Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(22)
“I’m worried about my shop.”
Rafe pulled the phone away from his ear. “Your shop is fine.” Reluctantly, he put the phone back to his ear.
“Is it safe?” he asked Kalli.
“What’s going on? It sounds like there’s more than a succubus there.”
“Her friend,” he replied tersely. “The chest belongs to her.”
“What?” Kalli’s question boomed in his ear. “You’re just telling me now?”
Rafael adjusted the phone and stole a glance at Lucy. She paced back and forth, clenching and unclenching her fists. He didn’t blame her one bit. He’d act the same way. “I only just found out myself.”
“I’ll bring it up to the Fore-Demons and see what they recommend.” There was a brief pause. “The sun is out. I believe our loosed friends have realized the chest is no longer here.”
“So they can come back?”
Kalli huffed. “For now. Shit!” There was an annoying scratching sound followed by some muffled arguments. “…I’m the cleaning lady. Here’s my card.”
“Kalli, is everything all right?” He couldn’t hide the concern in his voice.
Lucia stopped mid-stride and turned to face him, her eyes filled with horror. “What is it?” she asked, her breath catching.
“Kalli?”
Kalli continued her discussion. “Lucia Gregory hired me. Feel free to call her.” She blew out a deep breath that rumbled in his ear. “Some of her employees have arrived and they aren’t pleased.” Kalli chuckled. “Can’t blame them.”
Rafael could only imagine. The last time he’d seen Kalli, in the eighties, she’d worn pink-and-white striped hose and a short magenta skirt. Her hair had stood tall, teased to high hell. She’d looked ridiculous, but apparently that’s how they dressed back then. Another reason he’d chosen to stay in the underworld. Humans and their strange fashion habits. At least fashion had improved slightly in the last twenty-five years. He looked down at his clingy leather breeches. Well, almost. “We’re on our way.”
“Good. See you.” The call ended.
***
Lucy clenched her fists. From the tone of the conversation, it was urgent. There was no way in hell—she needed to stop using that word—she’d let anything happen to her shop.
Shutting his cell phone, Rafe turned to face her. A cell phone for a demon? Yeah Right! How good was Hell’s wireless signal?
“You’re right, we will.” She didn’t spend the last five years to see her dream erupt in a fountain of exploding shampoo bowls. “We shouldn’t have left.”
Throwing on his coat, Rafe glowered. He stuffed his phone in the pocket and stormed to the closet. With more force than she liked, he ripped open the door. “I wasn’t about to risk your or your friend’s lives.”
“I didn’t seem to be in danger. There was tons of glass flying, and not one scratch on my body. How do you explain that?” Take that you sexy knave!
Rafe yanked her coat off the hanger and threw it at her. “It takes a lot to injure a demon.”
Of course he’d come back with an answer like that. How predictable. Then again, she wasn’t the only one in the shop with barely a scratch. “I understand that. But what about Serah? If she’s not a demon, why wasn’t she hurt?”
“Luck, I guess,” he muttered.
What was the deal with this man? He hadn’t said much since they met. It was as if he distanced himself. But there was that part of him—she stifled a grin—that had no qualms about being up-close and personal. He wasn’t a complete jerk, and his gentle caress showed he cared. Men! Even ones of the demon variety would remain a mystery.
“I suppose.” But she still wasn’t convinced. The glint in his silvery eyes showed he hid something.
She glanced over to Serah who stared out the window. The lightning bolts had since faded as sunlight danced with the fluffy snow.
She played with one of the ornaments on the artificial Christmas tree. If Lucy had any choice, she’d throw it in the trash, but her mom insisted she get into the spirit. So she got a small tree from the local Goodwill and borrowed some of her mom’s lights and ornaments.
Lucy wasn’t a real spiritual person. And now she knew why. Church probably wasn’t a popular hangout for demons. She stifled a chuckle remembering the many times her mom tried to get her to church. She’d laugh and say, “If I walked into a church, I’d probably burst into flames.”
Who knew? Maybe she would have. How ironic!
Now she had more important things to think about, like her shop. With a quick toss, she threw her coat on. “We better get going.” Rafe still acted pretty hush-hush about everything, and she was sick of being kept in the dark. “Since you’re not that forthcoming with information.”
Rafe grabbed her shoulders and gazed down at her, the silver in his eyes burning her, filling her with need. “In time, Lucy.” Despite the intensity of his gaze, his voice calmed her nerves but stirred something else deep inside. Call the fire department!
Pushing her hormones to the side, Lucy clenched her fists. “I’ve spent the last five years pouring my blood and sweat into that salon.” She took long even breaths as she fought for the words to say.