Deadlock

Afterglow, Book 2

Detective Cheney Fisher is used to the back-of-the-neck feeling that tells him he’s being watched. When attorney Pandora Jackson strides into the precinct, he’s the one doing the watching — and drooling. Her mile-long legs and fiery hair encase a sharp legal mind and a body he’d like to de-brief.

Despite his effort to keep his powers on the down-low, Pandora knows that Cheney is uniquely qualified to solve her problem — evaluating a strangely unfriendly bit of evidence from a court case. But it’s her instant attraction to the detective that scares her. Any loss of control and her powerful Fae ability could consume her, body and soul.

A suspicious fire in Pandora’s apartment drives Cheney’s suspicion that she’s being stalked by a very real threat. Bringing her under protection is the only option, even though proximity means there’s no way to fight the searing passion erupting between them.

Cheney’s instincts are spot-on, though. A madman with a taste for unnatural selection has a plan for Pandora. The only way to fight it is trust themselves, their powers…and each other.

Warning: Refrigerate after opening. This book contains scenes of magic, illusion and scorching hot fairy sex. There are also a few murders, a super sexy cop, a giggle or two, and a tip of the hat to Mother Nature. It is, of course, fiction, but was written using 100 % organically grown words.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Demons are a Ghoul’s Best Friend:

Pandora matched her stride to that of the tall detective, a pleasant change since she was unused to walking next to men who surpassed her in height, especially when she was in heels. For a few moments she indulged herself by enjoying the sensation, then sighed and surrendered to business. «Where are we going?»

«Somewhere I know we won’t be overheard.»

His voice was sharp, edgy, and she knew she’d hit the right button by mentioning Roz. She needed this man’s help with her current problem since there was no one else she could turn to. Although the first time she’d seen him from a distance, she’d wondered if he was the right person. Up close, face-to-face, she’d been even less sure since every single female hormone in her body had woken up and started singing girl songs.

It had taken quite a bit of strength to overcome the gleeful hallelujah chorus going on in her panties, but she’d managed it. For now, she needed Detective Fisher’s talent, not his penis, magnificent though it assuredly would be.

He stopped next to a car in the parking lot, surprising Pandora, as her thoughts had been far away from mundane things. Like where they were going.

«Get in.» He held the door, his tone commanding and abrupt.

«Well, since you’re being so charming about it…» She slid into the passenger seat and waited for him to join her behind the wheel.

He did, but not to start the engine. He turned to her with an expressionless face. «Now tell me what the hell this is about.»

She took a breath. «I met Roz when her husband had some dealings with our firm. It was a social occasion. We chatted and she told me about her job with you. She was very discreet and spoke highly of you. But I’m not an idiot. I put two and two together — and came up with considerably more than four. You baby-sit what are, for lack of a better phrase, challenged AGs.»

He inclined his head slightly. «And if I do?»

She pursed her lips, seeking the right words. «If you do, if my assumption is correct, then you are one of the few people who can help with my little — er — problem.»

«You think you have a challenged AG?»

She snorted. «There’s no think about it. I know I do. And I’m not sure where to turn, who to ask for help. Since it’s a puppy, you came to mind.» She straightened her shoulders. «I don’t quite know how to explain this. First off, I’m not into putting down animals like they were useless bugs. Everything gets a chance, as far as I’m concerned.»

Cheney nodded. «Agreed.»

«So what I would like…» Pandora paused, uncertain of what it was she really wanted. «Look, I don’t have that much experience with young AGs, or puppies for that matter. But you don’t have to be a psychiatrist or a vet to look at this thing and know there’s an issue of some sort.» She turned to him, trying to keep the pain out of her voice. «I think it’s in trouble, Detective. I don’t know why, but there’s something about it that’s disturbing me.»

«That sounds like an emotional response to a stray, not anything I’d expect from a lawyer.»

She curled her lip. «I’m a lawyer in court and it’s what I do for a living. I like the law. Always have. But that doesn’t mean I snack on warm furry things and drown kittens in my off hours, for Chrissake.» She sighed. «This puppy ended up with me as the result of a court case. Nobody else would touch it.» She swallowed. «I’m not sure why I did. I had the same reaction. It doesn’t…feel right.»

«Feel right?»

«I know. Stupid thing to say and a completely unreliable statement I’d tear apart in the courtroom. But it’s true. Maybe it was the environment it was born into.» Staring absently out of the car window, she tried to shed the unpleasant memories. «The case sucked. It was about animal abuse and an unscrupulous, money-grubbing leech.» She grinned suddenly. «I won. He won’t be abusing anything else for quite some time. In fact, he’s got five to ten years of finding out what it’s like on the other side of punishment. Not to mention I took him for every filthy penny he’d ever filtered into an offshore bank account.»

She flashed a quick glance at Cheney. «Global internet finance laws are quite restrictive these days.»

«So I’ve heard.» His voice was still cool.

«After the case, the evidence, as in the poor creatures involved, went to adoption agencies or homes. No worries about them. It was just this one…nobody wanted him. Honestly? I didn’t either.»

«Why?»

«Again, I don’t really know. Call it gut instinct. But as I said, turning him over to some euthanasia company…well, I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it.»

«And…» prompted Cheney.

«Well, I remembered my conversation with Roz. I decided to speak with you and ask if there was any way you could—evaluate this creature? Use whatever skills you have to tell me what the hell’s going on with it?»

«This isn’t a police matter.»

«No, it’s not.»

«And it wouldn’t go any further than the two of us?»

«Are you nuts? You think I want every associate in the firm thinking I’m a pushover for a pair of floppy ears and a wagging tail?»

His face relaxed into a grin at her outrage. «I guess that wouldn’t do the image any good, would it?»

«Damn straight.» Pandora shuddered. «No matter how civilized we get, it’s still tough for a woman to get past the breasts thing and be accepted for her brains not her bra size.»

Annoyed at herself, she realized she was watching his gaze drift to her breasts. And rather enjoying it.

«We’re getting off topic.» Or at least I am. She shifted in the seat. «Will you help me?»

Silence fell for a few moments as he took a turn staring out of the window, thinking. She mentally crossed her fingers and waited patiently, saying nothing, just hoping he’d be curious enough to do as she asked.

Then he made a slight sound and reached for the ignition. «Fasten your seat belt.»

It’s not every day a woman faces down the bitch who owns her man’s soul.

Dark Currents

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