Unraveling Sarah Cresley by Marisa Maichel (best summer books .txt) 📕

"How, and why?" she asked.

"My family is very rich, one of the richest families in the world. We do not show off our wealth like many others do, but we are still very rich. My father's Ferrari and Rolls Royce are the most expensive cars we have. We have several businesses and organizations. We are covered for the next couple millenia at least if we're careful. And we are extremely careful with our assets and vassals. And as for why, you are a part of our family now. I know it all seems sudden and probably frightening to you. You are mine, and by the laws of family values and honor, you will receive part of our monetary assets. My father has already put twenty five thousand dollars in your checking account."

"Again, how?"

"We have ways, my sweet. The rest of my family likes you. As for me, I love, admire, adore, and value you. I place you on a tier. I've loved you since the moment I saw you in freshman year. My apologies for not acting sooner, but I was frightened. I'm not much to look at, while you are the most gorgeous creature on this planet. In the universe. Plus, you almost always had a boy in your life. I knew that you would reject me, and the mere thought broke my heart. You are well-liked and so amazing, and kind, and wonderful, and smart, and perfect, and I'm just...."

"You are the most beautiful person on the planet, Reese," she said, throwing my own words back at me. Her eyes were filled with tears. She hugged me and buried her face in my shirt. She started crying. "You are so good to me," she babbled. "I don't deserve any of this."

"Don't say that. You deserve every bit. And trust me, whatever you've done in the past, it's nothing compared to what I'm capable of. What I've already done." She gave me a confused look. She buried her face in my shirt again. "Calm down, my love. We still need to get your breakfast."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into a small diner. She had finally calmed down. It was sprinkling softly, washing away the snow. I pulled out an umbrella for her. She stepped out of the van without assistance, nearly tripping. I caught her just in time. She blushed and opened the umbrella, grabbing her purse. She held my hand and followed me into the diner.

We were seated by a perky hostess at a window booth. Sarah ordered tea, hashbrowns, bacon, and eggs. I ordered the same thing with plain water. When the drinks came, she put several packets of sweetener in the tea.

"So, I'm a part of your family now?" she asked, stirring it.

"Yes," I said. I didn't mention that it would be official when we got married. "You can spend it anyway you like. You'll keep getting it unless we break up or one of us passes away." I shuddered at the thought of losing her. "You can go on as many shopping sprees as you like." She smiled and blushed. "My family also has several organizations and businesses. For example, my father has a cousin who is a well-known publisher. We own that business, and it has published many bestselling novels and booktapes. My uncle has worked for a company that builds and sells military weapons on and off through the years.

"Louis, when he works, has worked for colleges and celebrities. He even met Gene Kelly once. He also does part-time work for Washington D.C."

She took in all this information with rapt attention. "What does your father also do?"

"He also owns several corporations. He has stock in companies that do well. He was barely affected when the stock market crashed."

She continued eating her meal. We ate in silence. Well, she ate, I just pushed the food around to make it look like I was eating. I admit that the eggs and bacon particularly smelled good, but I'd probably get a wicked stomachache. My abs tightened when I tried to actually taste the egg. I tasted the bacon. It was crunchy, slightly salty, slightly smoky, and full of flavor.

The hashbrowns were crunchy on one side, soft on the other. I wondered if that was how they were supposed to be. Sarah seemed to be enjoying hers, so I thought nothing more about it. When she finished her meal, I offered her the rest of my food. She happily took it.

I asked for to-go boxes and the check. The waitress happily brought out both. I left a hefty tip.

The rain was coming down harder, and the umbrella almost went inside out. I helped Sarah up, made sure she was secure, then closed her door and went to the driver's side. I fumbled around for a cigarette.

"You smoke?" Sarah asked as I lit it up.

"Occasionally," I answered, and opened the window a notch. "Let me know if it bothers you." I smoked while I drove. First, I drove back to her house. I helped her out again. I smelled a familiar smell. My father. What was he doing here? I decided to find out.

I followed Sarah into the house, and was greeted again by the dogs, although Coffee just sniffed me once and then scurried away as fast as her little legs could carry her. Spunk jumped on me again and I picked him up. Sarah mouthed the word "wow".

She and I went to the living room, and I put Spunk down. Father and Alicia were talking in the dining room. Sarah sat on the couch and turned on the TV. While she looked for something good, I listened to my father and Alicia speak.

"She will receive this every week," Father was saying. "You and Sabine will receive some as well."

"All our money problems are over," Alicia said with a relieved sigh.

"Yes, they will be."

"How are you getting this money?"

"That is our business. And do not ask Sarah. She does not know, either." He was bluffing. He glanced over at me and winked. He had seen us in the diner. I would probably get scolded later. Alicia took a sip out of a bottle. Sarah eyed it suspiciously.

