I’m Getting Married?

 

“ORDER THE YUMMY CRABBY SHRIMP,” Dixie told her. “The Black Lagoon Saloon is famous for it.”

Stacy studied the menu. “I don’t know. I think the fish and chips might be calling my name.”

The waitress stood, pencil poised, patiently.

“That’s good, too, but you’ll love the crabby shrimp. I promise. It’s even better than the shrimp and crab we had on our first Vegas trip. Remember that?”

That was for their friend Amanda’s wedding party over two years ago. “I do remember. And these are better, huh?”

Dixie put her hands to her chest and sighed.

Stacy laughed. “Okay, fine. I’ll try it.”

“Make that two,” Dixie said, and the waitress nodded and headed back to place their orders.

“So,” Stacy said, “What’s this big news you had for me?”

“All in due time,” her friend said. “Did you come back to Moonchuckle Bay to find your Lifemate?”

“Just because the psychic was right with yours doesn’t mean she was right with my prediction. He’s not in town. I dated several guys, remember.”

“She also said he wasn’t in town yet. Yet being the operative word. It’s been over two years. Maybe he’s here now.”

Stacy snorted. “You know I don’t believe in that love-at-first-sight mumbo-jumbo.” Though she wished she did. Or at least wished she’d meet someone she could come to love over time. “I don’t even believe in true love any more. It’s as rare as they quote in The Princess Bride.”

“I’ve found true love.”

“Someone should write a book about you.” Stacy’s phone rang, and she answered, her heart pounding.

“Ms. Thompson, this is Bianca Rossi. I wanted to let you know that we’d like to hire you to be Diesel’s assistant composer.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Next to her, Dixie did a silent celebratory dance in her seat.

“Can you begin next week?”

Stacy thought of school, where they’d just hired an assistant counselor who would be thrilled to move up to her spot. “Yes.”

“Good. Come in Monday at nine and we’ll get you set up.”

As she hung up the phone, she turned to her friend. “I got the job!”

“I knew you would!” Dixie hugged her. “This means you’re staying in Moonchuckle Bay! You can stay at our place until you find a place to rent.”

Dixie’s smile took on a dreamy quality, and Stacy looked back over her shoulder.

Dixie’s husband, Michael, was striding toward them, an equally sweet expression on his face. He nodded at Stacy. “Good morning, ladies. I take it there’s good news on the job front.”

“I got the job,” Stacy told him.

“Good.” He leaned over and kissed Dixie, and said, softly, “I got lonely for you.”

Her friend giggled. “Want to join us for lunch?”

“I’d love to, but Dad is having lunch brought in because we have several tough meetings back to back. Just wanted to check in, kiss you, and see if Stacy got the job. I’ve got to get back. Good to see you ladies. Congratulations on the job, Stacy.”

As they watched him stride out the restaurant door, Stacy chuckled. “That psychic sure got your prediction right. You found your perfect mate here in Moonchuckle Bay.”

“And she said yours would be here, but just wasn’t here yet when we first came.” Dixie smiled. “I wonder if he really is here now.”

“I’m not going to hold my breath. I’m just going to savor knowing that my career as a composer is beginning. Assistant composer. General lackey and slave.” Stacy looked at her friend. “The big news?”

“Oh.” Dixie got that dreamy look again and sighed deeply and happily. “I’m pregnant.”

Longing hit Stacy like a sledgehammer. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted a husband and a child of her own until this moment. But she smiled and said, “That’s wonderful, Dixie. When are you due?”

“September 21.”

“Boy or girl?”

“Gosh, I hope so.” Dixie laughed.

Stacy rolled her eyes. “Come on, woman, I need to know so I can start buying baby things.”

“We don’t know yet.”

“That’s such exciting news. You with a baby. Wow. Congratulations. Can I be the godmother or something?”

“Or something.” Dixie laughed.

 

 

As Beckett left the Murphy law office and stepped onto Make-Believe Boulevard toward his car, someone called his name. He turned to see Jack there.

