True Mate Read online

  I stopped walking and turned him to face me. “In what way?” I asked.

  Vincent sighed. “I can lock it up completely and no one even knows it exists unless they go looking for the private elevator. An enemy—and we both know I have a powerful one—could burn my house to the ground and then I’d be trapped.”

  “You’re right.” I stepped closer, sliding my arms around him to draw him up against my body. “I’m being selfish. Your safety must be my only concern.”

  Vincent grinned. “Imagine a human telling me he wants to keep me safe. It’s ironic.”

  “But I’m not human and we both know it.” I cut off whatever he was going to say as my mouth crashed down on his. He opened for me and instantly our tongues tangled. Vincent tasted so good, like a cross between mint and tea. He moaned as I deepened the kiss. He clutched my shoulders with strong hands, kneading my biceps as we stood in the woods. As if both realizing that we might just be in peril if we lost our focus out in the open, the kiss ended a moment later.

  We stood panting, gazing at each other.

  Finally, I grinned as I slung my arm back over his shoulder.

  “Let’s talk about this more at your place. Maybe I can find a place that delivers,” I said.

  “At one in the morning?” Vincent asked, sounding incredulous.

  I chuckled. “If not, I’m thinking beer with a ketchup chaser is on the menu.”

  We laughed all the way back to Vincent’s place.

  Chapter One

  Prosper Woods Chronicle. Letters to the editor:

  “This morning I’m sure I saw a hummingbird where a man had been moments before. What’s the next town fad gonna be? A ring that can tell if you’re mad? A rock that comes in a box? How about a plastic utensil that’s half fork and half spoon?” Signed, “Mullet Michael.”

  Romeo

  I drove into town and parked my truck in front of Todd’s Hash House, sighing as I got out and slammed the door. I’d left my vampire tucked up in bed after a late-night snack of Cheetos and beer, the only food he had in his house. As much as I wanted to stay with him and sleep all night at his place, I knew I’d be starving once I woke up, and I had to be at the station early.

  For the first time since moving to Prosper Woods, California two weeks ago, I hadn’t wanted to go to work. Since I was normally an early riser, I’d decided to stop into the local diner and start my day with a big breakfast. Maybe that would put me in a good mood.

  The diner was located two doors down from Prosper Wood’s Antiques—Vincent’s store—and as I got out of my truck, I noticed the older man who ran the store in my lover’s absence, on the sidewalk. He raised his hand and waved as soon as he saw me, sending me a wide smile. I waved back, trying to remember his name. I knew Vincent had told me at some point. I locked up the truck and walked over to him, sticking out my hand and taking his.

  “Good morning,” he said. “Scott Templeton.”

  “Nice to meet you, Scott. I’m—”

  “Oh, I know who you are. You’re the new sheriff. Everyone in town is talking about you,” he said, interrupting me.

  I shook and then dropped his hand, returning his smile. “I see word gets around.”

  He shrugged. “Small towns. You know how it goes.”

  “To be honest, Prosper Woods is the first small town I’ve lived in.” I smiled, hoping I came off as folksy and not stuck up.

  He nodded, knowingly. “Sure. I heard that as well. You used to be a cop with the LAPD and before that you were a Marine.”

  I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was. I knew small towns like Prosper Woods had a gossip chain. And I’d seen posts in the daily Chronicle that pretty much read like a gossip column but still, I was just a little surprised that everyone seemed to know my business or would even care. Then again…small town.

  “That’s right. Anything else? My shoe size maybe?”

  Templeton glanced down at my feet before looking back up at me with a smirk. “Thirteen?”

  I chuckled, unable to be angry. I’m sure he meant no harm, but it was still weird to know I was the subject of gossip around town. I wondered how long it would last.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Scott.” I looked over my shoulder and then back at him. “I’m off to get breakfast.”

  “He’s a nice man, isn’t he,” Templeton stated.

