Read Online A Spell Of Trouble (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Leighann Dobbs, Traci Douglass - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Leighann Dobbs, Traci Douglass
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and their shady interrogation tactics, not to mention the horror stories of what happened to paranormals once they disappeared inside the FBPI’s Area 59 prison, were the stuff of scary legend.
She swallowed hard and squared her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
“Pretty sure that’s my line,” he said, his deep voice skimming over her like a cool stream in the afternoon heat. At five-seven, Issy wasn’t used to having to tip her head back to look at most people, but Dex Nolan was just tall, darn him. He gazed down at her, one side of his full lips quirked into a sarcastic grin. “I’m waiting.”
Part of her wanted to tell him he could continue waiting until the stars burned away. The other part of her, traitor that it was, wanted to cuddle up against his side and nuzzle his strong jaw, now covered by a hint of dark stubble. This close, he smelled of soap and fresh air and a hint of manly sweat.
Annoyed, she took a step back and glanced down at Bella, who was currently wrapping herself around the irritating man’s legs like a brazen hussy. The hilt of Gray’s knife rested heavy against her waist where she’d tucked it into the back pocket of her shorts, weighing her down like an anchor. At least she’d had the sense to cover it with her tank top so it wouldn’t be out there for the world to see. “I was just walking my dog.”
“ Woof! ” Bella barked, as if in agreement.
“Huh.” He stared down at her precious little ball of orange-and-white fluff and raised a brow. “Is that what you call it?”
“Bella’s a Pomeranian,” Issy said, snapping her fingers to try and get the dog away from Dex’s hiking boot, which she’d presently chosen to drape herself over, tummy up and available for rubs. Issy sensed her little doggy mind was filled with overwhelming thoughts of bliss and tranquility regarding Dex, along with a whole lot of starstruck infatuation. Issy managed to refrain from rolling her eyes, barely. So much for animal loyalty. Never mind if her canine familiar’s emotions mirrored her own more closely than Issy wanted to admit. “They’re a toy breed.”
“Well,” Dex said, crouching to comply with Bella’s shameless whines for attention. “She is cute. Aren’t you sweet, girl? Huh? Who’s a cutie? You are! Yes, you are.”
Issy couldn’t help but smile at the change in the tough FBPI detective’s demeanor. There was something about petting an animal that turned everyone into a baby-talking idiot. “She’s usually not this friendly with strangers. She must like you.”
“Yeah?” Dex looked up at her, and Issy’s heart somersaulted. “I seem to have a way with women.”
I bet you do. Issy shook her head to clear it then checked her watch. She really should get back to the shop. Her assistant would be leaving in about an hour, and Issy had a new shipment of cat litter being delivered later that she needed to make room for in the stock room. She snapped her fingers and started walking back in the direction where she’d parked Brown Betty. “C’mon, Bella. Let’s go.”
Her little dog rolled over and leapt to her tiny paws, dancing around in circles excitedly before racing after Issy. Bella loved riding in the car almost as much as she loved tummy rubs.
“Wait!” Dex called from behind her. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing skulking around a crime scene.”
Issy halted and took a deep, steadying breath before facing Dex again. It was wrong, really, for a man to be that appealing and be so off limits. “It’s not really a crime scene.”
“No.” He walked over to join her. “But it is a little suspicious, don’t you think? You hanging around the house of a recent homicide victim. Especially with you being there at the scene of the murder and all.”
“We’ve been over this already,” she said, continuing on her way, with him trailing along beside her and Bella yipping at her heels. “I had nothing to do with Louella Drummond’s
She swallowed hard and squared her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
“Pretty sure that’s my line,” he said, his deep voice skimming over her like a cool stream in the afternoon heat. At five-seven, Issy wasn’t used to having to tip her head back to look at most people, but Dex Nolan was just tall, darn him. He gazed down at her, one side of his full lips quirked into a sarcastic grin. “I’m waiting.”
Part of her wanted to tell him he could continue waiting until the stars burned away. The other part of her, traitor that it was, wanted to cuddle up against his side and nuzzle his strong jaw, now covered by a hint of dark stubble. This close, he smelled of soap and fresh air and a hint of manly sweat.
Annoyed, she took a step back and glanced down at Bella, who was currently wrapping herself around the irritating man’s legs like a brazen hussy. The hilt of Gray’s knife rested heavy against her waist where she’d tucked it into the back pocket of her shorts, weighing her down like an anchor. At least she’d had the sense to cover it with her tank top so it wouldn’t be out there for the world to see. “I was just walking my dog.”
“ Woof! ” Bella barked, as if in agreement.
“Huh.” He stared down at her precious little ball of orange-and-white fluff and raised a brow. “Is that what you call it?”
“Bella’s a Pomeranian,” Issy said, snapping her fingers to try and get the dog away from Dex’s hiking boot, which she’d presently chosen to drape herself over, tummy up and available for rubs. Issy sensed her little doggy mind was filled with overwhelming thoughts of bliss and tranquility regarding Dex, along with a whole lot of starstruck infatuation. Issy managed to refrain from rolling her eyes, barely. So much for animal loyalty. Never mind if her canine familiar’s emotions mirrored her own more closely than Issy wanted to admit. “They’re a toy breed.”
“Well,” Dex said, crouching to comply with Bella’s shameless whines for attention. “She is cute. Aren’t you sweet, girl? Huh? Who’s a cutie? You are! Yes, you are.”
Issy couldn’t help but smile at the change in the tough FBPI detective’s demeanor. There was something about petting an animal that turned everyone into a baby-talking idiot. “She’s usually not this friendly with strangers. She must like you.”
“Yeah?” Dex looked up at her, and Issy’s heart somersaulted. “I seem to have a way with women.”
I bet you do. Issy shook her head to clear it then checked her watch. She really should get back to the shop. Her assistant would be leaving in about an hour, and Issy had a new shipment of cat litter being delivered later that she needed to make room for in the stock room. She snapped her fingers and started walking back in the direction where she’d parked Brown Betty. “C’mon, Bella. Let’s go.”
Her little dog rolled over and leapt to her tiny paws, dancing around in circles excitedly before racing after Issy. Bella loved riding in the car almost as much as she loved tummy rubs.
“Wait!” Dex called from behind her. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing skulking around a crime scene.”
Issy halted and took a deep, steadying breath before facing Dex again. It was wrong, really, for a man to be that appealing and be so off limits. “It’s not really a crime scene.”
“No.” He walked over to join her. “But it is a little suspicious, don’t you think? You hanging around the house of a recent homicide victim. Especially with you being there at the scene of the murder and all.”
“We’ve been over this already,” she said, continuing on her way, with him trailing along beside her and Bella yipping at her heels. “I had nothing to do with Louella Drummond’s
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