Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) Read Free Page A

that smile off your ugly mug,” Earl spat.
    Angus was off his barstool in a flash. “I’d like to see you try.”
    Earl raced for the door while Jason ran at Angus like a bull, but Angus stopped him with a palm on the top of his head. He laughed all the harder as he ushered Jason to the door, kicking him out with a mighty shove by way of the sole of his boot. Applause erupted and Angus was slapped on the back in congratulation for showing up Jason.
    “You could have intervened,” Tessa told the sheriff. “That could have gotten out of hand.”
    “If I did that every time that man ran his mouth, he’d have a permanent place in a jail cell. He’s harmless for the most part.”
    “Except if he’s knocking around women, you mean.”
    “I’ve heard that, but nobody has filed charges against him or even called me. I can’t help if nobody calls me and reports him for abusing them,” he explained.
    “That might just be because they’re too afraid to.”
    “I’m Sheriff Barnes. I don’t think I met you when I went out to Shadow Creek to introduce myself yesterday morning.”
    Tessa laughed. “I don’t do mornings. I’m more of a night owl.”
    “You got that one right,” Angus whispered in her ear.
    She turned and gave Angus a look before turning back to the sheriff. “I’m Tessa Clark.”
    The sheriff nodded. “Would you care to sit with me and Clayton?”
    Tessa noticed Raphael and Seth out of the corner of her eye and wanted to refuse, but since neither of them had said anything to her since they arrived, she didn’t want it to look like she was expecting to sit with them. If they were truly interested in her, they’d have to act like it.
    Angus carried their drinks as they sat opposite the sheriff and Clayton.
    Once they were seated, Clayton asked, “How is Paige doing these days?”
    “Why don’t you come out to Shadow Creek and ask her yourself?” Tessa responded with a bit of snark.
    “I would if I wasn’t so busy. There’s been a run of missing livestock that I’m investigating.”
    “Really? I hadn’t heard that.”
    “It’s not something we need in this area, as you can understand.” Clayton smiled before adding, “If you know anything about it, let me know.”
    “Why would I know anything about it? This is the first I’ve heard.” Tessa fumed inside. She knew exactly what he meant. He thought she was behind it since he was the only human in town who knew Paige and Tessa were vampires.
    “What he’s trying to say is we take such losses seriously,” Sheriff Barnes said. “I know this area has plenty of shifters living close by, which is why we just can’t afford for livestock to be killed. Otherwise, we might have government people heading here to investigate.”
    “Killed? I thought you said they were just missing.”
    “I did, but I was just speculating is all. Missing livestock often winds up being quite dead.”
    Tessa stood up at that point. “Good to know.”
    She headed out the door with Raphael shouting for her to stop. He caught her outside before she had gotten far. “What happened over at the sheriff’s table?”
    “That Clayton had the nerve to tell me about some missing livestock, like I’m the one responsible.”
    “I heard about that. Is it possible that you’re taking this too seriously? That he was simply sharing information and that was all?”
    Tessa smiled. “I suppose. It’s just that I’m not harebrained. I know I can’t risk an investigation from outsiders. Sure, Creeksboro might be tolerant of shifters, but what would happen if it’s known that vampires also live here?”
    “Tolerant is a strong word. There are plenty of folks in town worried about shifters, but since the government has given us rights, there are still people who rather we would be gone.”
    “I can’t even imagine what might happen if they find out Paige and I are vampires.”
    “You can’t keep a secret like being a vampire under wraps forever. Especially if you