by Karen Ranney
My father looked as curious.
Be careful.
I know, how tacky was I to warn Mark against my own father?
“I’m studying blood diseases,” Mark said, not looking at me.
Instead, his attention was directed toward my father. A good choice. It took a man with brass cojones to stand in front of my father and meet that look and not back down. I hadn’t seen many men who could do it. My little heart went pitty pat when Mark did.
I was a goner, wasn’t I? I hoped he was too busy talking to my father to hear what I was thinking. First, he attracted me, then he enchanted me, amused me, and seduced me. Then he saved me and was willing to go to war with me.
I don’t know what Mark thought he was going to get out of this relationship, strange as it was, but I knew that I wasn’t going to walk away without being badly hurt.
Mark glanced at me and then back at my father.
“We consider vampirism to be a blood disease, one that might be curable. I’ve been doing some research, taking samples from a few volunteers. Evidently, I didn’t perform the proper procedures in notifying Maddock. I believe he arrived to show me the error of my ways.”
I was absolutely fascinated. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of that story was true. Had Maddock come just for Marcie, or had he come for Mark? Or had he hoped to kill two birds with one stone?
“And he knew you were at my daughter’s house?”
Oh boy.
“Yes.”
That’s all Mark said. No further explanation. No groveling. No asking for permission. Nothing. It was like he was saying, hey, I’m a grown man. Your daughter is a grown woman. We don’t need your blessing.
I guess I was a secret rebel still, because I’ve never been so overjoyed at a man’s behavior in my entire life. I almost jumped out of my chair, threw myself at him, and kissed him right there and then.
I couldn’t help but smile broadly. My father glanced at me, back at Mark, and then back at me. To my utter surprise, he didn’t say a damn thing. Instead, he stood, and extended his hand to Mark, who took it.
“I’m glad we were here to help,” my father said.
“So am I,” I said, standing. “I really am sorry for missing the meeting.”
Then he startled me by doing something I hadn’t expected. He hugged me. Surprised, I stood there for a moment before I wrapped my arms around him and returned the hug.
When it was over, I stepped back, not looking at him. Evidently, I’m awkward around displays of affection. Or maybe it was just when my father decided to step out of the little box I’d created for him.
“We voted on the Rice divorce. I’m afraid Doreen is going to be disappointed.”
That was odd for him to divulge that information in front of Mark.
“She’s not going to take it well,” I said. “I liked your speech on the sanctity of marriage, however.”
Look how brave I was becoming. Evidently, nearly dying does something to your courage quotient.
My father looked at me with that steely eyed gaze, the same one that had always made me tremble.
I looked right back at him. If Mark could do it, so could I.
“I never meant to hurt your mother,” he said. Another revelation in front of Mark.
The world was falling off its axis.
“If the man I loved sought out another woman, I think it would destroy me,” I said. “Especially if he had another family with them.”
There, a bit of truth for both of them.
He nodded. I wondered if he would give some serious consideration to what I said. I also wondered if the women in Dallas and Houston were as tolerant as my mother.
We walked to the rear of the house, my father looking around him, nodding from time to time. He was the type of person who was sparse in his praise, but fulsome in his criticism. The fact that he wasn’t saying anything was a good sign.
At the porch, however, he surprised me yet again. He bent down and petted the Brood, all of whom had followed us through the house, silently this time.
“Growing up, you always had animals around you,” he said. “I’ve always thought it was a natural progression for you to become a vet.”
The hits just kept on coming.
“I’ve always liked animals,” I said.
He nodded again. I’d never seen him in this contemplative mood.
“I like what you’ve done with Graystone,” he said. “I’m glad my mother left it to you.”
He’d never said such a thing to me. Nor had he ever given any indication that he was happy about my inheritance. We’d already broken one barrier with our earlier hug and we weren’t a huggy species, but I couldn’t help myself. I reached over and gave him a quick hug, one that was reciprocated.
We separated a little self-consciously and I went to stand at the door.
Most of the cars were gone. Only my father’s car and one other remained, both headlights off, thank heavens. No AAA visit necessary.
“You’ve certainly turned into an interesting woman, Torrance. I’m looking forward to what other surprises you have in store.” With that, he kissed me on the forehead, nodded to Mark, and left Graystone.
Holy crap.
Indeed.
I glanced over at Mark and smiled. I was still feeling all warm and fuzzy about him and endlessly grateful.
“How touching.”
Ah, hell.
“What are you still doing here?” I asked, turning to face my brother.
He looked a little the worse for wear, but that’s what you get, I guess, for being chained in a root cellar. The woman with him was glaring at me.
