Ashes to Ashes (Experiment in Terror #8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

you okay? You’re the one who is acting a bit sketchy
lately.”
    I nodded but still said, “I
don’t know. Just feeling antsy for some reason.”
    He raised his brow. “Some
reason? Kiddo, going home to see your parents isn’t some reason.
It’s a big deal and it’s okay, I get it. But I’m here for you, you
know that. Right?”
    There was a quick knock at the
door which set off Fat Rabbit again so I quickly shot him a smile.
Having his support would help, but it wasn’t enough to make my
nerves stop rattling.
    I opened the door to see a
pretty woman with a warm smile and honey-tinted skin, dressed in
form-fitting yoga pants and a tank top that conformed to her lithe
body. Immediately I felt a prickle of insecurity and self-loathing,
mentally comparing my body to hers.
    “ You must be
Ana Rita,” I said, trying to ignore my shortcomings. “I’m Perry,
come on in.”
    “ Thank you,”
she said warmly. I saw her eyes flit over my shoulder to Dex and
her smile broadened. “Hi. Dex, right? We spoke on the
phone.”
    Dex nodded and shook her hand.
“Thanks for agreeing to watch the little bugger. Hope you’re
prepared for lots of farts in your future. From the dog, of
course.”
    She went down into a crouch to
pet Fat Rabbit who was wriggling all over the place like a spazz,
drool flying everywhere. I watched Dex carefully to see if he was
checking her out. If he was, he was being real subtle about it.
    “ You sure
you’re comfortable staying here?” he went on while Fat Rabbit
finally calmed down enough to be sitting in front of her. “Fat
Rabbit doesn’t do well in other people’s houses, he tends to take
dumps in your shoe, so we just find it easier to have people come
here and sit for him.”
    She glanced up at him, brushing
her light brown hair out of her face. “It’s no problem. It’s nice
to have a change of scenery from time to time. You sure you’re
comfortable with me being here?”
    “ Any friend of
Rebecca’s is a friend of mine,” he said, and then gestured over to
the kitchen counter. “Instructions are there. Call us if you have
any problems.”
    I waved goodbye to Fat Rabbit
while he bounded past Ana Rita and over to Dex where he delivered a
bunch of last minute sloppy kisses. Once we were in the elevator, I
looked over at him. “She seemed nice.”
    He shrugged. “As long as the
dog is alive when we come back, I don’t care.” I guess I was
staring at him for too long, studying the set of his firm jaw,
because he looked over at me with interest. “What?”
    “ Nothing,” I
said. Like hell I was going to tell him I was feeling unworthy
because the dog sitter happened to be a hot chick. I needed to get
the fuck over myself before I royally screwed things up one day. A
guy can only tell you you’re beautiful so many times before it
seems like a lost cause, and I didn’t want to seem like one with
Dex.
    He studied me for a moment and
I could tell he wanted to say something, but thankfully he let it
go, probably chalking it up to my nerves again. Once in the parking
garage, we loaded our bags in the Highlander, Dex having brought
the camera equipment down earlier, and headed off to pick up
Rebecca.
    We drove down the interstate
until we got to the turnoff at Longview and started heading out to
the Pacific. The minute the Highlander was heading west, away from
the direction of Portland, I let out the longest breath of air.
    Rebecca, who had been talking
nonstop about a chick she met at a party the night before, leaned
forward and tapped me on the shoulder. “Relax, Perry.”
    I shot her a smile over my
shoulder. Even though we were heading to the coast to look for
ghost children, she still looked fabulous in a retro cherry-printed
white sundress, a lace cardigan, and cat-eye shades. “I’m
good.”
    “ Anyone feel
like having a late lunch in Seaside?” Dex asked.
    “ As long as
we’re at Uncle Al’s by seven, sure,” I said. I used to go to
Seaside all the time as a