“Nothing.”
He went back in, returning a second later without the scooper. “Litter box is all set up. Little Bit must be hungry, don’t you think?”
“I’m sure. He can always eat.”
Greaves clasped his hands in front of him. “I could take him downstairs and feed him. There were a few cans left in the supplies we picked up from your sister’s, I believe.”
“There were. I put that bag on the counter in the mudroom.” She held Duncan out to the rook, suspecting that what he really wanted was to hold the kitten. “Here you go.”
Greaves took Duncan very carefully. The rook’s face broke out in an enormous smile. “He’s so soft. And little. I’m afraid to hold him too tightly.”
“He’s pretty durable.” She started unpacking her bags, which sat on the bench at the foot of the bed. “Not saying you don’t have to be careful with him, but you’re not going to hurt him if you’re gentle.”
Greaves lifted Duncan to see him eye to eye. “Hello there, little man. Welcome to the house. We’re going to take good care of you.”
Duncan swatted at Greaves’ nose.
The rook laughed. “You want to play, do you? We’ll play. I promise.” He looked at Tessa. “We’ve never had any animals. Hunting dogs, years ago, but nothing like this.” Greaves cradled Duncan against him. “I’ll play with him a bit, get him fed, then make that run to the store. Have to make sure he’s got everything he needs.”
Tessa smiled as she shook out her clothes and laid them on the bed to be hung up. Greaves was clearly smitten. “Thank you so much.”
With a nod Greaves headed for the door. He passed Sebastian on the way in.
“Was that my rook holding that animal?”
“That animal’s name is Duncan. And yes.” She shook her head. “You’re like a dog with a bone. Duncan’s not going to ruin anything or steal your breath while you sleep or—”
“Fortunately, breathing is an option for me.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you lucky?” She stared at the rest of her things. They were a tepid mix of navy, black and ivory. Nice. Serviceable. But Jenna was right. Boring. “I’ll need a little closet space. Very little, really. And a drawer. One should do.”
“Is that all you have?”
“No. The rest of my stuff is at my sister’s. I didn’t see the point in bringing everything. I just brought the good stuff.”
One of his brows lifted with skepticism. “That’s the good stuff?”
She put her hands on her hips. “I’m a librarian, not a fashion model.”
“Understood, but still.” He picked up one of her silk blouses. “Was this a hand-me-down from a great-aunt or something?”
She snatched it out of his hand. “I like simple, serviceable clothing. Things that don’t go out of style. I can’t afford to buy new things all the time. My clothes have to last and need to be classic pieces that transcend fads.”
“Your new salary will be more generous.”
“It can’t be worse.” She frowned at her clothes. Serviceable didn’t really cut it anymore. Not while living in this house with all its beautiful things. She was going to look like she was on staff, not engaged to the owner. She let out a long sigh.
He made a curious expression. “You’re unhappy with a better salary?”
She crossed her arms. “I’m unhappy because my things aren’t acceptable for the woman who’s supposed to be your fiancée. Or the dean of library studies, frankly.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “You could go shopping if you wanted. There are places on Main Street. Women’s boutiques.”
“I could.” But that would require money she didn’t have. Her boring wardrobe would have to suffice. “Maybe later.”
“Why not now?”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Because I can’t afford it.”
His voice was gentle and kind when he answered. “I can.”
She sat on the end of the bed and stared at her clothes, laid out and waiting to be put away. “No. I don’t want to spend your money.”
“But I’ve put you in this position. It’s only fair you use my money. Which, according to our ruse, would very soon be our money. And I promise you, the woman in my life would have the best I could supply her with. The complete benefit of my economic status. Please, Tessa. You’re here because you’re helping me. Consider this a head start on your new dean’s wardrobe.”
“I don’t like it. It feels…unsavory.”
“I understand. I’m sorry I’ve put you in this position, but I have.”
“Only because I agreed to it.” The hem on the navy skirt needed tacking again and her charcoal slacks were starting to pill. She let go of her stubbornness with a sigh. “Okay. I’ll go shopping. Is there a place in town?”
Sebastian nodded. “Greaves can take you. He’s going out anyway.”
She stared at the bed, unable to look at him while she said what needed to be said. “I’ll take the money. But this is just a loan until I get on my feet.”
“All you have to do is tell them to bill me.”
She lifted her head. “What’s it like to be you? To have all this money and reputation and status?”
He dropped his gaze, running his finger along the fabric of the comforter. He was silent for several seconds. “If I’m honest, it’s lonely.”
Her heart broke a little for him. That was what she’d suspected. She stood and walked around to his side of the bed. “Not this week, though, huh?”
He laughed softly, looking at her. “No, not this week. And I have you to thank for that.”
She stood there, studying him. His face was kind and open when he smiled. Very different from the face he usually wore.
“What?” he asked. “You’re staring at me for reasons I can’t fathom.”
She touched his cheek, still smooth from his morning shave. “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“How I owe you that kiss.”
A deep, predatory gleam lit his eyes. “Does that mean you’re going to pay up?”
“Yes.” She leaned in and did just that.
