Chapter 14
Tessa finally got home from seeing Gramps and grocery shopping. Climbing out she went to the back of the car grabbing bags to carry in the house. Turning she ran into Jared’s rock hard chest.
“Here I got these.” He took the bags out of her hands then reached in the back for more, but stopped his stare still on her face, intense. “Have you been crying?”
Tessa looked away for a second. “Kind of.” She hated for anyone to see her weakness. “It’s all good. Just had a moment.”
Jared sat the bags on the hood of the car. “Why were you crying?” His tone was soft yet a hint of hardness edged each word.
The image of Gramps flashed through her mind as she touched the spot above her heart he had touched. Tears tickled her eyes…dammit.
He grasped her chin causing a tear to overflow which he caught with his thumb wiping it away. “Who made you cry Tessa?” His eyes darkened dangerously.
“You really are a nice guy aren’t you?” Tessa sighed.
“Not to the one who made you cry.” Jared growled, his eyes narrowing. “Now answer my question.”
“No one made me cry Jared.” Tessa looked into his beautiful eyes, eyes she could get lost in. “It’s just hard for me to see my grandfather some days. I miss him so much and with everything going on right now it just hit me harder today than others.”
“What do you mean you miss him?” Jared wiped the last tear that escaped before letting her go.
“He has Alzheimer’s. He doesn’t talk much anymore. Some days he knows us and some days he doesn’t seem to even know we’re in the room. The doctors tell me that the disease is very progressive and soon he will be lost to us if he’s not already. But then there are days like today when I know…” Tessa slapped her hands together in an angry fashion. “I totally know he is in there and he knows exactly who I am, knows what I’m saying because he does something so like himself that makes me know he still sees me.” Her chin crinkled up as she tried to hold in the sobs of frustration that wanted to break free from her broken heart.
Jared pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I would like to meet your grandfather.” He whispered into her hair.
Nodding into his chest Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist so tight she didn’t want to let go. He made her feel like she mattered, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She smiled into his chest. “He would have liked you.”
“Of course he would.” He said seriously, but winked down at her. “Everyone does.”
Tessa couldn’t help but smile. It would be so easy to fall for this man and that scared the hell out of her. Otis had been nice and caring at the beginning too and look where that got her. “Full of yourself much?” She teased pulling away. “Thanks. I didn’t mean to get your shirt wet.”
“Honey you can cry on me anytime you want, but don’t make it too often because I really don’t like seeing those gorgeous eyes filled with tears, you hear?” He waited for her nod. “Now let me get this stuff in the house so I can fire up the grill. I’m starving.” Jared once again grabbed grocery bags yelling for Adam to get the rest.
********
The Campbell County Fair was in full swing by the time they arrived. Tessa was happy to see Damon and Nicole waiting at the gate for them. A boy who looked to be around Adam and Jill’s age stood with them.
“I was so glad Jared called.” Nicole gave her a tight hug. “It’s been so long since I’ve been to the fair.”
“Me too.” Tessa’s grin was full of excitement.
“Well let’s go.” The young boy, who was with Nicole and Damon, laughed. “I’m Steve by the way.” The boy told the group his golden eyes shining with happiness. “It’s nice to meet you Steve.” Tessa grinned. “I’m Tessa and that’s my brother Adam and Jill is a friend of ours.”
Tessa fell in line behind everyone as they made their way into the gate with the rest of the fair goers. Her excitement almost matching the little kids holding tightly to their parents hands, eyes wide in awe at the rides in the distance.
“I have four.” Jared told the lady taking money and handing out tickets.
“I’ve got ours Jared.” Tessa cut her way through Adam and Jill, but Jared ignored her handing the woman the money. Tessa frowned, but instead of making a scene she decided she would pay him back later, without his knowing. “Thank you.” She took the ticket he handed her.
He smiled down at her with a wink. “You’re welcome.”
The smell of funnel cake hit Tessa full force smelling so delicious her stomach rumbled. Making a note where the funnel cake booth stood she took another deep sniff as they passed.
