Forbidden (30 page)

“Hi.” Claire’s mom gave her daughter a quick hug, then extended her hand to Alec, her blue eyes wary as she sized him up. “Nice to meet you, Alec.”

Alec shook her hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Brennan.”

“Ooh, you were right.” She grinned at Claire. “He does have a luscious accent.”

“Mom!” Claire blushed.

To Alec, her mom added, “Please, call me Lynn. Come in, have a seat.”

Lynn sat down in an easy chair, gesturing for them to sit across from her. Claire and Alec did as instructed, perching awkwardly on the sofa beside each other.

“So, Claire tells me you just moved here from Scotland, and that you live alone.”

“Aye, mum,” Alec returned politely.

“That must be difficult. How do you support yourself?”

He and Claire exchanged a glance. They’d talked this out in detail before coming, and he’d prepared himself to be quizzed. Still, Alec hated to lie to this woman. It was obvious how much she adored her daughter. He suspected that she’d also dearly loved Claire’s father. Alec could easily imagine the kind of boy Lynn would want Claire to date: a smart, decent, straitlaced young man from a good family—who was 100 percent
human
.

“I’ve worked every summer for years,” Alec replied. That, at least, was completely true. “And I have a small trust fund.” Also true—in a way.

“I was very sorry to hear about your parents. Claire said they passed away when you were very young?”

“Aye. I was ten.” The truth again.

“I’m so sorry,” she repeated.

“Thank you.” Alec steered the conversation in a new direction. “I miss them very much, and I think about them every day. They’d be so happy to see where I am now, and how lucky I am. I love living here, and Emerson is a great school. Did you know that Claire and I are auditioning tomorrow to sing in the Homecoming assembly?”

“So she told me.” Lynn looked at Claire with a somewhat awestruck expression. “I admit, this whole choir thing has taken me completely by surprise. I haven’t heard Claire sing in years.”

“Well, that’s a shame, because your daughter has an amazing voice, and we’re going to kick arse at the audition tomorrow.”

Lynn laughed. “I hope you do.”

Alec darted a look at Claire, wondering why she wasn’t saying anything. She seemed to be holding her breath. The look in her eyes told him she was thrilled by how well this was going.

“The assembly’s a week from Friday,” Alec added. “If we’re chosen, I hope you’ll come and watch.”

“Yeah, Mom,” Claire blurted out. “You should totally come. If we get in, that is. They’re gonna post the results on Monday morning.”

“I wish you luck.” Lynn stood and gestured toward the kitchen with a smile. “Alec, I don’t claim to be a fabulous cook, but I’ve had chicken curry in the Crock-Pot all day. Will you join us for dinner?”

Claire beamed, nodding enthusiastically in Alec’s direction.

“I’d love to,” Alec responded. “Curry is one of my favorites. Thank you.”

After they’d taken their seats at the kitchen table and Alec had swallowed his first bite of curry—which was spicy and delicious—Lynn turned and fixed him with her gaze. “Alec, Claire tells me that you invited her to the Homecoming Dance, and she’s accepted?”

“Aye.”

“That’s very sweet, but you know I can’t in good conscience allow you to take her to the dance until I’ve asked a few more questions.”

“Mom!” Another blush bloomed on Claire’s cheeks. She covered her face with her hands, looking as if she wished she could disappear.

“Of course. This is your daughter we’re talking about. It’s your job. So go ahead, grill me.”

Lynn smiled. “Thank you for humoring me. According to Claire, you’re an excellent student with no disciplinary record. She insists that you don’t have any of the usual vices that a parent worries about—”

“Kill me now!” Claire moaned.

“Is it true that you don’t drink? Alcohol, I mean?”

“It is.”

“Do you take drugs?”

“Never have, never will.”

“How old are you? Sixteen?”

His first lie. “Aye.”

“You can’t have been driving very long?”

“I got my permit earlier than most. My car is the most expensive thing I own, so I keep it well-maintained and drive very carefully. Your daughter is safe with me.”

“I hope so.”

Lynn began peppering him with questions about his past. Alec launched into his prepared answers, smoothly talking his way through and around everything she asked. He told amusing stories about his supposed aunts and uncles that were full of realistic detail. Ultimately he appeared to set her mind at ease, and managed to leave the dinner table feeling only somewhat guilty.

“I’m so glad we had this chance to talk,” Lynn said as she gave him a warm, maternal good-bye hug at the front door.

“So am I.” He thanked her for dinner. She wished him good luck at their upcoming audition again, then thoughtfully returned to the kitchen, giving him and Claire a moment alone. The minute she was gone, Claire grabbed him by the arm and drew him out onto the front step into the mild evening air.

“Oh. My. God,” she said tensely, after the door shut behind them. “I cannot believe she put you through all that.”

“It’s okay, Claire. Really.” Alec took her in his arms and pressed his lips briefly against her hair. “I think it went quite well, all things considered. She’s a lovely woman. But I’m glad it’s over and that she seems to approve.”

