her at all.
He frowned at her, something akin to impatience flashing through his eyes—just a flicker—then emptiness again.
“Finola might lose interest in this detective if she realizes he’s too uncouth for her.”
“But he isn’t uncouth,” Annie said, thinking about how funny and charming Nick was. Finola wouldn’t miss that. She must have seen it already, or why would she be so determined to have him?
“But we can make her think he is. Get in Finola’s head and think of the worst place she would want to go on a date. And we do that.”
Annie blinked at him. Was Tristan actually trying to help her? But why? And could she really trust him?
As if he read her mind, he said, “Her interest in the detective is a bad idea. I’m sure you’d love to hear I’m working with you to sabotage this because I’m concerned for you, or the detective. But that isn’t the case. I’m concerned with what we’ve worked so hard to set up here. Satan has his plans. I can’t let Finola’s sex drive throw a monkeywrench into them. But getting rid of the detective will also keep you safe. It’s a win/win situation.”
Annie stared at him, this beautiful façade before her that hid so much evil. “Well, when you say it like that, how could I not ally myself with you?”
Just for a second, Tristan actually appeared amused.
“Good. I’m glad you realize this is the only way.”
Annie nodded. It was the only way, and even that wasn’t guaranteed to work, but what other options did she have? None.
She also had no choice but to trust that Tristan was really on her side, sort of, in this plan. Again, what choice did she have?
Chapter Eight
“G ood evening, Master.”
Satan looked none too pleased at the interruption. Perhaps it wasn’t the most opportune time to come to him, while he was in a hot tub with two buxom blondes. But seeing as he was in the tub with them in his natural state, his red skin slick with water, these women, or whatever they were, wouldn’t be shocked by his sudden materialization.
In fact, they were too busy draping themselves over Satan’s body, their hands stroking over his powerful, muscular chest.
“Why are you here?” Satan demanded, making it evident he wasn’t happy with the intrusion.
“I just wanted to let you know that action is being taken to get Finola under control and stop her interest in the human.”
Satan nodded, although he still looked uninterested. “Fine.” He returned his attention to his women and his own pursuit of carnal pleasure.
Perhaps it hadn’t been necessary to report in, but it was his job. And he was very diligent, taking very seriously his mission to keep an eye on things.
Still, he didn’t say anything else, leaving Satan to his hot tub fun.
The phone on Nick’s office desk rang, and he picked it up on the second ring. He’d been waiting for a call from one of the witnesses in a case involving a stabbing in an apartment building.
So he was very surprised when it was Annie’s voice that answered his clipped greeting.
“Hi, Nick. This is Annie.”
He leaned back in his chair, her lovely voice shooting through the line and directly into his body, warming him.
“Annie. I have to admit, I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“I’m surprised to be contacting you.”
“So why are you? Is it too much to hope you missed me?”
“Yes,” she said and he smiled at her frankness.
“So what’s up?”
“I’m actually calling on behalf of Finola. She’s hoping you will go out on a date with her.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “First she makes you stalk me, and now she’s making you ask me out??for her. You have a pretty odd job, Ms. Riddle.”
There was a moment of silence, then Annie said flatly, “You have no idea.”
“When does your boss want this date to happen?”
“Tonight?”
“I can’t do tonight. I have some casework that I need to get done.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked, and he could sense the subtle change in her
He frowned at her, something akin to impatience flashing through his eyes—just a flicker—then emptiness again.
“Finola might lose interest in this detective if she realizes he’s too uncouth for her.”
“But he isn’t uncouth,” Annie said, thinking about how funny and charming Nick was. Finola wouldn’t miss that. She must have seen it already, or why would she be so determined to have him?
“But we can make her think he is. Get in Finola’s head and think of the worst place she would want to go on a date. And we do that.”
Annie blinked at him. Was Tristan actually trying to help her? But why? And could she really trust him?
As if he read her mind, he said, “Her interest in the detective is a bad idea. I’m sure you’d love to hear I’m working with you to sabotage this because I’m concerned for you, or the detective. But that isn’t the case. I’m concerned with what we’ve worked so hard to set up here. Satan has his plans. I can’t let Finola’s sex drive throw a monkeywrench into them. But getting rid of the detective will also keep you safe. It’s a win/win situation.”
Annie stared at him, this beautiful façade before her that hid so much evil. “Well, when you say it like that, how could I not ally myself with you?”
Just for a second, Tristan actually appeared amused.
“Good. I’m glad you realize this is the only way.”
Annie nodded. It was the only way, and even that wasn’t guaranteed to work, but what other options did she have? None.
She also had no choice but to trust that Tristan was really on her side, sort of, in this plan. Again, what choice did she have?
Chapter Eight
“G ood evening, Master.”
Satan looked none too pleased at the interruption. Perhaps it wasn’t the most opportune time to come to him, while he was in a hot tub with two buxom blondes. But seeing as he was in the tub with them in his natural state, his red skin slick with water, these women, or whatever they were, wouldn’t be shocked by his sudden materialization.
In fact, they were too busy draping themselves over Satan’s body, their hands stroking over his powerful, muscular chest.
“Why are you here?” Satan demanded, making it evident he wasn’t happy with the intrusion.
“I just wanted to let you know that action is being taken to get Finola under control and stop her interest in the human.”
Satan nodded, although he still looked uninterested. “Fine.” He returned his attention to his women and his own pursuit of carnal pleasure.
Perhaps it hadn’t been necessary to report in, but it was his job. And he was very diligent, taking very seriously his mission to keep an eye on things.
Still, he didn’t say anything else, leaving Satan to his hot tub fun.
The phone on Nick’s office desk rang, and he picked it up on the second ring. He’d been waiting for a call from one of the witnesses in a case involving a stabbing in an apartment building.
So he was very surprised when it was Annie’s voice that answered his clipped greeting.
“Hi, Nick. This is Annie.”
He leaned back in his chair, her lovely voice shooting through the line and directly into his body, warming him.
“Annie. I have to admit, I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“I’m surprised to be contacting you.”
“So why are you? Is it too much to hope you missed me?”
“Yes,” she said and he smiled at her frankness.
“So what’s up?”
“I’m actually calling on behalf of Finola. She’s hoping you will go out on a date with her.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “First she makes you stalk me, and now she’s making you ask me out??for her. You have a pretty odd job, Ms. Riddle.”
There was a moment of silence, then Annie said flatly, “You have no idea.”
“When does your boss want this date to happen?”
“Tonight?”
“I can’t do tonight. I have some casework that I need to get done.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked, and he could sense the subtle change in her
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