Merry & Bright: A Christmas Anthology (Nocturne Falls Universe) Read online

  They stopped by a vendor selling roasted chestnuts like hot dogs out of a cart. Draeken finished his bag quickly and doubled back for a second one. Alpha males had an appetite and a half, while hers was less than robust lately.

  She stopped at the Shop-n-Save to pick up ingredients, and they spent the rest of their afternoon baking sweet sugar cookies. Stella let Draeken decorate them, which he seemed to have a penchant for. He was exceptionally creative, with an attention to detail she marveled at. She had a six-piece cookie cutter set with a snowman, a Christmas tree, a snowflake, a candy cane, an angel and a stocking.

  As each batch cooled, he went to work covering the cookies with white frosting as a base. Once that was set, he moved to the prepared tubes of colored frosting she’d purchased. The tubes had a few different tip shapes, which was as much as her talent in this endeavor would allow. Draeken, on the other hand, had an artistic ability that made her cookies look like a preschooler with an attention deficit had been let loose in the kitchen.

  “What do you think?” he said, adding the final touches to a snowman that looked like a professional bakery had crafted it for the holidays.

  “I think you’ve found another job possibility.”

  “What’s that?” he scoffed. “Frosting manager?”

  “No. Cookie decorator. You could probably do cakes, too. I’ll bet the Moon Pies Bakery in Alienn would hire you in a minute if they saw these cookies.”

  His brows scrunched. “I doubt it.”

  “No. Really. Not only are they colorful and perfect, you’re fast. It would have taken me until tomorrow to finish all these. And I would have only been icing them and tossing some colored sprinkles on top. You’re really good at this, Draeken. A natural talent.”

  “Cool. I can be jack-of-all-trades and master of none.”

  Something in his tone told her he wasn’t as casual about the comment as he sounded. “Where did you hear that Earther phrase?”

  He shrugged, focusing on putting perfect silver lines on an iced snowflake cookie. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters to me.”

  He looked up from his task and asked seriously, “Do you think I’m a jack-of-all-trades and master of none?”

  “No. I think you’re master of all trades and everyone else can suck it.”

  Draeken laughed out loud. “I love you, Stella. You always make me feel better about myself.”

  “You should feel good about yourself. You’re awesome.”

  He looked unsure. “I heard another Earther phrase.”

  “What?”

  “Ex-con.”

  Stella sucked in a breath. “Who said that to you? I will break them!”

  Draeken straightened and put his decorating tool down on the counter. “No one, at least not about me. I overheard a conversation in The Big Bang Truck Stop when we were on our way here. An earthling mother cautioning her daughter about her ex-con boyfriend. She told the girl once he got out of jail she should ditch him—whatever that means, but I think it’s bad.”

  “First of all, you are not an earthling and that term would never apply to you. Second of all, you were only in the gulag for a couple of hours and you were sent there undercover to help out the justice system on Alpha-Prime. And third of all, you are not now nor were you ever an ex-con and even if you were, I’d still love you and I’d never ditch you. Never!”

  Draeken took her into his arms. “I don’t even know what it means, but I’m glad you’d never put me in a ditch.” He kissed her face, her cheek, telling her he saved the best—her luscious lips—for last. She probably tasted like frosted cookie. They’d been sampling the broken and overcooked ones throughout the process.

  “You taste like cookie,” he said, confirming her theory. “I love you and I want to be worthy of you.”

  “You are. You moved to another planet for me. Nothing says, ‘I love you,’ like a move to another galaxy for the one you adore.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so. Trust me. You’re stuck with me.” Especially now. Should I tell him? No. Not yet.

  “Good. I want to be stuck with you for forever and a day.”

  “And on that last day, we’ll hug and kiss under the mistletoe and eat frosted Christmas cookies that you’ve decorated expertly.”

  He laughed. “Deal.”

  They cleaned up the kitchen, placed the cookies carefully into containers ready for display tomorrow night and got ready to go back outside.

