Love Me Forever. Rosemary Laurey

      ZEBRA BOOKS

       KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      For George, who always believed in me, even when he had a few doubts about vampires, and special thanks to Morgan Arce and Patricia Jones, for helping sort out Stella’s life.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter One

      “How long can we stay, Mom?”

      Stella Schwartz smiled at her son. Her feet ached and she longed to get home, but she’d promised—and after a childhood of broken promises, she’d long ago vowed to never go back on her word to Sam. “How about fifteen minutes?”

      Sam slammed a clenched fist against his free hand. “Right on, Mom! Thanks!” he paused. “And I know, Mom. Just to look, right?”

      Heaven help her! She hated not having money to buy him more, but groceries always took more of her paycheck than anticipated. Thank goodness she didn’t have to find money for rent. “Next time we’ll buy you a book. This time just look, okay?”

      Sam seemed more than content. She turned the car up Fifth Street toward the tiny shop on the corner of Jackson. Two large pumpkins sat on either side of the limestone steps and spiderwebs and furry bats decorated the window. They were definitely ready for Halloween. Sam grabbed the knob, pulled open the solid wood door and all but skipped into the Vampire Emporium.

      It had to be the name that first attracted him, or maybe just a nine-year-old’s fascination with spookiness, but Sam loved this little shop. For Stella, it was a hard reminder of all the things she couldn’t afford, but Dixie, the owner, never seemed to mind that they seldom bought anything and she encouraged Sam to read the books.

      “I used to be a school librarian,” she once told Stella. “I miss the kids.”

      The shop sold mostly books, everything from paperback children’s books to signed first editions and leather-bound collectors’ volumes. They also stocked plastic vampire fangs and capes for the tourists that filled German Village at weekends and the place was now crowded with costumes and face paint for Halloween.

      “Hi, Dixie!” Sam said as he opened the door and then stopped in his tracks.

      Dixie wasn’t there. Instead of a young woman with a soft southern accent, the shop was manned by…a man. Stella all but gaped. Talk about a hunk! Tall, with chestnut brown hair brushed back from a face that could give Mel Gibson serious competition and dark eyes that seemed to scan her, taking in every detail, but not in a leering way, more like a surgeon evaluating an interesting case. His wide, full mouth smiled at Sam, and her.

      “Good afternoon,” he said in a smooth, British accent that set Stella’s toes curling. “I’m afraid Dixie isn’t here. Could I, perhaps, help you?”

      He could go on talking all afternoon as far as Stella was concerned. After staring at him a good minute, she made herself reply. “We’re just browsing.” She found herself smiling back. “Sam likes to look at the kid’s books.”

      “Browse right ahead, Sam,” Hunk replied.

      “Thanks!” Sam took off to the far corner and curled up on one of the giant pillows with a copy of Bunnicula, leaving Stella the other side of the narrow counter from a fantasy-come-true with a voice like Hugh Grant.

      “I’m Justin,” Hunk said, “Justin Corvus. I’m a friend of Christopher and Dixie’s, just over for a bit of a visit.” He held out his hand.

      “I’m Stella Schwartz.” His palm was smooth and cool against hers, his handshake just strong enough to feel good. He held her hand firmly but without a macho finger crush or a smarmy squeeze, a very, very nice handshake. So nice in fact, she had to remind herself to let go. She took her hand back and half-wished she hadn’t. She found herself breathing fast and all but staring into his beautiful dark eyes. This was nonsense! She had to say something to break the silence that seemed to sizzle around them. “You’re visiting them and they left you minding the shop…literally!”

      He even shrugged with style. “Not to worry. They had a problem with the house and I offered to fill in the gap. They’re talking to someone about a sump pump. Seems their basement sprung a leak in that storm a couple of days back.”

      Stella understood. “I think a lot of houses round here took in water then.” Heck, she still had a vast puddle in her basement. “It’s the price of living in an old house.” And keeping a promise to her mother.

      “You live in German Village, too?”

      When pigs flew. “No,” she shook her head. “I live on Lubeck but I work in the Village. Sam goes to a sitter near here and this is his favorite stopping-off place.”

      “I’m glad you came by.” He offered a slow smile. “It’s been pretty solitary here. You made it worthwhile staying open.”

      What was she to make of that? Was he hitting on her? No. He seemed genuinely friendly but didn’t appear to realize Lubeck was a world away from these expensively restored houses and neat, tidy streets. “Been a slow day?”

      “Pretty much. A couple of people are supposed to pick up costumes. Other than that I’m spending the time sticking stamps on postcards.” He paused and reached into the stack beside the register. “Here, if you’re a regular customer you’ve probably got one coming in the post, but until then…” He handed her a rectangle of shiny, cream card stock. “They’re having a big open house for Halloween. Maybe you and Sam could come? I gather