Page 80 of Ballad of Nightmares

She met his gaze, a smile spreading at the amused concern in his eyes, and she leaned up to press a swift kiss to his mouth. “Nothing can scare me from you,” she promised.

The moment Sam opened his mouth like he might say something else, the man she’d noted at the door walked directly up to them and clapped Sam on the shoulder.

“All right, enough public displays,” he said, shaking Sam enough that Sam’s lips twitched, and he took a step back.

“Ana, this is—“

“Rolfe Conan,” Rolfe replied as he reached for Ana’s hand. His mustache scratched her hand when he kissed the top of her knuckles, and Sam rolled his eyes.

“I’m glad to finally meet the so-called temptress capable of keeping this one awake and distracted at all hours of the night,” Rolfe continued.

“Oh, do you work at the cemetery?” Ana asked.

“Ah… yeah. Same shifts,” Rolfe answered, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Caught him out digging in the wrong place the other night, staring at his phone a week earlier. You really got him wrapped around your finger.”

Ana resisted laughing, and Sam looked like he might hit his friend. “I think we all need another drink,” Sam said.

But the door opened again before Sam could make his move to signal a waiter, and this time, Ana knew the person walking in.

Millie’s blonde hair was in silken waves over her left shoulder. Her black dress was long and swept over her curves, the neckline dipping down low between her petite breasts as her pantsuit had done that day.

“Always turning heads,” Rolfe grunted behind his whiskey.

“It’s what she does best,” Sam muttered back. His hand squeezed Ana’s waist as Millie saw them and started their way.

“You fools do clean up nicely once in a while,” Millie said to Sam and Rolfe. “Much better than the dirt and grime I’m used to seeing you in.”

“There she is,” Sam said as Millie straightened. “The right hand of Death himself, Milliscent Cambridge.”

“Quite the introduction, Sam,” Millie said smoothly. Her gaze flickered to Ana, and those round brown eyes widened at who she was. “Well.” Millie’s brow lifted at the sight of Ana. “Hello again, Ms. Smith.”

“Ooo, I like that,” Rolfe said gruffly, smiling at Ana.

“Millie,” Ana said, giving her a nod.

Sam’s eyes narrowed. “You two know each other?”

“We’ve met,” Millie said. “Your girl is quite the negotiator. Somehow talked me into letting her into Castle Corvus.”

Sam’s brows lifted. “How the fuck did you do that?” he asked.

Ana looked at her. “You’re letting me in?”

“You won’t even let us in,” Rolfe argued.

But Millie just smiled at Ana. “She has a better argument than you,” Millie told Rolfe. “And she’s prettier.”

Rolfe rubbed his beard once, giving Ana a quick glance over. “She is,” he agreed.

“I didn’t realize this was the woman who’s had you in such a spell lately,” Millie said to Sam. “It’s no wonder.”

Ana looked back at Sam, who was simply staring at her, a soft smile on his face, and his hand snaked to her waist again. A small touch that had her heart fluttering, and as Millie and Rolfe spoke between each other for a minute, Sam leaned down and whispered in Ana’s ear.

“Any time you’re ready, or if they annoy you, we leave,” he told her.

Ana let out a huff of amusement. “You are truly terrified of whatever they might do, aren’t you?” she asked, to which Sam’s brows flickered in agreement.

Ana leaned closer. “The only person capable of chasing me anywhere is you,” she said. “And I live for it.”