Rory’s Mate (The Vampire Coalition #2)
Author: J.S. Scott

Chapter 1

Callie Marks sighed as she looked at the wedding cake on the table next to hers. She really wanted a piece. It was from one of the best pastry kitchen’s in the city of Denver. Chocolate marble with a mousse filling and chocolate frosting.

No. No cake. She had already eaten enough from the incredible gourmet buffet at this reception to feed an army. The last thing she needed was a piece of that cake with enough calories to add a little more jiggle to her ass.

Callie had always been what one of her nicer foster mothers had called "curvy" when she was a teenager. Callie called it what it was…she was plump. She was constantly battling with an extra fifteen pounds that she didn’t need on her body and was generally defeated by the call of delicious chocolate, rich foods and scrumptious appetizers.

I certainly went into one of the best fields to keep my weight down. I just had to be a chef.

She was head chef for a very highly regarded restaurant. Quite an accomplishment for a woman that was only twenty-seven years old. She loved her job. She loved to feed people. There was nothing better than creating a new gastronomical delight.

Callie pushed her plate away from her. It was completely empty. She sat back in her chair at the bride’s table to watch the bride and groom dance.

Brianna Cole was her best friend. She had just gotten married after a whirlwind courtship to Ethan Hale, a rich, gorgeous and charming man. They looked so incredibly happy. Ethan looked entirely enchanted with his beautiful, slender, blonde haired bride.

Callie let out a long breath and tried not to feel a twinge of envy. She loved Brianna like a sister and wanted her happiness more than anything. Bri had been suffering from a rare form of leukemia that seemed to be in remission. Callie prayed it wouldn’t return. She still had nightmares about the dark days of Brianna’s illness and trying to come to terms with losing the only person she had that was like family to her, even though they weren’t blood related.

Being even the slightest bit jealous is just selfish after what Brianna has been through. She deserves this fairy tale wedding and the man of her dreams.

Callie acknowledge that she was a tiny bit selfish. She just couldn’t help it. But she was extremely happy to have her best friend happy and healthy.

She smoothed down the skirts of her blue maid of honor dress. It was a lovely pale blue with shimmering accents of pink. Brianna had let her pick the style, a fact for which Callie was highly grateful. She had chosen a high waisted, elbow length style that would hide her plump figure. Callie loved the dress. Too bad she would probably never wear it again.

She frowned at the thought, reaching up to tug at a stray curl of her dark, wayward hair. She had swept it up in a chignon, but it was curly and long. Tendrils escaped and curled around her face. She hadn’t looked in the mirror but she was pretty sure her hair was a disaster.

With her dark brown eyes, hair and fair skin it was hard to detect what her origins were. Callie really didn’t know because she was a foundling. Abandoned in a local park and never claimed, she was turned over to children’s services and had gone the rounds of foster parents. She had never been adopted.

Callie jumped as a large, dark hand slid a plate across the table that stopped in front of her. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn’t seen the man approach the table.

Her eyes lifted to see Rory Hale sit down directly across from her, a piece of cake big enough to feed ten people sitting in front of him. He had slid a smaller piece–maybe only big enough to feed five people–in front of her.

"I don’t want that," she told him, irritated now that she had to actually stare at the pasty in front of her.

"Why not?" Rory cocked his head and shot her an I’m-so-confused smile as he started eating his piece with obvious enjoyment. "It’s fantastic."

Callie rolled her eyes, trying not to be charmed by the incredibly gorgeous specimen of manhood. For God’s sake, did the man have to look perfect? He had eaten more in one evening than any normal man ate in a month and he still didn’t look like he held one ounce of fat on his body. It was disgusting. Still…she tried to be polite. He was Brianna’s new brother-in-law. "I’m trying not to eat sweets, Rory. I have to watch what I eat."

Rory continued to grin as he consumed his giant sized piece of cake. "Why watch it when you can eat it?" He paused to shoot her a curious look. "How do you know that I’m Rory? Liam was sitting here earlier?"

"Who else would you be? We were introduced at the rehearsal." She shoved the piece of cake to the middle of the table as she answered.

"Liam and I are twins. We’re identical," he answered, polishing off the mammoth pastry and setting his fork on the plate. He stared at her curiously.

They weren’t identical, Callie mused. Not really. Although they were both incredibly handsome with their midnight black hair that just touched the back of their collar and very dark eyes, Rory was just…different. Yeah…they were dressed in matching tuxedos and they looked very much alike…but she would never mistake one for the other.

She shook her head as she answered, "You aren’t really exactly alike."

Rory looked perplexed. "Most people can’t tell us apart."

Really? Liam was attractive as was his brother Nathan, but Rory…was a walking temptation. She looked around for Liam, but didn’t see him in the crowd. She didn’t have anything for comparison but she was doubtful she would ever confuse the two. Liam didn’t make her edgy and nervous. Rory definitely did. It was like she could feel the male hormones coming across the table, making her want to jump the table and attack.

Callie crossed her arms in front of her and answered defensively, "I just don’t think you’re alike, that’s all."

"Does that mean I’m the handsome one?," he asked hopefully, smiling brightly.

It was strange, but he wasn’t flirting. It was almost as if he wanted validation. Callie refused to give it to him. His head was probably already fat enough. "No comment."

Rory’s face fell. "I guess that means I’m not."

Callie searched his face for signs of conceit, but she didn’t see anything except raw honesty. As she took in his perfect features and glanced at his wavy mass of dark hair with one little stray strand that seemed to separate from the others, she wanted to reach out and brush it back in place.

Come on, Callie. Get real. The guy has to know he’s incredibly gorgeous. Don’t feel sorry for him.

"I guess not," she answered, feeling even guiltier when he looked even more dejected. Wanting to see him smile again she offered, "Have my cake." She pushed it in front of him.

He pushed it back. "I know you want it."