Read Online A Spell Of Trouble (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Leighann Dobbs, Traci Douglass - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leighann Dobbs, Traci Douglass
Ads: Link
death.” The knife tapped against her spine with each step, compelling her to add, “Neither did Gray.”
Their footfalls on the crackling underbrush melded with the sounds of birdsong and frogs croaking from the stream in the distance. It would’ve all been beautiful and peaceful, except for the tiny fact that this guy thought she’d killed someone.
They stopped in a small clearing, and Issy faced him once more. “And you never did answer my question.”
“What question’s that?”
“What you’re doing here lurking around in the woods?” The weird tug of awareness she always felt between them curled tighter around her, urging her closer to him. Issy held her ground and crossed her arms. Stupid tug. “This isn’t exactly your jurisdiction, is it?”
“It is now.” His warm gaze flickered to her lips before meeting her eyes again. He frowned, as if he was resisting this connection between them as well. “Since I’m lead investigator on this case.”
Issy’s breath caught. “Wait. You’re lead investigator? I thought your creepy buddy Stan was in charge of the murder.”
“We’re sharing responsibilities on this one.”
“I see.” Honestly, she didn’t see at all. Owen seemed to have been doing just fine on his own with Louella’s homicide. Why did the FBPI have to come in and take over and get all nosy into everyone’s affairs? And why did they have to send this man, who looked like a Greek god and made her feel all dreamy inside? It was enough to make a witch yearn for the Salem trials again. But Issy wasn’t one to run and hide when the going got tough. She was made of sterner stuff. All the Quinns were. Bravely, she held out her wrists, one strawberry-blond brow cocked at Dex. “So are you going to arrest me or what?”
He took a step closer to her, and for a brief terrifying moment, she wondered if he actually would take her into custody, or kiss her, or both. But he just stopped about a foot away and crossed his arms over his beefy chest, his expression contemplative. “I can’t figure you out, Issy Quinn.”
She let her arms fall back to her sides. “What’s to figure out?”
“You’re so protective of this town and its people, so protective of your family and your pets, yet you surrender yourself without a second thought.”
His perceptiveness made her chest pinch with the truth of it. “Silver Hollow is my home. I love it here, and I’d do anything to protect it.” She rubbed her arms and shrugged. “Don’t you feel that way about where you’re from?”
“No, not really. It isn’t nearly as spectacular as all this.” He gestured to the breathtaking nature around them. Of course he would be a nature lover too. The guy was practically custom-ordered just for her.
Except for the fact that he worked for the paranormal community’s greatest nemesis and he lived half a continent away and he kept squinting toward her back pocket as if he just knew she had Gray’s stupid athame hidden there. And, of course, there were her powers—and his lack of abilities. Human and paranormal matings rarely, if ever, worked, simply because the parties were too different. She shuffled her feet and did her best to ignore the telltale accusing poke of the knife’s hilt against her back. “Right. Well, I really have to get back to my shop now. Nice talking with you. I’ll let you get back to your investigation now.”
She turned on her heel and snapped her fingers for Bella to follow, sending up a silent prayer to the goddess that he’d take the hint and not follow her again.
* * *
D ex followed . Even though he knew he shouldn’t. Even though her body language clearly told him to stay away . Even though she was one of the top suspects in this whole topsy-turvy debacle of a case.
He caught up to her then kept pace at her side as they walked up the big hill behind Louella’s house. He ignored her little dog trying to gnaw at the laces of his hiking boots while he walked. “How
Their footfalls on the crackling underbrush melded with the sounds of birdsong and frogs croaking from the stream in the distance. It would’ve all been beautiful and peaceful, except for the tiny fact that this guy thought she’d killed someone.
They stopped in a small clearing, and Issy faced him once more. “And you never did answer my question.”
“What question’s that?”
“What you’re doing here lurking around in the woods?” The weird tug of awareness she always felt between them curled tighter around her, urging her closer to him. Issy held her ground and crossed her arms. Stupid tug. “This isn’t exactly your jurisdiction, is it?”
“It is now.” His warm gaze flickered to her lips before meeting her eyes again. He frowned, as if he was resisting this connection between them as well. “Since I’m lead investigator on this case.”
Issy’s breath caught. “Wait. You’re lead investigator? I thought your creepy buddy Stan was in charge of the murder.”
“We’re sharing responsibilities on this one.”
“I see.” Honestly, she didn’t see at all. Owen seemed to have been doing just fine on his own with Louella’s homicide. Why did the FBPI have to come in and take over and get all nosy into everyone’s affairs? And why did they have to send this man, who looked like a Greek god and made her feel all dreamy inside? It was enough to make a witch yearn for the Salem trials again. But Issy wasn’t one to run and hide when the going got tough. She was made of sterner stuff. All the Quinns were. Bravely, she held out her wrists, one strawberry-blond brow cocked at Dex. “So are you going to arrest me or what?”
He took a step closer to her, and for a brief terrifying moment, she wondered if he actually would take her into custody, or kiss her, or both. But he just stopped about a foot away and crossed his arms over his beefy chest, his expression contemplative. “I can’t figure you out, Issy Quinn.”
She let her arms fall back to her sides. “What’s to figure out?”
“You’re so protective of this town and its people, so protective of your family and your pets, yet you surrender yourself without a second thought.”
His perceptiveness made her chest pinch with the truth of it. “Silver Hollow is my home. I love it here, and I’d do anything to protect it.” She rubbed her arms and shrugged. “Don’t you feel that way about where you’re from?”
“No, not really. It isn’t nearly as spectacular as all this.” He gestured to the breathtaking nature around them. Of course he would be a nature lover too. The guy was practically custom-ordered just for her.
Except for the fact that he worked for the paranormal community’s greatest nemesis and he lived half a continent away and he kept squinting toward her back pocket as if he just knew she had Gray’s stupid athame hidden there. And, of course, there were her powers—and his lack of abilities. Human and paranormal matings rarely, if ever, worked, simply because the parties were too different. She shuffled her feet and did her best to ignore the telltale accusing poke of the knife’s hilt against her back. “Right. Well, I really have to get back to my shop now. Nice talking with you. I’ll let you get back to your investigation now.”
She turned on her heel and snapped her fingers for Bella to follow, sending up a silent prayer to the goddess that he’d take the hint and not follow her again.
* * *
D ex followed . Even though he knew he shouldn’t. Even though her body language clearly told him to stay away . Even though she was one of the top suspects in this whole topsy-turvy debacle of a case.
He caught up to her then kept pace at her side as they walked up the big hill behind Louella’s house. He ignored her little dog trying to gnaw at the laces of his hiking boots while he walked. “How
Similar Books