With Greaves and Tessa gone again, Sebastian finally headed to his office. Work had to be done. Normally it was something he looked forward to. It gave him a purpose, something that on many days felt lacking. But with Tessa around, work was the less interesting choice. With her out of the house, he might as well take up his pencil again and get something done. He smiled as he started to unlock the door.
He looked harder at the lock. There were small scratches in the brass. Like someone had tried to pick the lock and failed.
Evangeline.
He shook his head and finished the job she’d started. As he went inside, it was impossible to be upset over Evangeline’s actions. Not while Tessa’s kiss still lingered on his lips. It was the most pleasant feeling he could recall since…the last time they’d kissed.
Yes, his life was sadly lacking in companionship. Tessa’s presence had made that markedly clear.
He settled in behind his desk and pulled out the budget for the wedding chapel. If he didn’t finish this soon, Julian would be hounding him again.
Time passed as he worked. The budget didn’t seem quite as egregious as he remembered, but he went at it with great intent. He scratched through some items, suggested new ones in a few other places, and the world around him fell away. All he saw were numbers and figures and dollar signs. Supply and demand. The future of Nocturne Falls.
Until needles dug into his leg.
“What the—” He jerked back in his rolling chair to see Tessa’s furry beast clinging to his pant leg. He threw his pencil onto the desk. “Get off me, you foul creature.”
The cat hung there, swaying on the gabardine like he wasn’t sure what to do next. Then he scrunched up his eyes and let out a long, plaintive meow that sounded absolutely dreadful.
“These are Savile Row’s finest, you wretched thing.” Sebastian unstuck his c
laws and scooped him up. The little creature was soft as silk. Sebastian held him at arm’s length. The cat meowed again. “Why are you crying? What do you need? I don’t know how you work, but if something happens to you while you’re under my care, Tessa will never forgive me. We can’t have that, can we?”
The cat just stared at him.
Sebastian set him on the desk. “Stay.” Then he bent to inspect his pants. They seemed to be unaffected by the attack. A tribute to fine British tailoring, no doubt.
His pencil rolled off the desk and fell to the floor beside his shoe. He looked up to find the cat pawing at the corner of his ledger. “That’s enough of that now. Behave.”
The animal lay down, rolled over with his feet in the air and looked at Sebastian from an upside down position.
“That’s no way to view the world.” Sebastian extended a finger and scratched the beast’s chin.
Duncan closed his eyes for a moment, then captured Sebastian’s finger between his paws and gnawed on the end, his baby teeth making no headway against Sebastian’s callused skin.
“Hey, now. None of that.” Sebastian pulled his hand away. “I’m the only one in this house allowed to bite people and I haven’t done that in ages.” Although the thought of sinking his teeth into Tessa’s pretty neck had its own appeal.
The cat rolled over and got to his feet. He was no bigger than a handful and mostly fluff. Sebastian scratched his back. The little cat turned and head butted Sebastian’s hand, eyes closed in pleasure. Sebastian obliged with more chin scratches, which seemed to go over well. A ragged purr tumbled out of the animal.
Despite his best efforts, Sebastian smiled. A little. “I suppose you think we’re friends now. We’re not. You’re a guest in this house and on a very serious probation, so watch yourself.”
Duncan laid down on the corner of the ledger, curled up and closed his eyes.
“Cat. You can’t sleep there. I’m working.”
The kitten took a deep breath, licked his paw once, then went to sleep.
“Well, that’s just perfect.” But Sebastian made no move to disturb the animal. Instead he cautiously eased the papers out from under the beast and shifted everything to a more available area on the desk.
He shook his head as he went back to work, both amused and surprised at himself for almost liking the little creature. But Tessa clearly loved Duncan and he knew it would make her happy if he could be more tolerant of the animal. He would try. Letting the thing sleep on his desk was certainly a start. That had to be worth some sort of credit.
Sebastian fell into his work again, occasionally pausing to pet the cat or watch as his paws twitched with a dream. Did cats dream? Sebastian had no idea. The thing could be plotting world domination for all Sebastian knew.
At last, he reached the end of the budget. He wrote up a quick summary of the report, then sent a text to Julian to say he was ready to discuss it. Before Julian replied, there was a knock on his office door.
Duncan didn’t budge. Apparently the cat was a sound sleeper.
Sebastian looked up. “Come in.”
The door opened and Tessa poked her head in. “Just wanted to let you know we’re back and—” Her gaze shifted away from his face. “Is that Duncan sleeping on your desk?”
Sebastian pressed his lips together in a stern expression. “He was pestering me so I put him somewhere I could watch him.”
An uneven smile lit her face. “Pestering you. Uh-huh. Good job on the kitten watching then.”
Sebastian changed the subject before she could rib him further. “Did you find anything you like?”
“Many things. Greaves is helping me take them upstairs. He also did a little shopping at the pet store while I was in the boutiques.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re now the proud owner of a cat bed, a month’s supply of catnip mice and a cat tree. Also, Duncan is not about to go hungry anytime soon.”
“What on earth is a cat tree?”
“Let’s call it something for Duncan to scratch on besides your antiques.”
“Hmm. In that case, I approve.”
“Good. We’ll be upstairs. Bring the baby when he wakes up.”
