Free You’ll Understand When You’re Dead: Broken Heart Vampires Book 12 by Michele Bardsley Page A

higher. She shattered against him, and he pushed hard against her vibrating heat, panting, as his release shattered him, too.
----
    A FTER THEY’D CLEANED up , they got into the front seats. Natalie turned on the van so they could enjoy some air conditioning.
    Matt watched her tap buttons on her phone, carefully and obviously avoiding eye contact with him, but it was useless. No cell signal in this patch of Oklahoma woods, and every time she glanced his way he was staring at her. He couldn’t help it. She was beautiful, and in the afterglow of their love making, her pale skin was almost flushed.
    A honking horn’s rendition of “Love Me Tender” startled Matt out of his thoughts. A pink Cadillac the size of a yacht pulled in front of the minivan.
    Natalie stared at the car, and then turned to Matt. “You see that, right? I’m not delusional from the heat?”
    “Nope. It’s there.”
    “Hey there, folks,” yelled a cheerful male voice. “Y’all need some help? I saw the flat tire.”
    Matt turned and looked at the hefty gentleman dressed in a white jewel-studded cowboy suit. Even though it was nighttime, the man wore diamond-shaped purple sunglasses. His ten-gallon hat had “The King” emblazoned on it in big gold letters. Lowering the window, Matt said, “Can you give us a ride? Our destination isn’t too far.”
    “Sure, sure,” the man said. “My Caddy has room for a whole orchestra.”
    They quickly loaded the Cadillac’s cavernous trunk with the garage sale items. Natalie slid into the front seat, and Matt got into the back. Everyone clicked on their seatbelts. Then Frank “Elvis” Schmidt turned on “Jailhouse Rock” and spun gravel as he maneuvered onto the road. Natalie gave him directions, and he flashed them a huge grin. “I’m new in town,” he said. “Not much call for vampire Elvis impersonators. So here I am, in Broken Heart. And I’m all shook up.” He grinned. “In a good way.”
    Matt exchanged an amused glance with Natalie.
    “So y’all married?”
    “Er, no,” Matt said. “My name’s Matt Dennison and this is Natalie Haltom.”
    “Hey now, darlin’, I’m just so lonesome I could cry! I ain’t nothing but a hound dog, a good old boy looking for love—”
    “In all the wrong places?” Matt supplied, unable to resist.
    “Wrong song, son,” Frank said heartily.
    Soon they turned onto the road that led to the bed and breakfast. As they pulled into the huge yard already filled with cars, Matt spotted Kimmie talking to Hayden. They exited the car, and Matt took Natalie by the elbow. She turned to Frank. “Thank you so much for the ride.”
    “You’re welcome, little mama.” He helped them unload the car, and then he wandered away.
    “Mom!”
    Matt and Natalie turned. An excited Kimmie and Jenny rushed to them. “I can’t believe this! It’s so great.” She danced a jig around Natalie and hugged her mother.
    Then Matt found Kimmie’s arms wrapped around him. “Mr. Dennison is gonna be my stepdad!”

Chapter Nine
    N ATALIE FELT AN icy wave of dread wash over her. They’d taken this fake engagement way too far. Why hadn’t it occurred to her that Kimmie would know about the engagement? She glanced at Matt and saw his shock. Their little white lie had coalesced into a huge catastrophe. The excitement dancing in Kimmie’s eyes inflated Natalie’s guilt.
    “Lovebirds!” trilled Bettie. “We have so much to discuss.” The tiny old woman was attached to Frank’s chubby arm. “This man is not only a devoted fan of the King, he’s got a night club act...and he’s a preacher. Isn’t this fabulous? Why, Matt and Natalie, you’re going to be married by Elvis at the Little People fertility festival! It’s all so perfect!”
    Frank struck a pose. “Uh thank ya, thank ya very much.”
    Natalie gaped with shock then started to laugh. She couldn’t stop, and she knew she sounded like an out-of-control clown, but the ridiculous situation overwhelmed her. This