Everlasting Embrace

by Amanda Ashley

  Stunned, he stared at her for a breathless moment before sweeping her into his arms. He twirled her around and around before claiming her lips with his in a long, slow kiss. “I love you, Rylee! You’ll never know how much.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, laughing and crying at the same time because the world suddenly seemed bright again. “But what am I going to tell my parents? How am I going to tell them?”

  “We can keep it a secret. At least for a while.”

  “They’ll want to meet you. Mom will expect you for dinner. They’ll wonder why they never see you during the day.” She bit down on her lower lip. “Rather than trying to come up with one lie after another, I think we should just tell them the truth and get it over with.”

  “It’s your call, love. I’m not sure it’s a good idea, but however you want to handle it is fine with me.”

  “I wanted to call you weeks ago,” she confessed. “I missed you so much.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “I guess my feelings were hurt. You didn’t say goodbye and when you didn’t call, I thought you didn’t care.” She smiled up at him. “I’d like to get married at Christmastime, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Better than all right.” It was the first of August, Alex thought. Hopefully, the Magdalena problem would be resolved by then. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a small, silver box and handed it to her. “I bought this a few days before things got out of hand. I hope you like it.”

  Speechless, Rylee stared at it for a moment before lifting the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of black velvet, was the most beautiful diamond engagement ring she had ever seen.

  “We can change it if you don’t like it.”

  “I love it!” she exclaimed as she slipped it on her finger. “And I love you! Let’s tell my folks tonight,” she said, tugging on his hand. “Before I lose my nerve.”

  It took less than a minute for Alex to transport them from the beach to the house where Rylee’s parents lived. She stood on the sidewalk for several moments, thinking this was going to be even harder than she’d thought.

  “We can do it another night,” Alex said, squeezing her hand. “There’s no hurry.” He had debated the wisdom of coming here, hoped he wasn’t making a mistake. But no one had seen or heard from Magdalena in a month or more. Rhys was convinced she’d left town and Alex was inclined to agree. Hopefully, she would never learn he’d been here.

  “I have to warn you, my Dad’s a little gruff. He scared away more than one of my boyfriends when I was in high school. I’m not sure which will upset him more, learning that I’m going to marry someone he’s never met or that that someone is a vampire.”

  “Rylee, I’m not sure springing all this at once is a good idea.”

  “Me, either. But the sooner we tell them, the better. Besides, it will give my Dad plenty of time to get used to the idea before the wedding.”

  “If that’s what you want, love, let’s get it over with,” he muttered dubiously “But I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

  Rylee took a deep breath as she opened the front door. “Hey, Mom? Dad?”

  “In the kitchen, dear,” her mother called.

  Of course, Rylee thought with a grin. Major decisions were always made in the kitchen.

  Her parents sat side-by-side at the rectangular table. Her father cradled a cup of coffee in his hands. The dinner dishes were stacked in the sink.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Alex O’Donnell. Alex, my father, Brian, and my mother, Margaret.”

  Shaking her father’s hand, Alex said, “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Wagner. Mrs. Wagner.”

  Brian Wagner nodded, his expression vaguely hostile. He was a tall man, solidly built, with black hair graying at the temples and dark brown eyes.

  Rylee took the seat across from her mother and tugged Alex down beside her.

  “How long have you known our daughter?” Brian asked.

  “A few months. We met at the beach.”

  Margaret Wagner smiled. “Rylee does love the ocean.”

  “Yes.” Rylee looked a lot like her mother, Alex thought, except Mrs. Wagner’s golden hair was shorter and streaked with silver, her eyes a darker shade of blue.

  “Can I get you anything, Alex?” Margaret asked. “A slice of cake? Coffee?”

  “No, thank you, we just had dinner.”

  Rylee took a deep breath. “Alex and I are getting married.”

  “Married!” her mother exclaimed.

  “After only a few months?” Her father’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You’re not…?”

  “No!” Rylee said quickly.

  “Then what’s the rush?”

  “Dad, it’s not until Christmas.”

  “That’s still pretty sudden,” Mr. Wagner remarked. “What do you do for a living, Mr. O’Donnell?”

  Shit! He should have seen that coming, Alex thought. “I’m between jobs at the moment, but I have enough money to provide Rylee with a home and anything else she wants.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Dad, there’s something else you and Mom need to know.”

  “What is it, I’m afraid to ask?” her father said.

  “Alex is…” Rylee looked at her parents, unable to say the word.

  “Alex is what?” Margaret asked.

  “He’s…he’s thinking of moving to…to Arizona, that’s why we’re rushing the wedding,” Rylee said.

  “You’re moving?” Brian asked, a note of disapproval in his voice.

  “It’s not for certain,” Rylee said quickly, then drew a deep breath. She was a terrible liar.

  Looking crestfallen at the news, her mother said, “I guess we’d better start making wedding plans as soon as possible.”

  “I know, Mom, but not tonight. I…I have a late meeting. We’ll get together another time.”

  Brian and Margaret exchanged glances.

  Suddenly needing to get out of there, Rylee stood, grabbed Alex’s hand and tugged him to his feet. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “But Rylee…”

  “We’ll come over again soon, Mom, I promise,” she said, and practically ran out the door.

