Chapter 23

Tantalizing aromas that took him back to a different time and place drifted into Remy's dreams, pulling him out of sleep and opening his eyes. He lay in bed for a moment, coming awake with the realization of what he was smelling. "Jambalaya," he whispered, smiling.

That got him up and moving. He went straight into a hot shower, then dressed in jeans and a T-shirt before heading into the kitchen. Hair still damp, he stopped at the entrance to take in the sight before him.

Ephie was at the stove, a dish towel over one shoulder, her curls knotted up on top of her head in a messy bun, her feet bare, showing off candy-pink toenails. She stirred a pot, sending more delicious scents into the air. Spices and meat and veggies and all manner of good things. A translucent Jean-Luc was perched on the counter nearby, looking very curious at everything that was going on.

Remy inhaled. "It smells so good in here."

She turned, saw him, and smiled. "Yeah?"

He nodded and leaned against the wall. "It smells like my memories in the best possible way. And as much as I want to hang out, I'm going to run to the post office and get that package mailed for you."

"No need," Ephie said with a coy smile.

He straightened. "Why's that?"

"Birdie already did it for me."

"Birdie was here?" He hadn't heard a thing.

"Yep. She dropped off some paperwork for you. Info on the plate you had her run. It's on the table there. We sat and chatted over coffee for a while. She's really nice. I like her a lot. She's volunteered to spend the night with me when you have to go to work."

He let that all process for a second. "How long was she here?"

Ephie shrugged. "Maybe an hour or so?"

"How did I not hear any of that? I'm pretty sure talking would have woken me up."

"We sat outside. On the patio. Jean-Luc really enjoyed the yard. He chased a butterfly and everything." She leaned toward the cat. "Didn't you, bebe?"

He meowed confirmation of his enjoyment.

"You were outside?" Remy didn't care for that.

"Yes. With Birdie." She shot him a look. "It was perfectly safe. She's a werewolf, you know."

"I'm aware. I still don't like the idea that you were out there. Visible to anyone who might have been around."

"Your yard is fenced. Not easy to see into. I was fine, I promise."

"Obviously, because you're still here. But I don't think we can be too careful."

"I understand that. But do you really think your own backyard isn't safe?"

"I'd rather err on the side of caution." What bothered him was there was no way he could have done anything about her safety if she'd been in the yard and someone had tried something.

The daylight would have turned him into a walking smoke bomb, and not long after that, he would have gone up in flames, leaving Ephie to the mercy of Turner's men.

She nodded. "I don't want you to worry. I won't do it again."

He shook his head, hating this for her. "It's not fair to you. I know that. But it won't be forever."

"About that…" She put the lid on the pot and set the wooden spoon down on a folded piece of paper towel. "I texted my mom my new phone number, and she texted back to say the parole board denied Turner parole."

"As they should have."

"I agree. Except she and Darryl—he's the police commissioner—believe Turner will now try to exact his revenge, since he's got nothing to lose."

"I thought as much. Not good." Remy sighed and reached into the fridge for a bottle of blood.

She glanced at it, then quickly looked away.

"Sorry. I can take this out to the deck now that the sun is down." He held the bottle by his side and slightly behind his leg, hiding it from her.

"It's fine," she said, offering him a tight smile.

"I know you don't like it."

She quickly shook her head. "It's not that. It's just … it's nothing. Never mind. It's fine. Your house. Drink it wherever you want to. I have biscuits to make." She headed for the counter, where a large bowl and a bag of flour sat waiting.

"Jambalaya and biscuits? You're spoiling me."

She smiled. "I could say the same about you paying for everything. Works both ways, you know."

He'd been about to leave. He lingered a moment longer. "I know. But I like taking care of you. It's in my blood."

She was measuring flour but stopped to look at him. "That's because you're a man of a different time."

"Anything wrong with that?" He took a few steps toward the sliding doors that led out to the deck, but only because those steps took him closer to her.

"No." She was still smiling. "I like the man you are. Always have. Doesn't it bother you that I'm not of that age?"

"Not a bit. You might be a modern woman, but you definitely have an old soul. I mean that as a compliment. You're perfect just the way you are."

"You're sweet."

"So are you." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, then went over to Jean-Luc and held his hand out. The cat materialized so Remy could pet him. After a quick scratch under Jean-Luc's chin, Remy took the bottle outside, swiping the paper Birdie had brought off the table on his way.

He stood on the back deck, drinking his first dinner and reading the report on the plate. Stolen. His gut told him that Turner's men had been in that SUV. Seemed the most likely explanation. He didn't like that one bit.

He stared into the growing darkness, studying the houses around them. There was no sign of anything unusual. No strange noises, no new smells, nothing that seemed out of place. He'd check the street out front in a bit, too.

He emptied the bottle and went back inside. He rinsed it and set it aside with the others for recycling. "Weren't you going to make me help cook?"

"I was. But I thought it might be nicer if you woke up to dinner being ready."

He wasn't going to argue. His cooking skills were not great. "What can I do to help?"

"Set the table?"

