“It’s going to be special. I promise.” Her first year as a vampire would be the most difficult. She’d view every human tradition from a different perspective.
“Syd. Are you sure you want to have the wedding here because…” Luca began but immediately stopped as Kade frowned and shot him a look.
“Of course. I promise everything will be perfect,” Sydney assured him. She pulled from Kade’s arms but still held onto his hands. “I’ll be with the girls for the afternoon. When I get home, I’ll double check everything.”
“I have decorators coming this afternoon. Take your time, love,” Kade told her.
“I appreciate the help, but I don’t want anyone touching the tree. That’s ours.”
“You’ve got it, love.”
“Really Sydney, you don’t have to do this,” Luca told her. “We could do it at the coven. It’s been renovated and…”
“The coven? Ilsbeth’s house? Are you kidding me? No way. Not another word. Every detail has been accounted for. The invitations sent. Caterers will be here in the morning. Flowers. I promise you won’t even recognize this place.”
“But Syd…”
“No buts.” She held up her hand, her tone firm. “It’s going to be here. I promised Samantha. You’re going to have a perfect wedding.”
“One hundred percent.” Kade smiled at Luca who nodded in agreement.
Sydney glanced up to the clock on the wall and cringed. “Oh geez. I’m sorry guys. I’m late. We’ll have to catch up later. I’ve gotta run.”
“But first.” Kade pulled her back into his embrace, his lips at her ear. “Meet you under the mistletoe later?”
“Absolutely,” she promised, brushing a kiss to his cheek. Sydney laughed as she broke free. “Let me go before I drag you back into the living room.”
Kade wore a smile as he watched her walk out of the kitchen, his rock-hard cock straining against his zipper. As he adjusted his painful erection, he lifted his gaze to find both Luca and Tristan grinning at him.
“What?” He shrugged.
“I said woo her,” Luca said.
“I heard you.” Kade reached for his mug and lifted it to his lips. He wrinkled his nose as the lukewarm coffee coated his tongue.
“Let me explain it to you. You see, romance is not sex. You, my friend, just made a date for sex.” Tristan glanced at Luca and back to Kade. “That’s not how it’s done.”
“Just because I made arrangements doesn’t mean I was planning on having sex.”
Tristan shot him a hard glare. “Seriously?”
“Okay, okay. I’m a vampire not a dead man. Not that it’s any of your business but…” Kade stopped speaking, listening to make sure she’d left the house. He lowered his voice. “I’m going to propose.”
“You’re already engaged,” Tristan told him.
“I was engaged. This is a do over.” Kade waved them off and put his mug into the sink. “Plenty of wooing going on.”
“I’ll never understand vampires. Good thing us wolves just mate and get it over with.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Kade turned to them and smiled, changing the subject. “It’s time to go, boys. I’ll just nip upstairs and be back down in a few minutes. I’m ready for some blood.”
“Now you’re talking, mate. Let’s hit the blood club before beignets.” Luca stood.
“Thank the Goddess all the romance talk is over.” Tristan laughed. “If I spend any more time with you guys, I might go into heat.”
“Y’all worry ‘bout yourselves. I’ve got this covered,” Kade assured them as he walked out of the kitchen and headed to go get dressed. Tonight he’d remind his feisty little detective, Sydney, of their love and win her heart and her hand in marriage.
Chapter Two
Sydney sucked a breath of fresh air as she shut the front door to the house. A chill ran through her body, and she tugged up her zipper, her black leather jacket not quite warm enough for Christmastime in New Orleans. She knew surviving the next two days would take every ounce of energy she possessed. Between the loss of her humanity and then losing Zachery, she’d been heartbroken.
Being turned into a vampire had nearly killed her. Emerging out of the darkness had given her hope that an eternity with Kade would be all she’d ever need to survive….until Zachery. As a human, she’d fought her desire to have children, knowing her life as a police officer put her in danger. But after getting engaged, the love in Kade’s eyes sparked a desire for his child, a family.
Her connection with Zachery had been serendipitous, one that transformed her life. She’d just wrapped up a murder case in the French Quarter when she heard the call come across the radio. From the second she held him in her arms, Sydney knew the child belonged with her.
It was only a month. One short month. Each day, minute, second, her love for him grew exponentially.
Giving him back to his birth mother had crushed her. Memories of Zachery lingered in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the pain. She could not erase the sweet smell of the baby. The sound of his laughter. The smile on his face when she walked into the nursery. They’d renovated his room within days, confident he was in his forever home. Everything revolved around Zachery and life was perfect…until he was gone.
“Hmm, the tea is delicious. I would love some more.” Sydney offered her cup to the smiling toddler.
“Ya, ya, ya. Tookie? Tookie?” the little girl asked, flashing her wide blue eyes.
“What do you think, Syd?” Samantha asked from across the room. She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, studying the fine lace trim on her dress.
“I think you look amazing.” Sydney’s heart tightened as she admired her beautiful friend. Although genuinely happy for her, not having a child or a plan for getting married stung. Like a dark cloud, it hung heavy over Sydney’s head. Worse, she missed Zachery, unable to accept the circumstances.
“I’ll play. You go help Sam,” Dominique offered.
“Are you okay?” Sydney inwardly questioned her choice of words. “I meant…you sure you want to watch Kate?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course I’m okay,” she lied, settling on the floor next to Kate. “Go on. Sam needs you. It’s fine.”
“You sure?” The once ferocious vampire rarely spoke. Several months ago, she’d been rescued from a demon. Beaten and starved, it had been weeks before she’d uttered a word. She still had not opened up to Kade or Sydney about what had happened, although they had learned that prior to her being turned into a vampire, a demon had murdered her children.
“Yes. All good.” She turned to Kate with a broad smile. “Do you need more tea, mademoiselle?”
Sydney reached for the hot-pink clay teapot and pretended to pour tea. The toddler giggled, a cookie clutched in her chubby hands.
“Dear princess, your mommy needs my help, but this beautiful queen would love to play with you.” Sydney glanced at Dominique and frowned, turning to Kate. “Queen Dom seems to be missing her crown. Do you have one in your dress-up bin she could borrow?”