Claire hugged him tightly. Her breath felt warm and inviting against his neck. In a low tone, she added, “When did you say Vincent will be back?”

“I expect him tomorrow or the next day. Why?”

“Because I can’t wait for you to straighten everything out with him. I’ll feel so much better when I can finally tell my mom what’s been happening to me, and who you are.”

Alec pulled back slightly to look at her. “Do you really think that’s a good idea, Claire? I don’t like to keep deceiving your mother, but I don’t see that we have any choice. Even after I get Vincent’s approval and the danger to you both is removed, how do you think she’ll take it—the fact that you’re dating a Grigori?”

He felt her shrug in his arms. “I don’t know. I’m trying not to think about it. But if you can somehow convince my mom that we’re safe, I’m pretty sure we’ll be all right.”

“Your safety is my number-one priority,” he promised.

“Thank you.” Her arms tightened around him again.

The feel of her body against his was exhilarating, driving all rational thought from his head. “All right, prepare yourself, Claire Brennan.”

She looked up at him curiously. “Prepare myself for what?”

He gazed at her affectionately. “Repeat your mantra, or whatever it is you do. Because I’m about to kiss you.”

twenty-five

“W
hat a nice young man,” Claire’s mom said later, as she and Claire did the dishes together.

A wet plate almost slipped from Claire’s hands as she stowed it in the dishwasher. The memory of Alec’s delectable kiss was making it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, much less uphold her part in a conversation. Still, she couldn’t help but smile at her mom’s comment. “Yes, he
is
a nice …
young
man.” How old had her Grigori father been when her mom first met
him
? Claire wondered suddenly. Would she ever find out?

“Obviously, Alec’s very good-looking and polite,” her mother was saying. “The accent’s charming. He’s had an unusual upbringing and he tells great stories. But.…”

“But?” Claire’s full attention snapped back to her mom.

“It’s the handsome, independent ones who often … don’t stick around,” her mom uttered softly. “Just … be careful.”

“Mom,” Claire said, striving to sound light and airy, “we’re just singing a song together and going to a dance.”

“I know. But I was in high school once too. And at sixteen, it’s easy to fall for the first boy who takes an interest in you. It doesn’t mean he’s your one true love, or that it’s forever.”

“I’m not in love with Alec,” Claire replied quickly. But her cheeks grew warm, and a jolt of insight made her doubt her own words. “I’ve … only known him for a few weeks,” she added uncertainly.

Her mom glanced at her carefully, but didn’t reply.

They finished the dishes in silence.

Claire’s heart beat erratically as she climbed the stairs to her room, her mom’s words still reverberating in her brain.
It doesn’t mean he’s your one true love, or that it’s forever
. They stayed with Claire as she started her homework, the math problems and science passages interweaving with an elaborate parade of images and sensations in her mind: the look in Alec’s eyes at the door, the deep, pure happiness she felt in his presence, the glorious sound of his singing voice, the feel of his strong arms around her, the sweet pleasure of his lips on hers.

She was still thinking about it all hours later as she lay in bed on the verge of sleep.

The jumble of intense feelings that had slowly been building up inside her over the past few weeks suddenly assembled themselves, taking on new meaning.

She was falling in love with Alec
. Falling in love with an angel, just as her own mother had before her.

Friday started with a bang, and never really let up. In a good way.

Claire arrived at school fifteen minutes before her first class. She’d just reached the top of the central stairway when she saw a big group of students crowded around the general notice board outside the library, chattering excitedly. She couldn’t see what they were looking at, but figured it was probably some kind of sports announcement.

She had just passed by the group and was en route to her locker, where she hoped to find Alec, when Gabrielle Miller’s head whipped around.

“Claire!”

She stopped. Gabrielle unexpectedly separated herself from her pack of friends and descended on Claire, wrapping her in a hug. “Congratulations! This is so exciting!”

Claire—at first too stunned to reply—was relieved that she’d had the good sense to wear a long-sleeved shirt and her gloves today. “What’s exciting?”

Gabrielle drew back and stared at her, tucking a perfectly highlighted lock of hair behind one ear. “You mean you haven’t heard?”

“Heard what?”

“We’ve both been nominated for Homecoming Princess!” Gabrielle squealed.

Claire’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Don’t be so modest.” Gabrielle laughed. “This is so cool. I mean, come on, for two years, none of us really got to know you. It sucks that it took you almost
dying
to bring you out of your shell, but now here you are, center stage, and I’m so excited for you!”

Claire couldn’t believe her ears. Homecoming Princess? She’d been shocked enough that Neil had conspired to get her name on the primary ballot … but for her to make the final five? It was inconceivable!

Gabrielle was still talking. “If you need any help or advice about where to go to print posters and buttons, or how to run a campaign, just call me. My sister was Homecoming Queen two years ago, and I helped her with everything, so I’m totally in the know.”