Demonically Tempted (Frostbite 2)

Good. Settled. “I hear what you’re saying, but Max wouldn’t bring anyone in that wasn’t highly respected or recommended. I mean, geesh, the guy works for the F.B.I.. I think that shows he knows what he’s doing and has been around the ghost block a few times.”

Kipp stared at me knowingly. “Max has one agenda, and that’s helping you, so that it will help him. Never forget that.”

Max did have his reasons for doing what he did and calling Dane in. I doubt he’d only helped me for himself. The warmth in his gaze when he’d introduced Dane told me that he was doing it to help me too. But I wouldn’t argue that fact with Kipp. “All you’re saying is not to trust Dane completely, right?”

“I don’t trust anything about him. From the second I saw him I got a real bad feeling and that warning is only increasing.” His jaw clenched. “I have a feeling he’s not only there to help you.”

&

nbsp; At my parted lips, he raised a hand and added, “I have no idea what he’s up to, so don’t ask. And no I don’t think Max is in on it. I’m just saying to watch yourself around him, that’s all.”

I squirmed closer toward him. “Okay, Kipp, I’ll keep my defenses up.”

“Thank you.” The relief showed heavy in his expression before he grinned. “Now, enough talk about Dane. I can think of something else to do that’s much more enjoyable.”

I reacted in a second to the deep purr that hung off his tone, plus the sweltering heat in his gaze. “I’m interested in hearing what you have in mind.” I mirrored his husky tone and licked my lips, drawing his attention to my mouth.

“Fuck, Tess.” His voice dipped to a low growl. “I—” He leaned in, and as the cold air touched my lips, a soft voice cut off the words I desperately wanted to hear.

“You need to help us.”

Chapter Five

I shot straight up in bed, holding the blankets to my chin. Kipp did his magical bit where his clothes reappeared on his body in an instant. Neat trick that I didn’t possess.

The woman ghost with her pretty floral dress, long, wavy blonde hair, and sparkling blue eyes, stood at the foot of my bed.

“What are you doing in here?” I snapped. “Haven’t you ever heard of a thing called privacy?”

“I’m Holly.” She fiddled with her skirt, and appeared not at all bothered for arriving in my bedroom at a bad time. “I’m sorry for showing up like this, but we’ve heard of your—”

I raised my hand. “What do you mean, you’ve heard of me?”

“Ghosts have been talking about your ability,” she replied, as if that shouldn’t shock the shit out of me. “We’ve heard that you can help us.” Her eyelids lowered and she sighed. “Trust me when I say, we need it.”

I shook my head, forcing myself out of my stupor, and turned to Kipp, stunned. He gawked at her, equally wide-eyed. I looked back at Holly. “First off, am I getting this right, y’all are talking to each other?”

“We have been lately.”

Bizarre! “And second, are you suggesting that word of my…err…ability has been going around the ghost community?”

A beaming smile spread across her face. “Yes, it’s quite amazing that there’s someone living who can see us. So word has spread quickly.”

I glanced at Kipp, mouth agape. He now grinned from ear-to-ear. Oh, this was so not funny! “If you laugh, I will send you to Heaven myself, got it?”

He shrugged. “It’s amusing.”

“If I could I’d slap you right now, but since I can’t, just know I want to.” When he laughed, I said to Holly, “If y’all are talking then tell them this, I don’t like being interrupted when I’m in my bedroom. Really, do you have no respect?”

I dismissed her with a flick of my hand. “Next time you come to my house, knock.” She gave me a you-are-stupid look since I’d asked for the impossible, so I added, “Fine. Wait outside or something.”

She shook her head. “I can’t leave without you offering to help us.”

The us had me slightly concerned. But not enough that I couldn’t stare her down. My muscles tensed as irritation burned in my blood.

Sure, I’d come a long way in helping ghosts and didn’t mind doing so, but on my terms. Not theirs. “If you didn’t hear me, I refuse to be bullied.” My tone was clipped just as I intended. “Come back at a more appropriate time.”

“Now, Tess,” Kipp said, calm and collected.