary.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Laurel jumped as a little gray mouse scampered by her feet.

“Positive.” He took her hand in his. “This way.”

It didn’t take long for Laurel to notice that a path of semi-cleanness was cut through the dirt on the floor. They followed the path to a freight elevator. Aiden punched a code into a security keypad. There was a sound like huge gears moving and falling into place, then the doors slid open. Aiden led her inside and pushed a button. Down, down, down they went, until the elevator stopped.

When the doors opened again, it was like they’d entered another world. Neon tubes decked the walls, casting off blue light. Bare pipes ran across the ceiling and created light fixtures that were more for mood than brightening the room. Water features accented walls and played on the blue theme. Music – loud enough to dance to, but not so loud that it made conversation impossible – pulsated from what had to be a state of the art sound system as people moved to the beat.

“Welcome to Insomnia.” Aiden put his hand on the small of her back as they moved through the crowd.

Several people shouted greetings to him as they passed. He always acknowledged them, but kept on going. When they came to an empty leather couch, they sat down. The music wasn’t quite as loud where they were, but the atmosphere was just as fantastic.

“What is this place?”

He put his arm around her shoulders and spoke close to her ear. “It’s a club for supernaturals. You have to be a member to come in.”

“I’m not a member.”

“I am. We’re allowed to bring a guest.” He squeezed her shoulder. “We love having the tourists around, but sometimes you just want to go somewhere and not worry about who might see you.”

Looking around, Laurel realized that while some of the supernaturals were fully themselves, some were in half-form. She could see how that would confuse the normals. It was so nice to be surrounded by others who were proud of who they were and didn’t try to hide it.

It was the most natural thing in the world to lean her head against Aiden’s chest, and she didn’t think twice about laying her hand on his thigh. He kissed the top of her head and she smiled. This would be different than the last time. She had a clear head, and she’d had a heart to heart with Horatio earlier in the day. He knew if he did anything to mess up her evening, she’d make him wait even longer to get out of that tub.

The music ended, switching to a slow song with a sensuous rhythm. Laurel stood up and grabbed Aiden’s hands, then pulled him to his feet.

“Dance with me.” It wasn’t a question, but from the way his eyes snapped, she could tell he was happy to comply.

Once they hit the dancefloor, Laurel didn’t waste any time. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her body against his. His hands, so big they could almost span her waist, heated her skin through her tank top. She moved in languid time to the music, her hips swaying, her eyes locked with Aiden’s.

A growl rumbled in his throat. “I hope you know, you’re driving me crazy.”

She didn’t say a word, just tipped her lips up in a suggestive smile.

Aiden’s hands tightened on her waist. It was time to put them both out of their misery.

“Can we go?” she asked. “Please?”

A shadow of concern touched his face, but he nodded and led her through the crowd and to the elevator.

Neither spoke until they’d left the building and were standing beside the truck.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes. And I’ve loved everything about tonight. Dinner, the club...you.”

He cupped her cheek with his palm. “Same here. I hate to see it come to an end.”

“Who said anything about it ending?”

Their lips fit together like perfect pieces of a puzzle. Slowly, patiently, they rediscovered each other. She loved kissing him. She would have kept on kissing him if not for the sound in the trees.

“What was that?” Tearing herself away from him, Laurel looked from one side to the other.

“What was what?”

“I heard something. Like breaking twigs. I think someone is watching us.” Squinting into the dark, she tried to determine where the sound had come from. But there were so many shadows between the trees and hulking by cars, it was hard to tell if her eyes were playing tricks.

Aiden gave her a quizzical look. “You didn’t drink anything while I wasn’t looking, did you?”

“Nope. I’m one hundred percent sober.” She gave all her attention back to Aiden. “Just like I was one hundred percent in charge of my faculties when I kissed you.”

“Another great kiss,” he said softly.

“I don’t think it’s possible for us to have a bad kiss.” To prove her point, she went up on her toes and kissed him again.

When they broke apart, Aiden grasped her shoulders and put some distance between them. “What are we doing?”

“If you don’t know, I’m doing it wrong.”

He shook his head. “You know what I mean.”

Laurel took a deep breath, then slowly blew it out. It was time to lay it all out for him. “I’m tired of being lonely. And I’m tired of being afraid. Every time I’m around you, I want to stay with you. And when I’m not with you, I want to find you. We haven’t known each other long, so it doesn’t make sense, but I believe we belong together.”

