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“Trucker, fight for us,” she pleaded.

“I am and I’ll win too,” he boasted.

On the long drive back home, Julie
contemplated the last few days, her beliefs, and most of all the
feelings she had for the guy sitting next to her. They were
confusing and one conflicted with the other. How could she love
him, after knowing what he was? She tried reasoning with herself,
but there was no reasoning when it came to the feelings she had for
him.

“Julie, are you going to get that?” Trucker
startled her as he pointed down to her purse that held her ringing
cell phone.

“Oh,” Julie gave herself a mental shake and
glanced at the phone. She was relieved to see it was Tiffany. She
needed to hear from the normal world.

“Hello,” Julie quietly said.

“Hey girl, so Trucker got you a new
phone?”

“Yeah, I guess you got my text.”

“Of course, so what else has Prince Charming
got planned? Maybe, he will kidnap you, take you off to some exotic
island, and will keep you all to himself for days.” Tiffany said.
Julie scrambled for a thought, after the last few days she knew
Trucker wanted to hide her away.

“No, but that does sound fun. How’s your
weekend going?”

“It’s been so much fun,” Tiffany gushed.
“Gene’s coming over. He’s such a gentleman.” Tiffany launched into
a play by play of every detail of the plans that Gene and her had
made. It was peaceful to listen to all the trappings of a
completely normal life. She needed to touch base with that side of
her existence. Yes, Trucker had turned her life on its head, but
she wouldn’t want to imagine not having him in it. She stroked his
thigh to let him know he was still number one in her life.

“So what have you been up to?” Tiffany
asked.

Julie touched the bare skin of Trucker’s arm,
to feel its coolness.
What have I been up to? I had a fight over
an angry demon, who I’m sure wants me dead. Found out that Truck
has to marry her in six years. My life has fallen into a never
ending cyclone of crazy.
“Not much, just normal stuff. Trucker
is taking me home right now.”

“Oh, didn’t realize you were with him. Guess
I should’ve known. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Tiff.” Julie hung up the phone.

“So, even your friends suspect I want to
kidnap you,” Trucker said with his lopsided smile. She should’ve
known he was listening.

“Yeah, I guess, but you don’t have to. I’m
stupid enough to stay on my own freewill. Although, I have to say,
she had a pretty good idea.”

“Maybe, I’ll have to check into it. Got any
exotic places in mind?”

“No,” she said and playfully slapped at his
arm. “Thanks for allowing me to give out this number to a few
friends, too.” Julie said as she gave her cellphone a small
shake.

“Yeah, sorry I overreacted again.”

“That’s your MO. I wouldn’t accept anything
less.” She started ruffling his hair up. It did seem to be getting
easier for him to stay around her. “I like you like this,” she told
him. She did, this is what she was fighting for. “Can we go to the
pond first, I’m not ready to leave you yet?” she asked. She wasn’t
ready to leave him, not when he was in that state of mind.

“Can I take you somewhere else?” he asked,
pouting. How could she tell that face no?

“Where?” She smooth her fingertips down his
unshaven face.

“My granny’s farm.” His million-watt smile
lit up his face
,
even his eyes sparkled.

“You have a granny?” Julie asked, scrunching
up her face in disbelief.

“Yes, a wonderful, sweet, human granny.
She’ll love you too. That’s where Sea is spending the weekend.”

“Let’s go.” She needed to see the human side
of Trucker more than ever.

Julie could seriously get whiplash in his
world. They went from talking about shape shifters and him drinking
her blood to sitting at a big farmhouse table eating lunch with his
granny. Trucker’s granny, Ms. Margaret Lou, was around seventy
years old and weighed probably around three hundred pounds. She had
short white permed hair, a small tight lip, and enough varicose
veins to make a road map with, and Julie loved her. She was the
sweetest, happiest lady with the best hugs. Julie caught his granny
watching her as if she was trying to see something in her.

“Does she know?” Julie whispered to
Trucker.

“Yes,” he answered. “It’s hard to hide my
temper.”

“Is she trying to figure out if I’m
human?”