“I thought you might like to go to lunch,” the older man said, clasping a hand on his shoulder.

“Thanks,” Beckett said. “And get a drink.”

Jack shrugged. “If you need one, but if you start this early, you may regret it later.”

Beckett laughed. He’d spent the first year of his unlife blitzed out of his mind on blood alcohols. He particularly liked the concoction produced just two years ago and marketed to newer vampires. Tiger’s Blood had the flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and coconut mixed with blood and beer. After the extravaganza of hangovers he’d experienced, he’d sworn off drinking to dull his woes. Except for the occasional Bud Bite when he went out with friends, who would mock him now if he ordered Tiger’s Blood.

“I’m in the mood for some seafood. What about the Black Lagoon Saloon? My treat.”

“That sounds good. Especially the your treat part.”

Jack raised his key fob – and a new gray Hexus beeped and flashed its lights. They climbed in.

“Nice car.”

“The last CEO of Lexus just retired, but has started his own company. He’s a werewolf with a longing for luxury — and speed. The Hexus can do more than just zero to three hundred in ten seconds.”

Beckett laughed. “You need more than that, huh?”

Jack slowly drove to Mane Street and turned left toward Moonchuckle Bay’s Town Square.

“I just noticed that you went zero to thirty in approximately ten seconds,” Beckett teased.

“I’ll take you out on a non-populated road and show you what this baby can really do,” Jack said, a hint of fond pride in his voice as he reached out and patted the dashboard.

“Sounds good. After lunch, though. I’m starving,” Beckett said.

Jack chuckled and agreed. “After lunch.”

They parked, and walked diagonally through Town Square, never once mentioning Yolanda Yates, though she was the elephant in the Square.

Stopping at a stand, Jack bought a dozen red roses for his wife, Beth.

Crossing Unicorn Trail, they entered the Black Lagoon.

It was like walking into an underwater pool — an illusion provided by the huge fish tank that made up the entire back wall. Tourists paid for a chance to snorkel in the tank “lagoon.” Beckett had done it, himself when he was a tourist here. Right before he’d learned the monsters were real.

The bar gave the feeling of a 1950s jungle bar. Palm trees in giant pots, fans spinning lazily overhead that stirred up the air-conditioned air. Around the walls were old-time posters of some of the Creature from the Black Lagoon movies and the actors who’d played in them — Clint Eastwood in his first role in Revenge of the Creature, Paul Newman, and others.

The door closed behind them. On his first visit here, as a human, his eyes had needed time to adjust to the dim interior. This time, he saw clearly instantly. Some things, at least, were better as a vampire.

He followed Jack Murphy through the bar and to a table, where they both sat. A waitress handed them menus and said she’d be back to take their orders.

Suddenly something tingled up his limbs, along his spine, and up through his head. What on Earth was that? He didn’t know, but the tingles continued — and even intensified.

Jack’s eyes narrowed as he studied Beckett. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He raised a hand. “Everything is tingling.”

Jack’s eyes now widened in shock. “Like a buzzing feeling?”

“Kind of. I guess.”

“Like the Buzz?”

Shocked, Beckett said, “The Lifemate Buzz?”

“Yes. It feels like a warm tingling, a strong feeling that means you’re in the vicinity of your Lifemate. This isn’t good, Beckett. You’d better hope it isn’t the Buzz.”

They both started scanning the room.

Beckett’s eyes passed by a family of tourists with three little kids, four professionals having a business lunch, and — Oh. My. Gosh.

His heart stilled, even as the tingles intensified. He’d met Dixie Murphy before, but never the woman who sat beside her.

Jack took his arm. “Is that her? Sitting with my daughter-in-law?”

Beckett nodded. “Yes. She’s beautiful.”

“She’s also in grave danger,” Jack said. “If she’s your Lifemate, that is. You know what Yolanda could do.”

