Emerald Eyes (16 page)

He blew out air. “I see. Did you know when you came in the store the other morning?”

“I did.”

“Why didn’t you say so then?”

“I wasn’t ready to let you know that I knew. Just wanted you to believe me when I said I would be there for you no matter what.”

“Gawd! Wish I had known.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

He thought about it for a moment. “Probably not.”

“What I thought. Well, I see you did survive.”

“Yeah. I did. Only, guess I got a little close to the village. Indian Joe had me move further away. Not feeling real happy about that either.”

“What’s the other part? You said…either.”

“Joe told me something this morning that was just as hard or even harder to process than when I learned I was a werewolf.”

“Oh?” She wondered where this was going. “And?” she eyed him suspiciously.

“To begin with…I know I turned you down when you tried to make up with me. I did what I thought was right. But now…I’m not so sure.”

Thinking he just wanted her back, she quickly said, “It’s too late, Chuck! There’s someone else.”

Hurt flickered in his gray eyes, but he didn’t appear surprised. “I know who he is, Madison. Joe told me.”

“
Joe? How in hell—?”

“He picked up on your scent, Madison. When you came in the store…with a really bad sunburn…An
unnatural
sunburn.”

“What does that have to do with you and me?” she inquired suspiciously.

“I know I rejected you, Madison. And I did it for the right reasons…at the time. But I didn’t know all the facts. Had I known about
your
secret, my answer would have been entirely different.”

“Out with it, Chuck. What are you saying?”
How did he know?

He fixed his eyes on hers and took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay…Devin’s a vampire. And I know he’s in the process of turning you.”

Now she was equally as stunned as he had been only moments before. She took on a gamut of expressions before she finally came to one of sheer disbelief. “Indian Joe told you all this?”

“Yes he did. This morning.”

“He could tell by the way I smell?”

“Yep. From what he tells me, he’s known for years about Devin being a vampire. He knew about Devin and your Aunt Mattie. He said Devin never bothered anyone, and treated your aunt with the greatest respect. He figured Devin was a gentleman and a good vampire. So he kept the knowledge to himself. He also knows that Devin never turned your aunt.” He studied her face. “You don’t appear sunburned now…You haven’t transitioned yet, have you? Or have you?”

“Shit!” she cried. “Crap! No! Dammit! This is a very personal matter, Chuck! Not something we wanted the rest of the world to know!” Her eyes misted. “Gawd!”

He held out a hand. “I’m sorry…I can understand that it is very personal for you…for Devin. But are you sure you want to do this to yourself, Madison? I’m not saying this because I want you back…And I would take you back in a second now, if you’d have me. But I understand you must have feelings for Devin to be doing this. You
do
have feelings for him, don’t you?”

“
Yes! I do!”
she replied, tears streaming down her face again. “And to answer your question…I am
not
transitioned yet.”

“Thank God!”

With her hand to her forehead and a long sigh, she implored, “Chuck, I know you mean well. But I hope to God that you won’t tell anyone. This is a very private matter for Devin and me. And that’s not addressing all the other reasons why I don’t want you to tell anyone…Which you should understand, since you have your own little secret.”

“Madison…I know how important Devin’s secret is. As you say. I have my own. Indian Joe won’t tell another soul, either. I’ve known him for years. He’s been my best friend all this time. He only told me about Devin because he knows I’m in love with you.”

Her eyes met his then. “And I do love you, Chuck. But I love Devin too! When you rejected me, he was there for me. I love him more than anything now.”

Chuck flinched slightly.

“I didn’t mean that to hurt you. Really.”

He wriggled his head. “I know.”

“I do appreciate you coming here out of concern for me. I really do. But know this. Devin isn’t going to do anything I don’t want him to. If I transition, it is because that is what I want. Okay?”

“I certainly hope you don’t want that, but if you do, it is your decision. I have to respect that.”

“Thank you!”

He stood then. “Well, Guess I’ll be going.”

She stood too and headed for the door with him.

Looking down at her. “I don’t suppose I could have a hug?”

“Sure. Why not?” She put her arms around him and hugged him tight. He felt warm and good, familiar, and she did still have strong feelings for him, but there was no going back with him. She loved Devin far too much.