“Yes,” he whispered back, then laughed, this
big robust laugh. “Granny, don’t worry she’s as human and wonderful
as you,” he stated proudly.

“She knows?” Granny screeched, her mouth
drawn tight. She stared in disbelief.

“Yeah, she’s my angel.” He beamed. “The angel
you and mom always said would save me.”

Granny’s tight lips cracked open into a
smile.

They spent the rest of the day playing with
Sea and watching the animals. Julie got to feed a baby goat a
bottle. The animals were terrified of Trucker. They would run as
far and fast as they could from him. He told her when he was a kid
it use to make him furious when his cousins would play with the
animals because he could never get close to them. He explained that
animals could sense danger more easily than humans. That humans
have fooled themselves far too long that they were the top
predators; which he added made their jobs a lot easier. She loved
the smile that radiated from his face when Sea almost got close
enough to a horse to touch it. Julie knew one of his biggest fears
was that Sea would one day be a monster like him. She even got to
meet his aunt and two cousins. They didn’t know the family secret,
but they did know to be scared of him. She loved watching him and
his cousins, Charles and Bill, screwing around together. It ended
up turning into a happy, human day; which only verified in her mind
that he was worth it all.

Trucker came over to sit down on the grass
with Julie and Sea. Leaning over, he gave her a quick kiss on the
side of her temple.

“Your glow is back,” he excitedly whispered
in her ear.

“My what?”

“Your glow, your bright shining aura, it was
dimming, but it’s as bright as ever now.”

“The last few days have been hard, but right
now I’ve never been happier.” She looked down at Sea, who was
smiling up at her.

“My luv you,” Sea said.

“I love you too, sweet-pea.” Julie picked her
up and squeezed her close to her body.

Trucker pulled at Sea’s dress. “She’s mine,
Miss Priss,” Trucker joked and let out a friendly little growl. Sea
giggled and pinched his nose. With his smile beaming, Julie took in
his flawless face. How could she be capable of giving someone like
him the love he needed? The love was there, but she still couldn’t
shake her insecurities.

“Can I asked you something?” Julie wondered,
warily.

“Anything, Angel?”

Trucker’s eyes got tight. She didn’t want to
tell him, but knew he wouldn’t let it go.

“I know I’m not beautiful, actually I’m
pretty plain.”

Trucker started to speak but Julie placed her
finger over his mouth to stop him.

“I also know when you tell me I’m beautiful
you meant it. What do you see when you look at me?”

“Angel, when I look at you I see my future.
Your smile is one of the few things that truly makes me happy. I
wake up every morning wanting, no make that needing to see your
face. The feel of your body next to mine is indescribable. Baby, I
don’t give a damn what the world sees. I only care what I see, and
when I look at you I see everything I’ve ever wanted. Not just my
human . . . but also my demon side needs you.”

Not having words to say, Julie picked up a
handful of grass clippings and threw it at him; Trucker jumped over
on top of her. “How can you make me forget everything?” He rolled
on his back, tugging her on top of him. “How is it possible for you
to make me feel like this?”

“Like what?” She slid her finger down the
side of his face.

“Like I’m finally home.” He lightly and
softly nipped her bottom lip. “I’ll take you anywhere, but you
belong with me.”

Chapter 16

I could kick myself. I fed from her. I took
a piece of her soul for my enjoyment. But for once in my life
feeding didn’t bring me joy. Her glow dimmed because of my
selfishness. How much more will I damage her precious soul before
this weekend is over? Will I ever truly deserve her love? Truck

*******

Dear Diary,

I made it through the last few days on
fumes. I’m so ready for what’s next. Trucker has hardly left my
side. I know he’s still scared I’m going to bolt. He said he has a
surprise for me. He wants me to see the good along with the bad.
But something about his surprises scare me. Got to go and get
ready, talk to you later, and will let you know if it was a good
surprise or not.

Julie

Julie found Trucker studying the pictures on
a corner bookshelf in the living room. He was fingering over some
old trinkets she had made as a child. One particular trinket seemed
to catch his eye. It was a wooden star with the center hollowed
out. It held a picture of Julie when she was about six years old at
the church’s vacation bible school. She was dressed as an
angel.