I gathered that she was my brother’s partner in crime.
If you discounted her frown, she was striking. Way past beautiful, but Austin would only be seen with gorgeous women. Her eyes were green, a shade that would have made you do a double take even if the rest of her hadn’t been attractive.
“Are you the nurse?” I asked. I tried to remember what her name was from my conversation with my mother, but it escaped me. In all honesty, I didn’t give a flying fig what it was. I just wanted her out of my house.
“This is Carol,” Austin said. “She’s a med student.”
Whoop de ding.
Carol was in scrubs, too, and hers were as bloody as mine. With my blood. Mine. It was the strangest feeling standing there seeing my blood on her.
I wanted to replace my blood with hers and I actually gave it a thought for a few moments. Maybe that’s why Mark came and stood so close behind me that I could feel the warmth of his body.
“Am I supposed to say nice to meet you, especially after you tried to drain me dry?”
She didn’t say anything, just gave me a smirk that seriously made me want to knock it off her face. I’d been sorely tested lately. I was going to have to hit something. She would do.
“Get out of my house,” I said, my voice remarkably calm.
At this point I didn’t even care if Hamish was still pulling out of the yard. I wanted them out of Graystone and then I would go through every room and do a sage burning. Or maybe call in a priest for an exorcism.
I didn’t know who I wanted to purge more from Graystone: Austin or Maddock.
My brother stood there like a barnacle on a boat.
I glanced over my shoulder at Mark. “Is this what you meant by a little difficulty in this area?”
He nodded. “He said he wanted to talk to you.”
“Go ahead, Austin. Say what you have to say and then get the hell out.”
I wasn’t under any illusions that my brother was going to issue a heartfelt apology or even a fake one. I knew his character and his personality. He believed that what he’d done was right and that just meant we were going to have problems in the future.
“You’re abnormal, Torrance. You’re damaged.”
Yada yada. No doubt I was going to hear a version of that spiel often enough, especially if my fellow Weres learned of my Prani
c abilities, such as they were. If they came back.
“We’re leaving now,” Dan said from the doorway. He had one arm around Marcie and was supporting a sleeping Antonia on his shoulder. Marcie was looking much better, but far from herself.
“Who the hell are you?” my brother asked. “Another weirdo?”
I wanted to warn my brother that Dan was one pissed off wizard right at the moment and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to make him madder, but that would have been a wasted effort. Austin was filled with the knowledge of his own superiority and wouldn’t listen to anyone, let alone a female Furry.
He sneered at Dan who glanced at me, the same direct look I was accustomed to receiving from my father. I realized, a second later, that it was advance warning for what he was about to do. An arc of light flew from the fingers of Dan’s right hand and struck Austin like a mega charged taser.
My brother dropped to the ground, twitching and seizing.
I confess that I only stared while Med Student Carol fell to his side, screaming and wailing.
I looked at Mark, then at Dan and Marcie and back to my brother. Honestly? I couldn’t summon a scintilla of compassion and empathy. It had been drained out of me.
I sat heavily on the end of the couch, Pepper jumping up and taking his place on my lap. I was still covered in dried blood but my dog didn’t care. Neither did Dalton and Cherry Pip who formed a phalanx around me.
If Dan had the power to banish vampires and zap my brother, why were he and Marcie preparing for a siege? Were other people involved? Or other species? Who or what else did I have to worry about?
It was all too much right at the moment.
I waved Marcie and Dan out the door. We’d talk later like civilized adults, but right now we’d had just about as much civilization — or lack of it — that we could take.
Dispassionately — or maybe it was just because I was exhausted — I watched as Austin got to his knees, Med Student Carol helping him.
I reached over and opened the glass jar filled with dental bones. The worst thing you could call a Were was a dog. The very worst gesture you could make was to throw a dog bone to a Were.
I nearly hit Austin on the head with it. Both he and Med Student Carol turned to look at me, all the hatred in the world in their eyes.
Big deal. They still weren’t as scary as a rabid vampire.
“Tell me something,” I said, pasting a fake ass smile on my face. See how pleasant I could be even when I wanted to hit something? “How did you get in?”
Austin didn’t say a word, but Med Student Carol piped up. “He’s your brother. Why wouldn’t someone let him in?” She wasn’t all that attractive when her face was squished into a superior look. “Especially when it’s your birthday tomorrow. We were planning your surprise party.”
Some surprise party. Happy Birthday, Torrance. Here’s your prezzie. Death. Wow, you shouldn’t have.
