I glanced out the window at the peaceful morning sunshine. “Rockhard and Lenson are trying to locate where the flower originated from. If they are successful, I’ll go and investigate the area, see if I can figure out who is behind it and what they are trying to achieve.”
“And the vault?”
“I can’t deny her access. I’ll start the process today.”
“I wonder what she wants. Knowing that would give us perspective on whether she’s truly involved.”
I steadied my expression. I had done the unthinkable and it would not be forgiven by my family. Aunt Liz stared at me and I struggled to hold my ground. Her gaze narrowed. “I see,” she finally said. “Do what you must. If she is breaking the number one law, then she must be held accountable.”
Okay, remind me never to play poker with this woman. A raucous sound came from down the hallway and I raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar deep male voice.
“Rebecca’s latest conquest,” Aunt Liz said as she scooped up the empty plate and rinsed it in the sink. I shot up from my seat and hurried down the hallway. I had expressly stated time and time again that she should not have romantic engagements with the guests. I knew I was being unfair given that the Crown Vampire Princess of the United Kingdom was in hiding and never left the grounds, so really, where was she meant to make such connections? But the fall-out was always that the males fell in love with her after one night and she lost interest.
I skidded to a halt as a rugged man wrapped in leather trousers and a matching vest spun Rebecca, dipped her back, and planted a passionate kiss on her mouth. I blinked and stared like everyone else in the room who had paused their Christmas spirit to watch the romantic liaison taking place. Rebecca slammed her fists against his chest and he dragged a hand through her hair and tugged until she relented and let him devour her. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. Neither could anyone else.
He finally broke away from her and pulled her upright. Rebecca swayed slightly. Oh wow, the unflappable princess had met her match.
“I’ll be seeing you real soon, princess.” His startling blue eyes glanced at me and he pushed a lock of his dark wavy hair behind his ear. Not a vampire, a shifter. “Miss Roberts I presume?” he drawled. I nodded. “Thank you for the most welcoming and enticing stay at your fine establishment. I will return and will definitely recommend it.” With that, he sauntered out of the front door. Everyone stood very still for a few moments, soaking up the fact that Rebecca had been kissed senseless.
Rebecca ghosted her fingers over her lips. I caught Hudson looking at me with a small smile on his stupidly handsome face.Yes, yes, you have that effect on me. It’s hardly front page news.I knew exactly what a kiss like that did to a person.
“Don’t you have a tree to decorate?” I snapped at the gang and the few guests who had stopped to watch the show.
I grabbed Rebecca’s arm and tugged her toward the stairs which led down to my office. “I need your help,” I muttered, eyeballing a frowning Hudson on my way past. “I’ll be back soon,” I informed him before he could think to follow me.
I ushered a still-dazed Rebecca downstairs and out through the door, before swinging around into the cellar where the family vaults were located. The air smelled a little damp down here, and there was always a chill to the air, no matter the time of year or weather.
I pointed to the stool and Rebecca sat on it while I proceeded to open the first lock on the vault using the handle to hit the exact number of degrees which gave the unlocking combination. It popped open and I pulled the door back.
Rebecca’s glazed vision cleared as she peered inside. “What the hell? How long have I lived here and didn’t know you were hoarding treasure a dragon would be envious of?”
I smirked at her over my shoulder as I stepped inside. “Welcome back to the land of the living. I will tell you all about the vaults, if you confess who gave you that kiss.”
Rebecca grimaced, but the allure of pretty, shiny things beat her embarrassment as she followed me inside the vault. “Don’t touch anything,” I instructed as her hand grazed over the head of the statue of Buddha proudly displayed on a white stand.
“Why, what does it do?” she asked, peering at it.
“That one grants wishes.” She blinked. “But don’t expect to feel grateful. If you wished for good health, you would get it, but at the same time, all your loved ones might die in a car crash.”
She snapped her hand back and grimaced. “That sucks.”
“Which is why it’s here, safe from the clueless public. So who is he?”
“Ezra Edge,” she breathed and got that dreamy look again.
I snapped my fingers in front of her face. “That’s quite the name.”
“He’s quite the guy.”
“He’s a shifter.”
A smile pulled at her lips. “I know. He’s a lion, a predator.” Oh boy, I did not want to know how she knew. What happened behind closed doors in my bed and breakfast should stay sacred. Especially if it involved turning furry.
“And has said lion swept you off your feet?” I asked as I opened a trunk and retrieved the circular metal plate and ceremonial dagger.
“He’s—” she paused like she was searching for the words.
“Good looking?” I tried.