“Laurel, I–”

“Wait.” She put her hand up. “Let me finish. There’s something you need to know about nymphs. About me. We have the ability to make humans fall in love with us. It’s not something we set out to do. It just happens. But sometimes, a human man can also go crazy.”

“You mean, go crazy as in act weird, or go crazy as in clinically insane?”

“Insane. I have no idea if the same is true for shifters, but you need to know there’s a risk.” Laurel looked down at the ground. She was the crazy one, for thinking this would work. “I understand if you want to end this now.”

A gruff laugh pulled her eyes back to Aiden. He undid the top button of his shirt, then pulled out a flat, silver amulet on a thin leather cord.

She looked at it closely. “What is it?”

“When I was trying to resist you, I went to the best jeweler in town. She’s also Fae and has a way with spells of a personal nature. I’ve been wearing this all day.”

“What’s it supposed to do?”

“Keep me from acting like an animal around a woman, even an insanely attractive one with magical nymph love vibes. I can tell you I feel exactly the same about you now as I did without the amulet. So we don’t have to worry about my mental health. At least, not more than usual.”

Laughter bubbled up and spilled out of Laurel. She threw her arms around him and hugged him, squeezing so tight her arms hurt.

“Sweetheart, if you can detach for a minute, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

She moved back, but didn’t let go of him.

Aiden’s eyes, piercing and serious, held hers. “I intend to make love to you.”

Her knees turned to jelly. If she hadn’t been holding on to him, she might have collapsed at his words.

“But not tonight,” he went on. “And not tomorrow. And probably not the next day.”

Her knees firmed back up. “I don’t understand.”

He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “This is the start of something real. Something amazing. And I’m not going to ruin it by jumping into bed too soon.”

She couldn’t resist teasing him. “How about jumping somewhere else? The back of the pickup?”

“Are you sure you’re a nymph and not a nympho?”

She slapped his chest. “No. Those are two totally different things. Although, I do have a distant cousin who’s a nympho. She’s like a third cousin twice removed. But I’m nothing like her.”

“Too bad.” He put his hands on her hips. “Because one day, when I do make love to you, it’s going to blow your mind.”

“Oh, really? So you’re going to drive me crazy?”

“No doubt about it. But in a good way.”

A crash sounded nearby, followed by the sound of running feet.

Aiden turned and looked around. “Okay, that I heard.”

Another thump, then the sound of an engine coming to life. At the edge of the lot, a car pulled out without turning on its lights. In the dark, all Laurel could tell was that it was a sedan.

A shiver travelled across her shoulders. “What’s going on?”

Aiden pulled her close against him. “You were right. I don’t know why, but it seems like someone was watching us.”

6

There was no whistling when Aiden got to work the next morning.

After the incident in the Insomnia parking lot, Aiden insisted on standing guard at Laurel’s place, but she refused. Rather than fight with her, he’d gone home, shifted, then slept next to her house. He woke up for every mouse, rabbit, and frog that needed to vocalize in the middle of the night, but at least he knew Laurel was safe.

Now, fueled by coffee and irritation, he stalked into the office ready to track down whoever was threatening his future mate.

“Talk about the other side of the coin,” Birdie said when she saw him. “You look like you went through a war.”

“Not yet. But I may start one before the day is out.” The office was more empty than usual, with no one at any of the three desks. “Where’s Wade?”

“I sent him to The Hallowed Bean to grab some donuts. I was having a hankerin’.”

Just as well. It would give him time to do some detective work on his own.

Aiden sat behind the desk and fired up the computer. First, he checked the Nocturne Falls data base for any reports of stalkers or peeping Toms. As he expected, there were none in the last five months. He widened his search, using the same parameters in surrounding towns. There were quite a few, but none of them seemed to fit what had happened at the club.

There wasn’t a lot to go on, and in a town that catered to tourists, canvassing the neighborhood and asking if anyone had seen a stranger wouldn’t do much good. So where did that leave him?

“Back to square one,” he muttered.

Maybe a walk would help. Even better, a walk to the coffee shop.

“Be back in a few minutes,” he called out to Birdie, who was preoccupied with removing a paper jam from the copy machine.

It was a short walk to The Hallowed Bean. Aiden got there just as Wade was about to walk out.

“Whatever you do, don’t get a donut.” Wade held up a big, pink box. “I got us plenty.”

“Birdie informed me. I need coffee. Real coffee.”

It only took a few minutes for Aiden to get to the head of the line. “Hey, Sally,” he said to the redhead behind the counter.

“Hi, Officer Morris. Your usual?”

“Yeah, but better give it a shot of espresso.”

