John The Deliverer

by Rhiannon Neeley

  * * * *

  Maddie answered the front door.

  Leah stood on the porch, grinning. "Well, there she is. The darling of River Bend."

  Maddie laughed and snatched Leah by the arm. "Get in here before all of my fans storm the door."

  Leah giggled and came inside, Maddie closing the door behind her. " "I've made coffee," Maddie said.

  They entered the kitchen and Maddie poured Leah a cup of coffee. Both sat down at the kitchen table and Leah took a sip.

  "I watched you at the parade last night," she said. "That was something, you up there with all of the River Bend Elite."

  Maddie grinned. "Can you believe it?"

  "This is what you've been working for all of these years." Leah raised her coffee cup. "To you."

  Maddie raised her cup and clinked it against Leah's. They both laughed. "You make it sound like I'm ancient," Maddie said, setting her cup back down on the tabletop.

  "Well, you are an old maid by River Bend standards," Leah said. "Twenty-six years old and never even been engaged."

  "Uh-huh. And to whom do you suggest I get engaged to?"

  Leah placed her chin in her hand and rolled her eyes. "There are plenty of men here in town. Just pick one. I'll bet you'll have your pick since you are now the biggest celebrity in town."

  Maddie chuckled. "Just because I'm the most famous person in town--for the moment--doesn't mean I'm going to meet an exciting man." Immediately, Maddie thought of Raven. A buzz of electricity shot through her as she remembered the dream, sparking another rush of lust for the dark stranger who had suddenly entered her life.

  Leah pursed her lips. "I thought you were finished with 'exciting' men."

  Maddie sighed. "Well, rough boys, anyway. I would like to meet someone with a bit of a spark though. All of the men I've been dating lately are so, so normal."

  "What men? You haven't been on a date in a year."

  "True. I don't even know why I still take birth control pills, but I do." Maddie shook her head. "There is that hayride coming up. Maybe something promising will come of it." But Maddie could think of no other man than Raven.

  "What are you thinking, Madison?" Leah eyed her.

  Maddie blinked, then smiled. "I never could keep anything from you, could I?"

  "No. So, what's on your mind? It must have something to do with a man. I see that look in your eye."

  "I did meet someone last night..." Maddie rose from the table and gazed out the window into the backyard. "He was..."

  "He was what?"

  Maddie turned back to Leah. "Dangerous."

  Leah smiled and winked. "Dangerous, huh? Uh-oh. Who is he? Where did you meet him?"

  Maddie sat back down at the table. She placed her hands on the tabletop, palms down. "He was at the parade. I saw him across the street, watching me." Maddie felt a shiver run through her at the memory. "He was really something. All dressed in black, with long black hair. And the most intriguing eyes you've ever seen. Then when I went to my car after the parade, he was there. Waiting."

  A frown crossed Leah's smooth forehead. "Waiting at your car? Had you ever met him before?"

  Maddie shook her head. "No. I have no idea where he came from. When I asked him what he wanted, he said that he was 'interested' in me."

  Leah reached across the table and touched Maddie's hand. "Did you ever think there may be people out there who would do you harm?"

  Maddie grimaced. "What do you mean, 'do me harm'?"

  "You know, fans. You're becoming well known now. There are some strange people out there. You need to start being more careful."

  Maddie flapped a hand at Leah. "You're being too much like a mother. There's nothing to worry about. This is River Bend, for goodness sake."

  "Well, this man sounds just like someone you would have dated when you were a teenager. Dangerous. Are you sure you're finished with the 'rough boys'?"

  Maddie bit her lip, the vision of Raven, dark and mysterious, floating through her mind. "Maybe not. Of course, this one was no 'boy'."

  "Careful. You'll ruin you're new-found reputation if the wrong person sees you with a long-haired man dressed in black. They might think you were reverting back to your younger days."

  Maddie shook herself and smiled. "There's no need to worry. I'll probably never see the guy again." She gave Leah a sly look. "But he sure was good for a dream last night that was out of this world."

