A Moonlight Valentine's Chapter 3 - Byron

Fucking hell, I’m making a fool of myself. Tragically, it’s not even the first time. I unintentionally used the same words from her book when I told her what I was. Yes, it was unintentional. While I’ve read her books, in ways I even feel like I’ve lived them given my dreams, but that doesn’t mean I set out to quote a character in her book. Then, when I offered to buy her this house, she was hesitant. The only way I got her to let me buy it was for her to put some of her money into the purchase and that the deed would only ever be in her name.

Now I’m doing it again. I didn’t check with Shannon in advance. At least not to know she’d even want to go out tonight. I knew she had no plans—just another Friday night at home with her kids. Then, I showed up with my presumptions and overstepping. Shit, was I behaving like a controlling dick? Planning everything without consulting her, and now, with Evie here, putting her in a position where she might feel pressured to say yes.

“You don’t have to say yes. We don’t have to go out. I can offer the reservations to another couple, and we could stay in. I could run to the store and get stuff to make you and the kids dinner.” I offered her a way out.

“Holy shit, Delta Dani totally fucked you in the head.” Evie laughed as she patted my back.

“Shut it, wolf.” I hissed, trying to be quiet enough that Shannon wouldn’t hear me.

“Evie, that’s not very nice.” Shannon scolded. “And Byron, it’s okay. An unexpected but not unwelcome surprise.” She smiled and sniffed the roses.

“So that’s a…” I arched my brow, shrugging Evie’s hand off.

“Yes. Let me put these in some water and change. Which… given you look nice, I should probably dress up too.” Shannon smiled, and before she passed me, she paid and kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Byron.”

“I’m going to check on the kids and see what they want to do tonight.”Evie chuckled as she went deeper into the house.

I followed Evie because standing in Shannon’s office like a dumbass sounded pathetic. Besides, I wanted to see the kids for longer than a few seconds. I liked her kids, and I never thought I’d like kids. When I was human, I found my little brother insufferable. But I like Shannon’s kids. I found the four smallest ones in the living room watching some cartoon I didn’t know while Kennedy was helping Evie clean up the table in the breakfast area while Shannon was in the kitchen pulling down a crystal vase for the roses.

“Based on the construction paper, glue, and glitter, you had quite the arts and crafts session,” I commented.

“Up!” Russ demanded, arms raised.

I smiled and happily held the youngest. I don’t mind that Russ tragically shares some features, especially his hair and eyes, with that scumbag Eric. It’s not Russ or any of the kids’ fault they got a top five worst days I’ve seen. Dani’s dad still wins the #1 spot, even if he’s dead. Mine is in that top five, and in comparison to Eric and Michael, my old man moved down the list. That says a lot since my dad was an abusive alcoholic who kicked me out without a second thought.

“Hey, little man. Did you make mommy a card?” I asked, investigating his hands to be sure he wouldn’t get glitter on me.

I am not a fan of glitter. Even less after those Twilight books falsely claimed my people glitter in the sunlight. Ugh. I don’t glitter like some diamond in the sun. I burn like a marshmallow held too close and too long to an open flame. Other than that, I had no real issues with the books. I wouldn’t have published them, but I’m a vampire, so I couldn’t and wouldn’t put my brand on a series that made vampires glitter. I publish supernatural fantasy books. That’s why I even met Shannon after all.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t let Russ near the glitter. Just watch out for Shauna. She might still have glitter on her hands.” Kennedy shrugged.

“Evie, that means they all need to take baths tonight. And their clothes can be thrown into the wash. I don’t want glitter on any other dirty clothes.” Shannon sighed as if she realized her children probably had glitter on their clothes and persons.

“I DON’T WANNA TAKE A BATH!” Bobby shouted.

“Bobby, do not argue with me. You’ll take a bath and be a good boy for Evie.” Shannon waved a warning finger at her middle son.

“Now I’m going to go change. I’ll be down in like five.” Shannon sighed and paused, kissing Russ and me on the cheek before escaping to the first-floor master bedroom.

Those five minutes came and went. I helped entertain the little ones while Kennedy helped Evie clean up and start their dinner. Sensing this was taking too long, I extracted myself from Shauna, telling me in great detail why I should love Bluey to check. Evie arched her brow as I cut through the kitchen to the master bedroom. Cautiously, I knocked, and when I heard an eep followed by a thud, I let myself in.

“Shannon? Are you alright?” I called out as I hurried to the walk-in closet through the bathroom.

“No…” Shannon sniffled from the floor, surrounded by a disaster zone of her clothes.

I sighed and carefully stepped over the clothes to crouch next to her. “Shannon, are you having trouble deciding what to wear?” I asked.

“Is it that obvious? I don’t have anything nice. I have mom clothes.” She sobbed, holding up well-worn plain tops and stained jeans. “I haven’t been on a date since high school.”

I sighed and pulled her into a hug. “That’s the past. This is the present. As long as I’m around, which I’m immortal, and you let me, you’ll be taken out on all the dates you want. And by dates, I don’t just mean dates of us but also dates where we take kids too.”

“Why?” Shannon pointedly asked, tears still in her eyes and staining her cheeks. “Why would you even want someone like me? I have five kids, the wardrobe of a mom with five kids, and like you pointed out, you’re immortal.”

“You won’t believe me yet. But I hope one day you will.” I sighed as I cupped her cheeks, wiping the tears with my thumbs. “You are beautiful just the way you are. You are beautiful inside and out. You are literally the woman of my dreams, or have you forgotten that I dreamt of you before you submitted that first manuscript about Duke Byron.”

She laughed softly. “I haven’t forgotten. In the books, it made sense why Duke Byron would fall for Lady Grace. But that was a fantasy. This is reality.”

“Reality or fantasy, the reasons I want to be with you are the same. There is something indescribable about you. It draws me in, captivates me, and makes me feel things I didn’t know I could.” I smiled and kissed her forehead. “Now, let’s find you some clothes so we can go.”

Shannon sighed but didn’t argue with me. Instead, she gestured around her. “Like what? I told you I don’t have anything nice in my wardrobe.”

“You’re just not looking through the proper eyes.” I smiled as I helped her to her feet.

“If you can find something in this disaster of mom jeans that would be suitable for a Valentine’s date with you, go for it.” She rolled her eyes.

I chuckled and, in moments, had her closet back into the impeccably organized state I know Shannon typically kept it in and stopped holding up a simple little black knee-sheath-length dress.

“This should be perfect. Heels are optional.” I winked and offered her the dress. “I’ll leave you to get changed. I’ll wait for a proper invitation to see you naked.” I smiled and kissed her cheek on my way out.

Building this woman’s self-confidence will be a long road, but I’m here for the long haul.