  I frowned at him, at first thinking he must be talking about the guy who ran the restaurant. “Who?”

  “Vincent Lasco, the man you’re dating…my boss,” Templeton said.

  My mouth dropped open in shock. I thought we’d been discreet but apparently not. The news was probably all around Prosper Woods by now. I wonder who’d started the rumor. Could Templeton smell Vincent on me?

  I didn’t think he was a supe. When I’d shaken hands with other supernaturals like Sid, the town witch, I had felt a charge under my skin almost instantly. Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt it with Sally, and I suspected she was something other than human. Since I was still getting used to this whole paranormal thing, maybe I’d missed a lot of rules. I absently wondered if they were written down or something.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Vincent’s a great guy. I didn’t realize my dating life was known to people around town or even the fact that I’m gay. It’s kind of off putting if I’m being honest.” The more I thought about it, the less I liked that fact.

  “Well, it’s big news when a vampire moves in and immediately starts dating a unicorn,” Templeton said.

  That made my heart skip several beats as my jaw dropped open. I looked side to side and then turned back to the smiling man, lowering my voice.

  “How do you know that?” I stage whispered.

  “I know things.”

  Is everyone in this town something other than plain old human? I had to wonder.

  “How?” Sid had said the same thing to me not two weeks ago when he’d introduced himself as a witch. He’d also said he was the town witch, which in Rome’s mind meant that there was only one. Was it possible that Templeton was also a witch? Is there a whole coven of them in town? Were they even called covens, or had I just watched too many episodes of Vampire Diaries? I really was an idiot.

  “How do you know things?” I needed to know if he was paranormal.

  “I’m not paranormal,” Templeton said with a wide grin.

  My jaw dropped. Did he just read my mind? Was he reading it now?

  “I’m human but I am sensitive to paranormal beings. That’s how I knew who Vincent was and now that we’ve shaken hands, I know what you are.” He raised an eyebrow, smirking in a way that threw me off guard. He reached out and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

  “But how…?”

  “Like I said, I’m just sensitive. Some would call me a medium, but I hate that title. I don’t talk to the dead unless it’s incredibly important.” He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big thing that he communed with the dead.

  This is the weirdest fucking town.

  “Well, I guess I’m glad to know that.” I looked around and lowered my voice. “You will keep it on the downlow, right?”

  Templeton chuckled. “I will, Sheriff. I’m no gossip spreader, and I mean no harm to either of you, especially your boyfriend. He’s been very good to me. Do you know he offered me a full medical and dental package?”

  I grinned. “That’s real nice of him.”

  “I get my choice of doctor even though there’s only one in town.”

  I chuckled and then sighed as our conversation hit an awkward pause. “Well, I’d appreciate your discretion, Mr. Templeton.”

  He reached out and took my hand again. “Scott. Please, call me Scott. We don’t stand much on formality in Prosper Woods.” He leaned in close, lowering his voice. “It’ll help you fit in if you’re just a regular guy.”

  I snorted. A regular guy who’s actually a unicorn, parading around town as if he didn’t have hooves. Sure. “Scott it is th
en,” I said, dropping his hand, still smiling.

  “I need to open up now,” he said. “I heard there’s a group of tourists checking into the B&B this morning, so we might have some customers. Besides, you were on your way to get breakfast. I can tell you’re starving and with a vampire as a mate, you need to keep up with the calories. You’re taking vitamins, I hope?”

  He could tell I was starving? I wanted to laugh so hard at how absurd this whole conversation was.

  “I am starving and yes, I take a boatload of vitamins. Thanks,” I said, shaking my head as my smile appeared as if of its own accord. This town really was something else. “Take care, Scott. Sell lots of antiques.” I turned when he did, throwing one last wave over his shoulder before stepping into the store.

  I was still a little stunned as I stepped into Todd’s Hash House. The smell of freshly cooked bacon had my stomach rumbling in seconds. The first thing I noticed was a young girl hovering around the hostess stand holding a stack of laminated menus. She gave me a wide grin, and I spotted a mouthful of braces.