Suddenly resolute, Beckett said, “So I need to protect her.”

“How are you going to do that?” Jack sounded worried.

Somehow, Beckett dragged his gaze off the beautiful woman and onto his friend and mentor. “The only thing I can think of is to stay away from her until she leaves town. I haven’t seen her in town before so I’m assuming she’s a visitor.”

Jack nodded in agreement. “She’s an old friend of Dixie’s but she doesn’t live here. Let’s go find out because I agree with you. If she’s just here for a visit and will be leaving in a few days, just stay away from her.”

Though he hated the thought of staying away from the woman he was incredibly drawn to, he needed to in order to keep her safe. “What if she’s staying?”

“Then we need to do something different. Let’s hope she’s leaving town.”

Yes, because if she was staying, he had to do something. If Beckett was already married to his Lifemate, then maybe Yolanda would leave them alone. Or at the very least, he could better protect her as her husband. He could bring her into the protective umbrella of the vampire community. They would do anything to protect one of their own.

Beckett paused. “All right. Plan A. If she’s just visiting, I won’t say or do anything. But if she’s not, promise you won’t stop me from what I’m about to do in Plan B.”

They rose and walked to the table. The closer he got, the stronger the Buzz got. It was the Buzz. It was like a magnet, pulling him closer to her, and though he hadn’t known she existed even a few moments ago, now he couldn’t imagine living life without her.

Dixie looked up and smiled. “Papa,” she said to Jack, “and Beckett. Come meet my dear friend, Stacy Thompson.”

Jack shook Stacy’s hand. “Have you come to town for a visit?”

“For a job interview,” Stacy said, turning to Beckett. She tipped her head and looked confused. Was she feeling something, too? Could a human feel the Buzz?

When she touched Beckett’s hand, he nearly swayed.

He held her hand far too long before she tugged back, but hesitantly, as if she hadn’t minded the contact. He released her hand.

Dixie said, “Stacy just got the job as an assistant composer at Moonchuckle Bay Studios. She’s moving here. We’re celebrating.”

Beckett caught Jack’s eyes, and nodded.

Time for Plan B.

 

 

Stacy’s hand still tingled from where the devastatingly good-looking man had shook it. Every nerve ending was on alert. She hadn’t known she had a type, but this guy apparently was her type. Wowsah!

Dixie’s father-in-law looked a little uncomfortable, but she couldn’t keep her eyes away from Beckett Robertson, who took the seat beside her.

“Ms. Thompson—” he began.

“Oh, please,” she nearly giggled, “call me Stacy.”

“Stacy, then.” Beckett paused, drew in a deep breath, and grinned. That grin was full of dimples and mischief and promise, all at once, and it made her knees weak. “Have you found a place to stay?”

“I’ll be staying with Dixie and Michael until I find a place of my own.”

Beckett turned to Mr. Murphy. “May I borrow those roses? I’ll buy more for your Beth.”

Jack handed them over. “No need to replace them.”

Beckett laid them on the table in front of Stacy. “I have a proposal for you.”

Everyone froze and turned their eyes on Beckett.

Intrigued, since her nerve endings were firing and she felt this incredible connection to the man, Stacy said, “And what would that be, Beckett?”

“I want to marry you.”

She laughed, but it was a squeaky sound. Something that she would have thought was impossible before was now something she thought she would like. Five minutes ago, she had not believed in love at first sight. Now she wasn’t so sure. Now she wanted to be with this man. Still, she said, “We just met.”

“I know, but just the sight of you has swept me off my feet. I want to marry you. I know this is sudden, and I know you need to get to know me, and I want to give you that time. I’d like to propose this — marry me, and take a year to get to know me. At the end of that year, if you decide I am not worthy of your love, I agree to let you go.”

Stunned, she said, “Wha—”

He took her hand. “I know this is unconventional, so to give you extra motivation, I am willing to pay you one million dollars.”

There was total silence at the table.