"I can do that." His phone vibrated with an incoming call. Probably Leonie, he figured. Then he checked the screen and saw it was his boss. "Right after I take this call." He answered, walking out to the living room. "Sheriff."

"Lafitte. How was your trip?"

"More complicated than I expected."

"So I understand. Birdie's been doing some digging on this Abraham Turner. Bad news."

"Yes, sir, he is."

"I don't want that kind of trouble in my town."

"Neither do I, sir."

"You need a few more days off?"

Remy sighed and ran his hand through his still-damp hair. "I do and I don't. Your aunt volunteered to stay here with Ephie while I'm at work. If she does that, I wouldn't mind being on patrol, looking for signs of Turner's men. I have a feeling they might already be here."

"I'll expect you at work tomorrow night, then. Anything happens in the meantime, let me know. This needs to end before it starts."

"Agreed. Thank you."

With a grunt, Merrow disconnected.

Remy stuck his phone back into his pocket, then went to the front windows and parted the blinds enough to see out.

He could just see the back end of a silver SUV parked on his side of the street about two blocks down. "Eph?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to grab the mail. I'll set the table when I get back in."

"Okay. There's time. I'm just putting the biscuits in the oven now."

"Great." Turner's men were probably watching the front door.

Remy went out to the back deck again, leaped over the fence that divided his backyard from his neighbor's, went through their yard, then leaped over the wooden fence that separated their yard from the next one. He skirted around a swing set and used the gate to exit toward the street.

He kept the neighbor's car between him and the street, inching slowing around while he surveyed the SUV. It was right in front of him now. Driver and front passenger seat were empty, but the rear windows were tinted too darkly for him to see the vehicle's interior without a flashlight.

Vampire eyes were good, but even they had limitations.

Suddenly, he saw a faint spot of light in the back of the car. Like the screen of a cell phone.

He rushed forward, using his supernatural speed to cover the ten yards or so in a second. He knocked on the rear passenger door, wishing he had his badge on him. "Nocturne Falls Sheriff's Department. Open up."

It was a risky move, but Ephie's safety was worth the gamble. And even if whoever was inside was armed, he could move faster than them, and while bullets would hurt, they wouldn't do fatal damage.

The door opened to reveal a light-skinned black woman in jeans and sneakers clutching a T-shirt in front of her to cover her bra. She looked to be about Ephie's age. Most likely younger. "I'm sorry, officer. Am I in trouble? I just stopped to change my shirt. I swear, I'm not loitering."

Not what or who he'd been expecting. Wrappers from fast food and protein bars littered the floor, along with an empty bottle of Coke. Part of a hardshell suitcase was visible behind the seat. The faint aroma of stale food and pine air freshener drifted out. "No, no trouble, ma'am. That's fine. Sorry to disturb you. Have a good night."

"Thank you. You, too."

He nodded and headed toward his house.

Behind him, the SUV's door closed.

He'd been a cop too long and a vampire for longer. Something about the woman didn't sit right with him. He pulled his phone out, fired up the camera, and snapped the plate. Just like he'd told Ephie, he'd rather err on the side of caution.

But at least for tonight, everything was safe.

The SUV pulled away.

He texted the photo to Birdie with a simple message. Another one to check.

He put his phone away and looked back at the vehicle. It was nearly out of sight.

He smiled. It was a beautiful night. Cool but not cold. Ephie said she liked the backyard. Maybe they would eat out there tonight. The patio was very romantic with the strings of lights on. And Jean-Luc could do some more exploring.

He grabbed the mail from the box and went through the gate and inside via the sliding doors on the back deck, since the front door was locked and he didn't have his key. He called to her as he went toward the kitchen. "Eph? How'd you like to eat outside on the patio?"

As he entered, she was adding shrimp to the jambalaya. "I'd like that very much. Might need to put a jacket on, but I'm game."

"You know you can borrow anything of mine you want. I'll get that table set." He collected the silverware and napkins, figuring they'd fill their plates and then bring them out.

He turned on the string lights before stepping outside, the soft glow bringing a sweet warmth to the entire area. With the sliders still open, he leaned back. "Jean-Luc? Door is open if you want to come out. I'll watch him, Ephie."

"Thanks."

Remy took the napkins and silverware to the table. Jean-Luc zipped past him, a luminous white blur. Remy laughed at the cat's antics as he arranged things under the glow of the umbrella's LED lights. When he was done, he turned to watch Jean-Luc chase a bug through the grass.

"This is so pretty." Ephie stood in the doorway with two steaming plates. She had one of his jackets on. It hung to her hips.

"I'm glad you like it."

She brought the plates over.

"I forgot to light the candle."

"I've got it," Ephie said. She narrowed her gaze at the glass jar holding the citronella candle, and a second later, it sparked to life.

"Nicely done."

"Thanks." She smiled.

He smiled, too. Hard not to. If this was a taste of domesticity, he wanted more. More of this happiness. More of this easy banter. More time with this amazing woman. More time kissing her and holding her hand.

But Ephie's life was in New Orleans. What would it take to convince her to give Nocturne Falls a more permanent try?