When he pulled back, he too, was crying. “I’m sorry, Madison…that I rejected you the other morning. But I understand that it is a moot point now. One I may easily regret for the rest of my life.”

“Don’t. Please! I believe things happen for a reason, Chuck. Maybe this was meant to be.”

He bobbed his head. “Well…I hope we can still be friends?”

“Of course we can.” She noticed Shep sitting in the cab of his truck. “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

“Joe told me that Shep would pick up your ‘special’ scent and not recognize you. He would probably attack you now.”

“Oh? But he doesn’t bother Devin.”

“Devin probably hypnotized him a long time ago. Vampires can do that, you know?”

“I guess I knew that. Just didn’t occur to me, since I’m not transitioned yet.”

“Well. See you around?” He looked hopeful.

“Damn right!” He walked off and she closed the door.

Seven

It was the weekend. Devin still hadn’t returned. Madison had the distinct feeling that he wasn’t going to come back until she made her decision. She was tired of crying and tired of being alone. Debra Jean had stopped by a couple of times when on her route and asked her why she hadn’t been out to the club. Today, when she came by delivering the mail, Madison let her know that she just might make it tonight. That was also when Debra Jean asked her if she’d heard about the cowboy that had given her a black eye the week before. The one Alex had kicked out of the club for six months. Madison said no and asked her why.

“Guess his name was David Champ.”

“Was?” Madison inquired.

Debra Jean replied with a head nod, “Yes. A park ranger found his body early this morning in Nisqually Park. They think it was a large animal. Possibly a cougar.”

Madison suddenly got a hard chill.

“You okay, girl?”

“Yeah,” she replied, strongly attempting to compose herself. “That’s too bad. I wasn’t too happy with him. But I wouldn’t wish him dead.”

“Alex thinks it a little weird. Remember the first guy…the blond? You had trouble with him at the club too. You know, they found him dead too.”

“That’s right. I had forgotten about that.”

“Alex thinks the two deaths are connected.”

So did Madison, but she wasn’t saying it. “It is weird that they both tried to pick up on me and gave me a hard time. And both are dead now.”

“You have a strange look on your eyes. Are you okay?” she asked, inquisitively.

“Oh! Just that it’s so awful.” Madison really didn’t want her friend to know what she was thinking.

“Yeah it is. Girl, I’m beginning to think you’re not the best of luck for some guys.”

Madison sniggered enigmatically. “Yeah…Maybe I should just refuse to dance with anyone.”

“What about Devin? You two still together?”

“Yes! He’s out of town right now. But he should be back soon.”

“He been gone long?”

She had to think about it. “About five days. Honestly, I think he left on Monday. Or was it Tuesday? Hell! I don’t remember.” It just seemed like an eternity to her.

Debra Jean looked like she was relieved about something. “Oh! Guess he didn’t hear about it then,” she said absently, as though focused on other things.

“Probably not.” Madison did wonder now. Did Devin know? Did he do it?

“Well. Gotta get going. The mail isn’t going to deliver itself.”

“Maybe I will see you later.”

“You do that! I’ll save your stool for ya.” She pulled out then and Madison went on in the house.

Inside, Madison poured herself coffee and dropped down on a kitchen chair, with its back to the wall. She sat there sipping on her coffee, and couldn’t help wondering. Did Devin kill the cowboy? Did he kill the blond fella? Both had either insulted or given her a hard time. He was perfectly capable of killing them. And he was a vampire. “Dammit! Devin!” she said aloud. “Did you do it?” She received no response, so she considered he wasn’t tuned into her right then. “Gawd! I really do hope you aren’t going around killing anyone who insults me. I
really
don’t want you doing that.” She finished off her coffee and went to take a shower. Tonight, she was going to visit with Debra Jean and get good and drunk.

If she got too drunk to drive home, she was sure that Debra Jean or Alex one would either let her stay there or find a way to get her home. “I’m going to get plastered!” she promised herself. “And I’m not going to dance with anyone! Just in case.”

That evening, soon as she was ready to leave for the nightclub, Madison loudly announced, “Well, Devin, if you’re around, I’m going to Alex’s.” Again, no answer. “What the hell.” She left.

