Page 10 of Dead Heat

“If you get me the materials, I sure can. It’ll take a while, but all I’ve got is time.”

“If that’s how you’d like to spend it, I won’t object. I bet Claude will help.” The revenant seemed to enjoy contributing to household chores.

Ray nodded. “A third hand would be useful.”

A tiny thrill zinged through me. My very own library. It would be ideal for the ghosts, too. They’d both been reading more books in the afterlife than they’d ever had time to read during their lives. Psychology, mythology, history, personal growth, thrillers, and suspense. If I wasn’t careful, I’d lose them to the stacks.

“Hailey will be disappointed when she learns I’m building my own. I think she looks forward to my visits.” Mainly as a distraction from the other patrons.

“A good public library is invaluable no matter how many books you have at home,” Ray said. “Besides, it’d be almost impossible to acquire the kind of collection that would completely eliminate your need for other sources.”

My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my back pocket and glanced at the screen.

“It must be His Highness, Kane Sullivan,” Ray said.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because you only smile at the phone like a loon when he calls.”

Glowering at Ray, I answered the call. “Why, hello, Your Highness. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I have a situation. I’m pulling up to your house now.” He paused. “With a passenger.”

“Anyone I know?”

“I’ll explain in a minute. I only wanted to make sure you were decent before we rang the bell.”

“Define decent.”

“If you have an oversized, shapeless sweater featuring a kitten and a ball of yarn, consider throwing that on.”

I glanced down at my plain blue T-shirt with a hole at the hem. “I’m already dressed.”

“Good. Keep it that way. See you in a minute.”

I stared at the blank screen of the phone, perplexed.

I decided not to wait for the doorbell and ventured outside to meet Kane and my mystery guest. The moment Kane came into view, I forgot all about his companion. I only had eyes for the six-four demon whose angelic looks inspired a host of sinful thoughts.

He greeted me with a surprisingly lusty kiss on the lips that shot straight to my toes.

“Lorelei, I’d like you to meet Alessandro.”

The name rang a bell. “Oh, the new bartender.” The incubus with a backside like a plush mattress topper, according to Josephine Banks, Kane’s right hand and director of security.

One look at Alessandro and I understood how the species managed to survive. Lustrous dark hair. Darker eyes fringed with thick lashes that promised to love you until the end of time. His body was lean and ripped, with a sensual mouththat could tempt even the frostiest of uberbitches. Hell, I was head over heels in love with Kane, but I’d watch those lips recite the ingredient list off the back of a cereal box.

“Hello,” the incubus said. Nine out of ten dentists would agree that his smile was dazzling, and the tenth dentist was an idiot.

“Nice to meet you.” I steeled my mind as he reached for my hand and brushed those tempting lips against my skin. I was glad I made the effort because I had to suppress the rise of chills that the contact incited.

“I’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I know you already.”

I glanced at Kane. “Is that so?”

“Would you mind if we spoke inside?” Kane asked. “I’d rather not leave him standing on your front porch, for reasons that will become clear once I explain the reason for our visit.”

My interest was officially piqued.

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