The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) by Kristen Painter Page A

her. I will until the day one of us dies.”
    Tessa could respect that. So few people held to their promises these days. It was a slightly old-fashioned view of life, but one she appreciated. And he was a man from another time. How else could he respond to such a promise? “I understand.”
    “Do you? Because I don’t think my brothers would.”
    “They don’t know?”
    “Greaves is the only person outside of you who knows. Mostly because I refuse to discuss Evangeline with my brothers or my grandmother.”
    “So they’ve asked.”
    “My brothers used to. Now they know it won’t get them anywhere, so they’ve stopped. It’s understood I don’t wish to hear her name in my house, and they tend to abide by that. As far as my grandmother is concerned…I think she likes to pretend Evangeline is dead.”
    “I see.” She folded her napkin and set it beside her plate. “Thank you for telling me what happened then. I feel honored that you’d share your past with me.”
    He laid his napkin on the table as well. “Considering what you’re about to do for me, I thought you should understand how intertwined in my life she is. And why I would want her around me again.”
    “I get it. You feel responsible for her because of the promise. Even more so because you feel you turned her into the person she is today.”
    He nodded and sighed. “The truth is, I find it all very exhausting. Perhaps that’s why I don’t leave my house as often as most people.”
    “Could be.”
    “Speaking of, are you ready to go?”
    “I am.” She collected her purse. He clearly needed a change of scenery and subject.
    “Shall we take a walk through town? Continue getting to know one another? Or have you had enough of me?”
    “A walk sounds nice. And no, I haven’t had enough of you. We still have a lot to learn about each other.” Although she definitely felt like she knew him so much better than she’d imagined she would. And curiously, she liked him far more than she had when he’d shown up at Jenna’s.
    Amazing how one conversation could change so much.
    “That we do.”
    They got up and he put his hand on the small of her back as they walked out. It was a sweet, intimate gesture that sent a shiver of unexpected pleasure through her.
    She shifted the shopping bag of goodies to her other hand and reminded herself that this was all for show. She was not in a relationship with him, nor would she ever be. For one thing, he was a moody vampire. The vampire part wasn’t so bad, but the moodiness she could do without. For another, he had enough on his plate with Evangeline. And if he’d lasted for centuries without succumbing to the charms of another woman, he certainly wasn’t about to fall for a valkyrie with self-esteem issues, a dread of confrontation and a deadly temper.
    She made herself smile and focus on the town as they walked toward Main Street. If she had supposedly been living here, she ought to know more about the place. “What should I know about the town?”
    “We celebrate Halloween every day. It’s what brings the tourists in, it’s our industry. There’s trick-or-treating for the children every Friday night. And every month has a larger event designed to bring in even more visitors.”
    “Oh? What is it this month?”
    “It’s already happened. New Scare’s Eve. Although technically that could be considered a December event, but January is a slower month than most. Which is fine. Many of the shopkeepers take their vacations this month.”
    “So what will it be in February?”
    “The Valentine’s Day Bake Off. Also, the annual blood drive but that’s more of a local event.”
    She cocked a brow. “And that blood drive benefits who?”
    He smirked. “Nocturne Falls General Hospital. Mostly.”
    She shook her head. “I suppose that’s a necessity.”
    “We only take what we need.”
    “And the Valentine’s Day Bake Off? Who does that benefit?”
    He shrugged. “Everyone who gets to taste the