The Vampire's Valentine Surprise: A Nocturne Falls Short Read Online Free

early so she could monitor the progress and make a judgment call before they had any chance of being overcooked. The temperature gauge she’d set on the first rack was reading a little high compared to what the temperature was supposed to be, so she lowered the oven by ten degrees.
    Satisfied, she got to work on her frosting, losing herself in the process she so enjoyed. By the time the timer went off, she had finished the mascarpone frosting and was halfway through the white chocolate buttercream.
    She whipped around to get the cakes out and a wave of dizziness hit her. It felt like the sort of thing that sometimes happened when she hadn’t fed for a while. She chalked it up to being overstressed because she’d fed yesterday morning, a necessity to keep herself healthy as a vampire. She could easily go two or three days between feedings.
    As far as normal food went, she’d had two pieces of toast this morning and nothing else. Her nerves made it seem like anything more would be risking an upset stomach.
    Steadying herself, she got the cakes out and put them on racks to cool.
    Could vampires get upset stomachs? Because she kind of felt like hers was about to rebel. Her mouth watered and a sudden swell of nausea spun through her.
    What on earth was going on?
    She leaned against her worktable, her gaze landing on her coffee. The cup had been in her station even while she’d been talking to Mary. And then again when she’d taken the eggs back to Mary.
    Holy fudgeballs. Had Vicky Keller put something in her coffee? She’d certainly had the chance.
    Delaney blew out a long, slow breath in an effort to calm herself. She straightened and stared at the cakes she’d just taken out, not really seeing them as she tried to determine if Vicky was really that awful of a person.
    “Hey you.”
    Delaney turned. Carefully. Then her jaw fell open. “Roxy? You’re here?”
    The woman standing in the tent aisle grinned. “Yep.” She pulled off her sunglasses and raised her hands. “Surprise!”
    “No kidding! Wow!” Delaney rushed around the front table to hug her friend. Roxy St. James was one of Delaney’s besties from college and they’d recently reconnected on social media.
    Delaney released Roxy enough to see her friend better. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Where are you staying? Are you here by yourself? Are you looking at houses?”
    Roxy shrugged, her pretty hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. “I didn’t tell you I was coming because I knew you were competing today and I didn’t want you to worry about me when you had so much other stuff to focus on.” She settled her sunglasses on the top of her head and leaned in to say in a mock whisper, “Plus, you know, paparazzi.”
    Delaney laughed, instantly feeling better. The petite brunette was sharp, funny and, in some circles, kind of famous. The woman had made a name for herself writing paranormal romance novels. She’d just gone through an awful divorce and when she’d mentioned wanting a fresh start, Delaney had told her about Nocturne Falls. Not everything about Nocturne Falls. Roxy was human, after all. “It’s so good to see you.”
    “You too.” Roxy squinted. “I hate to even say this, but are you feeling okay? You look a little…I don’t know. Tired. I’m sorry, never mind. I’m sure it’s just a busy day, huh?”
    “It is, but I don’t feel like myself at all.” Delaney grabbed Roxy’s hand and pulled her into the baking station to get her away from the milling crowds. “Don’t laugh, but I think someone might have slipped something into my coffee.”
    “What?” Roxy’s eyes rounded. “For real?”
    Delaney nodded. She’d known immediately Roxy wouldn’t blow it off. Her writer’s brain probably knew everything was a possibility. “It’s a long story, but the woman in question has a big grudge against me and my husband’s family. Her daughter is competing today and the kid is as sweet as can be, but her mother is