The Vampire's Mail Order Bride(62)

Delaney sucked in a breath. “I know.” But the sting of the cleanser was nothing compared to the ache in her heart over the foolishness of what she’d done. “I feel like an idiot.”

Stanhill smiled as he took a bandage from the kit. “He makes us all feel that way sometimes.”

“Why is it such a big deal? I thought I’d be the better option over blood in a bag.”

Stanhill peeled off the paper backing. “You are. In theory. But in practice, it’s a much different thing.”

She held her hand still while he fixed the bandage over her self-inflicted wound. “Why, though? I don’t get it.”

“You’ll have to get that answer from him, miss.” He snapped the kit shut. “There you go. All better.”

She held her hand up with the enormous bandage on it. “Yes, this looks normal. Not at all like I did something stupid.”

He laughed. “No one but you and I know how that happened.”

“And Hugh.” She sighed and hopped off the table. “I’m not sure I can look him in the eyes again after humiliating myself that way.”

“Come eat. You’ll feel better. Food’s on the table upstairs.”

“Maybe you’re right. Not that I’m very hungry anymore.” She started for the stairs, but Stanhill made no effort to leave.

She stopped on the landing. “You’re going to take blood to him aren’t you?”

“Yes, miss.”

With a sad smile, she trudged up to the kitchen. A white plastic bag filled with takeout containers sat on the table. It smelled great, but her appetite was gone. Stanhill had gone to the trouble, though, so she pulled out the container, unwrapped a pair of chopsticks and sat down to eat.

Stanhill came through the basement door, shutting it firmly behind him. She didn’t need to look at him to know he had a plastic bag of blood tucked under his arm. “Everything to your liking, miss?”

She forced a smile. “Great, thank you for getting this for me.”

“You’re welcome.” He walked toward the house’s interior.

“Stanhill?”

He stopped. “Yes?”

“Tell him I won’t do that again. Please. I promise.”

Stanhill nodded. “I will, but I think he’d like to hear that from your lips himself.”

She sighed and stared at her food. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” Then he left. A moment later, she heard footsteps on the stairs.

First thing in the morning, when they were both up and the sting of the humiliation had worn off, she’d apologize to Hugh. If she didn’t, the tension between them would ruin what promised to be a very fun day at the parade.

After all he’d done for her—letting her stay, protecting her from those men—he deserved a face-to-face apology. She loved him and he loved her. That was enough for now, wasn’t it?

She poked at the pad thai with her chopsticks. Maybe as things progressed, he’d change his mind. How could he not, really? Because their relationship would either lead to them breaking up or deciding to spend the rest of their lives together.

Which for her, would mean making the literally life-changing decision to become a vampire. A little half smile bent her mouth. Delaney James—no, Ellingham—confectioner and vampire. She stuck a shrimp in her mouth and chewed.

What a one-eighty her life had made in these last few days. She got up and went to the fridge to get a bottle of water. What would it be like to be a vampire? Would Alice make her an amulet too? Delaney dreaded the thought of going without sunlight for the rest of her days. Or nights, as the case might be.

No more lazy days off spent by the pool. Or the beach. Or the park. But of course, she’d have Hugh, and his company would help make up for that.

She spun some noodles around her chopsticks and took another bite. Tomorrow, Hugh would have his apology, and she’d let things between them take their natural course.

In her heart, she knew exactly where that natural course was going to lead, so sooner or later, she’d end up becoming a vampire and none of this would matter anyway.





“I know why you refused her,” Stanhill said as Hugh let him in. “But she doesn’t, and so she’s down there feeling like a right idiot and wondering where she went wrong. You’d be lucky if she stays after all this.”

“Maybe it would be better if she didn’t stay. If that was her decision.” Hugh’s heart was heavy, saddened by the inevitable split that would be required to keep Delaney safe.

Stanhill held out the bagged goods. “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

Hugh took the bag and shook his head. “I will not turn her and risk her life.”