  Leah laughed. "Leave it to you. He'll probably appear in your next book."

  Maddie stared at Leah. Something the other woman just said nagged at her. Oh well. It would come to her later.

  "So, you've got the library reading tonight. Want me to come?" Leah asked.

  "Sure, if you want to. I could use some support," Maddie shook her head and smiled. "I've never done a reading. This is going to be really different."

  Leah nodded. "I'll meet you there. I have a few things to do at the bookstore before the reading. I want to make sure that your books are right out front. And don't worry. You'll be fine. I know you. If you set your mind to it, you'll do it."

  Maddie smiled at Leah. What would she do without her?

  * * * *

  Maddie pulled into the library parking lot that evening, half an hour before the reading was scheduled to begin.

  She was a nervous wreck.

  Sitting up on the flat bed trailer with all of those other people was one thing. This was another. She was on her own here. Maddie had never done anything like this before, had never spoken in front of a crowd that would be listening to her every word. Getting up in front of a group of people and reading her own work scared her half to death. What if they didn't like it?

  She rolled down the car window, hoping the crisp October breeze would help calm her. It was cool tonight, but not as chilly as last night. The parking lot faced the Maumee River, offering a serene view of the water. The river was beautiful this time of year, with the autumn leaves reflecting in the water as blurred splotches of color. Leaning her head back against the headrest, Maddie closed her eyes and breathed in the evening air.

  The moment she closed her eyes, the dark stranger was there in her mind. What was it about him that struck her so? Sure, he was dangerously handsome. He would have been exactly her type at one point in her life. But that part of her life had been put to rest. At least during the day. But she had dreamed about him last night. Steamy hot dreams that had caused her to awaken three times, wishing she had more than a cat to sleep with. Dreams that made her wish she wasn't so alone in that big empty bed. Dreams that made it feel like there was actually someone there with her, close beside her, sharing her breath for a time. All day long, Maddie had caught herself thinking about Raven. Questions. Who was he, exactly? Where had he come from? Did she know him? Why did he effect her so strongly?

  The breeze coming through the open window became cooler and stronger. Maddie shivered. The trees rustled in the wind, their dying leaves dancing. Something made a flapping sound, like a large flag whipping in the breeze. Then, it suddenly stopped.

  "Madison", the wind whispered in her ear.

  Maddie's eyes snapped open. That had sounded exactly like the whisper she had felt last night as she sat on the flat bed.

  She heard a click, then a scratch to her left out the open window. Maddie swallowed, afraid to look.

  Cigarette smoke drifted in the window, tickling her nose.

  "Ms. Woods," a deep voice said.

  She had to look now. Moving only her eyes, she glanced to her left.

  Yep. Someone was standing beside the car. From her position, she got a glimpse of a hand poking out of a black sleeve. It was a man, as far as she could tell. A man with a cigarette in his hand and a large silver ring on his pinky finger. The ring reminded her of a suit of armor, the way it covered the whole length of his finger and was jointed at the knuckles so he could bend it.

  And yep--he was dressed completely in black as far as she could tell.

  The hand with the ring
and the cigarette moved toward the door handle.

  Maddie eased her keys from the ignition, and again positioned them in her hand so the ends stuck out between her fingers. Just as she had done last night when she had seen Raven leaning against her car in the parking lot.

  Her car door opened. He held his other hand out to her and leaned down so she could see his face.

  Maddie caught her breath. God, he was gorgeous.

  "May I escort you inside, Ms. Woods?" Raven asked. His hair fell forward like a black silk curtain. Maddie caught the scent of the woods again; the scent of the outdoors and the wild things that lived there. The sharp scent of pine and fresh air.

  She couldn't speak. The savage beauty of his face had robbed her of her voice. His strong jaw and devilish eyes. His mouth, made, it seemed, to devour her with a kiss. Maddie placed her hand in his as she gazed into his dark mysterious eyes, completely under his spell. His grip was firm as he helped her out of the car. Maddie stood, her legs quivering. Not from fear, but from pure animal attraction. She saw, with a dim part of her mind, that he was a good head taller than she.

