Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(45)

“He’ll be fine.” Chad was along on this endeavor because Daniel wouldn’t leave the fledgling alone. He was too young to be trusted, but Chad was proving to be stronger than all expectations. “Just keep him and Dev apart, and we’ll get through it. I’ve been told I get to hunt in something called ‘the old ways’ tonight. I think that involves some form of cattle. Why I have to drain some poor unsuspecting cow when my little piece of hotness over there tastes so good, I have no idea.”

“Zoey, let’s go!” Dev yelled out the window.

I rolled my eyes. Chad smiled sympathetically. “You know, I used to envy you with your two superhot guys.”

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”





Chapter Twelve





“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley,” Mary Jo Renfro greeted as Dev and I entered some form of pastel hell.

The Hideawhile Bideawhile Bed and Breakfast was a rambling Victorian with a large porch and vaulted ceilings. It was also painted pink. The lawn was a meticulously groomed piece of green surrounded by the wild Ozarks. Unfortunately, the lovely lawn was covered in statuary one can only find at the finest of home improvement stores and probably a local Walmart. There were several Venuses, countless cherubs and angels, and I spotted a couple of well-placed garden gnomes. I’d hoped the inside would be better, but I was disappointed.

Our proprietor, and unknowing mark, was a small woman in a long khaki skirt and a fussy button-down shirt. She wore comfortable shoes, and her non-descript brown hair was in a ponytail. I noticed her necklace, a silver angel. It was a theme of the B&B. Little angel statues littered every available space. I especially liked the ones where a giant angel loomed lovingly over a small town. I’m sure the purpose was to show the angel protecting her charges, but I just wanted the angel to start stomping out the little town like a big old heavenly Godzilla.

“We’re so happy you made it,” Mary Jo was saying. “We were getting a little worried about the two of you. We didn’t want you to miss our little cocktail hour.”

Dev smiled, a smooth expression guaranteed to melt the heart of any female within a hundred yards of that high-wattage charm. “We’re thrilled to be here, Mrs. Renfro.”

Mrs. Renfro actually giggled. “Oh my, you’re an exceptionally attractive man, Mr. O’Malley. You should make quite the splash in our little community. All the girls will just be swooning.”

Dev slung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close. “Unfortunately, I’m off the market. My lovely wife and I just got married. I’m afraid I only have eyes for her. You know how newlyweds are.”

“I do, indeed.” Her voice had a girlish affectation to it. “You’re a lucky woman, Mrs. O’Malley, to have snagged such a handsome man.”

She gave me a once-over, obviously wondering exactly what I had done to deserve him since I wasn’t in his league.

Dev was the lucky one because he was still alive. I thought several times about murdering him during our brief car ride. He’d been sullen and silent throughout the trip, refusing to answer my questions. When I’d ask about the possibility of children left behind in his sithein, I’d been told to mind my own damn business. I really couldn’t wait to get to our room so I could let my boyfriend know exactly what my damn business was.

“I am lucky. It took a lot to get this one pinned down, let me tell you.” It hadn’t. I’d managed to pin him down the first night we were together, and he’d been happy to do it. I sighed with what I hoped was a look of longing. “I think we’ll skip the social hour tonight, Mrs. Renfro. You understand, right?”

We were supposed to be newlyweds after all. It was supposed to be our first night of wedded bliss.

“Now, honey,” Dev replied. “We don’t want to be antisocial. We’ve waited this long. We can wait a few more hours.”

I quietly brought my entire body weight down on his big toe. I was rewarded with a muffled groan. Dev had never waited for anything in his life. I especially didn’t like the fact that our hostess was now looking at me like I was a sex-crazed maniac, and Dev was some poor man at my mercy. Dev was going to find out later tonight that I didn’t have any mercy.

An elderly man took our bags while Dev signed us in, and then we were shown into the parlor where cocktails were being served from a small tray. The backwoods version of cocktails was a little different than what Dev and I were used to.

“Where’s the vodka?” I whispered as I looked around the room. This was supposed to be a place frequented by honeymooners. Dev and I were easily the youngest people in the room by forty years.

“I don’t know,” he whispered back.

“Let me introduce you.” Mary Jo pressed a tiny glass of something that vaguely resembled wine into my hand. “Sherry. It’s your honeymoon. Live a little.”

As pissed as I was at Dev, I smiled up at him because this was a story we would tell for a very long time. He graciously took his tiny glass and let his free hand cup my waist. We were introduced to three other couples. The Milmans, the Ruckers, and the Bells. Dev smoothly managed to mingle, putting everyone at ease. It wasn’t long before we were seated for dinner, and Dev had all eyes on him. It was where he felt most comfortable. As I watched him converse with the older couples and our host, I was struck by how polished he was. Sometimes it was easy to see that he was the son of a queen. I rarely thought about it, but Dev’s upbringing more than likely consisted of a lot of training in courtly practices. I spent enough time with Fae creatures to know a little about their culture. Royalty in the faery world kicked it old school. There was no democracy. The queen’s power would be absolute, until someone killed her or she gave her throne to one of her children. I wondered if Dev was the oldest. Had he been promised a throne only to have it taken away when they discovered his mortality?