  “Lose your nerve?” Alex asked as they strolled down the street.

  “I just couldn’t say it.”

  “Like I said before, there’s no need. They never have to know.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Come on, I’ll take you back to the pier. You can call Uber from there and get a ride back to Granite Hills.”

  She was getting used to being transported, Rylee thought when she opened her eyes. Her stomach wasn’t churning, nor did she feel disoriented. Standing next to Alex, she called Uber. “They’ll be here in a few minutes. Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “I’ll get in touch with you as soon as I wake up.”

  “All right. I wish we could spend more than a few stolen moments together. Isn’t there some place we can go where Magdalena can’t find us?”

  “I don’t know. Costain’s beach house might work. Or maybe a hotel in another state.” He glanced over his shoulder as her ride pulled up at the curb. “I love you,” he murmured as he drew her into his arms.

  Rylee’s eyelids fluttered down as his mouth slanted over hers. Right or wrong, she had made her choice. All she had to do now was convince her parents she’s wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.

  “I love you,” Alex murmured. “Dream of me.”

  “Always.” She smiled as he caressed her cheek.

  “Good night, love.” He waited until she was safely inside the car before transporting himself back to the penthouse. Rylee loved him, he thought, and all was right with the world.

  CHAPTER 36

  Magdalena strolled down the street, thinking she would soon return to Los Angeles. Weeks ago, she had realized that the numerous bodies she’d left in her wake had drawn more hunters to the area than she would have possible. With that in mind, she had decided to visit Portlan
d for a while, another city with a large homeless population, which made for easy pickings on the street.

  She had destroyed the only other vampire in the city, and now hunted to her heart’s content. Few of the derelicts or transients were ever missed and she’d made an effort not to savage the bodies.

  There had been a brief run-in with three hunters the night before. It had been a close call. She had been reminiscing about Eddie and the night he proposed when the attack came. She had been wounded in the fight but had managed to dispatch all three of the men.

  Her thoughts turned to O’Donnell. His woman had left him and he was hiding out in Costain’s penthouse. She wasn’t fool enough to try to take O’Donnell at Costain’s lair, which was known to be impregnable, nor crazy enough to confront him at La Mort Rouge.

  Magdalena paused to stare at the lights of the city. She was growing bored with this endless game of cat-and-mouse. Soon, she thought, soon she would return to Los Angeles and fulfill her vow to avenge Eduardo. O’Donnell would plead for death a thousand times before she granted it to him. Still, there was no hurry. She had all the time in the world, she thought, smiling.

  But he didn’t.

  CHAPTER 37

  “I tried to get out of it,” Rylee said, pacing the floor. “But I promised Mom we’d come by tonight for coffee and cake. She’s been wanting to have you over for the last week and she just wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Alex groaned. This was not going to end well.

  “She’s expecting us at six-thirty. You’ll come, won’t you?”

  He hesitated a moment, then said, “Sure, love. I’ll meet you there.”

  Rylee was a nervous wreck when she arrived at her parents. She paid the Uber driver, then stood on the curb, wondering how she would explain why Alex didn’t eat or drink. Maybe she should call him and tell him not to come.

  She found her mother in the dining room, putting the last of the good silver on the table.

  “Wow, don’t you look lovely,” Margaret said, giving her a hug.

  “What’s all this?” Rylee asked, gesturing at the table.

  “For dinner, of course. You didn’t think I’d let you eat off paper plates, did you?”

  “But…I thought we were just having coffee and cake?”

  “Didn’t you get my text? I decided to have dinner instead.”

  Rylee stared at her Mom, then pulled her phone out of her pocket. Sure enough, there was a text from her mother. How had she missed it? She glanced at the dining room table. The good china. The good silver. Her grandmother’s crystal glassware. Mom’s favorite tablecloth and matching napkins. Candles. Margaret had gone all out. “Where’s Dad?”

  “Working overtime, but he’ll be here soon. Come on in the kitchen while I check the roast.”

  Rylee was about to call Alex and warn him when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” she said. Hurrying into the living room, she opened the door. Alex looked fantastic in a pair of black slacks and a white, pullover sweater. He held a bouquet of pink carnations.

  He grinned at the worried look on her face. “Still think this is a good idea?”

  “Don’t start. We’ve already got a problem. Mom fixed dinner.”

  “Just tell her we’ve already eaten.”

  “I’m not sure that will work.”

  “It’s worth a try. Don’t worry about it.” He gave her a quick kiss, then followed her into the kitchen.

  “Hi, Alex,” Margaret said cheerfully. “I’m so glad you could come. “

  “Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Wagner. These are for you,” he said, handing her the bouquet.

  “That’s so sweet of you,” Margaret exclaimed. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  Alex looked at Rylee, his gaze lingering on her throat. “Always.”

  Rylee and her mother had gone into the kitchen to do whatever last minute things had to be done, so that Alex was alone in the living room when Rylee’s father got home.

  He stood when Mr. Wagner entered the room.

  For stretched seconds, the two men simply stared at each other, then her father excused himself to wash up before dinner.

