“Where do you want to live, after we’re married?”
“Wherever you want. I have several houses you can choose from, or we can buy something new.”
“Were you really a computer programmer?”
He shrugged. “For a while.”
“Have you had a lot of jobs?”
“So many, I’ve forgotten most of them.” It had been easy to pick up this skill or that when he was a vampire. He had been able to accomplish anything he set his mind to. Learning had come easily to him then.
Nick swore under his breath. He had made his choice and he had no regrets. Why was he now thinking about what he had so willingly given up?
“Nick?”
“Hmm?”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, why?”
“We’ve been sitting here for ten minutes and you haven’t kissed me yet.”
Drawing her into his arms, he claimed her lips with his. And everything else faded into insignificance. There was only Abbey kissing him in return, the warmth of her love filling all the cold, empty corners in his heart and soul.
Mara stood on the balcony of her Northern California home, her senses reaching out to touch—one by one—those she considered her family, something she did from time to time. She frowned as the bond she and Nick had shared for centuries eluded her.
She uttered a short, pithy oath when she finally made a connection. She homed in on the ancient blood bond that allowed her to find him. Once, the link between them had run both ways. Now his bond to her was gone as if it had never existed.
Which could only mean . . .
Mara shook her head in disbelief. “Oh, Nicky,” she whispered. “What have you done?”
Chapter Thirty
Abbey could scarcely contain her excitement as she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The girl staring back at her looked radiant—cheeks flushed, eyes glowing. Her gown was long and white, with a sweetheart neckline, a full skirt, and short, poufy sleeves. It made her feel like a princess in a fairy tale.
“Oh, Abbey,” Savanah murmured. “You look like Cinderella going to the ball!”
“I feel that way too!” Arms outstretched, she twirled around. “What do you think, Aunt Kathy?”
“It looks like it was made for you.”
“Do you think Nick will like it?”
“He’ll love it,” Kathy said. “I can’t wait to get to know him better.” She shook her head. “I’ve never heard of a vampire being cured. Well, except for Mara, of course. But she wasn’t cured, exactly.”
“Which of these veils do you like? The short one?” Savanah asked, holding up the veil in question, “or the long one?”
“Definitely the long one,” Abbey replied. She smiled as her mother set it in place. The headpiece was adorned with lustrous pearls and brilliants; the gauzy veil fell to the floor in graceful folds. “Oh, Mom! It’s perfect!”
“It is indeed,” Savanah agreed, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Everything was perfect, Abbey thought. Her dress. Her husband-to-be. Life itself.
Tomorrow was her wedding day!
At home, Abbey hung her gown in the closet, then called, “Nick? Where are you?”
“In the kitchen, love. So, how’d it go?” he asked, taking Abbey in his arms.
“We had the best time, and I found the most beautiful dress! I can’t wait for you to see it!”
“Well, don’t just stand there, girl. Go put it on.”
“Not now, silly. Don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding?” She glanced past him to the counter, which was covered with sandwich makings—mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, three kinds of lunch meat, two kinds of cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and two loaves of bread—potato and whole wheat. “I know vampires don’t gain weight, but you’re not a vampire anymore, and if you keep eating the way you have the last couple of days, you’re going to be as fat as a pig.”
“I can’t help it,” he said, chuckling. “Everything tastes so good. You want a sandwich?”
“Sure. I haven’t eaten since lunch. Mom and Aunt Kathy offered to take me to dinner, but . . .” She shrugged. “It’s not much fun when you’re the only one eating.”
“Or the only one not eating,” he muttered.
They moved to the counter and worked side by side. “This is fun,” Abbey remarked, piling several slices of roast beef on a piece of potato bread. “We’ve never cooked together before.”
“This isn’t exactly cooking,” Nick remarked, adding several slices of cheese to his own sandwich. “What are we having for dinner?”
“Dinner?” Abbey glanced at the containers of potato salad and baked beans, then shook her head. “Isn’t this dinner?”
Nick shrugged. Since he hadn’t eaten in centuries, he had a lot of lost time to make up for.
“Oh, well,” Abbey said with mock resignation. “I guess we’ll just get fat together.”
Nick added a few pickles to his sandwich, then licked his fingers. “I’ll love you fat or thin.”
“I tried to contact you telepathically today,” Abbey remarked, carrying her sandwich and a glass of milk to the table. “I couldn’t do it.”
“I’m pretty sure part of your ability to read my mind had to do with my being a vampire,” he said, taking the chair across from hers. “I’m not sure why that made a difference, unless it had something to do with the fact that I’d tasted your blood.”
“Maybe, but . . .”
“But what?”
She hesitated, then said, “Well, I kind of miss it.”
Nick grunted softly. His being mortal again would take some getting used to for both of them.
Abbey’s wedding day dawned bright and clear. Lying in bed, she stared up at the ceiling. “Mrs. Abbey Marie Desanto. Abbey Desanto. Mrs. Nick Desanto.” She giggled, thinking she sounded like a schoolgirl with her first crush.
