Free Danger Calls by Caridad Piñeiro Page A

smelled the clean scent of her, and desire jumped to life. He fought it down, but it wasn’t easy.
    â€œI liked it long and I liked the T-shirts and other stuff.”
    Sebastian glanced down at the neatly pressed dress shirt he wore, another concession to what he thought would be considered respectable. “Boring much?”
    â€œBoring,” she agreed with a small nod.
    â€œSo I can go back to being disreputable Sebastian.”
    â€œYou can go back to being you.”
    â€œMe, huh?” Inside there was surprise, confusion and wait…What was that? Was it pride? Maybe even self-confidence and happiness? Grinning broadly so that it almost hurt, he said, “I kind of like this work-friends thing.”
    There was a slightly confused but happy expression on her face as she admitted, “So do I, only…I guess it’s time I tackled that journal.”
    Leaning forward, Sebastian snagged the book from the coffee table where he had left it earlier and handed it to her. “Nap time’s over.”
    She grabbed the book from him. “Slave driver.”
    Chuckling, he rose and glanced down at her. She looked good enough to kiss, only work friends didn’t kiss, did they? So he forced himself to move away from the sofa and back to Ryder’s desk to start the next book.
    While he scanned, he battled the need to look her way. So she liked his longer hair and preferred his T-shirts? But thinking about all they had revealed to each other tonight was dangerous because…
    Ãœberanal Doctor Melissa didn’t do bad boys. Only, she had already done him and liked it.
    She had liked it, he thought with a grin, and while he scanned, he considered which T-shirt he might wear tomorrow. And how long it would take for his hair to grow out ’ cause maybe Good Girl Melissa might consider a repeat performance with Bad Boy Sebastian.
    Â 
    Sebastian wasn’t feeling quite as positive after three days of scanning with no sign of Melissa. Rumor had it that she was having an exceptionally rough time at the hospital, which slowed her review of the journals. So Ryder had taken over the task for the last few nights.
    Sebastian, however, was wondering if Melissa had reconsidered her earlier decision to become work friends. Was that the reason for her absence?
    When Ryder strode up to the desk, surprising him, Sebastian bolted upright in his chair. Glaring at the vampire, Sebastian said, “Can’t you wear a bell or something?”
    â€œSpooked?” Ryder challenged. “Ready to call out VLAD and have my membership yanked?”
    â€œOr maybe upgraded, because you have been just way too lurking in the shadows lately.” He tried to resume his scanning, only Ryder stilled Sebastian’s hand as he moved the mouse.
    â€œDiana has more news.”
    Sebastian swiveled around in the chair. “Bad, I guess.”
    Ryder nodded, but said nothing else.
    â€œAnd the journals? Anything so far?” Sebastian asked.
    â€œNothing.”
    Sebastian had been hoping for something beyond a nod or monosyllabic answer, but it was apparently not forthcoming. Clasping his hands together and adopting what he hoped was a casual stance, Sebastian glanced up at Ryder looming over him. “How’s Melissa?”
    â€œBusy.”
    Anger surged through him. He was struggling to locate a snappy rebuke, when Ryder surprised him by saying, “She’ll be home later tonight. We need to talk about things and I’m hoping you’ll hang around for that.”
    When he met Ryder’s gaze, he saw a different look there. He couldn’t quite call it welcoming—there was still something about the whole vampire thing that threw off his radar—but it was at least more friendly than before.
    Or maybe Ryder was just hungry and eyeballing a prospective snack. Regardless, Sebastian wouldn’t miss seeing Melissa later that night.
    â€œI’ll be here.”

Chapter