Page 12 of Top Secret Vampire

“Unless you’re suggesting your own bed.”

Her breathing jerked in and out of her, and she stared up at me with wide eyes.

“I’m teasing,” I said. Not . . . truly, but it was too soon to state my intentions that were completely honorable.

She poked my chest, though not hard, and her laugh burst out, tickling across my skin and making my heart slam against my ribs hard enough to bruise it. “Good one.” She waved to the street. “My car’s in the lot across the way. Since she rode with me, I’m not sure how Tracy’s going to get to her place. I rented a condo for her, but since she just quit, I’m not paying next month’s rent.”

“Does she always behave in such a manner?”

“Never.” Her sigh bled out as we strode on the crosswalk to the other side. “I didn’t realize she resented me that much. I’m stunned, actually. And hurt. I thought she and I were more than a boss and assistant.” She paused on the opposite sidewalk, herbreath catching. “I need to change my passwords. She has a list and can access almost everything.”

“Is she someone who’d harm your business in such a way?”

Reese shrugged. “I wouldn’t think so, but the Tracy we just saw in your office is a completely different person than the one I called my friend.”

“Then you’d be wise to ensure she cannot cause you any harm.” As would I. Completely and forcefully, if necessary.

“I’ll take care of that when we get home,” she said.

“Let’s go there first. Once I’ve assessed the defensive situation, I’ll travel to my own residence and return with my belongings.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll ride with you, if you don’t mind.”

“And mistify yourself to your place after?”

Mistify . . . I loved the term as much as this woman calling me Wolf. As for Wolfie . . . It was growing on me, an appalling thought for those who sometimesdidlie motionless inside a coffin. “Perhaps.”

“Do you own a car?” she asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“If you can mistify and reappear anywhere, why bother driving?”

“Rain. Snow.”

“Don’t like getting your slick cape wet?” Her smile told me she was teasing. “I guess that makes sense. But, like, you might not be looking at this from all the right angles. Imagine. You could spontaneously travel to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun with a blink of your eyes.”

“I cannot . . . mistify luggage.”

She sighed as if greatly put upon. “Now that’s a true bummer.”

Chapter 5

Reese

“Reese? Is it truly Reese Hamilton?” a voice called out from somewhere nearby. I turned to find my old college professor striding our way. “I heard you were back in town.” His easy smile traveled between me and Wolf, and I had to hand it to him, his face didn’t even twitch as he took in Wolf’s cape and starched white shirt topped with a red bow tie.

“Wolfram?” I said. “This is Flint Prospect. Flint? This is Wolfram Zegrath, a friend who works at Monsters, PI.” No need to share that I’d hired him.

“Ah, the detective agency?” Flint’s gaze flicked to the building across the street from us, and he tugged on his suit jacket and straightened the collar of the t-shirt he wore beneath. The silver in his dark hair gleamed in the sunshine, but other than that and the few creases around his eyes, he looked the same as he had seven years ago when I graduated with my associate’s degree.

“Yes, I began my employment there recently.” Wolf dipped forward in a short bow. “It’s a delight to meet you, Flint.”

“Flint was my professor at the community college where I got my creative writing degree,” I said. “His classes helped me define my voice.”

“Now, now.” Flint said, patting my arm. “It’s just one of the many things we do for our writers. I will say, however, that I can takesomecredit for your success.”

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