Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [93]
“It came by courier a few minutes ago.” I grabbed it and tore open the envelope and peered inside. There was a smaller envelope with a handwritten note.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Sarah. From one who cares more for your well-being than you realize.
I loved Thierry like crazy, but he wasn’t exactly a born poet, that was for sure.
He couldn’t just say “I love you,” or even end the note with “Love, Thierry,” or how about “Marry me, Sarah, and spend eternity by my side.”
Well, the last one was out of the question due to Veronique, but still, a girl could fantasize, couldn’t she?
“Doesn’t look like his handwriting,” I said aloud, and then opened the little envelope expecting to see a gift certificate inside.
Instead, my mouth went dry and my heart let out a single, very surprised thump.
It was the gold chain.
I pulled it out slowly, my eyes widening at every gold link that emerged from the envelope. It was equivalent to an eighteen-inch necklace, a little thicker, and the gold had a brassy quality to it rather than a fine finish. Exactly like I remembered it.
It was cold to my touch and didn’t feel like much of anything at all. I didn’t feel any magical vibes from it, not that I ever had when it first came into my possession.
“Is that what I think it is?” George asked.
I licked my suddenly dry lips. “Would you help me?”
He nodded and took the necklace from me. I lifted my hair and he fastened the chain behind my neck. He leaned back to inspect it.
“All you’re missing to complete the look is an extremely hairy male chest,” he said.
I blinked and then realized our proximity. “Are you sure you feel okay about being this close to me?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I have the stun gun in a shoulder holster right now and I’m not afraid to use it. Don’t take it personally.”
I snorted lightly. “I don’t blame you at all.”
“How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you feel any different?”
I concentrated. “I’m not… sure.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Does my neck look extremely delicious and appetizing to you right now?”
I looked at his neck. “Not particularly.”
“I’m terribly insulted.”
“Don’t be.”
He stood up from the sofa and walked over to the front door. “Well, how about another test?”
He swung the door open and the sunlight hit me square in the face. I shrieked, held up my hands, and braced myself for sheer and complete agony.
But… there was nothing.
I slowly spread my fingers and looked through them at George and the very bright February day behind him.
“You’re not on fire,” he observed. “I’m thinking that’s a good sign.”
I touched the chain at my throat and rose from the sofa, moving over to where George stood. I stood in the doorway, closed my eyes, and felt the sun on my face.
“I can’t believe this!” I said, and laughed out loud with relief and happiness. I tentatively took a step outside and then another, until I was standing in the middle of the snow-covered front lawn in my bare feet. Then I proceeded to do a happy little jig. “It works! The necklace works!”
“It wasn’t from Thierry at all, was it?” he said, with a matching smile on his face. “It was the Red Devil. He sent the necklace to you. See? I told you he was all sorts of awesomeness.”
I stopped dancing for a moment. He was right. The Red Devil had to have been the one to send this to me. And what did the note say? That he cared about my well-being?
I frowned then. “How did he know where I was staying? He had the delivery made here specifically. How did he know I was even here?”
“Who cares?” George replied.
Good point.
Human or not, the Red Devil was now my favorite masked man in the universe. He even beat out Zorro, and since I was a big Antonio Banderas fan, that was saying a lot.
“I love the Red Devil!” I said out loud.
“Me, too!” George agreed, and he joined me on the front lawn and we did a sun dance together as we celebrated my new chance at a normal life.
It was a very good way to start Valentine’s Day.
Chapter 17
Feeling revitalized and happier than I’d felt in days, I took my time getting ready to go to Haven.