  Tonight she wanted to look at Christmas lights on houses and listen to Christmas carolers sing favorite seasonal songs. When they got home, they were going to hang stockings with their embroidered names on the mantel over the fireplace and wrap some small gifts for any children who showed up to the party.

  Draeken insisted on the gifts because, he said, “What kind of Christmas party doesn’t have fun gifts for kids? It’s a must.” They’d selected a stuffed green Maxwell the Martian alien doll dressed in a Santa hat with the current year stitched on the white edging and a red-and-white striped scarf, attached permanently around his neck, whipping behind him. Good for both boys and girls, it was just a little different than what might normally be found in Nocturne Falls. For example, no fangs, pointed ears or fire-breathing capabilities.

  As they left the house, Stella snuggled against Draeken’s side, hoping he felt better about what he was doing with his life. He’d always had an artistic soul and she wanted him to be happy. She hoped he’d be okay with the multitude of surprises coming his way in the next day or so.

  Chapter Six

  Draeken woke the next morning in a much better frame of mind. Stella’s swift and protective reaction to his comments about being a jack-of-all-trades and an ex-con had been illuminating. In those tense few moments, he didn’t doubt her love for him. She’d been ready to pick a fight with anyone who dared mess with him and he loved that about her.

  But something was up. Something was different. He sensed it. He just hadn’t figured out what. Perhaps it was the stress of keeping holiday secrets from each other. Hopefully by the time they got back to Alienn, things would return to normal.

  Tonight was their party. He looked forward to it. They’d planned a very casual event with snacks and delicious chocolate from Delaney’s and something Stella called finger foods—which seemed perfect for a Halloween-themed town—and hand-decorated cookies to go with the presents for the kids. Good food, good conversation, good fun and a surprise for Stella. He couldn’t wait.

  Holden and Victoria showed up two hours before the party started to help finish up any last-minute chores and errands.

  Bubba and Astrid would be delayed, as Pandora had taken them under her wing to help yet another Alienn couple search for a Nocturne Falls home. Draeken hoped they’d be neighbors or at least find a house within walking distance.

  He continued to worry about Stella, but planned his day around catching her under the mistletoe to at least kiss her silly. He convinced himself things would be fine. It alarmed him when Hank, Ivy and their little boy Charlie arrived with Hannah Rose and Stella teared up as she held the baby. Hank clapped a commiserating hand on his shoulder and said—out of earshot of his wife and Stella—that in his experience, women always teared up around babies. He rolled his eyes, explained it was a “woman thing” he hadn’t truly figured out, then speculated that maybe it was because his Hannah Rose was the most beautiful baby girl in the state of Georgia. Draeken agreed that must be it.

  He sincerely hoped things would go back to normal after the holidays.

  The party was smooth sailing. People came and went in a steady stream for the first couple of hours, enjoying chatting, snacking and shots of Arkansas moonshine he and Stella had smuggled in for the occasion, not even bothering to water it down with eggnog. Why would they?

  Hank gave them a narrow-eyed stare, but sampled some and conceded the prime hooch would be a welcome addition to Nocturne Falls’s adult liquid options.

  The Maxwell the Mar
tian stuffed dolls were a big hit with the kids.

  Draeken wondered what was keeping Bubba and Astrid, but kept the question to himself. Stella was busy holding Hannah Rose so Ivy could get a bite to eat. She looked so happy he didn’t want to interrupt her joy.

  If the exuberant comments of their guests on the way out the door were any indication, he and Stella had thrown an awesome party. Draeken was delighted and Stella seemed relieved, though she became teary eyed when the time came to give up the sleeping baby. He’d never seen his fierce warrior so, well, girly, for lack of a better word. Truth be told, he didn’t hate her new, softer attitude. It was an intriguing side of her, and proved he still had a lot to learn about his wife.

  The party hadn’t quite broken up when a loud knock sounded at the front door. “That’s probably Bubba and Astrid,” Stella said. “Could you let them in?”

  “Sure thing.” He hoped it wasn’t his surprise. If it was, he’d call Stella to come join him.

