She thought about the pictures for a moment, about what they might mean and who they might be from, but she couldn’t come up with much. Someone wanted Hank to know about Charlie, that was plain, but who? Was there a chance Charlie was in danger? That caused her mother’s instinct to clang in alarm and her ache for her son grew stronger. She pulled out her phone and sent her brother, Sam, a text.
Check on Charlie when you get a chance? Make sure he’s all right? Thanks.
Didn’t mean Sam would do it, but she had no one else to ask. As far as being in immediate danger, it was hard to be afraid of anything sitting next to a werewolf Hank’s size.
He pointed at her food with a French fry. “How’s your steak salad?”
She laughed. “You mean that half pound of sirloin with the two lettuce leaves and the slice of tomato? Your sister doesn’t skimp on the meat, does she? It’s great.” And almost gone. Being happy gave her an appetite, and it was hard not to be happy around a man who was crazy about her. The only piece of the puzzle that was missing was Charlie. Her heart ached with his absence.
“Pretty sure you got the friends-and-family deal.”
“Which one does that make me?”
“Both.” He smiled before popping the last of his French fries into his mouth. “You okay?”
She nodded. “I’m great.” She just wanted her son by her side. Safe. And where he belonged.
Bridget came to the table and set two bowls of peach cobbler in front of them. A hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream melted into each one. “Still hot from the oven, so be careful.”
“More food?” Ivy leaned back, wondering if she should unbutton her jeans. “I’m not sure I can.”
“At least try it.” Hank handed her a spoon. “The peach cobbler here is legendary.”
Bridget leaned against the side of the booth. “I can box it up to go if you want.”
But the aromas of peach and cinnamon already teased Ivy’s nose, making her mouth water. “I’ll soldier through.”
“That’s the spirit.” Bridget grinned. “You guys need anything else?”
Hank looked at Ivy.
She shook her head. “Everything was wonderful, thank you.”
Bridget backed away, pointing at her brother. “Don’t forget. Dinner at Titus’s tonight.”
Hank groaned. “Yeah, all right.” He stuffed down a spoonful of cobbler.
As Bridget went back to the bar, Ivy questioned him. “Titus is your brother, right?”
“My brother and the fire chief. We all get together at his house the week of the full moon for dinner and a run. There’s no getting out of it. Not with what’s going on with us. He’ll want to meet you in person, because I’m sure Bridge has told him everything.”
The tiniest bit of anxiety played along Ivy’s nerves. She ate some cobbler in an attempt to stifle that feeling. The cool ice cream and the sweet, hot peaches and sugary flaky crust made her pause for a moment to enjoy it. “Wow, you weren’t kidding about the cobbler being legendary.” She took another bite just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, then she answered. “We don’t need to get out of it. I’m sure it’ll be fun. And I should meet your brother. I have to meet him sooner or later anyway. You think he’ll like me?”
“You have nothing to worry about. He’s been after me to find a woman for years.”
“I should get home soon then. I’ll make a dessert to take over, although I’m not sure I can compete with your sister’s cobbler.”
Hank shook his head. “She didn’t make that cobbler. She just pays the salary of the chef who did. Anything you want to make is great. Or you could buy something. There’s a new shop on Black Cat Boulevard called Delaney’s Delectables. They sell all kinds of sweets. The woman who runs it is fairly new to town, like you. She’s a vampire.”
Ivy stared at him. “It’s one thing to know Nocturne Falls is pretty open about supernaturals, it’s another to hear them discussed as regular citizens.”
He shrugged. “The tourists think we’re all playing parts. It makes life a lot easier than trying to hide who you are.”
“And what if a visitor realizes you’re not playing a part?”
“Remember the waterfall we drank from on our run?”
“Sure.”
“That water comes from an enchanted spring. Humans think drinking the water from that spring has the power to grant wishes. What the water actually does, thanks to the magic involved, is blur the edges of reality a little.”
“How can you be sure everyone drinks it?”
“That spring feeds the town’s reservoir and it’s the bottled water you’ll see being sold in all the shops. It’s everywhere.”
“And it only affects humans?”
“Supernaturals are immune.”
“Wow.” This place was unreal.
He nodded and took another bite of cobbler.
She lifted her spoon, then paused. “How do you know it’s enchanted?”
“The family who started this town did it. Actually, the witch who works for them. It’s a big part of what makes this whole place work.”
“That’s not the Merrow family, is it?”
He snorted. “No. Nocturne Falls was founded by the Ellinghams. Vampires. The woman who runs Delaney’s? She just married the middle son, Hugh Ellingham.”
“I might go down there just to see a vampire in person.” She’d never seen one before, and her curiosity was strong. She shrugged. “I guess I’ll have to wait until after dark.”
He finished his cobbler and put his napkin on the table. “You can go anytime. The Ellinghams also have some kind of magic that makes them immune to the sun.”
“Wild. I’ll head down there when we’re done.” She rested her spoon on the table. “The Ellinghams sound powerful.”
“They are. But they don’t abuse it.” He put his arm around her, drawing her in. “Enough about them. It’s time for your surprise.”