“Hey, can we go ride some stuff?” Jill asked, finally feeling at ease enough to talk to them now.
Tessa noticed the instant Damon and Jared turned warrior. They both focused all around, each scanning the area for something Tessa couldn’t see as they followed the teens toward the rides.
“Pretty impressive isn’t it?” Nicole fell back with her as her soon to be hubby’s attention was on other things. “One minute they’re talking about who can pee the farthest and then…BAM…vampire warrior mode takes over.”
Tessa grinned at Nicole’s words. “They do seem to take their job seriously.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” Nicole rolled her eyes.
Both women heard someone call Tessa’s name and turned. “Crap.” Tessa frowned turning back around quickly trying to get lost in the crowd.
“Where we going?” Nicole chuckled as Tessa lead her through the maze of people. “The guys are over there.”
Tessa heard the deep rumble of Otis’s voice and cringed. Dammit, she knew he would be here, but hoped her chance of running into him would be slim to none. Yeah, well, she should have known her luck would be slim to none.
“Ah, I think that cop wants you to stop.” Nicole was looking over her shoulder. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“Yeah, he’s my ex and a total a*shole.” Tessa got them stuck in a line for a ride. “Dammit.” Tessa looked around for an escape but found nowhere to go.
Nicole’s eyes widened. “Oh.” She turned to get a better look at the man barreling his way toward them. Getting a read on him, her eyes narrowed sending a silent message to her husband. They might just need them.
“Tessa Pride!”
Everyone around them stopped to turn except Tessa. One thing Sheriff Otis T. Bowman had was a voice so full of authority everyone stopped at the command in his voice. Tessa felt herself shrink, then cursed for being a coward and turned to face the man who had almost succeeded in ruining her life.
“Sheriff.” Tessa’s tone was flat as she greeted him.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” His mouth turned down in an aggravated frown.
“Yes.” She replied staring right back at him keeping her spine straight. He was definitely a handsome man. His body sculptured from many years working in the tobacco fields of his family fit well into his sheriff’s uniform. His sandy colored hair was longer than he usually wore it, but it was his icy blue eyes that held her hostage.
He ignored her sarcasm. “You’re looking good Tessa.” An arrogant grin tipped his lips as his eyes roamed down her body. “I see you took my advice and lost some weight.”
Tessa’s face flamed in embarrassment as shame made her tug her shirt down. She hated that he could do that to her, that he still had any control over her. She felt Nicole take a step closer to her side.
Nicole snorted. “You’re right…he is an a*shole.”
“Who are you?” His eyes narrowed, but then ran up and down her body crudely.
When Nicole didn’t answer, just sneered at him he returned his attention to Tessa. “Why haven’t you returned my calls Tessa?”
“Because I don’t have anything to say to you Otis.” Tessa replied wanting to get away. People were starting to notice them and being the talk of the town wasn’t something she wanted to repeat. “Let’s go.” She started to walk away with Nicole, but was stopped.
“Now hold on a damn minute.” Otis grabbed her arm turning her around. “I’m not done talking to you.”
“I think you are.” Jared stepped between them breaking the contact. Looking down at Tessa he kept his body between her and the sheriff. “You okay?”
Tessa nodded her face growing hotter by the minute. “Yes, I’m fine. Just ready to go.” She could feel the pity stares from those around her that knew of her and the sheriffs’ past.
“What in the hell do you mean is she okay?” Otis huffed behind them. “Who are you?”
Jared turned, his eyes darkening in the overhead lights that twinkled throughout the fairgrounds. “Jared Kincaid.” Jared reached down to clasp Tessa’s hand. “And you must be Oat.”
A few snickers rolled through the crowd. “It’s Otis.” His eyes narrowed. “Sheriff Otis Bowman.”
“I see that.” Jared smirked at the badge he was thrusting out on his chest. “Now if you’ll excuse us, Oat, we have things to do.”
“Not so fast.” Otis took a step forward grabbing his handcuffs and nodding to the other officer that was beside him. “I need to take Ms. Pride to the station. Seems she has some unpaid tickets and has a warrant.”