Julie leaned against the door facing, taking
in the view of the powerful and impressive presence that was
Trucker Castleman. She swooned. His rear view was as outstanding as
the magnificent smiled he turned to flash her. He caught her with
his penetrating gaze. Obviously, he knew she was there. His skin
stung when she was near, but it was more. The air whirled with a
sense of hope and longing whenever they were near each other.

They stood and stared at each other. His gaze
scorched with heat. The effect Trucker had over Julie hit with such
force it rocked her. He started toward her; his commanding and
authoritative nature was strong and powerful. Holding up his
finger, he motioned for her. She started backing up, feeling
overpowered by his mere presence. With his long stride and fast
speed, he had her pinned against the wall almost instantly.

“Don’t run, Angel.” Trucker nibbled at her
ear with his teeth. “I’ll always catch you.”

Julie felt her knees buckle and started to
fall. Trucker’s hand caught her and urged her tighter against
him.

“Always,” he whispered in her ear. He ran his
tongue along her earlobe easing the burn left from his most recent
bite. For the first time in weeks, her breath hitched in a rush of
fear. He let go of his tight grip around her wrist and grasped her
hand.

She paused, took in a deep and shaky breath.
The mouthwatering scent of him was her drug and he was one habit
she had no desire to give up. Julie needed Trucker more than she
needed her next breath. She pushed up on her tiptoes as she shoved
her fingers through the dark mane that was his hair, and kissed
him.

“Grab your jacket, I don’t want you getting
cold.” He studied her in a way that let her know, he saw her down
to the deepest core of her being. Suddenly, he flashed a smile. “By
the way, thanks,” he said and dangled the handmade star in his
hand. His boyish grin glowed. She shook her head as he dropped it
into his shirt pocket. He appeared happy and carefree, but Julie
could tell something else was laying below the surface.

Pulling up in the driveway leading to his new
house for the first time since the day that she met Emily, she felt
all her insecurities creep up on her. Trucker was still on edge,
trying to suppress the darkness in him. She didn’t know what it was
but he was off and she felt uncomfortable with him.

“Everyone is gone, it’s like my other home. I
want you to feel like this is your home too.” Again, he knew
exactly what Julie was feeling.

“I will. Would you understand if I said I was
only human?”

He winked at her. “Yeah, I think I
would.”

He was around to her side of the car in a
flash, opening her car door. He guided her not to the house, but
around back. They followed a trail of wildflowers and tall grasses.
It was as beautiful as the gardens back at his home in Nashville
but less formal, more organic. When they got to the back yard it
was as if she stepped into the ultimate playground. In one corner
was a full size basketball court and tennis court, a swimming pool
with waterfalls and different rocks shooting out to jump off of, a
line of 4-wheelers with trails leading off into the woods, and even
a wooden swing set for Sea.

“I can’t wait to get you into a bathing
suit,” Trucker said.

Julie shivered, and looked out over the
swimming pool and wished it were summertime. Trucker in swim trunks
would eclipse any view.

All of the sudden, Jake appeared out of thin
air and quickly kissed her on the cheek. “Hey chickadee.”

Julie suddenly felt relaxed and calm. Then
remembered Trucker telling her about what Jake’s kisses could do.
Of course, they calmed her, but it wasn’t that fact that made her
love him. Jake had always been there for Trucker. Jake was another
myth, the eternal one. He was plunked from his mortal life during
World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, and had never aged a day
since. He was a guardian. First, he served as the caretaker for a
mischievous little boy and now as his best friend. Jake was the one
constant good in Trucker’s life. Even when Catherine lost hope,
Jake believed in him. He gave Trucker hope in himself and his
future. Julie could never repay him. Her Trucker was the man he was
because of Jake’s guidance.

“I wanted you to have a fun normal day before
you face tonight.” He shifted her body and pointed to the front
yard, where she saw Tori, Tiffany, and Gene walking up. Then she
looked over her shoulder, where she saw Catherine and her mom
coming out with a platter full of food to be bar-b-cued.