  The room quieted as Draeken answered the door. He popped the front door open, expecting to see Bubba and Astrid. He stared, for an instant only seeing one of the four people on the porch, dumbfounded.

  His brother grinned and punched him in the chest. “Hey, old man. How’s it going? Earther life looks good on you.”

  “Riker? What are you doing here?” Draeken felt his grin widen to match Riker’s.

  “Are you surprised?”

  “I am stunned.”

  “Are you going to let us in?”

  Draeken laughed and opened their door wide. He turned and met Stella’s sparkling gaze. “Surprise,” she said.

  Riker stepped over the threshold, followed by his wife Elise, Bubba and Astrid.

  Draeken caught his brother in a bear hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. And Elise, too! All the way from,” he only just stopped himself from saying “Alpha-Prime” in front of their terrestrial guests and finished, “back home.”

  “Thank Bubba and Astrid for picking us up at the airport in Atlanta. And Stella, of course. She orchestrated the whole thing. She wanted us to visit for Contribution Day—I mean, Christmas. We would have been here sooner, but there was an ice storm in Arkansas and we got grounded there.”

  Elise was the next recipient of Draeken’s enthusiastic embrace as he said to Bubba and Astrid, “I thought you two were looking at houses.”

  “We did,” Bubba said. “We drove to Atlanta after touring houses with Pandora.”

  “Find anything?”

  “The perfect place,” Astrid said.

  “Where?”

  “Three doors down from here, on the same side of the street.”

  “You don’t mind if we crash your street, do you?” Bubba asked, in a tone that suggested he didn’t care if Draeken did mind.

  “As long as you stop beating me to Delaney’s shop.”

  “Not likely.”

  “Okay, you can still live down the street. At least I know where to go for an emergency chocolate fix.”

  “Me, too.”

  Clearly sensitive to the emotions behind the surprise family reunion, the remaining guests thanked Draeken and Stella for a wonderful time and departed, leaving only aliens behind to chat and catch up.

  Bubba and Draeken discussed their love of Delaney’s Delectables and gobbled up a plate of treats between them, once Stella stopped giving him that judgy, disapproving look. No need to reserve the chocolate treats for their guests.

  Riker joined them with a plate of his own special treat. “These are my favorites. I got hooked on them at the Ever After Bridal Boutique while Elise was picking out a wedding dress. I’ve been dreaming about these little iced diamond cakes for six months.”

  “Oh, yeah? What flavor?”

  “White chocolate lemon coconut.”

  Draeken eyed the plate and wondered if he’d pull back a stump if he attempted to steal one. Probably. He tried a different tack. “I’ll trade you a cherry almond truffle for one of your white chocolate lemon coconut iced cakes.”

  Riker considered the treat he pointed to and nodded. “Deal.”

  They each popped a traded treat in their mouths and moaned. “I may have a new favorite,” they said at the same time. Then they said, “Jinx!” and punched each other in the shoulder. The Grey brothers had taught them a lot in the short time they’d been together in Alienn, Arkansas.

  Bubba and Astrid filled the newcomers in about their new venture in Nocturne Falls.

  “I’ve been assigned to be sort of like the alien liaison between Nocturne Falls and Alienn. Astrid and I will live here on a permanent basis. She can go back to work with her friends at Enchanted Garden and I will manage issues with Alphas living in the area or those who wish to visit or live here.

  “Tell them what else you’d like to do,” Astrid said. “I think it’s awesome.”

  One corner of Bubba’s mouth lifted in amusement. “Since Astrid and I can read human minds, I’m thinking about opening an establishment that offers psychic readings. I’m in negotiations with the leadership in Nocturne Falls to offer the service to visiting humans. We’ll have Alphas with the talent for it rotated here to work for a month at a time and see how we do.”

  “You could offer it to supernaturals, too,” Draeken said.

  He shrugged. “Can’t read everyone.”

  “Who can’t you read?”

  “Witches, as it turns out. I’ve broken out in a sweat trying to read Pandora Williams’s mind more than once. Nothing. And then it looks like I’m staring at her. Awkward.”

