Page 15 of Hot Ghoul Summer (Pine Ridge Universe)

T oby holds me in his lap. I cling to him. I don’t want to die, but if they say something like “You can go with him” what will I do?

“Molly, it’ll be all right.”

“You’re worrying for nothing,” Sera paces, sounding very worried and thus very hypocritical.

“We’re witnesses. You didn’t kill him.”

“But I scared him.”

“You told him to get out of the car. He did the opposite. He drove his car into the lake!” Wesley pours coffee.

If I weren’t so terrified and sort of in shock, I’d totally grill Gloria and Wesley about their supernatural-human marriage. Apparently, it can be done.

“He shot at you. Don’t you have a self-defense clause?” I whisper.

“I—”

“Ahem.”

The kitchen is suddenly blindingly bright.

“Raphael!” Sera and Toby cry.

I can’t see for shit. “The Ninja Turtle?” I demand, shielding my eyes.

“No! Our Shop Steward. Sir, I’m so, so sorry to bother you. I—”

“Save it, Reaper. I’ve had to look at so many interagency files for you this week. You’re on vacation. More than I’ve had to look at in the last century—while you’re supposed to be on break?” He clucks his tongue.

I finally clear the blazing white from my vision and I gasp.

Raphael looks like a Renaissance painting come to life, with curling dark hair, coppery-cocoa skin, and eyes that drill into your heart.

“Do I bow?” I ask.

No one laughs, but Raphael smiles. “That’s not necessary. Molly. You’re worried sick. I am here to bring you tidings of comfort and joy. Your husband and the father of your children will be spared.”

“My... Wait, are we talking about Toby?”

Raphael nods, pulls a scroll out of his sleeve, and nods again. “Yep. Fresh ink. Confirmed at 8:09 PM. You live. He lives. Be fruitful and multiply.”

“We should go,” Wesley says suddenly.

“They’re my ride.” Sera jumps up as well.

Toby’s looking at me, not at his departing guests. His eyes are shining. “She’s really mine?”

“Yes—but you are on a very hefty suspension, young man. Two weeks suspension from duty without pay, and you’ll be required to complete your Interactions with Non-Client Mortals certification over again. Furthermore, I will be requiring you to submit PRRRs after your next thirty reapings.”

“What’s a PRRR?” I whisper.

“Post-Reaping Reflection Report,” Raphael says sternly, but his eyes are twinkling.

“Th-that’s it?” Toby asks in a wavering voice.

“Well, you did not reap any souls other than that of Nicky Cross. You filed an ECNUR, and it’s been approved. Gary Garmin killed Theo Cross, whom you asked for assistance with.”

“But Gary Garmin... I scared him to death,” Toby admits.

I want to shout at him to shut up, but Toby is honorable and honest—unlike most of the men in my life. That’s why I love him.

“Please, Mr. Angel, sir, he did it for me. If you can... If you can, like, play back the tapes or something? You’ll see that Gary tried to give me to these bad guys to use as target practice and God knows what else. I mean. Uh. I mean, who knows what else.”

“Thank you. I have indeed ‘played back the tapes.’ Toby, you knowingly and willingly exposed your supernatural form to multiple humans in a non-reaping situation. You told Mr. Garmin to exit the vehicle. He did not comply and drove himself into the lake, where he perished.”

“But that might have been because of the brake line, and that was my fault.”

I step on Toby’s foot. “Ut-shay up-hay!” I hiss.

“Actually, it was your cerbi’s fault. He did damage one brake line, but Mr. Garmin’s reckless driving, speeding, and failure to comply caused the crash. He was already slated to die in a vehicular accident in the future, so this tracks. However, I’m afraid I will have to punish your assistant for misusing his form to frighten humans.”

I spring into action and gather Musketeer into my arms. “Please don’t! He helped save a whole bunch of humans this week! There were fires—and the car was burning—” I’m babbling and hugging the little dog to my chest as I back away.

Where the heck would I go? How do I fight a literal God-appointed angel?

I’m not too smart sometimes, am I?

“I’m sorry, miss. I have to.” Raphael reaches out and pats Musketeer on his central head with a sorrowful expression. “Musketeer, you are confined to your domesticated form for one month, unless innocents are facing mortal peril.”

“What? That’s all?” I’m so grateful I could cry. “Toby gets to stay with me, and Musketeer just has to stay bite-sized for a month?”

Toby sticks out his hand and wrings Raphael’s. “Best union rep, ever!”

Raphael smiles. “Remember that when I ask for volunteers for the birthday and deathday cake collections.”

“I’ll organize ‘em all this year,” Toby vows.

“Hmmm. Maybe next year. This year, you’re going to be very busy.” Raphael’s eyes glide from me to Toby. “Oh, and just because you’re not getting paid for the next two weeks, your other union benefits are still in play. Enjoy your vacation.” Raphael nods, winks, and blinds me again.

When my sight returns, he’s gone.

But Toby isn’t. Musketeer isn’t.

“The good guys won?” I ask. I can’t believe it. My shitty life doesn’t always follow that pattern.

“You think I’m a good guy?” Toby whisks me up in his arms.

“Never doubted it for a moment.”

“Ha!” Toby lowers me enough so that I can set the three-headed dog down. Musketeer bounds off and goes to make mischief down the hall, chasing ghost moths.

Toby carries me upstairs. “Come on, then. You heard the man. I’m off for another two weeks.”

“Do we get to stay here?” I ask, knowing that’s unlikely, but I can dream. The first half of my summer was busy and exhausting, and this week sucked on a whole new level.

“No, I’m afraid someone else will have it booked already... But I’ve never been to Hawaii. I hear it’s nice.”

“You’re taking me to Hawaii?” My voice reaches a pitch that probably only Musketeer can hear.

And Reapers, apparently. Toby grins. “If you’ll go with me.”

“Are you kidding? Of course I will! Hot girl summer, here I come!” I laugh, kissing his cheek.

“Ah, ah. Correction, Future Bride.”

“Sorry, Future Husband. Hot ghoul summer. Satisfied?”

Toby smirks and deposits me on the bed, rolling on top of me. “Not yet—but give me a few minutes.”

KEEP READING FOR MORE steamy sneak peeks of The Orc’s Second Shot at Love , Velvet Wings , and The Minotaur’s Valentine .