consumed Read Online Free Page B

untouched. He had to know more. “Where and when do you hail from? Why exactly are you here? I apologize for the rapid-fire questions, but from the death glances of that battleaxe guard dog, our time together will be limited.”
    His companion glanced at the older woman, and a smile graced her lips, the first he’d seen. It illuminated her cheekbones and made her eyes sparkle with wicked intent.
    “Please don’t tell me she’ll be my boss while I’m here.”
    “I cannot vouch for a boss, but she may stick close if she feels you need watching, especially if you are alone here in Destiny.”
    She shrugged. “Alone is a relative term with me.” She darted a look around the still empty parlor, then leaned closer to him. Their knees almost touched from this angle. “Are you trustworthy?”
    Never had anyone asked him that before. “I would say unequivocally. I am a banker. This would necessitate trust, wouldn’t you think?”
    “Not always, especially in my time.” Her eyes narrowed, and she cocked her head as if listening to an internal voice. “I’ll chance it because I really need someone to talk to besides my wolf.”
    “Your wolf? You brought an animal with you?” He glanced about the room, not spying such a beast.
    “No, you ass. I’m a latent wolf-shifter. Do you think that sounds weird? I kinda get the feeling Destiny is full of folks who are beyond the norm, but saying it out loud makes me look crazy.”
    Ah, that would explain the appearance of talking to herself. “I don’t find it weird.”
    He risked the older woman’s wrath by edging close enough to Ava that her musky, vanilla scent wafted into his nostrils. “Many residents here claim paranormal roots. If you have met Thelonious, he may have mentioned that outcasts are welcome here.”
    “He did say that, yes, but he never explained what I was doing here, let alone in this timeline.” A frown marred her strawberries-and-cream complexion. “When I left, it was the year 2010.” She stuck out a hand. “Hi. Again, I’m Ava. In my old life, I used to sell pharmaceutical supplies to medical companies.”
    Her way of turning a phrase continued to charm him, yet he reeled from her mention of the date. She came backward over a hundred years? For what purpose? He had to know more. Sam clasped her hand. Tiny pricks of shock danced up his arm, broken only when he released her fingers. Too bad he wore gloves. He’d give up a remaining day to feel her skin on his. “I am Samuel Tremaine.”
    “Hi, Sam.”
    “Actually, it’s Samuel. No one shortens the name.” Well, he did, and often, but for reasons he refused to identify, he wanted to hear her say his full, given name.
    She cocked her head, definitely listening. “Samuel’s too stuffy. You’ll always be Sam to me.”
    “Very well.” The announcement warmed his chest in ways that went beyond the physical. Perhaps the shortened moniker wouldn’t be so terrible. “What is a pharm—I apologize. I did not catch all of your statement.”
    “Oh, I represent a drug-making company and try to convince retail stores to buy my products.”
    “Ah. You work for an apothecary.” It would seem not much had changed in a hundred years.
    “Yeah, I guess I do.” Ava’s smile returned, but it didn’t light her eyes. “Let me ask you this. Are you of the paranormal persuasion? I get the feeling you’re not fully human, even though you’re hot.”
    “On the contrary, I am feeling very temperate.”
    She snorted with laughter. “No, I mean your physical appearance is pleasing; you’re handsome. Sometimes we say ‘hot’ in my time period.” Another round of blushing colored her cheeks.
    “Ah, I see.” He couldn’t stop his grin. She found him attractive. “Yes, I am a paranormal. I am a phoenix. The last of my kind, actually, and—”
    The arrival of the elderly woman—bearing a strong resemblance to a dragon if her charging stride and frightful expression was an indication—broke into