"It's not what you think it is, baby girl," Alicia told her daughter.

"Mom, it looks like it," Sarah said.

"I know, but I swear it's just root beer," Alicia said. Father raised an eyebrow and looked at me. I shrugged. Sarah glanced at me and blushed, burying her face in my shoulder. She seemed embarassed. I wondered if Alicia had had alcohol problems in the past.

Meanwhile, I held Sarah as if she was a lifeline. She had turned the TV to a music channel; "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran filled our ears. She put her head on my chest, and I wrapped an arm around her. Alicia took several pictures of us, looking to and away from the camera. She insisted that we smile in at least one.

"Can I braid your hair?" I asked.

"Sure," she said, and got a small brush and hair tie out of her bag. She even got out an item that was both a compact mirror and a hairbrush in one with a cute frog on the front. I picked it up.

"I have never seen anything like this," I stated, pressing the plastic bristles out.

"Sarah likes to shop at stores for preteen for their hair accessories," Alicia said.

"Mom!" Sarah cried, blushing crimson. I ran the compact brush through her hair. Sarah held out a bottle of detangler and a small one of hairspray.

"Whoa," I commented.

"She never goes anywhere without a whole set of hair stuff," Alicia said. "She's probably got some mousse or gel in there too." Sarah mouthed a very dirty phrase. Luckily, Alicia neither heard it nor saw Sarah's lips moving.

As I brushed her hair, my father said that he had to leave. Alicia asked him if he wanted to stay for lunch. Father refused, saying that he had to get back to his store. He had left his nephew in charge. I started twisting and twirling my soulmate's hair. As soon as I reached the ends, I began braiding. When I finished, I put a hairtie behind the last braid. She took it from there and twisted it into a bun, which she tied with another hairtie.

Sarah leaned against me. I purred as she placed her head on my chest. I laid back. She laid back with me. I wrapped a leg around hers.

Sweet mate. Beautiful mate. Loving mate. She closed her eyes, and seconds later, she was asleep. I picked her up and took her to bed. I switched out her flat pillow for a fuller one. I took off her Uggs and took the second tie out of her hair. I put the braid to one side and covered her with blankets. I kissed her lips.

"I love you," I said, petting her forehead. "Call me if you need me."

~~~~~~~~~~~

I hugged Grandfather quickly. He pecked the top of my head.

"I'll see you in Denmark, my boy," he said affectionately. He had already packed and a limo was waiting to take him to my father's private jet. "Have your father tell you about more of our allied covens and clans."

Despite being a vampire prince, my father kept me sheltered from some things. Grandfather pressed his lips to my forehead one more time before he left.

"Take care of him, Mordecai," he called out.

"Don't I always?" Father said sarcastically, leaning against the wall and waving at his father. Uncle Soren and Louis were also going with Grandfather, but we'd already said our goodbyes. Louis insisted on bringing Shadowfang, so I was rid of him, at least for a while. I missed that cat already.

Father insisted that Dimitri and Toby go with our family members for extra protection. Spencer and Janna would stay here until we were ready to leave. I had called Sarah and told her to begin packing. I had sent Janna over to help her. Sarah called and confirmed that I knew Janna. Alexander was told to stay away from her until the six-month mark. We all knew he wouldn't, but it was worth a try.

I had also begun packing. I took out my biggest suitcase and started folding clothes and putting them in. Unopened deodorant and toothbrush went in. A small bottle of my favorite cologne went in. Even my MAC eyeliner went in.

When I had that suitcase packed, I zipped it up, and dumped out my backpack. I started cramming extra clothes and books in there. I even packed my laptop.

"Pack a couple movies, too," Father said. "We might have some delays because there is supposed to be a snow storm the day we're supposed to leave." I scoffed. Our local weatherman was as unpredictable and unreliable as a Kansas sky.

As soon as we finished packing, we went outside to our own waiting limousine. Sarah would be impressed.

It was slow-going getting to her house, because it turned out to be traffic that was the biggest problem. It had also begun to rain. As soon as we got to the house, I went up to the front door and knocked. Again, I was greeted with an enthusiastic yellow lab named Spunk. Alicia let me in, and eyed the limo. Sarah and Sabine came down with her bags and suitcase.

"Why can't I go?" Sabine whined when she saw the limo.

"You weren't invited," Alicia said. "Really, Sabine, you don't even want to go to Denmark."

"Maybe next year," I said to brighten Sabine's mood. She grinned and popped her gum. I took Sarah's suitcase by the handle, and her backpack, and took both of them down the steps. My girl followed closely behind, wrapped in a brown trench coat, clutching a pink purse. Spencer took her bags from me and put them in the trunk with the rest