She was getting married. To Nick. The sweetest, sexiest, most handsome man in the whole world.
She loved it that he hadn’t wanted to wait and yet there were so many things they hadn’t discussed. Mainly, they needed to decide where they were going to live. She would be perfectly happy to stay here, in the cottage, although she doubted that Nick would think living in such close proximity to her father was a great idea. If he didn’t mind, she would like to live near her parents. Maybe Nick owned a house close by. That would be perfect. If not . . . well, he had suggested buying something new.
Did he intend to work? He didn’t need the money, so maybe they would travel, be vagabonds for a year or two.
She knew he wanted children, but not how many. Was it even possible for him to father a child after being a vampire for so long? If so, she thought two kids would be nice—a girl for her and a boy for Nick.
Kicking the covers aside, Abbey headed for the shower. She had a lot to do today. Her dad had volunteered to look after the stock this morning and while she was on her honeymoon. Bless the man! She just hoped that, in time, Nick and her father would become friends. But she couldn’t worry about that now.
She giggled with excitement as she turned on the shower. Today was her wedding day!
Nick woke slowly. Locking his hands behind his head, he stared up at the hotel ceiling. Abbey had wanted him to stay at the cottage, but he had refused, telling her he wanted to spend his last night as a bachelor alone.
He stared at the tux hanging on the closet door.
He was getting married.
He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Married, after all this time.
He shook his head, thinking how bizarre it was that he was marrying into a vampire family when he was no longer a vampire. He wondered what Abbey’s parents really thought about his return to humanity, whether Rane would ever accept him, and how Mara would react.
Mara. He had thought only death could break his link to her, but apparently becoming a mortal
had the same effect. He could no longer sense the bond between them. It was an odd feeling, as if a vital part of himself had been cut away, leaving a great gaping hole that could never be filled. Of course, being a vampire and having tasted his blood, Mara would always be able to find him. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but there was nothing he could do about it.
In the bathroom, he regarded his reflection in the mirror, shook his head when he saw the bristles on his chin. Whiskers, he thought, bemused. He hadn’t shaved in centuries.
The hotel had thoughtfully provided a throwaway razor. He winced when he cut himself, stared at the bright red drop of blood that oozed from the tiny wound—so different from the thick, dark crimson of vampire blood. He dabbed at the cut with the washcloth, thinking that, if he was still a vampire, the cut would have already healed.
Funny, all the mundane things he had forgotten about being human.
He showered, dressed, and went down to the hotel dining room for breakfast. He had been forbidden to see his bride before the wedding. The day stretched before him. How was the groom supposed to spend his time while the bride primped?
Leaving the hotel, Nick strolled down the street, hands shoved into his pockets. The world looked different to him now—colors were less bright, sounds seemed muted. He no longer had the ability to read the minds of the people he passed, nor could he hear the beating of their hearts. He was keenly aware of gravity holding him down, binding him to the earth.
He was the one who had changed, he realized, not the world around him. His sense of himself had altered dramatically. He had lost a part of his identity and it had left a void inside, an emptiness where his vampire nature had been. The strength and power he had relied on for so many centuries was gone.
He was vulnerable now.
Mortal.
Subject to pain and sickness. Old age and death.
He told himself it didn’t matter. Not so long ago, he had been seeking a release from immortality. Be careful what you wish for, he mused ruefully, then shook his head. None of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was Abbey. Tonight, she would finally be his.
Needing to hear her voice, he pulled out his phone and punched in her number.
She answered on the first ring. “Nick!”
“Hey, beautiful. How’s the bride?”
“Hoping the groom is as nervous as I am.”
“I passed nervous hours ago,” Nick muttered. Right now, he was hovering perilously close to panic at the thought of being surrounded by a trio of powerful vampires—namely, Mara, Logan, and the vampire priest.
All things considered, he was especially nervous at the idea of being in Rane’s company.
“How are you getting to the church?” Abbey asked.
“The old-fashioned way, love. By car.”
“It’s different, isn’t it?” she asked quietly. “Being mortal again?”
“Yeah, but I’m not complaining. How are things on your end?”
“I’m not sure. On the surface, my parents seem okay with it. But it doesn’t matter. I love you, Nick.”
“I love you more.”
“See you in church,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I’ll be the one in the long white dress.”
Chuckling, Nick ended the call, thinking he was the luckiest man in the world.
Abbey was a nervous wreck by the time she and her parents arrived at the church.
She glanced around, awed by the towering oaks and the ancient house of worship set in a secluded glade. Moonlight filtered through the trees, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, crickets and frogs lifted their voices in song. The setting might have been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale, Abbey thought. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see Snow White and Prince Charming waiting for her inside.
“Ready?” her mother asked, coming to stand beside her.
Abbey nodded.
“If you’re having second thoughts, it’s not too late to change your mind,” her father said.
“Dad, I’m not going to change my mind. I love Nick with all my heart. Can’t you just be happy for me?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Rane nodded. “Here we go, then.”
