Animal Attraction Read Online Free PDF Page A

with a little wave, off to
report to his boss Tristan. I decided to play scaredy girl for the
moment and sought out Dan first. He had some ‘splaining to do about
sending Levi my way at what he knew would be an inopportune time.
Plus I’d feel better with him at my side when I confronted our
fearless leader. Tristan had his own ‘splaining due about why he
avoided Levi when he had a shifter disappearance problem.
    I stalked down the hall to the hotel’s lobby.
Now we’re talking splendor.
    The first time I saw the King George, this
part of it was still a burnt-out hulk. It had been returned to its
glory days, a shining jewel that had once competed with the most
splendid hotels that ever existed. Ornate burgundy and gold
wallpaper covered the walls. The tiled floors were arranged in
stunning art deco patterns. The chairs and lounges, either restored
antiques or cunningly crafted copies of the originals, beckoned
visitors to lounge. Used by now to seeing ghosts and the living
occupying the same space, I was amused to find the seating often
doubly occupied. In most cases, the overlapping parties were
unaware of each other. I wondered how the haughty Victorian era
matron warming herself by the huge crackling fireplace in a
wing-backed chair would have felt if she’d known a small gargoyle
sat right against her crotch. He was as clueless of her presence as
he preened batlike wings.
    An intricate crystal chandelier three times
my size hung over this amazing room. Even more impressive was the
white marble staircase that lifted from the floor. In this day and
time, it ended at the paneled ceiling. In its afterlife – for
special buildings and places often had an immortal existence of
their own – the stairs went on to the sumptuous rooms that had
existed before the long-ago fire.
    For all the grandeur of yesteryear, there was
an even more impressive sight to be seen. He stood at the front
desk talking to its longtime steward, Charles.
    Dan Saling was a masterpiece of masculinity.
Or he had been when he died in the 1980s. His ghost reflected what
he’d been back then ... chiseled perfection, clean-cut all-American
male. His dark hair swept back from his rugged Marlboro Man face.
The only soft things about Dan were his milk chocolate brown eyes.
Oh, he is yummy-licious.
    I was still peeved about him sending Levi out
after me, but I couldn’t hold back a smile to see him. It took real
effort to put my adoration away as I moved towards him and Charles.
As I did so, many of the vampires aware of my presence angled away
as I passed. That helped dampen my mood. Conversations halted to be
replaced by careful whispers.
    Nope, I am not the popular girl these
days.
    Fortunately Charles didn’t take my residence
in Patricia personally. He was a ghost, so I didn’t freak him out.
His teeth flashed beneath his handlebar mustache in a smile that
eased some of my hurt. He even gave me a courtly bow. Though many
decades have passed since Charles died evacuating patrons and staff
from the burning King George, he had yet to lose a single bit of
his era’s manners.
    I returned his welcoming smile, watt for
watt. “Good evening, Charles.”
    “A most wonderful evening to you, Miss
Brandilynn. How was flying practice?”
    There was none of the teasing in Charles’
tone that I would get from anyone else. He asked with sincere hope
of good news.
    My smile turned wry with defeat. “The
crashing part was quite successful, thanks.”
    He tsked in sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear
that. It will get better though. I’m sure of it.”
    I sighed. “Hope springs eternal.” I turned to
the man who made even a vampire’s heart want to beat. Despite my
appreciation of his square-jawed good looks, I lost the smile.
“Dan, may I have a word with you?”
    My tone came out precise and as honed as a
sharpened knife. Dan grimaced. He snapped to attention before
Charles and gave him a crisp salute. “If I don’t return, speak well
of me.”
    The