This guy was handsome, but he didn’t look like a millionaire. “Are you kidding? Is this a joke?” She turned to Jack. “Did you put him up to this?”

Mr. Murphy shook his head vehemently. “Definitely not. This is his own brilliant idea.”

Dixie sputtered. “You can’t just pay her one million dollars to marry you. How do we know you even have that kind of money?”

Jack said, “He does. His business is very successful.”

Dixie went on. “You can’t do it that way. There has to be—”

“A Buzz?” Beckett asked lightly.

Buzz? Stacy didn’t know what he meant, unless it was the intoxicating feeling she was experiencing right now. Did it mean infatuation mixed with fever stirred with tingling?

But Dixie gasped. “What?”

Beckett caught Stacy’s gaze. “Will you marry me, Stacy Thompson? Be my wife for one full year and, if you choose, forever?”

Her heart pounding, she could hardly believe what she was hearing. Amazed, she realized she wanted to accept his proposal. But that was crazy talk. She wanted to say yes immediately, but she was too stunned to do so. So, laughing, she said, teasing, “That’s tempting, but what else have you got to offer?”

He smiled slowly, sending tendrils of heat through her. “A house here in Moonchuckle Bay.”

“A million dollars and a house. Seriously?”

“I’m dead serious.”

She had just been proposed to by the most handsome man she’d ever seen. A man who sent her senses into overdrive. A man who was offering her a million dollars and a house, though she didn’t care about those. She did care about this amazing man. She wanted to reach out and touch him. It was like a magnetic pull. “What’s the catch?”

“You might not like me.”

“Besides that.”

Beckett motioned toward Jack Murphy. “Mr. Murphy is the top attorney in town. He will draw up a contract specifying that you will receive a million dollars and a house if you marry me and live with me for one year from today.”

Dixie shook her head. “This is too fast.”

It was incredibly fast, but what did Stacy have to wait for? She’d been cautious her entire life, and what did she have to show for it? She wanted someone to love, and to love her. “When would we get married?”

Dixie gasped.

“Today. This afternoon,” Beckett said. “As soon as Jack can prepare the paperwork.”

“I’ll get that moving right now.” Mr. Murphy chuckled and pulled out his phone. “Yes, Michael, I want you to prepare a contract and I need it done in the next hour.”

While Jack spoke, Stacy tipped her head and studied Beckett. “Will you treat me well?”

“I will treat you like the queen you are. You will never regret having married me. I promise.”

And she felt the sincerity, the truth, of his words, and it made her want him even more.

“I couldn’t have my parents here if we marry today.”

“We can renew our vows for them later. I want to marry you today.”

She gazed into his eyes and a slow smile blossomed on her face. Why not? A handsome man, one who made all her senses spin, wanted to marry her — Stacy Thompson.

But she had to keep her head, at least a little. She told him, “I’ll still want to work at my new job.”

“I want you to.”

She paused. Was she actually seriously considering this insane offer?

She laughed. She was.

She felt such strong attraction that she wondered if the psychic could have been right after all. Had she found her Lifemate? Curious, she asked, “When did you move to Moonchuckle Bay?”

“Two years ago.”

Four months after she’d left town. The prediction had said she’d find her Lifemate here, but that he wasn’t in town yet. He’d arrived four months after her.

He went down on one knee before her and whispered, “Will you marry me, Stacy?”

Looking into his dark brown eyes, her breath caught. She desperately wanted to marry this man. “Yes.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Let’s go to the law office and then to City Hall.”

“Won’t we need a license and blood tests?”

Jack hung up and grinned. “Everything will be ready in an hour. Better go change your clothes.”

Stacy gasped. “What will I wear?”

Dixie patted her hand, getting in on the festivity of a wedding. “You go sign your paperwork while I go get my wedding dress. It should fit you. And I’ll bring it to you. And make a few calls. We want this to be as special as it can be.”

Stacy laughed. “I’m getting married?”

Beckett nodded. “You are most definitely getting married.”