  “Huh? Is it all witches or just her?”

  “All the witches I’ve met in town so far. Pandora, Kaley, Marigold, Saffron, Astrid’s friend Holli, and last but not least, Corette the wedding dress store owner. I can’t read any of them.”

  “Vampires are easy to read, but I do my level best not to make the effort anymore.”

  “Probably a good idea. As part of the business, I’ll offer an alien matchmaking service for a few special supernatural customers.”

  Stella asked, “What’s an alien matchmaking service?”

  “If there are any supernatural folks looking for Alpha mates, my business will help them make the connection.” He shrugged. “I think there could be a market for it.”

  “Right. And you could call it Bubba’s Matchmaking Service,” Draeken said.

  Before anyone could comment, the front door rattled as someone pounded on it. Draeken jerked to attention. His surprise! He’d forgotten all about it when his brother arrived so unexpectedly.

  Chapter Seven

  Draeken tried to look nonchalant when Stella sent a look his way. He was anything but calm. His heartbeat sped to double when she asked, “Who could that be at this hour?”

  “Late party arrival?” he suggested, knowing full well it wasn’t. Well, not exactly.

  “I don’t think so.” Stella stood up to go to the door. “The party’s over.”

  Draeken shrugged while holding in his anticipation. That’s what you think.

  Riker gave him a look that said, “I know you’re up to something.” Stella was halfway to the door. Draeken signaled his brother to be cool as he stood to join her.

  “It’s only nine o’clock,” Draeken said. “Maybe whoever it is couldn’t get here until now.” He hoped this was going to be a welcome surprise for her.

  “Maybe. But this is a small town, just like Alienn. I thought all small towns rolled up the sidewalks after eight o’clock at night.”

  Draeken kissed her cheek. “Let’s see who it is, then we can decide whether to let them in.”

  Stella opened the door. No one was there. She leaned her head forward slightly and squinted into the darkness. Draeken could barely contain his glee. A rustling sound drew her eyes down. The little fluffy white puppy sat in a basket identical to the one the black kitten had arrived in earlier.

  “Woof,” said the puppy.

  His wife sucked in a breath of surprise. That was the best. “Where did you
come from?” she asked. The look on her face was even better than he anticipated.

  “Woof,” the puppy said again. The joy on Stella’s face was something to behold. She was most definitely not allergic to canines. Draeken chortled inside, so happy Stella liked his surprise.

  She bent down to pick up what he considered the cutest thing he’d ever seen. The wriggling little fluff beast licked her face enthusiastically, letting out little yips of puppyish pleasure. She giggled, trying only half-heartedly to stop the pup’s face washing as she stepped out onto the porch and looked around.

  “Do you think the delivery guy is about to swoop in and take him to another address?”

  “No,” Draeken said. “This one is the keeper.”

  “Keeper?”

  “Surprise, Stella! Merry Christmas. I got you a puppy. Isn’t he cute?”

  She sucked in an even deeper breath of surprise and her face glowed. “He’s perfect. How did you know I wanted a fluffy white puppy?”

  “You told me once.”

  “Did I? I don’t remember that.”

  “It was a long time ago, when we first met. You were telling me about where you grew up and about not having any friends at the children’s home because they all got families and moved away. You begged the head supervisor for a pet, but she never agreed. You said no pets were allowed, but that you always wanted a cute little white puppy. I thought it was about time you had one.”

  Stella nuzzled her face into the little beastie’s fur as it continued to squirm in her arms and lick her face. She turned toward him. Tears fell from her eyes copiously. Oh no.

  “Don’t cry, Stella.” Draeken was at a loss. He’d been so sure she’d like this surprise.

  “But he’s so perfect. I love you so much. Thank you, Draeken. This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”

  Whew! “You’re welcome.” Draeken released a huge breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He hugged her and she hugged him back. The kiss was flavored with her tears, but they were tears of joy, so he was okay with that. The puppy started licking his face, too.