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Authors: Erin Quinn,Caridad Pineiro,Erin Kellison,Lisa Kessler,Chris Marie Green,Mary Leo,Maureen Child,Cassi Carver,Janet Wellington,Theresa Meyers,Sheri Whitefeather,Elisabeth Staab

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SEDUCTIVE SUPERNATURALS: 12 Tales of Shapeshifters, Vampires & Sexy Spirits (269 page)

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The man shook his head, making his way past her toward the bank of elevators behind the security desk. “Passed away a week ago.”

Oh. No.

Elise’s heart squeezed. Whatever issues she might have with Michael, his father seemed like a true gentleman. Not that she’d known him well, but he’d come across as warm and concerned about everybody. The kind of confident guy with a firm handshake who would drive his own employees to the mechanic on Friday afternoon so they could get home for the weekend. He’d done it once for her.

She made her way over to Penny. “I didn’t know about Mr. Hale. He’ll be missed.”

You wouldn’t have known he died if you hadn’t come back.
Still. She’d heard the tales of how he built this company from the ground up with his closest friend. He’d made the speech at all the company gatherings.

Penny shook her head. “I tell you, it’s like there’s a dark cloud hanging over this place since he passed.” She slid over a form. “Fill this out, would you sweetie? Then if you can hang tight while they get you into the computer and give you a temporary security badge, I’m going to run to my desk and drop my things. I’ll be back shortly to get you squared away.” A firm, quick squeeze of her hands on Elise’s. “So glad to have you back with us.”

Elise smiled again as Penny turned to go, but didn’t reply. She couldn’t, all of her words had been stolen by the figure coming into the lobby.

Michael.

No, Mr. Hale. HaleStorm CEO. She ought to get used to calling him Mr. Hale.

Everything from her lips down went numb and tingly when she laid eyes on the man she’d spent the last five years convincing herself she hated more than hate itself. He looked tall, defined, and handsomely stoic in a charcoal suit and silvery tie. She’d never seen him so formal. Or so disheveled, with his overgrown stubble and hair tousled from the wind. She couldn’t believe he stood in front of her now. The lines and shadows on his face spoke volumes.

“Elise.”

Her lips parted. What should she say? Do? The movie-style slap she’d fantasized over all this time no longer seemed appropriate. “Michael.”

Good reply, Elise. Smooth.

He cleared his throat. “I’m told you’re here to assist with the security validation issue.” He held out a hand. “Thank you.”

Okay. Formal. She could do formal. “I’m thrilled to help.”
Barely through the door and I’m lying through my teeth right and left. This is probably going to be awkward as almighty hell, but that’s cool.

He kept his fingers wrapped firmly around hers. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep her mouth closed. The scent of the same Gucci cologne he’d always worn filled her nostrils, and with it came the extreme urge to yank her hand back away from his grasp. But he was the CEO, he was grieving, and it seemed only polite to—

“Michael.”

They dropped hands. Elise turned to see a pale-skinned and dark-haired figure weaving toward them through the lobby traffic in stilettos. With her bobbed hair and expensive Burberry coat, she reminded Elise of those pricey Italian dogs that paraded around at shows. A ring flashed on her finger as she reached toward Michael, and Elise stepped away.

“I believe you accidentally grabbed my keys when you left breakfast in such a hurry.”

Ah, yes. The wife. Elise remembered seeing an announcement in the Post about a year after she’d left the company. Becca something? A big snazzy shindig at The Mandarin. Must have been some wedding. Involuntarily, a shiver zoomed up Elise’s back and tried to burrow into her brain.

Before the woman could grab Michael—Mr. Hale’s—hand, he stuffed them into his pockets with a jerk of his chin. “Give us a moment, would you?”

The wife’s pale skin went practically ghostly and she took a step back. Spinning on one narrow heel, she did the worst job ever of pretending interest in the tarted-up trees by the door.

“Look,” Michael said to Elise. “I have a meeting.” He checked his watch and then nodded toward Penny’s retreating figure. “And I’m sure you need to go take care of paperwork. Do me a favor and see me before you go to lunch.” He leaned in and his warm breath touched a spot in Elise’s memory she didn’t like. Not with the man’s wife standing nearby. Particularly not considering she’d mentally relegated him to the “asshole” file years ago. “I’m considering this project a top priority.”

She nodded, wanting to look anywhere except his eyes, and finding her gaze trapped. “Absolutely. Of course.” Water. She needed water. A cough drop. What was with all the dry air in this building?

Before she could think it over much, he’d turned to head for the door. Hands still in his pockets, his eager wife gripping his arm in a display of ownership as she clickety-clacked alongside.

Well, dammit.
I’m considering this project a top priority
. Lord have mercy. So much for staying off his radar. The sooner she got this thing resolved, the faster she could get herself gone.

SEDUCTIVE SUPERNATURALS

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

All texts contained within this document are a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental.

DIABLO SPRINGS by Erin Quinn

Originally published as
Whispers
, First edition copyright © 2006 by Erin Grady

Material excerpted from
The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love
copyright © 2013 by Erin Grady

VAMPIRE REBORN by Caridad Pineiro

SHADOW FALL by Erin Kellison

First edition copyright
©
2010 Erin Kellison

NIGHT ANGEL by Lisa Kessler

Second Edition 2014

SHADOWS TILL SUNRISE by Chris Marie Green

A SHADOW AT TWILIGHT by Mary Leo

A SHADOW AT TWILIGHT
cover design © 2013 Dee Kelly

MORE THAN FIENDS by Maureen Child