She settled against his warmth. “You mean it wasn’t the cobbler?”
“Hardly.” The spark in his eyes was a mix of happiness and anticipation. “You ready to find out what it is?”
She smiled, unable to help herself. She had no idea what he could be up to. “Let the wooing commence.”
Hank figured when they walked into Illusions, Ivy would know they’d come there to get her an engagement ring and the surprise would come to an end. He’d assumed wrong.
She leaned into him and whispered, “Is this about getting me a job? This would be a very cool place to work.”
“A job? No.” He led her to the diamond case. “It’s about getting you a ring.”
Ivy’s lips parted, disbelief etched in her gaze. “What?”
“Is that question because you think I should have picked it out on my own or because you didn’t think I was getting you a ring?”
“I…” She shook her head and looked like she was trying to blink away tears. “I didn’t expect a ring is all.”
“Even better.” He gestured toward the case. “See anything you like?”
Willa, the owner and one of the fae citizens in town, met them on the other side. “Hi, Sheriff.”
He’d called ahead to let her know what he was coming in for. “Willa Iscove, this is Ivy Kincaid. My fiancée.”
Willa smiled at her. “Hi, Ivy. Congratulations to both of you on your engagement.”
Ivy nodded and squeaked out a, “Thanks.” She cleared her throat, then spoke to Willa again. “Could you give us a minute?”
“Sure. Give me a wave when you’re ready.” Willa left to help another customer.
“Hank, I don’t know about this.”
He frowned. “Having second thoughts about marrying me?”
“No!”
Her emphatic response pleased him but left him more confused. “What’s wrong then?”
She kept her voice low. “You shouldn’t be spending your money on—I mean, you’re taking on me and my son. I just don’t want you to think I’m…” She s
ighed. “This isn’t coming out right. I don’t need anything but a plain band.”
“My wife needs more than a plain band. I want other men to know you’re married. And don’t worry about the money. Or the added cost of your son. I’m good when it comes to finances. Not Ellingham good, but well off. Besides being sheriff, which pays well in this town, I have my stipend.” All pack members did, but as an immediate member of the alpha’s family, his was about double that amount.
Her frown had yet to leave her face. “But I’m not bringing anything to this marriage but debts. I still have some student loans.”
He didn’t understand. “Your parents didn’t pay for your college?”
“My father didn’t want me to go to college, so no, he didn’t pay. And cutting hair was barely enough to live on after making the minimum payments.”
Something wasn’t adding up. Hank hoped Ivy wasn’t one of those women who shopped themselves into debt. An image of her Harley flashed in his head. “What about your stipend? I’d think the whiskey business brings in enough to keep you in good stead. Unless you’re not spending it wisely.”
Her frown turned angry, and he could tell he’d hit a nerve. “What little money I have, I’m very careful with. And if I got a stipend, maybe things would be different, but I don’t. The Kincaid stipend only goes to males.”
“Are you serious?” Clemens Kincaid was a low-life piece of garbage. How could he not provide for his daughter? Or the rest of his female pack members? Sharing the stipend was standard operating procedure. All packs did it. It created loyalty and stability.
She nodded. “My brothers are in high cotton. Me? Not so much.”
That still didn’t explain the Softail. “How did you afford that motorcycle?”
She snorted. “I inherited that from my grandfather. And if he hadn’t had an iron-clad will, I’m not sure I would have held on to it, either.”
“Your father is a horrible man.”
“You have no idea,” she muttered.
He kissed her, as much to soothe her as to soothe himself. Clemens Kincaid was enough to make anyone see red. Hank couldn’t imagine how Ivy had survived having him as a father. It only fueled his desire to spoil her. “Then you should give me an idea. When you feel ready. Because there’s no reason you need to bear all that yourself. But this moment is not about him. You’re about to be a Merrow. Time to live like it. Pick out a ring.”
“You’re sure?”
“Pick out a ring or I’ll buy the gaudiest one in the case.”
She grinned. “Okay. No pressure.”
He laughed and waved Willa back over.
Ivy immediately pointed to the smallest diamond in the case.
“Don’t even play that game,” he said. “Try the one next to it.”
“But that’s twice the size.”
“And still not big enough.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Think like a Merrow.”
She gave him a look he interpreted as a plea for patience.
He took the hint. “I need to step outside and make a call. Be right back.”
She nodded, her interest fully seated in the tray of rings Willa had just taken out. He left the shop, slipping his phone out as he went.
He called Birdie. “Any messages?”
“I heard you had a nice lunch.”
Honestly, how did the woman find this stuff out? She was probably just fishing. He wasn’t going to bite. “Not about me. For me.”
“Deputy Cruz got himself a date for the Zombie Prom.”
Hank pinched the bridge of his nose. “These are not the kind of messages I’m referring to.”
Birdie clucked her tongue. “There’s nothing else going on. No crime, no vagrancy, not even a speeder. What do you want me to say?”
“That there are no messages.” He took a breath and tried to think patient thoughts. “I have to go.”
“How’s the ring shopping coming?”
