Twice as Hot Read Online Free Page A

appear unaffected, her silky emerald suit completely
dry.
    “What
are you doing here?” I demanded, thinking, Somehow, someway, I’m taking you
down.
    Smelling
like an ancient garden, all flowers and magic, she tried to stride past me. My
arm and leg whipped out, blocking her path. After an indelicate humph, she glared up at me. I was taller than she was, nah nah nah. A girl had to find
joy where she could.
    “Let
me in, Belle,” she snapped.
    Usually
she was poised, nothing able to ruffle her. Score one for me. “No,” I snapped
back. A tiny flame flickered at the end of my index finger, and I whisked it
behind my back. Wouldn’t be good form to fry her up before I’d obtained
answers. “What do you want?”
    She
squared her delicate shoulders, looked away from me. “I need to talk to you.”
    “Uh,
that would be a no. Tanner’s here. Which means you’re not welcome anymore.”
    Her
features softened and her eyes widened, regret churning in their depths. “This
is important.”
    “He’s
more important than anything you’ve got to say,” I said, still not allowing her
inside. “By the way, where’s Sunny?”
    “My
brother-in-law has her.”
    “ Former brother-in-law.” Bitch. “You’re divorced.” Sunny was Rome’s
little girl, his pride and joy, and we watched (and pampered) her every
weekend. Today was a weekday, but anytime Lexis was called away to work we
happily took over Sunny’s care early. I loved that child like she was my own.
    Lexis’s
gaze met mine in a heated clash. “I’m here about Rome. Something’s happened.”
    Magic
words. I moved aside. Fear instantly cascaded through me, dousing the heat of
my anger, freezing and thickening every drop of blood in my veins. Mist formed
in front of my nose with every exhalation I made.
    Lexis
strode inside. I had to fight past the tightness in my joints to follow her. My
movements were slow, forced. Something’s happened, but that doesn’t mean
Rome’s hurt. Calm down!
    She
stopped in the center of the living room, breathed deeply—to catch Rome’s
lingering wild scent?—and glanced at Sherridan, who was still sitting on the
couch with a blank expression. “Happy Place?” she asked, turning to face me.
    I
nodded. There was a hard lump in my throat, and I was having trouble
swallowing. He’s fine.
    Lexis
returned her attention to my friend, shock flashing over her features, there
one moment, gone the next. Then she was shaking her head, a little sad. “Her
greatest wish is going to come true, and she’s going to hate herself for it.”
    “What
do you mean?” I asked, finally finding my voice. “What wish?” As I spoke, I
prayed it wasn’t what I’d suspected earlier. Sherridan had a thriving real
estate business, a date with a new, sexy man every weekend and me as a best
bud. She didn’t need anything else.
    From
the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of black. Oh, no. Everything else was
forgotten as I focused on Tanner. He stood in the doorway between the kitchen
and the living room. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his
chest, his eyes anywhere but Lexis.
    Lexis
noticed him, too, and gulped, sadness skating over her expression a second time
only to be replaced by determination. “Tanner,” she acknowledged softly.
    He
gave a stiff nod and said, “S’up,” as if he hadn’t a care.
    “I
just…I—” Sighing, she turned away from him, giving him her back.
    Hurt
flashed over Tanner’s face, and then his jaw hardened, his eyelids narrowed. So
badly I wanted to shake Little Miss Know-It-All until she passed out.
    “What’s
wrong with Rome?” I asked. “Tell me and get out.”
    “Something’s
wrong with Rome?” Tanner was at my side, his arm around my waist and offering
support within seconds.
    Needing
every ounce of strength he could give me, I rested my head on his shoulder.
    He
shivered. “Damn, you’re cold,” he said, and I knew he meant it literally. “Deep
breaths, Viper.” Viper, his pet