What They Started That Night

 

BECKETT WANTED TO CELEBRATE STACY’S first day of work, so as they left the studio building, he suggested taking her to a restaurant in town.

“Tired of cooking already?” she teased.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’d like to watch a movie with you or something. At home. Maybe I’ll take you there and order in. Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to watch?”

“I think Dracula would be good.”

“Ahh, vampire humor. So that’s the way it’s going to be between us.”

“Or American Werewolf in London. I’m an equal-opportunity teaser.”

“I’ll invite Amber and Samuel. She’s still here.”

“Oh, good. I totally forgot at lunchtime.”

They found her laying cleaned paintbrushes into a case and packing up.

“Hi, Amber. Long day for you out here.”

Amber gave her a hug. “Hi, Stacy. At least it’s good weather and I’m under shade.”

“Can I see one of your paintings?”

“Sure.” Amber motioned her around the easel.

“Wow. That’s amazing.” And it was. Amber had caught a monster — what looked like Sasquatch — and given him a pensive look. Then she’d painted in a group of three children sitting on his foot. “They look real.”

“Thanks,” Amber said. “Want me to paint you with a monster?”

Stacy looked at Beckett and snickered.

He rolled his eyes.

Stacy said, “It could be our official wedding picture.”

Amber laughed. “I’ll come up with something. Do you want any other monsters in the picture with you?”

“That might be fun. What do you think, Beckett?”

“A ghost,” he said.

Stacy nodded. “And maybe surprise us with a few others.”

Beckett spied a flower seller closing up her cart. “I’ll be right back.”

He chose a pretty arrangement of six red roses and baby’s breath. He left a generous tip. “Thanks,” the young girl called out as he carried the roses back to Stacy and handed them to her.

“Thanks.”

“Wow. Flowers from your monster.”

“Like Beauty and the Beast,” he said. “Guess which one I am.”

Amber said, “Hey, Sugar Hamilton is hosting a dessert cooking class next week. Want to come with me? I’ll ask Dixie and a few other ladies, too.”

“That sounds fun,” Stacy said.

“Sugar is a kitchen witch and her desserts are to die for. Trust me.”

“Okay.”

They chatted for a few more moments before walking back toward the Tesla. Some young guys were standing around admiring it.

On the drive home, he kept glancing at Stacy as she lifted the roses and sniffed delicately, glad she appreciate them.

He wanted to make her happy every single moment. He’d never experienced that before.

As they drove, he asked, “Are you in the mood for soup or sandwiches? Or pizza?”

“Soup.”

Nodding, he pushed a button and told his car to, “Call The Bubbling Cauldron.”

A few clicks later, he’d ordered the soup of the day to be delivered to his house, along with rolls and house salads.

“What is the soup of the day today?” Stacy asked.

“Eye of newt,” he teased.

“Hey, I’ll be able to fix that for you at home next time, what with our new handy-dandy potion spices.”

“Actually, it’s one of my favorites. Chicken pot pie. Not exactly a soup, but that’s what they’re calling it today.”

Impulsively he reached out to touch her hand. “I’m glad you like the roses.”

“What’s not to like? They’re beautiful.”

As he drove home, his heart was full.

It was the first time in over two years that he’d felt he had something to look forward to. He realized he could even be happy in unlife if he had Stacy by his side.

 

 

“The chicken pot pie is the best soup I’ve eaten.” Stacy sighed and leaned back from the table.

Beckett said, “You only say that because you haven’t tasted my recipe.”

“No, I haven’t, and I intend to have you rectify that mistake.”

He stood and stacked their plates and bowls and carried them to the sink. She brought the glasses and silverware over, and they quickly rinsed them and loaded them into the dishwasher.

“Have you decided what movie you’d like to watch?” he asked.

“I’d kind of like to see Return to Me. It’s a romance.”

“My mother used to watch that.” He sounded pensive.

“I can choose another one.”

“No. I like that one.”

He led her to the couch and grabbed a remote as he plopped down, patting the space beside him.

She hesitated, but realized she really wanted to sit next to him. So she plopped down beside him.

He was busy turning on the large-screen television.

“How big is that honker, anyway?”

“Eighty inches,” he said, distracted.

The screen flickered to life, and a choice of movies popped up. A few more clicks and the movie started.

He kicked up his feet on the ottoman, and she followed suit.

“Copycat,” he teased.

“Vampire,” she teased back.

As the credits rolled, she could feel his warmth, his musky scent, his gaze.

She slid back into the couch, and then, impulsively, leaned over against his arm, which he immediately raised and wrapped around her.

And she felt like she was home. Home in his arms. Was that not the most cliché thing in the world? But it was how she felt. Dixie would laugh when she told her.

She slipped out her phone and shot Dixie a quick text. Wanna go to dinner with me this week?

A return text said How about Friday at seven? I’ll invite a few other ladies and we can have a girls' night out.

Sounds good. It’s a date.