  Raven's eyes were as dark as night. Something swirled in their depths, calling to her. His hand still held hers and when he moved closer, Maddie's heart melted as she remembered her dreams of him from the night before. Her lips parted, wanting him to kiss her, needing him to kiss her.

  Raven's lips formed a small smile as if he could read her mind. He reached past her into the car to retrieve her briefcase from the front seat. "I'll carry your case for you, Ms. Woods," he said, politely, the smile playing over his mouth.

  Maddie shook herself, half angry, half confused. What was she thinking? She felt foolish, her face betraying her with heat. She had honestly thought he was going to kiss her when he had simply leaned forward to reach into the car for her briefcase. Even worse, she had wanted that kiss from him. A stranger! Had she lost her mind?

  "Come," he said, holding her hand as he led her through the parking lot toward the library entrance. "What a lovely season, don't you think?" he continued.

  Somewhat nervously, Maddie pulled her hand from his grasp as they reached the entrance steps. "Excuse me but ... have we met?" she asked, rubbing her hand. It still tingled from his touch.

  "Last night, I believe."

  Maddie shook her head. "No. I mean before that."

  Raven took her elbow and urged her up the steps. "You'll be late."

  Immediately she felt a rush of nerves course through her. That's all she needed was to be late to her first reading. Maddie could see people milling around inside through the leaded glass doors. She wondered if Leah was there. She hoped so.

  Raven reached for the heavy brass door handle and opened it. "After you."

  "Wait a minute," Maddie said, frustration flaring up inside her. "You haven't answered me. Do I know you?"

  There was that smile again. Just a turning up of the corners of his full lips. "I believe that you may."

  She opened her mouth to ask him where exactly had they met but before she could get a word out, she was assailed from behind.

  "Ms. Woods, so good to meet you," one woman said, gushingly.

  "Please come in. We're so happy to have you," another chimed in.

  "What part of the book are you going to read, Ms. Woods?" came from another.

  The ladies were all over her. Maddie plastered on a smile she hoped covered her frustration with Raven. Taking her briefcase from him, Maddie was washed to the front of the room by a wave of enthusiasm. Maddie noted that a few of the women cast furtive glances toward Raven as he followed the group inside, some whispering behind their hands.

  Then, much to her relief, Maddie caught sight of Leah, who was standing at the edge of the crowd, her back to a bookshelf. As Maddie raised a hand to wave at her friend, Leah's expression froze her hand mid-wave. Leah looked as though she had seen a ghost. And it wasn't just Leah. Everyone was eyeing Raven.

  Just great, Maddie thought as she continued moving further into the room. Now there would be rumors about her and the dark stranger whom she had arrived with. The man named Raven who uncannily resembled... "Jean Paul Avian," Maddie said out loud, coming to a sudden stop.

  A few women giggled in the background as Maddie was chilled by the sudden realization.

  * * * *

  Meanwhile, Leah caught her eye from the back and was mouthing something. Where did you find him?

  Maddie shrugged and narrowed her eyes at Leah. Not now.. She turned her gaze back toward the door. Raven stood nonchalantly, leaning a massive shoulder against the doorframe. He nodded at her, gave a quick wink, then a full smile broke across his face.

  Maddie placed a shaky hand to her throat. It couldn't be. No way.

  Raven still smiled at her, his teeth a gleaming flash of white against the darkness of his skin. Just looking at him, even from across the room, sent a hot shiver through her veins.

  "I thought your friend looked a bit like Jean-Paul, at least the way you described him in the book," a tiny little lady standing at Maddie's elbow said. "Was he the model for your vampire?"

  Maddie cleared her throat that had gone dry when Raven had flashed that smile. "N-no. I didn't. I don't really know who he is...," she said, nodding in Raven's direction, "...but the vampire in the book, Jean-Paul Avian, is just a character. A figment of my imagination."