“That’s total bullshit.” Adam pushed past Damon pointing at Otis, Damon grabbed him around the waist stopping him. “You’ve been doing shit like this since she dumped your loser ass and won’t take you back.”
“I’ve got room for you too boy.” Otis growled at Adam his hand inching toward his gun.
Jared stepped in front of the sheriff. “Going for that gun will be the biggest mistake you ever make.” Jared grinned enough to show his fangs. “Understand…Oat?”
Shocked Otis dropped his hand knowing there was no way he could draw his gun before the vampire was on him. “I’m taking her in.” He said, but didn’t sound as sure now.
“Well, I hope you got another pair of handcuffs because you lay one finger on her I will personally rip your arm off and beat your ass with it.” Jared had lowered his head toward the sheriff so only he could hear. “All I have to do is make one call to the Vampire Council and they will be crawling so far up your ass you won’t be able to sit down for a long while. I am responsible for Tessa and Adam so if there was a warrant out for either of them I would have known it.”
“You’re a VC Warrior?” Otis glanced around at the crowd who had gathered.
Jared straightened back up still holding tightly to Tessa’s hand. “Leave Tessa and the boy alone.” Was Jared’s hard spoken answer before he turned to lead Tessa away.
The expression on the sheriff’s stone cold face clearly indicated that he wasn’t taking that threat seriously.
Walking away from the bastard was against Jared’s nature. He wanted to beat the hell out of the sheriff, but he could feel the anxiety from the faceoff in the shaking of Tessa’s hand and decided she was more important than his satisfaction at the moment.
“What’s your thing?” Jared looked down at her as they made their way through the crowd and past the game booths.
Tessa’s wide eyed confused expression made him smile. “My thing?”
“Yeah.” Jared laughed, trying to lighten the mood and take her mind off what had just happened. “If you could win anything what would you go for?”
Tessa looked around the game booths and smiled. “I love Angry Birds.”
“A girl after my own heart.” Jared winked down at her before finding a booth that had the funny looking birds. Placing his money down he waited patiently for the game attendant to hand him three balls to knock over the three pins on a small round table. Damon also placed money down.
The little man behind the booth took the money placing the balls in front of them with a confident smile that he had just taken money from two sappy suckers trying to win a prize for their women. Jared and Damon glanced at each other before looking back at the man with large grins showing their fangs.
“Ah shit.” The disappointment in the man’s voice was so clear both Jared and Damon laughed loudly.
After knocking the pins completely off the table Jared grabbed Tessa pulling her closer. “Which one do you want?”
Jared watched the excitement radiating from her beautiful eyes as she looked over the stuffed animals hanging all over the booth. Mate or not she was going to be his. To hell with what anyone thought, council included. He had never been a big believer in the mate crap anyway. He was happy for Damon and others who had found theirs, but he had been walking this world alone for thousands of years and he was done waiting. He had found who he’d been looking for and she stood before him looking more beautiful than anything he had ever seen clutching a red Angry Bird to her chest.
“Hey Jared!” Adam called out. “Try this one. Bet you can’t do it.”
Pulling his eyes off Tessa regretfully, he glanced over at Adam who held a football. He looked back down at her. “Guess I need to go make the kid look bad.”
Tessa smiled. “Thank you.”
“Anytime honey.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they headed toward the game Adam was getting ready to play.
“Move over punk.” Jared nudged him. “Let me show you how a real football player does it.”
Adam nudged him back. “Then you better watch me old man.”
“Uh-oh.” Nicole whispered next to Tessa’s ear. She also had an Angry Bird, hers the yellow one.
“What?” Tessa leaned her head back looking at Nicole’s knowing grin
“You got the vamp crush going on.” Nicole’s grin grew.
Tessa snorted shaking her head. “No, I don’t.”
“Yeah…yeah, that’s what we all say.” Nicole laughed, drawing the attention of everyone around. “As my good friend Pam would say, I call bullshit.”