  “Hi there,” she greeted, looking down at my sheriff’s star, pinned to the front of my khaki uniform shirt. “Oh, you must be the new town sheriff!” She immediately reached out for my hand, dropping all the menus on the ground. With an alarmed cry, she instantly squatted and began scooping them up. I immediately bent to help her.

  “You’re the clumsiest girl in town, Mary,” an older voice remarked. “Just look at you.”

  Anger slammed through me when I saw tears spring to the young girl’s eyes as she looked up into the woman’s matronly face who was berating her. I threw the woman a glare and then turned to Mary, holding out a hand. She gently placed her shaking hand in mine as I drew her to her feet, handing her the menus I’d scooped up before turning to the rude woman.

  “You’re the new sheriff,” she said before I could even open my mouth. The way she said it—with such contempt in her voice—had my hackles up instantly.

  “Sheriff Rome Harmon,” I said, deliberately not holding out my hand to her. The woman was about sixty, round in a frumpy way, dressed in a garish pink polyester track suit and Nikes I would have sworn were fresh out of the box that morning. The most startling thing about her appearance, however, was the fact that she was wearing a thick layer of lightly colored makeup that didn’t match the red of her sagging neck. I had to curb the desire to comment on the multiple chins. I hated bullies and clearly this woman was one.

  “Catalina Broadmoor,” the woman said, introducing herself and lifting her chins as she attempted to look down at me along her nose. It was a nice trick since I stood a foot taller than she did. Her saggy neck flaps stretched into two distinct cords making her look even less flattering.

  “Miss Broadmoor,” I said, sidestepping her as I began to walk back to where Mary had retreated behind the hostess desk.

  “Wait,” she said, reaching out and capturing my forearm.

  I looked down at her as I deliberately lowered my arm, so she’d be forced to let go.

  “I wanted to let you know that I hope you’ll take crime seriously in this town. Our former sheriff was a good for nothing loser who wouldn’t do his job if it came up and slapped him in the face.”

  I frowned down at her. “I wasn’t aware of Prosper Woods going through a crimewave, Miss Broadmoor.”

  “It’s Mrs. Broadmoor,” she snipped, lifting her chins and shooting me a haughty glare. “My husband is a retired surgeon.”

  “A retired sturgeon, maybe,” a young voice said from behind me.

  I turned around to find Precious standing there with her hands on her hips. As usual, my dispatcher was dressed in what I’d term club clothes. Today, her white hair was drawn up in a high ponytail which looked as if it had sprouted from the top of her head. The wispy tendrils were held in place by a large forest green bow which of course matched the green velvet choker around her neck. The clingy pale green T-shirt bared her midriff followed by the full black miniskirt with forest green under-netting fluffing around her thighs. The dark green thigh high stockings she wore were tied with garters and bows that matched the one in her hair. Highly polished black patent leather platforms she wore on her feet made Precious look like some perfect blonde anime princess.

  “How dare you!” Catalina Broadmoor cried. “You painted hussy! Look at you. Your makeup and clothes make you look like the loose woman you are.”

  I was about to step in to try to diffuse the situation when Precious opened her mouth and spat back at Broadmoor, “And what do you call that on your face?”

  Broadmoor lifted her hand to her cheek, blushing red under the thick foundation she wore. “It’s the latest Cover Girl with sunscreen.”

  “Really?” Precious asked. “Well, you look like the world’s least fucked geisha.”

  I was forced to slap a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. It was all I could do to keep a straight face as both women turned to look at me. Precious was grinning but it looked like steam was coming out of Broadmoor’s ears. The older woman narrowed her eyes to slits as she glared at me.

  “Are you going to let her talk to me like that, Sheriff? Do you know who I am in this town?”

  “I-I…ah…” I stammered.

