The Flip Read Online Free Page A

held clothing from the early twentieth century. He damn near had a heart attack after tearing one box open to find a moth-eaten fur wrap. It had six little rodent heads, withtwelve glass eyes caught in a permanent look of surprise. “Ugh.” Gingerly, he picked it up with his index and thumb and threw it onto the growing pile of refuse. “Are you the guys responsible for all the mouse shit in here?” He laughed. The triangular faces stared at him blankly. He stood, scanned the room for an old towel, and threw it over the faces. “Rest in peace, you little suckers.”
    “If he throws away my fox stole, you are going to have to kill him,” Tessa said.
    “Me? Why me? I certainly don’t care. I hated that thing on you. It aged you dreadfully,” Gerald replied, seating himself on a box. “He really is making a mess here.”
    “You never even saw me in it. I got itafter—”
    “Oh, Tessa, I saw you in it.”
    Tessa ignored him as she stared at Brad. “Look at his shoulders. I could just—”
    “You could just not,” Gerald corrected. “Not your place. He’s married.”
    “Since when did that matter?” Tessa sniffed. Coughing, she waved her graceful arms before her. “Oh, the dust.” She used to be a tall woman; people had called her robust. To Gerald, she was enchanting, with her masses of red-gold hair and mysterious gray eyes. She had porcelain skin with a hint of roses in her full cheeks. He never tired of staring at her—or at her magnificent bosom.
    “Cut it out, Tessa, you can’t breathe anymore. Stop waving. He doesn’t notice you.”
    “Yet.” Tessa looked at Gerald with a faint moue of distaste. He was still here, even after all these years. When was that man going to understand that she wasn’t interested in him? He was as boring now as he had been back then. Her narrowed eyes compared her companion’s lean form to the vital human stirring up all the dust, as well as her desires, in the parlor. She watched the fabric of Brad’s shirt tighten against the muscles of his taut shoulders. He brushed back his bothersome hair that fell against his damp face, the weak sunlight glinting off the sweat of his burnished forearms. Shivering with need, she licked her lips and exhaled deeply, turning intosmoke to envelop Brad.
    Brad stood still, his features frozen. He looked around the room, cocking his head. What was that? Bands tightened around his chest, and for a minute his breathing became labored. He thought he must have pulled a muscle carrying up that last box. Stretching, he stood to spread his arms wide, trying to get air into his lungs, but he found it difficult to breathe. He leaned forward, attempting to relieve the pressure. Maybe he was having a heart attack. His dad had died of heart disease. Sweat beaded his brow, and his hair slipped out of its ponytail to curtain his wet face.
    “Stop it. You’re choking him.” Gerald swirled around her.
    “But he feels so good,” Tessa purred, relishing the feel of human contact. “A few minutes ago, you were trying to scare him into leaving.”
    “A few minutes ago, he was sweeping up my newspapers. He’s a nuisance, but I don’t want to hurt him.” He watched her spirit glow as she sucked the strength from the young man. Tessa was intrigued, and that was bothersome. This one was almost too handsome, and that could turn into a problem.
    The room dimmed; as his sight narrowed to a pinprick, Brad thought for sure he was going to pass out.
    “He’s swooning.” Strong arms grabbedTessa, forcing her to let go. She inflated, her eyes glowing red as she reared up in hatred.
    “Leave me alone, Gerald. You never let me have any fun.”
    “You were killing him, darling. I can’t let you hurt them,” he said as she flew up the chimney in a fury. “You don’t want the Sentinels to interfere, do you?” he called after her ominously. His voice echoed back to him. He chuckled, his rakish face smiling. He circled the interloper in a fine gray