“Well, I am,” Tessa said. Did Jenna really see her as fierce? “I have to be, don’t I? I mean, my sister is one. It’s not a thing that skips generations or only affects one child.”

Jenna jabbed a finger at him, clearly not done. “What she looks like and what she’s capable of are two different things. You want help with this situation? Tessa can do it. But you’d better promise her this job when this charade is all said and done. Otherwise, no deal.”

Tessa poked a warning finger into her sister’s back, but the Kevlar vest beneath her uniform shirt didn’t allow for much pressure. There was no way she could do this. Pretend to be a vampire’s betrothed? And this vampire, who was clearly a difficult man to get along with? No. Way.

“I’ll promise her the job, but I must warn you both. Pretending to be my fiancée could be a little dangerous.”

Dangerous? Tessa bit her lip. How could pretending be dangerous?

Jenna laughed. “Don’t worry about Tessa. She can take care of herself.”

Sebastian’s brows knit. “Are you sure? She doesn’t look like she could defend herself from a kitten.”

Jenna leaned in. “You have no idea what she’s capable of.”

Tessa wanted to disappear. She knew exactly what Jenna meant by that even if Sebastian didn’t. Please don’t let her explain further.

But Jenna’s words seemed to have Sebastian considering the deal. “And when she can’t pull it off? Then what? No, I think you should do it, Deputy. It’s only for a night.”

“I’m on duty. And also, I already said no. If Tessa can’t pull it off, then you don’t have to hire her. But she will. You’ll see. And then she’ll be the new library dean.”

“Dean of library studies,” Tessa corrected. Was this really happening?

Sebastian’s gaze narrowed in calculation and his jaw twitched in a very unhappy way, which matched the deep sense of skepticism coming off him. “You’ll need to be at my house first thing in the morning. You’ll have to be familiar with my house and me. We’ll need the whole day together if this is going to work.”

Tessa felt very much like she was on a roller coaster climbing toward the peak of a very sharp drop. But how hard could it be to pretend for an evening? Especially when it meant guaranteeing herself the amazing position of dean of library studies. “I can be there as early as you need me.”

He snorted. “Wonderful, but the early start is hardly the difficult bit. Fooling Evangeline is where things get tricky. She’s a master of deception and manipulation, and a vampire as old as I am. Pulling one over on her will be a Herculean task.”

Tessa nodded. Her valkyrie senses told her he wasn’t lying. A new wave of nervousness rattled her. Moving to Nocturne Falls was starting to feel like a very questionable decision.

Sebastian stared into his backyard, seeing nothing of the gardens or the purple sky brought on by twilight. All he could think about was that he’d made a stupid, rash decision. Evangeline’s presence had that kind of effect on men. And his bold claim of being engaged was proof that she most definitely still had that effect on him.

There was no way the meek little sister of Deputy Blythe was going to convince Evangeline that she was his fiancée. Valkyrie or not, the woman was so bland as to be almost unnoticeable, and if her personality matched her looks, he was doomed. She wasn’t ugly by any stretch, but she was just so plain that she would be impossible to pick out in a crowd. He doubted Evangeline would ever believe he was attracted to Tessa.

The poor woman couldn’t help who she was, though. And he was indebted to her for coming to his rescue, fully aware that it was a tremendously kind act on her behalf. Of course, she stood to gain the dean of library studies job, which she was infinitely qualified for anyway, but he was appreciative regardless. Job or not, he owed her. She barely knew him.

He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had put themselves out for him in such a manner. A tiny spot of warmth bloomed in his heart for Tessa Blythe. The first he’d really felt for anyone outside of his family, which naturally included Greaves. He stayed on that thought for a moment. No matter the outcome, Tessa had proven herself a good person.

Sebastian rubbed his chin. Perhaps Tessa being Evangeline’s exact opposite was a good thing. Maybe Tessa’s mousiness would startle Evangeline into thinking this setup was the truth. That he must really love the woman to be keeping company with her. He couldn’t say.

But no matter how he played the outcomes in his head, he couldn’t shake the feeling this whole mess had the very serious potential to blow up in his face. Tessa should have the job either way. She should not suffer if this plan didn’t work. Because if it didn’t, Evangeline would surely make her suffer.

Sebastian vowed he would protect Tessa from Evangeline, no matter the cost to himself or Evangeline. Tessa didn’t deserve to be hurt because of his problems. Or Evangeline’s unpredictability.

Yes, he’d see to it that Tessa had the job, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He needed her to be motivated, after all. This was not going to be an easy task.

If only they had more time to prepare. But then, they did to some extent. Not much more time, but he could go see Tessa tonight. In fact, he almost had to. A day would never be enough to get their stories memorized and become familiar enough with one another so as not to appear like strangers. He sighed loudly.

“Everything all right, sir?”