  “Yeah, tell him who you are, Catalina,” Precious said, still looking straight at me, though, she pointed a long green fingernail at the frumpy older woman. “Never mind. I’ll tell the sheriff.” She turned to me. “Catalina Broadmoor is a bigot and the biggest busybody in town.”

  “I’m no bigot, young lady!” Broadmoor said, waving a finger in Precious’s face before turning to me. Her face was quite red now, her white makeup slowly melting off her face as she began to sweat. “I’ll have you know I’m the president of the Coalition of the Alliance for Teachers of Peace,” she said emphatically.

  “Also known as CAT-PEE,” Precious interjected, sounding all matter-of-fact.

  I snorted as the other restaurant patrons who’d been watching the heated exchange began laughing as well.

  Broadmoor threw up her hands and shouted as she waddled for the door.

  “This whole town is going to hell and I’ll make sure my husband knows about it!” The door slammed behind her with a loud bang.

  “Well, that could have gone better,” I said, still chuckling as I turned to Precious.

  She grinned widely at me, clasping her hands together like Betty Boop as she twisted her body side to side. “Really? I think it went just right.”

  I chuckled. “I take it there’s no love lost between the two of you.”

  “Seriously, Catalina Broadmoor is Prosper Woods’s resident busybody. If there’s ever anything you want known to everyone in town like yesterday, just tell Catalina…the old hag has eyes everywhere.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Honestly, she’s pretty harmless except for her tongue,” Mary said. She’d walked back over to join us, and as Precious stood there, she smiled shyly at my young dispatcher. “Hi, Precious.”

  Precious looked at Mary and smiled back. “Hey there, Mary. Don’t you look pretty today.”

  I sensed some attraction between the two young girls, and I was about to explore that thought when my stomach began to protest loudly. The girls dragged their gazes away from each other and giggled at me.

  “Oh, no, you’re starving!” Mary said. “Let me get you seated, Sheriff.”

  “Thank you so much, Mary.” I turned to Precious. “Are you here for breakfast? You can join me.”

  “Oh, no, Sheriff Romeo. I just came in for my morning coffee and to see what’s up.” I noticed how she turned to look at Mary again as I finally realized that the girls actually were giving each other puppy eyes. Sometimes I wasn’t that quick on my feet, not quick at all.

  “Well, okay then. See you at work, Precious.” I threw her another smile and then followed Mary to a seat next to the window.

  A waitress came over to me and set down a coffee cup and an insulated cara
fe, then took my order. I took her suggestion and was glad I did when she set down a steaming plate of corned beef hash and poached eggs with a side of biscuits and homemade sausage gravy.

  Everything smelled amazing and as I dug into the food, I reflected on the vast empty spaces in Vincent’s fridge and cabinets. I smiled to myself as I remembered placing a food order with Sid that included ketchup only to be told that he’d run out and that I had to wait until his next shipment came in. After seeing an entire shelf of bottles in my vampire’s refrigerator, I’d realized why the general store was fresh out. I made a mental note to stop by the store and place an order for Vincent’s house. We seemed to spend a lot of time there.

  As I was finishing up the last of my breakfast, I looked up, only to find Sally rushing into the restaurant, looking around. The moment she spotted me; she came over wearing a serious expression.

  “Hey, Sally,” I said, smiling. “Have a seat and get some breakfast with me.”

  “No time, Sheriff. We’ve got to get to work.” Her frown wasn’t comforting.

  I set down my fork. “What’s wrong?”

  “Some kids found skeletal remains in an old closed up mine. We need to get out there right away.”

  I scooted out of the booth and stood up, digging a twenty out of my wallet and dropping it on the table. Waving at my waitress, I followed Sally out of the diner onto the street, where she stopped and turned to me.

  “Who is it? Do you know?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Based on the description, I’d say it’s Roy Willis, the previous sheriff, but we won’t know until we go out there.”

  “Oh shit,” I said. “Didn’t he retire and move out of the area?”