Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Guardian 7)

"Yeah. Turns out he's a bounty hunter, and he sort of saved my butt."

"Well, it is a cute butt."

I grinned. "Maybe so, but I doubt that's the reason he saved it."

"So, you got hot and heavy with him as a thank-you?"

"Not intentionally." Liander's eyebrows rose again, so I added, "I blame the moon heat and the fact that he smelled so good." He kissed damn good, too, but that was beside the point.

"So why didn't it go any further?"

"It's hard to concentrate on loving when there are a couple of hellhounds wanting to tear you to pieces."

"I guess." He took a mouthful of food, then added, "You intending to see him again?"

"No. I don't really like him, and I certainly don't trust him."

"Hey, I didn't like Rhoan when I first met him, either."

"I thought you got hot and heavy on the first date."

"Nope. I thought he had a great body, but a shitty attitude. I still thought that when we had sex a few days later. Of course, attitude or not, he was the one. And he has mellowed, thankfully."

"He's never going to be the perfect man." Even I knew that, and I loved my brother to death.

He waved a hand in agreement. "All I'm saying is you should never write anyone off just because you don't instantly fall in love. Or lust."

I snorted. "Trust me, I don't expect to-although lust is always handy." Especially if you had to spend the rest of your life with him. I took another mouthful, then added, "Besides, if I meet Kye again, I'm going to have to arrest him, because it means he's still investigating a case I've warned him off."

"Well, that probably would put a dampener on things," he said, his voice wry.

"Totally."

I finished the last of the lasagna and picked up my coffee with a sigh. "I'm so glad you came to live with us."

He grinned. "I think you two are getting the better end of the deal. Do you know how badly you both cook?"

"Absolutely. That's why you and Rhoan are never going to be able to set up house alone. I'd starve on my own." I rose as my cell phone rang, and walked across to grab it out of my purse. "Hello?"

"Riley? Jack," he said, unnecessarily. "We've got another vampire dead. One Garrison Bovel."

I swore softly. "Not someone else you know, I hope?"

"Not personally, no, though I've seen him around the various bars a few times." He sounded bone-tired. "He was the head of an accounting firm that handled the taxes for many of the dead. It could mean trouble if they got into his records."

"Has his office been raided?"

"Not as far as we know, but we've contacted his partners and told them to check."

"Why would anyone want to rob an accountant?"

"Because he's been a record keeper for three hundred years, and has amassed quite a fortune."

God, he had to have loved his job to have done it for that damn long.

"I'll send you the address," Jack continued. "Mel and her team are already there."

"Has Cole's report for Armel's murder come through yet?"