He left Abbey inside the vestibule while he escorted Savanah into the chapel and down the aisle to the front row.
Returning a moment later, he took Abbey’s hand in his. “Be happy, honey,” he said quietly. “And remember, your mother and I are always here for you if you need us.”
“Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.”
Clinging to her father’s hand, she peered around the door. It was a lovely old church. The altar and the pews were carved from oak. Soft candlelight filled the chapel with a warm golden glow, illuminating the faces of the wooden statues along the walls. A shaft of bright silver moonlight filtered through the beautiful red, blue, and gold stained-glass window above the altar. Deep blue carpet runners covered the floor between the aisles.
Her family sat in the first two rows. They were all there—Kathy and Rafe, Mara and Logan, Roshan and Brenna, Vince and Cara, Derek and Sheree. And Edna and Pearl, looking like a pair of colorful butterflies in their gaudy, trademark floral shirts and long skirts. In honor of the occasion, they wore heels instead of tennis shoes.
Preternatural power hovered in the air like an unseen presence.
A moment later, the priest entered the chapel from a side door, followed by Nick.
Abbey’s breath caught in her throat when she saw him. Though Nick no longer radiated power or possessed a vampire’s innate allure, he was still the handsomest man she had ever met. His tux was the perfect foil for his dark good looks.
At a gesture from the priest, Abbey and her father walked down the aisle.
Father Lanzoni wore a black suit with a clerical collar. Of medium height, he had warm hazel eyes, olive skin, and wavy black hair heavily laced with silver at his temples.
He smiled at Abbey, winked at Nick, and then looked out at the wedding guests.
“Welcome, my old friends. I am honored that you have invited me to officiate at this happy occasion.
“We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the joining together of these two young people. Who gives this woman in marriage?”
“Her mother and I do.” Rane kissed his daughter’s cheek, placed her hand in Nick’s, then stepped back to sit beside Savanah.
“Marriage is an honorable institution,” the priest said. “It is ordained of God for the blessing and happiness of His children here on earth. Only in the sacred bonds of matrimony can a man and a woman find true happiness and fulfillment. In the beginning, God joined Adam and Eve together and admonished them to cleave unto one another, to be fruitful and multiply. Niccola and Abbey, I would admonish you to do the same, to be ever faithful to one another, to treat your spouse as you would be treated. Never forget the love you have for each other, or the way you feel this night, filled with hope and expectations for a bright future.
“Abbey Marie Cordova, do you take Niccola Desanto, here present, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, as long as you both shall live?”
Looking into Nick’s eyes, she murmured a heartfelt “I do.”
“Niccola Desanto, do you take Abbey Marie Cordova, here present, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and health, for richer, for poorer, as long as you both shall live?”
He nodded solemnly. “I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me, I pronounce you, Niccola and Abbey, husband and wife, legally and lawfully wed. May the blessings of heaven rest upon you both,” the priest said, smiling. “Nick, you may kiss your bride.”
As Nick lifted her veil, he whispered, “I will love you for as long as I live.”
“And I, you.”
Cupping Abbey’s face in his hands, Nick kissed her tenderly, keenly aware of Rane Cordova’s dark gaze boring into his back.
&nbs
p; Later, after everyone had kissed the bride and congratulated the groom, Abbey and Nick left the church, bound for the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, where they had made plans to spend the night.
Abbey had decided to forgo a reception, since none of the guests could partake of food or cake, and Nick had agreed. The sooner he had his bride alone, the better.
Abbey couldn’t stop looking at Nick, couldn’t stop smiling.
He slid a glance in her direction. “What are you grinning at, Mrs. Desanto?”
“Nothing. I’m just happy. Aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.” Reaching for her hand, he gave it a squeeze.
“Was it hard for you, being surrounded by so many vampires? You looked a little stressed after the ceremony.”
He considered a lie and opted for the truth. “Hard doesn’t begin to describe it.”
“Are you sorry you took the cure?”
“No, love. I knew what I was doing.”
Nick pulled into the hotel parking lot two hours later. Abbey glanced out the side window while Nick looked for a parking place. The inn was lovely, with an old-world feel to it. There were plants and flowers everywhere, lots of balconies with white scrollwork.
She felt a rush of anticipation as Nick helped her out of the car. She had wanted him for so long. How often had she dreamed of this moment. Excitement fluttered in the pit of her stomach as they entered the hotel. Soon, the waiting would be over.
In the lobby, the first thing Abbey noticed was that, like the exterior, the interior boasted an abundance of pink in the decorations and the furniture. Everything was beautiful.
She glanced over Nick’s shoulder while he registered, smiled when he signed in as Mr. and Mrs. Desanto. It gave her a little thrill to see her married name in writing for the first time.
Nick had reserved the Hearts and Flowers room. The beauty of it took her breath away. The walls were covered in red velvet flowered paper. The carpet, sofas, and chairs were also red, the tables of dark wood. A bottle of chilled champagne awaited their pleasure. Beyond the main room, she saw a king-size bed covered with a flowered spread.