Heather Graham - The Keepers - Christmas in Salem

“Not so cool, really,” Daniel told August, then turned to Samantha and grinned at her ruefully. “Sorry—that’s not a vampire talent, as you know. Motion detector. My father met an elf in Stockholm who’s quite the inventor. He came over and set up the house for Dad. Lights, music, fire—you name it, all it takes is the proper wave of the hand.” He shrugged ruefully. “Only problem is, sometimes I’m just walking through and the lights go on and off, the fire pops up and the house turns into a boom box with Frank Sinatra—my dad’s favorite—blaring loud enough to wake the neighborhood.”

“Oh,” Sam murmured. “Well, I guess there’s good and bad to everything.” She took a seat on a little ottoman before the fire and extended her hands, grateful for the warmth.

“I’ll take August upstairs and get the two of us into dry clothing. Why don’t you give your cousin a call? See if she can escape for a minute with some clothes for you? Or I can whirl down the street and pick something up,” he said, smiling. “If I take anything, I’ll pay for it, don’t worry.”

“It’s all right. I’ll give June a call,” she said.

August and Daniel started up the stairs. Sam gave her fingers another minute to thaw, then went looking for a phone, since her cell had drowned even if August hadn’t. She found a landline and quickly dialed June’s cell.

Her cousin answered after the first ring. The minute Sam identified herself, June said worriedly, “Sam, where are you? The party’s already started.”

“I’ll be there soon, but I need your help,” Sam told her.

“My help?” There was a touch of panic in June’s voice. “I was hoping you’d show up soon because I could use your help. The Episcopalian priest, Father Alistair, brought his three-year-old, Tobey, because his wife isn’t feeling well and can’t watch him, but he’s so busy having a heavy philosophical discussion with Rabbi Jenowitz that he’s forgotten about Tobey, who so far has tortured the cat and nearly knocked over the Christmas tree,” June said with dismay. “I did manage to save the Nativity scene.”

“I’m so glad. Listen, is Katie Sue or Rebekah there yet?”

“Um, Katie Sue just came in.”

“Good. Turn the party over to her and bring me something to wear really quickly.”

“Okay, bring it where?”

“I’m at Daniel’s house.”

Sam supposed she shouldn’t have been startled by the silence that followed. Even June—who had been away so much—knew that she and Daniel had been in love, and that he had broken her heart. She could hardly be blamed for wondering what Sam was doing at his house and drawing the obvious conclusion.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Sam said hurriedly. “We found the biter, but he wasn’t vicious, just heartbroken. Anyway, I can explain all that later. Right now I just need some clothes.”

“But why?” June lowered her voice. “Daniel didn’t … didn’t …?”

“No! I told you, it’s nothing like that. I’m soaked, that’s all. We had to save the biter from trying to drown himself. Please, June, just hurry up and bring me something to wear.”

“Okay.” June sounded relieved. “Katie Sue can chase Tobey around the Christmas tree and save the cat. She’s a complete emotional wreck, if you ask me. She wants to be on the beach by seven.”

“Dead Horse Beach?” Sam asked dryly.

“Yes. So I’d better hurry or she’ll have my head.”

“Thanks,” Sam told her, then hung up. She wasn’t sure whether to be grateful, relieved or irritated. Who the hell fell in love with a selkie? Especially a selkie Keeper. Too bad no one had objected to Katie Sue’s romance the way they had to Daniel and hers. Seven years! Way too long to miss a lover.

She could barely imagine it. She hadn’t seen Daniel in nearly two years, and …

And seeing him again now only made her want him again. A world of time had gone by and everything had changed, and at the same time nothing had changed.

Because Daniel was still … Daniel.

She heard the knocking at the front door while Daniel and August were still upstairs. Sam hurried over and threw it open, and there was June. She was carrying a big, cheerfully decorated Christmas gift bag.

“It’s your party clothes,” June said. “It seemed like the best way to get it out of the house.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Sam told her. Grateful that the men were still upstairs, she took the bag and hurried back over to the fire, where she stripped down to her underwear.

“You’re going to leave those on? You’ll catch a cold,” June warned her. “I brought dry.”

Sam glanced at her cousin. She wanted to run over and hug her. June was the sweetest soul in the universe. She cared, really cared, about people—and not only those she knew and loved, but everyone. And yet she still seemed nervous to be back here, dealing with her Keeper duties.

Sam didn’t get a chance to answer as she quickly slipped into dry underwear. She realized she’d made a dumb move, changing by the fire instead of behind closed doors. She could hear Daniel and August coming down the stairs.

She swore softly.

What was she doing? Here it was Christmas, and she was swearing. What on earth was wrong with her?

She heard a sharp whistle. August was just ahead of Daniel as they came down the stairs. He was grinning ear to ear as he looked at her.

She looked up and met Daniel’s eyes—and saw the fire that had always burned so fiercely in them when he looked at her.

His mouth curved into a little smile of amusement.

Sam left her wet clothing by the fire, clutched the bag to her and ran for the kitchen. As she struggled into the soft red sweater June had brought her, she could hear her cousin speaking with Daniel and August.

“So … Daniel. You’re back in town.”

“Yes. For the time being, at least.”

“Ah.”

“I’m afraid my work means traveling,” Daniel said.

“Of course it does,” June said sweetly. Hearing her, Sam smiled. Her cousins were always there for her. As sweet as it sounded, June’s voice had the slightest edge.

“I’m August Avery,” August said.

“How do you do?” June asked.

“Um, we’ve actually met, though I haven’t seen you in a while. You look … very lovely tonight.”

“Thank you,” June told him.

“Like your cousin,” August added. “I guess we Others are pretty lucky here in Salem.”

Thank you, August. You were a jerk and made a wreck out of Christmas Eve, but you seem to have redeemed yourself.

Sam quickly slid into the silky black pants June had brought and hurried back out to the family room. Daniel was wearing a red sweater, too. And black pants. It almost looked as if they had dressed as a couple for the party.

She looked quickly away from Daniel and met August’s gaze. “August, you look dry, warm and ready for a great party.”

His smile wavered for a minute. “I guess.”

“So we’re ready to head back?” June asked anxiously.

“I just need two minutes,” Sam said. She was carrying the socks June had brought, and she checked and found that luckily her boots had almost dried. In seconds she had them on. Not bad. She didn’t even squish when she stood.

“Okay,” she said cheerfully. “Let’s go.”

As Daniel locked the door behind them, he arched a brow at Sam. She shrugged, and he walked ahead with August.

“What’s going on?” June whispered to Sam as they followed. “What’s he doing here?”

“He’s been sent back by the council. They’re worried about the darkness.”

June looked at her hopefully. “You think a vampire is causing it?”

Sam hesitated. June looked so hopeful that she hated to disillusion her.