She looped her arm through it. “If you want this to work, you’d better try.”

“Again, you’re right. Shall we?”

She nodded and he started toward the coffee shop again. A few locals glanced at him with curious expressions. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was out in public or because he was with a woman. Either way, it would cause the town gossips to wag their tongues. Good. Let them talk.

Maybe Evangeline would get wind of it. He hoped. That was sort of the point.

He walked Tessa straight to Delaney’s. She’d be closing up soon, but they still had a few minutes. He held the door for Tessa, then went in after her.

“It smells like heaven in here.” Her eyes closed and she took a deep inhale. A look of sheer pleasure washed over her face, highlighting its symmetry.

He watched her intently. Not only had he been wrong about her being plain, but he was starting to realize she was rather pretty.

“Sebastian, is that you?” Delaney walked out from the back, carrying a stack of flattened boxes. “Is the world coming to an end? What are you doing in here?”

He straightened and approached his sister-in-law while Tessa was still marveling at one of Delaney’s show cakes in the front window. “I trust Hugh filled you in on my recent circumstances?”

“He did.” Her gaze shifted to Tessa. “That must be the selfless saint who’s agreed to martyr herself for your cause.”

He frowned. “I hardly think it’s that dire a situation.”

“She’s got to spend time with you, doesn’t she?”

He felt a growl building in his throat. “Now see here—”

Tessa walked up before he could say anything more and smiled at Delaney. “Is this your shop?”

Delaney tucked the boxes under the counter. “It sure is. I bet you could use one of everything.”

Tessa laughed and Sebastian blinked at the sound. He hadn’t heard it from her before and it was lovely. Light and sweet and musical. Not at all what he’d expected.

Delaney pulled one of the boxes off the stack and folded it together, then lined it with wax paper. “What do you like?”

Tessa suddenly grew more serious. “Oh, maybe just a cookie.”

Sebastian had a feeling he knew what had dampened her mood. “Give my…fiancée whatever she’d like and put it on my account.”

Delaney snorted. “Like I wasn’t already going to.”

Sebastian sighed and turned to Tessa. “Tessa, this is Delaney, my brother Hugh’s wife.”

Delaney stuck her hand out. “Which makes me your pretend sister-in-law-to-be. How are you holding up?”

Tessa shook her hand and suddenly seemed to relax. “I’m…all right.”

“Sebastian’s bark is much worse than his bite.” Delaney made a face. “Or maybe that doesn’t really apply to vampires, but you know what I mean. I hear you’re Deputy Jenna’s sister.”

Tessa nodded.

“That is so cool. You’re a valkyrie too, right?”

“Yes.”

The more Delaney engaged Tessa, the more the woman seemed to come alive. That gave Sebastian an idea. “Delaney, you and Hugh must come to dinner tomorrow night. The two of you can help steer the conversation in case Evangeline gets too inquisitive.”

Delaney’s eyes rounded. “Done. And that will save me the trouble of getting Hugh to wrangle us an invite. I can’t wait to meet this woman you’ve been tormenting yourself over.”

He scowled. “I have not been tormenting myself over her.”

“Sure, sure.” She waved him off and looked at Tessa again. “Okay, seriously, what’s your poison? What’s your favorite flavor combo?”

Tessa swept her gaze across the cases again. “I love chocolate and orange together.”

“I have just the thing.” Delaney moved a few steps down the display. “Dark chocolate blood orange truffles dusted with fennel pollen.” She reached in with a sheet of waxed paper and plucked one out, then handed it to Tessa.

She took it and nibbled a little bite. Her eyes closed and a moan of pleasure rumbled out of her. And straight through Sebastian. The sound was even better than her laugh. He straightened as she swallowed and opened her eyes. “Wow. You made that?”

“I sure did.” Delaney preened. “How about you let me make up a box of goodies for you?”

Tessa’s mouth was full of chocolate, so she just nodded and murmured, “Mm-hmm.”

She walked back to Sebastian, licking her lips.

It was highly distracting for reasons he didn’t care to think about. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Yes.” She licked the tip of one finger. “Aren’t you getting anything?”

“I don’t eat sweets.”

“You’re a vampire, not a robot. Who doesn’t eat sweets?”

“I don’t.” They were an indulgence and indulgences led to weaknesses. “You can add that to the list of things you’ve learned about me.”

She nodded, but there was a little sadness in her eyes. “You’re kind of a mess, aren’t you? I’m sure most people see your proper uprightness as part of who you are, but to me it seems like a defense mechanism. Valkyries once judged the souls of men on the battlefield, you know. Who deserved to live, who deserved to die and who deserved Valhalla. We’re still exceptional judges of character. It’s why my sister is such an outstanding deputy. She can tell when someone’s really innocent. Or truly guilty.”