Demonically Tempted (Frostbite 2)

“I haven’t a clue how to get in contact with him,” I said honestly. “But we’ve all seen things that go beyond reason, right?” At nods from Zach and Eddie, I continued, “There has to be a way to—I don’t know—speak to him.” My path became clear. “I loved him as a ghost and if I have the chance to love him as a man, I’m taking it.”

“Use an Ouija board,” Brandon offered.

Zach laughed. “That’ll work.”

“While I’m glad that you’re not thinking I’m nuts and open to the idea to suggest something,” I said to Brandon. “I don’t really think that’s going to work. But Gretchen might know a way.”

“The witch?” Eddie asked.

“She was spot on about the demon, and I’ll tell you this much, she knows her stuff.”

“Witch?” Brandon whispered. “Demon.”

His eyes were wide with either shock or fear. I couldn’t quite tell. “The boys can tell you all about everything because honestly I’m so sick of talking about it.” I had more pressing matters that didn’t involve scary shit that went bump in the night.

I turned to Kipp, leaned down and drew in a deep breath catching a whiff of soap and antiseptic. But beneath it, for the first time since I smelled him on his pillow that night at his house, I drew in the warm, scent of spicy man.

Not just any man.

My Kipp.

It didn’t matter what was ahead of us, or behind us…only the possibility to be together. I pressed my lips against his mouth and zings of shock soared through me to feel his warm flesh. “I love you and you better have a goddamn good reason for not being here.”

I brushed my mouth toward his ear and whispered, “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m coming to get you.”

Epilogue

I slammed the front door behind me, threw my keys on the table along with my purse, and headed straight for the kitchen counter.

My morning had been spent with Anna as I filled her in on what happened to her sister. I didn’t have to go to her home, and no one asked me to—except for Lizbeth herself—but after what I’d seen I thought she deserved closure.

The result turned out better than I could’ve expected. A weight clearly lifted off her shoulders in learning what really happened to her sister.

It surprised me the whole demon talk didn’t scare her. I assumed she must’ve already expected it had been something like that. More so, that when she saw Lizbeth’s smile on the night she died that she knew then what she was dealing with. She just didn’t want to say it aloud.

After which, I spent the rest of the day helping the soldier’s at Veteran’s Plaza as I promised. It wasn’t a difficult task. One wanted to see his wife once more so I did some research and took him to her new house. Another wanted to see the grave of his mother. And it all went pretty much like that. Simple requests that didn’t take long, but since there were so many of them it kept me busy for the day.

To say I was left emotionally drained was an understatement. My insides, as well as my heart, were bruised. After a quick bite, I’d go to the hospital to be with Kipp until I could figure out how to get him back.

With the to-do-list down to zero, I had some serious thinking to do. And Max agreed that I could take some time off to figure out this mess,

which I was thankful for.

I grabbed an apple off the counter and just as I took my first bite, a knock came at my door. I wasn’t expecting company so I hurried to answer it. I opened it and was stunned to see Gretchen.

“I’ve come because you need me,” she said.

I finished chewing my apple, then swallowed. “How did you know that?”

“Call it a gut feeling.” She gestured toward my living room. “May I come in?”

“Oh, sorry.” I blinked away my shock, opened the door wider, and stepped aside to let her pass.

She took a seat on my couch, then gave that charming smile. “Since you’re still here, and it’s you, I’m assuming everything went well with the demon.”

I sat in next to her, placed my apple down on the coffee table, and nodded. “It was a bit rough for a moment, but yes, I sent him away. You’re the reason for that, so thank you.”

“The spells are strong.” Confidence radiated off her voice. “I had no doubt if you believed in them they’d protect you.” She cocked her head, examining me. “Tell me then why I’m having dreams that you need something from me.”