  It was going to be a fun evening, Alex thought, with a rueful shake of his head. It was obvious Rylee’s old man didn’t like him one bit. Why, he had no idea, unless it was just some kind of protective instinct all fathers had where their daughters were concerned. Or maybe he was one of those people who instinctively sensed danger when in the presence of vampires. Either way, it didn’t bode well for the evening.

  Margaret called them to dinner a few minutes later.

  While her father blessed the food, Rylee slid a quick glance at Alex, who sat with his arms folded and his head bowed. She noticed he had managed to angle his chair away from the mirror over the sideboard.

  Her nerves were on edge when her mother passed the platter of roast beef to Alex, who passed it on to Rylee without taking any.

  “Don’t you like roast?” Margaret asked.

  “We already ate, Mom,” Rylee said quickly. “But I’ve got room for a bite or two. It’s been a long time since I had dinner at home.” She glanced at Alex. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  They made small talk during dinner—the weather, the price of gas, the upcoming election.

  “Looks good,” Alex said, when Margaret dished up devil’s food cake and vanilla ice cream for dessert. “But I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. I’m diabetic.”

  Rylee grinned behind her hand.

  “So, Alex, tell me about yourself,” her father said. “Do you have family in the city?”

  “No, sir. They live in Boston.”

  “Do you have siblings?” Margaret asked.

  “Yes, a brother and a sister, although my brother passed away not long ago.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I hope I’m not bringing up unhappy memories.”

  “Not at all.”

  “You said you were between jobs, as I recall,” Mr. Wagner remarked. “What do you do when you are working?”

  “I was a bounty hunter,” Alex said flatly.

  Wagner’s eyes narrowed. “Were you good at it?”

  “I took down my share.”

  “Did you bring them in alive?”

  The question caught Alex off-guard. Shit!

  “Well?”

  “What do you think?” Alex asked, irritated by the man’s tone and attitude.

  “I think you’re hiding something,” her father said. “I’ve been a detective for over twenty years and a beat cop before that. I know when someone’s skirting the truth.”

  Alex shrugged. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

  Bristling, her father said, “I’m sure you do. If I ran your name though the department database, what would I find?”

  “Not a thing.”

  “Uh-huh. Rylee, what do you know about this guy besides his name?”

  “Dad…” She looked helplessly at her mother.

  “Brian, that’s enough.” Margaret folded her napkin and placed it on the table. “Would anyone like some coffee?”

  “That’s not nearly enough, Meg. Rylee’s our daughter. Our only child. I’m not going to let her marry some guy I don’t know a damn thing about.” Her father pushed away from the table. “Excuse me, I’ve got a few phone calls to make.”

  “Dad! Don’t you dare!”

  “I knew it!” He whirled around, a knowing gleam in his eye. “What is it? What’s he hiding.”

  “I don’t have a record,” Alex said, his voice tight with anger. “I’m not a pimp or a drug lord. I don’t rob little old ladies and I’ve never been arrested. Look all you want. You won’t find a damn thing!”

  “You insolent pup. Get out of my house.”

  Unable to help himself, Alex vanished from the room.

  Margaret stared at the place where Alex had been seated, her eyes wide, her face pale.

  “What the hell!” Brian stared at his daughter. “What just happened here? Where
did he go? How the hell did he do that?”

  Pushing away from the table, Rylee blurted, “It’s easy, Dad. He’s a vampire.” Stunned silence followed her declaration. For a moment, she stood frozen, one hand clapped over her mouth, and then she hurried toward the front door.

  “What?” her father roared. “Rylee, come back here!”

  She ran out of the house and down the block, then paused on the corner, her gaze darting left and right. Where was Alex? Had he left her there? She ducked behind a bush when she heard her father call her name, breathed a sigh of relief when Alex emerged from the shadows.

  “Good thing you don’t need your parents’ permission,” he said dryly. “Let’s get out of here.”

  He transported the two of them to a movie theater a few blocks away.

  She was used to being whisked through time and space, Rylee thought when she opened her eyes. Her stomach wasn’t churning, nor did she feel disoriented. Standing next to Alex, she called for a ride. “They’ll be here in a few minutes. Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “I’ll get in touch as soon as I wake up.”

  “All right. I wish we could spend more than a few stolen moments together. Isn’t there some place we can go where Magdalena can’t find us?”

  “I don’t know. Costain’s beach house might work. Or maybe a hotel in another city.” Alex glanced over his shoulder as her ride pulled up to the curb. “I love you,” he murmured as he drew her into his arms.

  Rylee’s eyelids fluttered down as his mouth slanted over hers. Right or wrong, she had made her choice. All she had to do now was convince her parents she’s wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.

  “I love you,” Alex murmured. “Dream of me.”

  “Always.” She smiled as he caressed her cheek.

  “Good night, love.” He waited until she was safely inside the car before transporting himself back to the penthouse. Rylee loved him, he thought, and all was right with the world.

  Rylee had just walked in the door when her phone rang. She stared at the number, debating whether to answer it or not, but there was no point in putting it off. She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, sat on the sofa, and said, “Hi, Dad.”