Hank pulled the phone away to stare at it. Maybe Birdie was part witch. “Goodbye.” He hung up and went back inside.
Three rings sat in a velvet tray between Ivy and Willa.
“Have you narrowed it down already?”
Ivy nodded.
Willa smiled. “The woman knows what she likes.”
“I can appreciate that.” He’d thought this might take hours. More proof Ivy was the right woman for him.
Ivy looked up, eyes soft and sparkly. “Which one do you like?”
The rings all looked alike to him. “Try them on.”
She obliged, and he watched her face and the light in her eyes. The middle ring made them sparkle the most. He glanced at the tags. It was the most expensive, but still well within his budget.
He kept his expression neutral. “Which one do you like the best?”
“They’re all pretty.” But her gaze stayed fixed on the second one.
“That doesn’t help me. I’m a guy. They might as well be the same ring to me.”
With a slight hesitation, she touched the first and least expensive. “This one is very nice.”
He looked at Willa. “The ring will have to be sized, won’t it?”
She nodded. “I can do that for you today.”
“All right. Hang on to those three and I’ll call you when I get back to the station, let you know which one we’re getting.”
Ivy stared at him, her sweet mouth bent in a half-grin. “You dirty dog.”
He smiled. “There has to be some surprise.” He grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Willa. I’ll be in touch.”
Ivy waved goodbye as he led her out of the shop. “She’s nice. Fae, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“This town is pretty cool. People are nice, for the most part, and—”
A warning bell went off in his head. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, letting tourists flow around him. “Was someone here unkind to you?”
“No. Yesterday at the Shop & Save some woman wanted to know what I was doing getting out of your car.” She shrugged. “Small-town stuff. No biggie.”
He started walking again. She fell into step beside him. Town gossips weren’t an actual threat. “Anyone sets off your sixth sense, you let me know.”
“I will.”
“Where’s your bike?”
“In the free lot by the library.”
“I’ll walk you over there. Park at the station from now on.”
She stared at him. “You’re scaring me. Stop that.”
They crossed the street and walked toward her bike. Traffic stopped for him instantly. The power of the uniform. “I want you to be safe. That’s all.”
She linked her arm around his. “I know. It’s nice. I’ll be fine, though. It’s not like I can’t protect myself. I’ve got all the same shifter strengths you do.”
He nodded as they came to a stop beside her motorcycle. “That alpha possessiveness is built into me. I can’t help it.”
She combed her hair back with her fingers and started braiding it. “Hey, I meant to ask. What are all those posters for the Zombie Prom?”
“It’s the town’s June event. There’s one big thing that happens every month. It’s why there are so many people around right now.”
“Do you go?”
“Not always, but this year, yes. We rotate the security shift. I picked the short straw this time.”
“Not your thing, huh?” She tied off the braid and unlocked her helmet.
“I did prom in high school. That was enough. And putting on zombie make-up? Not for me.”
She nodded, helmet on her hip. “I can’t imagine it would be.”
He caught the wistfulness in her eyes and realized how dense he was. Again. “You…want to go with me this year? I’ll be on duty, but there’s no rule that says I can’t bring a date.”
Her smile was answer enough. “I would love that. It’s this weekend, right?”
He nodded. Seeing her all dolled up would go a long way toward making the night bearable. �
�The night after the full moon. You have a dress?”
“No, but I’ll figure something out.” She pulled her helmet on. “And just for the record, I don’t think your possessiveness has anything to do with you being next in line for alpha. I’ve never known a shifter who wasn’t.”
“Too much?”
She smiled and kissed him. “Nope. But I’ll let you know.”
He kissed her back. Not as deeply as he would have liked to, but they were practically in the middle of town. “We’ll leave for Titus’s around six thirty.”
She climbed on the motorcycle. “Then you need to be home by five thirty.”
“It doesn’t take me that long to get ready.”
She revved the engine and her eyes went gold with desire. “It’s not about you getting ready.”
A bolt of need shot through him, and his mouth opened, but he was too dumb-struck with happiness to answer. Instead, he just nodded as she rode off, grinning and wondering how he’d gotten so damn lucky.
The look on Hank’s face had been everything. She’d practically giggled all the way home, but that giggling had pretty quickly turned into fantasizing about all the things she was going to do to him. That man was amazing. And then there was the surprise of the ring. She’d never thought a ring would even be a part of the equation, but the fact that he was insisting on it really made it feel like he was taking this marriage seriously.
If she wasn’t nuts about him already…but it had gone far beyond being nuts about him.
Her only option now was to figure out how to survive the inevitable broken heart.
She pulled into the driveway of his house—their house? No, she couldn’t quite make that leap yet. It was still his house and would be for a while. Maybe always, once he found out about Charlie’s troubles.
But for now, she was going to pretend that everything was fine and that the man she was most definitely falling in love with was going to magically accept her child, shortcomings and all.
She got off her bike and walked up to the keypad on the side of the garage to punch in the code he’d given her when something on the front porch caught her eye. Hank had gotten some packages. Well, not exactly packages.
The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2) Page 10