Read Online Kindling Flames: Flying Sparks (The Ancient Fire Series Book 2) by Julie Wetzel - Free Book Online Page B

changing the subject, “why is he in your hospital so late?”
    Vicky smiled more as her mother hit on the topic bothering Vicky. “Mr. Ritter stopped by after he got off work to check on me,” she answered.
    “It sounds like he likes you.”
    She could hear the smile in her mother’s voice, and the two women went off on a long, detailed conversation about Darien. Vicky was very careful to not mention anything that would make her mother think the man was dangerous.
    “Well, it definitely sounds like you like him,” Ann said, coming to the same conclusion Vicky was reaching.
    “But he’s my boss!” Vicky protested. And a vampire , she added in her mind.
    “It doesn’t matter,” Ann reassured her. “As long as you keep the romance out of the office, there’s no problem. What upper management doesn’t know about can’t get you fired.”
    “Mom!” Vicky protested again. “He is upper management. Darien owns Ritter Enterprises.”
    “Then I don’t see what the problem is,” Ann replied. “If he owns the company, then he won’t fire you. Plus, that means he’s rich.” Vicky heard a giggle issue from her mother. “He sounds like a good catch.”
    “You sound just like Vanessa.” She sighed.
    “So, will I get to meet your boss?” Ann asked her daughter.
    Not if I can help it , Vicky answered in her head. “Maybe the next time you come to visit,” she said out loud. “It’s going to take me some time to sort this out. I still have to see how bad the fire damage is and make arrangements for a place to stay during the cleanup. I’ll probably be crashing at Vanessa’s for a while.”
    Vanessa would be all too willing to let her stay for as long as she wanted to. But, it was Vanessa’s habit of bringing home strange men at weird hours that had always bothered Vicky when they were roommates at college. The woman hadn’t gotten much better since they’d graduated.
    “Well, let me know,” Ann said. “I’m overdue for a visit. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”
    “I know, Mom,” Vicky said softly into the phone. “I miss you.”
    “I miss you, too,” Ann said. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
    “It’s okay, Mom.” Vicky chuckled into the phone. “I have a few friends here in town that can help if I really need it.” The entire werewolf and vampire community at her beck and call were a few friends, right?
    Her mom finally gave up. “All right. Have a good night, and let me know how things turn out. I love you.”
    “I will, Mom. I love you,” Vicky said, and the two women hung up.
    Darien’s heart twinged when he heard Vicky speak those three words. He had been leaning against the wall just outside the door for a while, and he had gotten a fairly good idea of what the women had been talking about from the half of the conversation that he had heard. He wasn’t ready to address Vicky’s feelings yet, but there was still the problem of where his assistant was going to live.
    Darien didn’t like the idea of her staying with Vanessa. He felt the woman was untrustworthy, and there was still the matter of what had caused the fire in Vicky’s home. If it were supernatural like he suspected, would whatever had caused it come back for her? Would she just be putting her friend in danger?
    He needed to take Vicky and that coin to see the Gray Court, but their audience was set for the weekend. Should he take her sooner and risk offending the fay? Shaking his head, he dismissed this idea. The high courts of the fay were all about protocol and posturing. Just bringing her along would push his audience to the point of impolite, but she had suddenly become a piece of the puzzle they were trying to unravel. He would also need time to plan for her visit there. Mortals were always in danger when they strayed into the world of the fay. He needed to make sure she got out reasonably unscathed.
    Letting out a sigh, Darien pushed off the wall. There was only one place