Then she tossed her phone beside her on the couch and settled back in against Beckett.

When the wife died on screen, Beckett sighed. She glanced up at him. “Sad?”

“Yeah. I can’t even imagine if something were to happen to you.”

“I feel the same way, and we’ve only known each other for three days. That still amazes me.”

“You amaze me.” His voice was earnest and sincere.

And suddenly she wanted to kiss him.

She shifted and he did, too, and their lips met.

Fireworks!

He tightened his arm around her and she placed a hand on his chest. Growing dizzy, she sighed and pulled back, resting her cheek against his chest.

“I love you, Stacy,” he said.

And there it was. And she felt the same way for him. She whispered, “I love you, too, Beckett.”

He wrapped both arms around her and held her secure.

He didn’t kiss her again, and she didn’t kiss him. It was better to stop where they were. Because consummating their quickie wedding was a line she wasn’t ready to cross until she knew they would be together forever.

 

 

The next four days went by in a haze of work and dinners with Beckett, followed by a movie.

The sexual tension was killing her.

Last night, she’d mentioned the girls' night out dinner and he’d insisted he would go along with her. She needed a little space. So she’d excused herself to do some work, and found herself thinking about his video game. She booted up her laptop and pulled up the game he’d opened there, and started it, playing the first level and listening to how truly mediocre the music was for it.

And that’s when she decided to compose some music for it. It would take weeks to do the job right, but in one evening, she’d put together a general theme she could play off of. She’d stayed up far too late doing it, until two in the morning, and had gotten up early to go to the studio.

Dinner with the girls was that night at seven.

When they got home, she took his hand. “I have a gift for you.”

“I love gifts.” He laughed. “Especially from you.”

She brought her laptop to the couch. “Have a seat.”

He plopped down beside her in his signature move.

She pulled up two screens — the music player and the video game.

“Hey, that’s my game.”

“Very astute of you, Mr. Robertson. Now be quiet and listen carefully while you play.”

She handed him a controller, muted the game, and started it. Then she clicked on the music player on her phone. “I realize you’ll have to encode this if you like it and want to add it into the game, but I just want you to get a feel for what I can do for your game.”

Then he started playing the game, but after a few measures, he stopped and stared at her, his mouth open.

“Do you like it?”

“You made music for my game?”

“Yes.” Did he like it? She couldn’t tell. Maybe she’d ruined the sanctity of his game.

“I love it!” With a huge grin, he started playing again, until he won the first level. Then he tossed the controller aside and hugged her. “Thank you. That’s the best gift anyone has ever given me.”

 

 

Stacy had spent the last four days driving her new husband mad. She knew she was, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. She didn’t want to stay cooped up in the house every day. First of all, he was far too inviting and she didn’t trust herself to keep her hands-to-ourselves policy intact, also known as her bite-free policy.

Secondly, she had a job and friends.

Beckett had been a great sport, she had to admit. He’d worked from the studio every day this week, and seemed to get along with everyone. Every time she saw how much people liked and respected Beckett, her respect rose a little, too.

They had really gone about this the wrong way, but it might have worked — if not for that darned bite. And she still didn’t know if he could control that.

Probably the only way to find out was to consummate their marriage and see if he bit her — but she wasn’t ready for that. She needed to trust him first.

And her trust in him was growing.

Every day, he’d done something special — fixed her a special lunch, taken her to dinner someplace fun and introduced her to townsfolk, bought her flowers and gifts. He’d invited her friends over to the house for board games and treats. On Tuesday evening, Dixie and Michael and Cara and Isaac had come over to play board games and eat Beckett’s special treat — dessert ordered in from A Bite to Eat Café. Wednesday, they’d had dinner at Jack and Beth Murphy’s home.

On Wednesday, two ladies from GhostDusters Cleaning invaded, leaving Beckett’s home spotless two hours later. Stacy’s home.

Everyone in town seemed to like Beckett.

Stacy really liked him, too. As she watched him interact with others, and saw how kind he was to people, her heart melted a little more each day.

And tonight, she was going out to dinner with girlfriends. At first, it was just going to be the ladies, but since Beckett insisted on coming to keep her safe — and how could she get mad at him for that? — it was ladies and gents.

The ladies had decided on the place to meet, though — the secret restaurant, Private, on the top floor of the restaurant Incognito. In an old Victorian mansion, around to the back porch, and up the staircase, it opened up into tables set in the center landing and also in rooms that must have been bedrooms at one time and now had been partially opened up to create individual dining nooks that also could accommodate large groups.

That night there were ten of them. Stacy and Beckett, Dixie and Michael, Cara and Isaac, Jingle Belle and Nicholas Noel, Amber and Sheriff Samuel Winston.

They’d been led to a large room and seated with deference. After ordering, the group had chatted amicably about sports, how the Moonchuckle Bay High School Monsters would do, and projects they were working on.

“I can hardly wait for the wedding tomorrow.” Jingle sighed. “I love weddings.”