  The little lady smiled primly. "Mm-hmm," she said with a twinkle in her eye before taking a seat in the front row. Thoroughly flustered by now, Maddie chanced a look at Leah. Her friend was grinning mischievously. Maddie wasn't going to find any help there.

  Maddie took a deep breath to try to clear her mind and ease her nervousness. She sat down in the chair obviously meant for her, barely managing to make it before her legs betrayed her and she crumpled onto the floor. Opening her briefcase, she pulled out the typed pages she had picked to read. As she shuffled through them, questions gnawed at her brain. Just who was Raven and why hadn't she noticed right away he was the personification Jean-Paul Avian? That explained the attraction. When Maddie had created Jean-Paul, she had imagined what she would want a vampire to be if she were to fall in love with one. Dangerously handsome, mysterious with an air of confidence that nothing could shatter. But he would also have a tender heart and his touch would make a grown woman weep. That was Maddie's fictional version of her dream vampire lover, a love she could never hope to have.

  She glanced in Raven's direction. He seemed to have all of those qualities. He exuded danger and confidence. And his touch, as he had stroked her cheek last night and the way he had held her hand tonight, showed tenderness underneath the rough exterior. But there was one characteristic that was different. Raven wasn't fictional, wasn't a character in a book or in her imagination.

  He was real.

  Maddie shuffled her papers, looked around the room and began to read from When Glory Came Home. She noticed every time she spoke Jean-Paul's name, most of the ladies in the audience glanced toward Raven, who hadn't moved from his position by the door. Maddie read on, wondering how she was going to handle the situation if Raven insisted on walking her to her car after the reading. She hoped she could depend on Leah to hang around, but she wasn't holding her breath. Leah's face wore a smug look every time Maddie glanced her way. Leah was probably thinking Raven was the best-looking guy Maddie had been with lately, meaning she'd make herself scarce after the reading.

  Maddie hoped she could encourage Leah to stay close by after the reading. Maddie wasn't sure being alone with Raven would be the wisest thing for her.. But then, another side of her, the wild side, thought being alone with a man like him just might be dangerously delicious.

  Maddie shook her pages of her manuscript, bringing herself back to the fictional world of Jean-Paul. Her mind was playing tricks on her and she had to get it off Raven and the temptation of being alone with him.

  * * * *

  Raven leaned against the doorway, enjoying the sight of Madison trying to control her emoti
ons. He knew she was attracted to him. After all, he was the embodiment of her vampire lover, wasn't he?

  As she read her manuscript, Raven realized once again that he wasn't immune to the attraction either. He was drawn in by the cadence of her voice, which was like a melody, rising and falling in a song of words. Where she had gotten her information on vampires would be interesting to know. She seemed to be nothing more than a small town girl., But Madison Woods must be more, or Devlin Morse would not be afraid of her.

  And Devlin was afraid.

  Otherwise, he would never have sent Raven to investigate her background, nor would he have used Eric as a pawn to get Raven to do it.

  As Maddie continued reading, Raven allowed his gaze to travel around the room. The audience consisted mostly of women in their forties, except for one who looked to be Maddie's age. He had also noticed Maddie trying to catch that particular woman's eye quite often. They must know each other. He also saw the woman glancing his way more than once and there seemed to be a question in her gaze. He wondered if this woman knew where Maddie had gotten her information.

  He turned back to watch Maddie and almost smiled at her--a full smile. Then he caught himself. He was always careful about showing a full smile in public; it wasn't good to let people see his teeth. Especially not now. Not while Eric was counting on him. He couldn't let his brother down. Later tonight, he would contact Dirk again to see if there were any new developments. Raven was also going to have to report to Devlin soon, or Devlin would think he was up to something.

  Raven took a deep breath. Things were becoming much more complicated than he had imagined.

  * * * *

  After the reading, Maddie signed copies of her novel people had brought with them. Almost everyone there owned a copy and Maddie was pleased.

  Leah hovered at her side, looking curiously back and forth between Maddie and Raven. Maddie could tell Leah was dying to ask her twenty questions about him. But she would have to wait until this was over.