Her eyes widened as she wrote his name on the side of a tall paper cup. “Ooo, long night?”

He nodded. “Probably a long day, too.”

After paying for his coffee, Aiden moved to stand by Wade. “You don’t have to wait for me.”

“Oh yes I do.” Wade lowered his voice. “Something happened yesterday that you’ll want to know about.”

Before he could give more details, an energetic young woman with a blond ponytail bounced up to them.

“Hey, it’s you,” she said to Aiden. “Hi!”

“Hi.” She seemed to know him, but he didn’t have a clue who she was.

As if she read his mind, she grinned and smacked her forehead. “Like you’d remember me. Duh. I’m Karen. I waitress at Guillermo’s.”

At least now he had a clue. “You served us last night, right?”

“Yes!” She was so enthusiastic, he may as well have answered the million dollar question on a game show. “When I saw you here, I just wanted to say thank you for last night. I’ve never gotten such a generous tip before.”

Poor kid. The locals must be getting stingy. “You’re welcome, but it really wasn’t that much.”

“Are you kidding?” Her eyes bugged out. “Thirty dollars? That’s more than half of your bill.”

Now Aiden was really confused. He’d left her a ten dollar tip, and he’d added the twenty dollars for the photo.

Karen was still talking. “It made me feel so good. Most folks don’t realize how hard it is to be a waitress, but you really made my day.”

A suspicion had begun to form, but he didn’t want to say something to make Karen realize she hadn’t received the biggest, most awesome tip of her life.

“Well, you gave us great service.” Aiden smiled. “By the way, do you ever have a photographer come around to the tables? I’m just wondering for the next time I bring my girlfriend there.”

Karen’s eyes lit up, probably in anticipation of her next big tip. “No, sorry. The night manager suggested it once, but the boss shot him down. Said, everybody and their uncle has a camera on their phone, so why would they pay for a picture? I’ll tell him you asked, though.”

“Officer Morris!” Another barista held up his coffee as she called out his name.

After another quick ‘you’re welcome’ to Karen, Aiden took his coffee and he and Wade walked outside.

“What was that all about?” Wade asked.

As succinctly as possible, Aiden filled him in on the man who took their picture at the restaurant, and the person who seemed to be following them in the club parking lot.

“Do you think they’re related?”

“I’m beginning to wonder.” Aiden took a swig of coffee. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”

“Yesterday, when we were out walking our beat, a man came into the office and talked to Birdie. He was trying to find a friend of his. He was pretty sure she’d come to Nocturne Falls. Said she drove a VW Bus and her name was Laurie Barks.”

Every muscle and nerve in Aiden’s body went on alert. “Damn. Why am I just finding this out now?”

“Because it didn’t seem like a big deal, so Birdie forgot to mention it when we came back. She only remembered this morning because she wanted donuts, and yesterday, she told the guy where to get coffee, so it jogged her memory.”

“Now I’m sure it’s all connected. It’s too many coincidences.” Aiden hoped the guy had given Birdie his name. If not, he could at least get a description.

They walked back into the station. Wade set the donut box on Birdie’s desk then followed the sounds of banging and swearing until he found her.

“Woman, what in the name of all that’s holy have you done to the copier?”

“It has a paper jam.” She pointed her finger at the machine like it had committed a crime. “I’m fixing it.”

“If by fixing you mean neutering, then I agree. Never mind.” He took her by the arm and helped her navigate the minefield of copier parts on the floor. “Aiden needs to talk to you.”

Aiden started talking before she had a chance to sit down. “I need you to tell me about the man that came in yesterday looking for Laurie Barks.”

“Oh, him. Well, he was looking for his friend. He described her and her vehicle. Asked me if I’d seen her. I said I didn’t remember seeing her, but nobody could forget that van. I saw it in front of Pandora’s office, so I told him that probably meant his friend was settling here.”

Aiden’s heart sunk, but he couldn’t blame Birdie. If she’d realized she was talking to a stalker, the creep would be in one of the holding cells already. “Did he file a report?”

She shook her head. “He wasn’t reporting a crime, just looking for a friend.”

“Okay. Do you remember what he looked like?”

“Oh sure. He’s about 5’10”. Bald. White mustache and beard. Looked a little like Santa, only he was way too skinny and not close to happy enough. Probably in his sixties.”

In his sixties. It went off like an alarm in his brain.

“Birdie, this is really important.” Aiden spoke softly, as if a loud noise might scare the memory away. “Did he tell you his name?”

“Sure did. It was, let’s see.” She tapped a finger against her lips. “I remember thinking it was like the singer... Dillon. That’s it. His name was Dillon.”