From the look Austin gave her, I guessed that Med Student Carol was going to be the beneficiary of a severe lecture the moment they left Graystone.
As for me, I was going to tell Simon that Austin was not allowed in my home. Period. Ever. For any reason. Just in case Austin tried this again. Weres almost never aired their dirty laundry in public, but I’d broken all kinds of rules in the last twenty-four hours. What was another one?
“Get out,” I said.
Don’t ever come back. Not if you value your life.
I know that Austin couldn’t hear my thoughts, but I’ll betcha there was something on my face, an expression that revealed how close I was to the edge. Or maybe he just suddenly realized that my abnormalities could cause him some problems. Maybe his older sister was stronger than his rage and well equipped for his hatred. I might even be able to pummel him to the ground. Me or my friends.
Mark stood by the door, my knight, my warrior, ready to do battle if Austin proved to be stubborn and remain.
He held the door open as my brother lumbered to his feet, heavily supported by bloody Med Student Carol.
I didn’t say a word as they left Graystone, only doled out a dog bone to Pepper, Dalton, and Cherry Pip.
“Is it really your birthday tomorrow?” Mark asked, coming to the couch. He picked up Pepper and sat him down on the floor, then picked me up and put me on his lap.
“It is, but don’t get me anything. I think birthdays are overrated.”
However, if he wanted to carry me up the grand staircase again I’d consider that the very best birthday present.
He only smiled.
You know that warm feeling you get when you’re around someone you love? It flooded through me so suddenly that I was unprepared. I was falling in love. I’d only done that once in my life and look how well that had turned out.
I hadn't anticipated it happening again.
Mark was intelligent, handsome, funny, kind, generous, and he liked my Brood. Plus, he was one sexy guy, enough to keep my libido happy. Damn, what a combination. What chance did I have?
I sighed into his neck, trying to decide what I wanted to do more, take a shower, eat, or cry.
“I’ll help you shower,” he said, “and afterward I’ll make you a sandwich and some soup. Then we’ll go to bed and I’ll hold you while you cry.”
Yep, it was official. I was a goner.
Also by Karen Ranney
For current information about new books, please go to: https://karenranney.com/
* * *
THE FURRY CHRONICLES
The Lottery - Furry - Book 1
The Sound and the Furry - Book 2
My Furry Valentine - Book 3 (Coming soon)
* * *
THE DUKE SERIES
The Scottish Duke
The English Duke
The Texan Duke (October, 2017)
* * *
THE MACIAIN SERIES
In Your Wildest Scottish Dreams
Scotsman of My Dreams
An American in Scotland
THE MONTGOMERY CHRONICLES
The Fertile Vampire – Book 1
The Reluctant Goddess – Book 2
Pranic, Pregnant, and Petrified - Book 3
THE CLAN SINCLAIR SERIES
The Devil of Clan Sinclair
The Witch of Clan Sinclair
The Virgin of Clan Sinclair
Return to Clan Sinclair
THE SCOTTISH SISTERS
A Scandalous Scot
The Lass Wore Black
* * *
THE LOVED SERIES
My Beloved
My True Love
* * *
THE HIGHLAND LORDS
One Man’s Love
When the Laird Returns
The Irresistible MacRae
To Love a Scottish Lord
So in Love
THE TULLOCH SGATHAN SERIES
Sold to a Laird
A Highland Duchess
A Borrowed Scot
STAND ALONE NOVELS (HISTORICAL)
NOVELS SET IN ENGLAND
Tapestry
Above All Others
My Wicked Fantasy
Upon a Wicked Time
After the Kiss
NOVELS SET IN SCOTLAND
A Promise of Love
Heaven Forbids
Till Next We Meet
An Unlikely Governess
Autumn in Scotland
The Scottish Companion
The Devil Wears Tartan
A Scotsman in Love
A Scottish Love
STAND ALONE CONTEMPORARY NOVELS
Murder by Mortgage
The Eyes of Love
What About Alice?
NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES
The Greatest Gift
A Dance in the Dark
Scottish Brides
Flash Fables
The Unmentionables
About the Author
Karen Ranney wanted to be a writer from the time she was five years old and filled her Big Chief tablet
with stories. People in stories did amazing things and she was too shy to do anything amazing. Years spent in Japan, Paris, and Italy, however, not only fueled her imagination but proved she wasn't that shy after all.
Now a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, she prefers to keep her current adventures between the covers of her books. Karen lives in San Antonio, Texas and loves to hear from her readers at [email protected].
For more information:
https://karenranney.com
[email protected]