Debra Jean waited for her, as promised. Reserved Madison’s stool. When Madison took her seat, Alex asked her what she wanted, and she replied, “Ice cold beer and keep it coming. Don’t care what kind, as long as it’s cold and has alcohol in it. Not going home until I’m drunk off my ass.”

“In that case, guess you’d better sleep it off here,” Alex said. “We have an extra room in the back.”

“Seriously?”

“We can’t have you driving home ‘drunk off your ass’ now can we?”

She smiled appreciatively. “You guys are the greatest.”

“Hell!” Debra Jean stated, “I’ll get drunk with ya.”

“Babe!” Alex’s brow narrowed, teasingly.

“Well I don’t have to drive anywhere…You’re the one who has to stay sober and tend the bar.”

“Hmmm…Just you wait, woman.”

She puckered her lips as though giving him a kiss.

He rolled his eyes and went to get Madison’s beer.

“Didn’t see him, did you?” Debra Jean said, with a side tilt of her head.

“Who?” Madison asked, looking to the end of the bar.
“Chuck!”

He waved.

She waved back and turned to Debra Jean.

“Yep. He walked in just a few minutes ahead of you.”

“Shit!” she hissed through her teeth.

“You don’t want him here?”

“Not that. It’s just that Devin and I are kind of going through a rough patch right now. And I really don’t want anything making things more complicated than what they are.”

“Already? Gosh, girl. You aren’t with a guy any time before you start having problems. Are you really that damn unlucky?”

“Well…Seeing as my ex fiancé chose the Army over me and, with my record here so far, maybe I am. One of the reasons I feel like getting absolutely plastered tonight.”

“I just don’t get it, Madison. You’re young…really pretty…smart. It took us a while, but once Alex and I connected, we’ve been pretty solid. Haven’t we, babe?” she said, looking up at him, as he walked up to bring Madison her beer.

“Damn right!” he agreed. “Debra Jean and I have been real good for a while now.”

“Guess some people are lucky and some aren’t,” Madison stated, taking a sip of her beer. “Good! Real cold.”

Alex smiled. “Let me know when you want another.”

She nodded that she would. Then she saw Chuck heading over. “Shit…”

“Be nice,” Debra Jean whispered.

“Don’t have reason to be otherwise. I just don’t need this right now.”

“Got ya.”

Chuck was wearing a burnt orange cowboy shirt with brass colored snaps. It really went well with his sandy toned hair. Plus he smelled damn good when he stepped up on her right. “Hey…”

“Hey,” she said back. “New shirt?”

“Un-huh. Bought it today. Sears.” He looked past Madison. “Hello, Debra Jean.”

“You too,” she said, eyeing Madison questioningly.

The band started with their first song of the night. With an inquiring nod, Chuck asked, “Want to dance?”

Debra Jean sniggered.

He was puzzled. “Something wrong?”

Madison explained. “It’s just that we were just talking…Seems like most of the men I dance with in here end up dead. Killed mysteriously.”

“Is that right?”

“You didn’t hear about David Champ this morning?” Debra Jean asked.

“Yeah. I did. Only, I didn’t know there was a connection.” He looked at Madison. “So! Does that mean you won’t dance with me? Afraid I’ll end up dead?”

“Aw…shit!” Debra Jean said with a diverted smile.

“Please, Madison? Just this one dance. Then I’ll leave you alone, if you want.”

She blew out air but smiled in submission. “Okay. Just this one.”

He grinned with his eyes as she accepted his hand and led her to the dance floor. At once, he held her close, but not too. He was still soft and warm and familiar. He had been a really good lover, and as they danced, she couldn’t help but recall their intimacy. He seemed to pick up what she was thinking as his eyes met hers.

“I still love you, Madison.”

“Please…Chuck. I know. And I still have feelings for you. But you know it’s too late now.”

He let go of her hand and hooked a finger under her chin. “Is it? You haven’t transitioned…yet.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m not going to.”

He withdrew his finger. “Madison, I can give you babies. Can Devin do that?”

She stepped back from him. “I gave you a second chance, Chuck! You rejected me. Remember? It’s too late now! If you’re going to do this, I’m not going to dance with you anymore.” She walked off.

He called after her. “You know what I say is true.”

Madison sat back down on her stool; eyes pooled with tears that she was desperately fighting back.