*  *  *

Laurel couldn’t wait to tell Horatio that tonight was the night. Finally, she’d get him out of that tub and into the ground where he belonged.

She pulled her hair back in a quick ponytail and practically skipped out of her bedroom. Bailey sat up and cocked his head.

“Surprised to see me in such a good mood? Well, get used to it. I expect a lot more to be happy about from here on in.”

Laurel headed for the door, but Bailey walked in front of her, blocking the way. She tried to go around, but he moved with her, still between her and he door. That was weird. He never moved more than he had to.

“Look, you know I’ll win this game, so let’s just go outside and enjoy the day, okay?”

If it was possible for a dog to frown, that’s what Bailey did. But the next time she moved for the door, he stayed put.

When Laurel stepped onto the porch, the toe of her sneaker hit something. It was a package the size of a book wrapped in brown paper.

“Huh. I didn’t think they’d deliver packages out here.”

She picked it up and turned it over, examining all the sides. It was addressed to her, but there was no return address. And there was no postage. She squealed with excitement. It must be from Aiden.

She tore off the wrapping and tossed it aside. Behind her, Bailey whined.

“Don’t be jealous just because I got a gift and you didn’t.”

It was a frame. Laurel turned it over, and the smile died on her lips. There was a photograph inside. She and Aiden sitting at a table, heads close together, laughing and happy. But scrawled across it in angry, thick black ink was a message. No deceit cuts as deep as that done by your Love.

Bailey growled. He never growled.

Laurel dropped the frame. It bounced off the porch and hit the ground. Bitter laughter assaulted her ears. She looked up, and there he was. He was an old man, but something about him was familiar.

“Dillon.”

“How sweet. I was sure you’d forgotten me after all these years.” He walked toward her, his gait steady, if a little stiff.

It was almost too much to take in. She was on the verge of tears, but she fought them back. Dillon hadn’t come for a pleasant reunion. It was important to remember that and keep her composure. “I never forgot you.”

He stopped by the bus and gave the side a fond pat. “You kept it. Which makes sense. A vintage vehicle is worth so much more than a vintage man.”

“That’s not true.”

“It was a mistake, you know.” He continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “Keeping the bus. All I had to do to find you was trace the VIN.”

It hadn’t occurred to her that he would want to find her. “I didn’t know you had it.”

“Come on, Laurie, you’re not the only one who’s sentimental. We bought it together. I kept my copy of the paperwork.” He sneered. “You didn’t leave me a lot to remember you by.”

Regret squeezed Laurel’s chest making it hard to breath. She’d made so many mistakes with Dillon. If only there was a way to undo them, but there wasn’t. All she could do was try to make amends with the man standing in front of her.

“I’m so sorry.” She came down the porch stairs and stood at the bottom. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but you have to know I never meant to hurt you.”

He took a few steps closer to her. “How convenient that you can blame all your transgressions on your ancestry.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re a nymph. You almost live forever, you drive a man crazy, then you run off to the next one.” He chuckled as her mouth dropped open. “Don’t look so surprised. I’ve had forty-eight years to figure it out.”

And forty-eight years to obsess over what she’d done to him. “If you know about nymphs, then you know why I left. When I realized that being with me was affecting your mind, I had to go. You should have gotten better.”

“Well, I didn’t.” His voice became louder. “How could I when the person I loved left me? You didn’t even leave me a note. And you took my car!” He was screaming now, and he hit the side of the bus three times.

Laurel jumped. It didn’t make any sense. He should have improved. Unless... She’d always assumed his mental state was because of her. But what if he’d been unstable to begin with? What if it hadn’t been her fault after all?

“Please, Dillon. Let’s just talk about this calmly, like–”

“Like what? Adults? What would you know about that? This,” he pounded his chest, “this is what an adult looks like. Old. Wrinkled. Tired. Look at you. What do you know about being an adult?”

The more they talked, the more agitated he became. It occurred to Laurel that he might become violent. Even though he was old, she didn’t doubt he could do some damage if he wanted to.

“I’m going inside now.” Carefully, she moved toward the porch.

She was almost to the steps when he called after her. “I know about the tree.”

Laurel froze and turned back to him. He had managed to climb into the trailer and was looking up at Horatio.

“It’s surprising how much real information you can find on the internet about magical creatures. Like what it means for a nymph to be soul-bound. I know that you’re soul-bound to this silly tree you saved before I could have it cut down for the golf course.”

“You?” She didn’t understand. “How?”

