Love Me Forever. Rosemary Laurey

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СКАЧАТЬ brought him back safe and sound,” Justin said, just in case Sam’s grin and sparkling eyes weren’t enough to reassure Stella.

      “So I see.” She gave Sam a hug and Justin found himself in the ludicrous position of stifling a stab of envy. Come off it. She was hugging her son! It was just…He knew exactly what it was. He’d been longing for her touch again since he’d climbed his way into her bedroom. The sound of her heartbeat had him longing for a taste of her sweet blood.

      “Thanks.”

      She wouldn’t be thanking him if she could read his thoughts.

      “Sam was my assistant.”

      Sam repeated the “vampires unite” line. “It was fun, Mom.” His young eyes scanned the room. “Hey, can I bob for apples?”

      Justin looked at Stella. “All right with you?”

      “Can he reach them?” she asked. The teenagers were having a hard time getting to them.

      “If I hold him.”

      She hesitated about two seconds. “Go for it, Sam!”

      Stella smiled to herself as Justin swung Sam up on his shoulders as easily as if he’d been a bag of cookies. Sam looked beyond cute, cape billowing behind him and Justin stood within easy reach of the apples. She just had to get a picture. Climbing onto a chair tucked in one corner, Stella angled herself just right and got a great snap between the crowd just as Sam grabbed a bright red apple in his teeth.

      A couple of people turned at the flash but most eyes were fixed on Sam and Justin. As Justin set Sam on his feet, still with the apple between his teeth, a little girl dressed as Snow White came forward. For a while Justin did the honors of the apple grab, but he soon left it to Dixie to referee and made his way over to Stella.

      “This is some evening,” he said. “I’m glad you came and brought Sam.”

      “So am I,” Stella replied.

      “Me too,” said Sam through a mouthful of apple. She suspected a couple of candy bars had sneaked out of his pillowcase into his mouth, if a chocolate smear on his lower lip was anything to go by.

      “Chew first, before you talk, Sam.”

      He chewed fast. “This has been the best Beggars’ Night ever,” he announced once his mouth was empty, “and I have the best costume.” He grinned up at Justin. “I wish I really were a vampire.”

      Stella just caught the questioning flicker in Justin’s dark eyes. “What makes you say that, Sam?” he asked.

      “I could wear a cape like this to school.” He swirled it right and left as he spoke. In the crowded shop he missed the full effect. “Never mind,” he went on with a shrug. “They are just make-believe anyway.”

      Justin’s eyes wrinkled at the corners as he smiled. “Certain about that are you?”

      “Oh, yes!” Sam nodded. “My mom told me.”

      Justin looked her square in the eyes. She sensed outright interest and an odd emotion she couldn’t quite place. “Don’t believe in vampires? What’s this?” He flapped a corner of his cape.

      “Beggars’ Night fun!” she replied. “And speaking of that…I think it’s time the littlest vampire was going home.”

      Sam’s pout suggested he disagreed.

      “I agree,” Justin replied. “Where’s he going to sleep tonight?” He looked at Sam. “Are you one of those coffin-sleeping vampires?”

      “No!” Sam shook his head. “I sleep in a bunk bed.”

      Justin smiled. Lord, that smile could melt chocolate.

      “Good idea. I always thought the coffin bit was odd. Has to be cramped. Tell me, are you flying or walking back?”

      Sam giggled. “We came in the car. Mom parked in the Giant Eagle.”

      “May I walk with you back to the Giant Eagle?” Justin asked Stella. And waited.

      She sensed he was asking for more than a few blocks’ stroll down the narrow brick streets. “Fine,” she replied and at once wondered why she hadn’t refused. Because Sam was grinning like a drunken Dutchman at the prospect, that’s why.

      “Neato!” he said, jumping up with both fists clenched.

      “That’s what I thought,” Justin replied. “This way your mother has two vampires to look after her. With all these goblins and I-don’t-know-what about, you can’t be too careful.”

      “Don’t they need you to help here?” she asked. She didn’t need anyone to look out for her. Never had and wasn’t about to start now.

      “The crowd’s thinning,” Justin said. “I believe Dixie and Kit, between them, can cope with anyone left here.”

      So she ended up walking down Fifth Street flanked by two vampires. And oddly, she did feel safe with Justin. Hadn’t he taken care of the Day boys? Something about his presence convinced her he would keep her and Sam from harm. That was a dangerous thing to get used to. Sam had no such reservations. He had the costume of his dreams and a sack full of candy…At nine years old that was pretty close to heaven. They turned left on Lansing and walked side by side down the street towards the car park and her car.

      “It looks weird,” Sam said. Sam was right and Stella saw why. Three tires were flat and the car sagged backwards from the one good tire.

      “What in heaven’s name!” Justin muttered.

      “Mischief night!” Stella groaned it. She was close to tears. Not this! There was no way she could afford a set of new tires.

      “Mom, this wasn’t an accident. I bet someone did this!” Sam sounded outraged. “How could they!”

      “Never mind,” Justin said. “Let’s get you and Sam home so he can get to bed. Then Kit and I will take care of the car.”

      “It will need new tires.” She could hear the panic in her voice.

      “Stella,” Justin rested his hand on her arm, “it’s only a couple of tires.”

      He had to be rich to think of three brand new tires as “only”! “It’s all I have to get to work!”

      “It can be fixed. What matters most? Getting Sam home safely or standing here, fixating about three useless tires?” She couldn’t deny he had a point. “I’m taking you home.”

      He did. In Kit and Dixie’s Mercedes. Now Sam had yet another highlight to the evening. So, come to that, did she! It was nice to relax back on real leather and purr through the streets. Not that the surrounding luxury could ease her worry about getting her own car running again. Okay, Justin and Kit might get it fixed but she still had to scratch up the money to pay for it. As they turned onto her street, Sam discovered the automatic windows and was waving to everyone like an emperor in his carriage.

      Justin СКАЧАТЬ