Everyone agreed, and as they talked, Stacy learned that Julia was a vampire and Luke a human, and his little daughter Ella a witch. Even the men chimed in. It was true — Moonchuckle Bay natives loved a good Lifemate wedding.

Dixie said, “Cara, tell Stacy about your project at the unicorn ranch.”

“Cara is like this amazing unicorn whisperer,” Jingle said.

Cara smiled and said in her Irish lilt, “I do have an affinity for the beasties, so the owner asked if I’d come out and help set up a training program for the unicorns. I’m loving every minute of it.”

Isaac nodded. “She is. I slave all day at the law firm while she gets to play with unicorns. Life just isn’t fair.”

“Oh, my poor husband,” Cara said in her Irish lilt and patted his arm. “Maybe I can get you hired on at the unicorn ranch.”

“I could be a unicorn wrangler?” Isaac lit up dramatically while the others laughed.

The two of them seemed perfectly matched for each other, as were Michael and Dixie. Jingle and Nicholas also seemed to suit each other. The sheriff doted on his cute wife.

Could all of these couples be Lifemates?

And were Lifemates always well suited? Did any of these other men bite their mates while kissing? The claiming bite? Just once?

Stacy really didn’t want to be bitten again.

She looked sideways to study Beckett. The man was devastatingly handsome, his moustache and five-o’clock shadow giving him an old-fashioned look.

Did she dare kiss him again?

She certainly wanted to.

 

 

Because of a flat tire on Michael’s vehicle, they arrived at the unicorn ranch only moments before the wedding. Michael was still shaking his head in disbelief that his brand new tire had blown as they turned into the lane.

As they drove down the road between pastures filled with beautiful unicorns, Stacy read the signs leading up to the Hooves and Horns Unicorn Ranch — Our focus is health, healing, and happy endings. Petting Zoo. Gait Work. Emotional Healing. Unicorn Rides. Magical Reception Center.

And more signs...

What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice.

What are little boys made of? Snips and snails and puppy dog tails.

What are unicorns made of? Hooves and horns and sunlit morns.

And the unicorns! Oh, my! They were pure white with pastel-colored manes and curved horns on their heads! “Wow! I never dreamed I’d see a unicorn.”

Michael dropped Dixie, Stacy, and Beckett off at the front door. “Go on in and save me a spot.”

In the March weather, Stacy had worn a lightweight white sweater over a black and white dress, while Dixie was wearing a light purple dress. Beckett was dressed in a suit, the same as Michael.

Beckett looked yummy.

He held out both arms. “Ladies.”

They each slipped a hand through an arm, and they walked inside. A young man held the door open for them and whispered, “You’re just in time. Go to the left. There are still seats there.”

They entered the lobby. Standing at the large doors to the inner room, one door cracked as a bridesmaid slipped through ready to make her grand entrance, the bride stood next to her father.

Wedding music played softly.

Beckett nodded at the older man, who nodded back.

Julia was a beautiful bride. Her white wedding dress was dazzling, and her new daughter’s flower girl’s dress was a tiny replica in a soft pink color. A replica, but with wings.

“Wow,” Beckett said. “They match. She’s so cute.”

Stacy shot a jealous glance at him, but he was admiring the little princess and not the bride. She said, “The groom looks handsome in his tux, too.”

Instantly, Beckett turned to her. When he caught her grin, he chuckled. “I’m sure he does. And when we go inside, you can check him out.”

They slipped inside through the smaller door on the left and quickly found seats, as the little princess started down the aisle, scattering rose petals from a basket. She practically pranced down the aisle, a slow-motion bounce.

Then the music shifted to the familiar song brides walked to, and Julia and Jack began their walk toward the front, where Luke stood in a cowboy tux.

Stacy leaned over to Beckett and whispered, “See, check out Luke.”

Beckett did and whispered back, “You’re right. He’s adorable.”

She smiled and tried not to laugh. “Smart aleck.”

On her other side, Dixie leaned over and whispered, “I love weddings.”

As they reached the front of the room where Luke waited, staring adoringly with Ella holding his hand, Jack kissed her cheek and sat beside his wife.

The little princess/fairy/witch was beaming, and star-shaped confetti floated above her head. That was interesting.

Then the minister began the ceremony.

The moment tugged at her heart, and she found tears burning her eyes. She blinked. Dixie grabbed her hand on one side, and Beckett took her other hand.

As Luke and Julia gazed into each other’s eyes, Ella reached out and took Julia’s hand so she held onto both of them. Julia smiled.

What a beautiful moment.

How different from her own ceremony, when she didn’t even know her groom, but had felt she couldn’t live without him.

Eight days ago, she’d been married to Beckett.

Eight days ago, she’d been bitten and ran to Dixie, who she’d thought was her “normal” friend. Eight days ago, she’d learned about the paranormal world.

Now, eight days later, she realized she was ready to finish what they started that night.

Tonight they would consummate their marriage and make it real.