“You mean carry him? I don’t—” His phone chimed. “Wait a moment.” He checked the message. Julian, ready to go over the budget. “Actually, I need to go see Julian and discuss this wedding chapel business with him. Will you be all right here by yourself?”
In other words, alone with Evangeline.
“Sure. Greaves is here. How much longer is our guest likely to sleep?”
“Another hour or two, I’d think. I’ll be back before then, I promise.”
“Okay. But I think I’ll take Duncan upstairs with me now then.” She came in and picked the cat up. He stayed asleep, even as she cuddled him against her.
“He’s a good sleeper.”
“He’s a baby. It’s what they do. Play hard, sleep hard.”
For a moment, Sebastian pictured her with a human child in her arms. His child. He blinked the fantasy away. It wasn’t one he had a right to. “We’re still on for dinner out tonight, yes?”
She looked up at him and smiled over the cat’s head. “We’d better be. You bought me a new dress today.”
Tessa carried Duncan upstairs to the bedroom. Greaves had laid all her packages on the bed and was already working on putting the cat tree together.
The rustling of the box and the paper the pieces were wrapped in brought Duncan to life. He squirmed in her arms so she put him down. He ran over and started attacking the paper. She laughed. “Looks like you have a helper.”
“Very good. Hello, little man.” Greaves gave Duncan a scratch on the head before resuming the assembly.
“Oh, and just so you know, Sebastian’s gone to talk to Julian about the wedding chapel project but said he’d be home before you-know-who wakes up.”
Greaves nodded. “Thank you for letting me know.” He hefted a section into place and began working the bolts through the guide holes.
“You need help with that? Looks heavy.” It was much larger than she would have chosen, but when Greaves had come to pick her up, he’d insisted it was the one. After that, there was no going back. The trunk on the Rolls hadn’t closed because of it and had to be held down with some packing twine. That alone probably would have upset Sebastian, but when he saw this thing in his bedroom, she was pretty sure he’d have something to say.
“No, I’ve got it. Being a rook means I have considerably more strength than I did when I was fully human. Thank you though.”
“You’re welcome. How exactly did you get to be a rook? I don’t really understand what it means. Valkyries and vampires don’t mix that often so I’m not fully up on all these vampire things. I suppose there’s a book I could read…”
He smiled. “I’m a rook because Sebastian bit me on two consecutive nights. It’s as close as a person can get to being a fully turned vampire without actually becoming one. Another bite on the third night and I would have been turned, but stopping on the second left me as a rook. This way I have the privileges of both sides. I have more strength, more speed, and sharper senses but I’m not affected by the sun either. It’s given me a life far better than the one I’d imagined I’d live.”
“Even taking care of Sebastian the way you do?”
“Even so.” He started attaching a carpeted bed to one of the arms. “Just like Hugh’s rook, I’ve been with Sebastian since he was human. I know the man better than anyone outside his family and I can tell you, he’s one of the good ones. He can be difficult, but he bears a lot of weight on his soul.”
“Because of Evangeline.”
Greaves nodded. “And because he feels responsible for his family. With the death of his father, Sebastian became the Duke of Sinclair and—”
“He’s a duke?” Tessa had no idea. But it made so much sense. Of everyone she’d ever known, Sebastian certainly seemed like the most likely to be nobility.<
br />
“Yes. Although I don’t think the title would still hold up after so many years. But he knows it and because of that, he’s taken on the care of his family. Their financial status is all thanks to his careful investments and close eye.”
“Wow.” She sat on the bed, crinkling the edge of one of the shopping bags.
“You’d better put those clothes away before they get wrinkled.” He stiffened. “My apologies, did you want me to do that?”
“Absolutely not.” This life. So different than what she’d known. She’d grown up with money, but as an adult, her own finances hadn’t been so generous. Which was fine. She managed. That’s what adults did. She went to the closet, got some empty hangers and went to work. But the thought of finances made her cringe at how much she’d spent and now had to repay Sebastian. At least the clothes were beautiful, well made, and much chicer than her current wardrobe. They’d serve her for a long time.
When the clothes were hung and the cat tree finished, she and Greaves watched Duncan play on it. He climbed for a bit, swatted at the dangling toys, then went into one of the cubbies and passed out.
“Well, I guess he likes it.”
Greaves smiled. “A purchase well made.”
“Let’s hope Sebastian thinks so when he sees it.”
“He’ll grump and fuss, but he’ll be fine.”
“You know him better than I do.”
“Indeed I do, but that will change.” He brushed a stray carpet fiber off his white shirt and put his jacket back on. “Care for some lunch?”
She raised her brows. “I thought you couldn’t cook?”
“I can’t. But I have an entire binder of take-out menus and am a deft hand at ordering.”
She laughed. “Got it.”
They went down to the kitchen. Greaves pulled out the binder and handed it to her. “There’s Italian, including pizza, Chinese, Thai, American sort of fare—wings, burgers, subs, that sort of thing. Let’s see…Mummy’s Diner is quite good for, well, diner food.”
“That one I know is good. I had a burger there with my sister.” She flipped to that menu. “I could go for a Greek salad. If there’s something from there that you’d want too.”
The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) Page 13