She shudders, the ripple traveling up and down her body, a grossed-out sound spilling from her lips. “Ugh.” Her face sets in a determined mask. “Stupid people are so much easier. Wow, I still can’t believe this.”
“You’re doing great. But I understand where you’re coming from, it’s a lot to take in. Hell, I’ve been turned now almost three years and I’m still freaked out by it.” I scoot to the end of my chair, pulling a hotel notepad and pen across the table. “Okay, let’s talk about who needs reaping.”
I quickly jot down the names of the recently deceased on the property that I know. “Where do you think we should look for them? Near where they died?”
Lisa nods. “That’s as good a place as any to start, but the souls aren’t bound to a location. How big is the resort?”
“Fifteen square miles. Surrounded by miles of nothing and then we reach the Coldfoot State Park.”
She groans, annoyance clear. “That could be like searching a needle in a haystack.” Resolve crosses her face. “I can do this. I need the money.”
“You get paid?” Surprise colors my tone.
Lisa’s eyes narrow. “Of course. What do I look like, an idiot? Don’t answer that. It’s a job, and one I’m uniquely qualified for.” She puffs up a little with pride. “Trust me, there aren’t a lot of reapers in the world.”
“I gathered that. Especially since no supernatural I know has mentioned them.” I tap the list I made, desperate to focus on work and not how good it felt to hold her against me. “Vikram, he’s the Indian fellow you described in the lobby. He’s a vampire.”
“How did they all die?”
I think back to the bloody mess of the gym after Vivian ripped off Vikram’s head. And how Emiko sliced up Sanji with a sword, spelling out words on her chest with well-placed cuts. How will Lisa react to those details? Do I really want to freak her out more? “Is that important?”
She waves a hand. “Probably not. Let’s move on.”
“Bebe is a tall, dark-skinned woman. Looks like she could be a South American super model. She died near the greenhouse—also a vamp.”
“You guys have a greenhouse?”
“Actually, we have several. They grow vegetables for the human guests and employees. The resort is designed to be self-sufficient.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Very cool. Wish they had something this nice for regular people.” She glances around the room at the expensive furnishings and fabrics. “Although I probably couldn’t afford it.”
I could give her part of my cut from the hunt earnings this past winter. When am I ever going to need that much money?
Do you hear yourself? Contemplating how you can help her? Forget it! You can’t have her. Let it go.
I tamp down a sigh and concentrate once again on the mission. “Melvyn and Deneishia are both werewolves. One died in a cabin and the other in the hotel basement.” She nods, staring intently at the names. “Emiko died at the hangar and Sanji by the ski slopes.”
Lisa rubs her eyes. “Okay, then. That’s a start. We’ll check out those locations tomorrow.” I nod, sensing our time together is at an end, but reluctant to leave. “Does this place have room service? I’d like to get a little something before bed. I skipped dinner in all the excitement.”
“Yeah, it does.” I gesture to the phone by her bed. The comfortable looking bed she’s going to be stretched out and sleeping in later. Alone. “Just call and someone will bring up a meal shortly.”
“Great, thanks.”
I stand and head toward the door, unsure of how to say goodbye after the physical intimacies we shared.
“Asa?”
I turn back, squashing the unexpected burst of joy bubbling inside from her calling out my name. “Yes?”
“What time do you want to start? I wasn’t sure what your… umm… sleeping requirements might be.”
“I’ll conk out at what would normally be sunrise and with help, I’ll be up a little after noon. How about I come find you then?”
She nods, not looking my way, attention focused on the nightstand holding the phone. “Okay then. Goodnight.”
“Nite.” I close the door behind me, barely resisting the urge to apologize for pretending I was unaffected by our kissing. I hate the thought of hurting her, but I need to stay focused on this job. For her sake as well as mine.
I trek to my suite of rooms in the basement, next to the command center, with a jumbo travel mug of bagged blood in hand. The secret door slides open to reveal Eric, my little brother and newly turned werewolf, on duty at the elaborate security desk, focusing on his laptop and not the screens. No reason to chew him out since we don’t have any guests at the moment—we keep up a steady duty rotation to make sure we’re always in the habit.