“See, there’s something else you didn’t know. I’m rich. That whole hippie thing was just me trying to stick it to my parents. Bet now you wish you’d stayed with me.”

Nothing he said would make her wish that. “You know about the golf course?”

“Who do you think planned it? Me!” He stepped closer to the tree. “I knew you were in Tennessee and that you hung out in that grove. So I bought it. I knew when you heard all those trees were going to die, you couldn’t help but save one.”

“You sick pig.” The idea of so much carnage, just so Dillon could take his revenge, turned her stomach.

“But wait, that’s not all.” He leaned against the container and put his palm on the tree trunk. “Aren’t you wondering why I cared if you were soul-bound to any tree?”

It came to her in a flash, at the same moment that he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a lighter.

“Silly old man.” He flicked the lighter open. It was an older one, the kind that stayed lit whether you held the lever down or not. “Can’t do much damage with one lighter, can I? Unless I dowsed the container with lighter fluid before you came out.”

“No!” Laurel screamed as she ran toward the trailer, but she was too late.

Flames licked at the sides of the tub, encircling the tree. In the distance, a police siren wailed. Aiden. It must be him. But she couldn’t wait. She ran to the side of the house, cranked on the water spigot, and grabbed the hose. Before she could get to Horatio, something hard cracked down on her back. She hit the ground, water pooling around her from the hose she’d dropped. Dillon stood over her, a branch in his hand. An ironic choice of weapon.

“Goodbye, Laurie.”

A flash of black and white bounded over Laurel and through the air, sinking its teeth into Dillon’s wrist. Thrown off balance, Dillon fell backwards with a scream. Bailey stood between Laurel and her attacker, ready to protect her.

“I always knew you had it in you.” Laurel started to get up, but the world spun around, knocking her back down.

Smoke burned her eyes as her vision grew hazy. With one ear against the ground, she heard the pounding of feet coming in her direction. Someone grabbed Dillon and drug him away. Someone else dropped beside her.

“Laurel.”

Aiden. Her Aiden.

“Laurel. Did he hurt you? What’s wrong?”

How could she explain it to him? She was so weak she could barely speak. “Tree. Dying.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. “I’m so sorry. There’s nothing we can do about the tree. What about you?”

Her lips moved, but no sound came out. This was it. She was going to die. But at least she’d die in the arms of the man she loved.

“She’s dying because the tree is dying.” A strange voice spoke. It was deep and rough, with a slight British accent.

“Bailey?” Aiden sounded shocked.

Laurel was too weak to be shocked. She’d be shocked tomorrow, if she lived that long.

“She’s soul-bound to the tree.”

“Okay,” Aiden said. “So if it dies...she dies?”

“Yes, unless the bond transfers from the tree to you.”

How did he know that? What a smart boy. If this worked, Bailey was getting steak for dinner for the rest of his life.

Aiden didn’t stop to ask how to transfer the bond. Through some instinct, he knew. He nestled her in his lap with her head against his chest and her ear over his heart. He spoke to her, telling her how much he loved her, how important she was to him, and how he would be with her till the end, whenever it came. They stayed that way for a very long time, until the last flame died, leaving behind pieces of charred wood and ash. Finally, Aiden kissed her, and she felt the life flowing between them.

She gasped for air. Her vision cleared. She reached up, stroked Aiden’s cheek and wiped away a tear.

“Well,” she said slowly. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. That whole ‘till death do us part’ thing.” She pointed a finger at him. “That’s us now. Which means you may live to be the oldest bear in the woods.”

“As long as we’re together,” Aiden grinned, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And you,” she stroked Bailey’s head. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

He cocked his head and answered, woof.

Aiden laughed. “Even if he never talks again, at least he spoke up when it was most important.”

Bailey flopped back down, head on his paws, and Laurel was sure she heard him whisper, “Indubitably.”

THE END...FOR NOW...

About the Author

J. L. Farey (Jennifer, to her friends) was born in Hollywood, California. For the first ten years of her life, home was an apartment above a mortuary one block away from Hollywood & Vine where she watched Dark Shadows with her mother and heard tales of her Hungarian grandfather and his good friend, fellow Hungarian, Bela Lugosi. It's no surprise she jumped at the chance to be part of the Nocturne Falls Universe. She now lives in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, with her British husband, the best cabbie in town. When she’s not busy spinning tales, she enjoys playing tabletop games, attending live theater and movies, and singing at the top of her lungs to whatever happens to be playing on Pandora. Jennifer loves hearing from readers. You can contact her via Facebook or her website.