Succubus Heat (Georgina Kincaid #4)(17)

Jerome nodded. "Yes, and I'm going to let him know exactly what I think of this. I'm not happy over that-or you slacking off in reporting his activities to me." 

"You're giving my spying ability more credit than I deserve here," I warned. "It's kind of limited. He's not really sharing his inner secrets with me, and anyway, he already knows that's what you want me to do."

"Of course he does."

I sighed. "Look, if you want my opinion … " The look Jerome gave me suggested he really didn't put a lot of stock in my opinion. " … I don't think Cedric's the type to do anything like that. He's more interested in Web surfing."

"After all this time with demons, you really should know better than that, Georgie." Jerome smashed his cigarette into the ashtray and stood up.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, you sound just like Nan-" I frowned. His wording had tickled a memory. "Oh, I do have some info for you. Cedric was meeting with Nanette."

Jerome had been straightening his sleeve, but his head jerked toward me at the mention of the archdemoness's name. "Nanette?" The word was carefully enunciated, icy in its tone.

I relayed what I knew. Jerome's face grew dark as I spoke. Whatever his thoughts on the new development were, however, he didn't share them with me. "Looks like you might be doing your job after all." He paused. "But why are you back?"

"There's nothing to do until Saturday. Cedric sent me home." I held my breath, waiting for him to blow up, but it didn't come.

"Well, seeing as you aren't being too much of a bitch for a change, I suppose that's okay." By that wording, I was apparently still being kind of a bitch.

Jerome vanished.

Aubrey immediately came out from behind the couch, giving me the censuring look cats always give owners who have been away for a while. I knelt down and scratched her chin. She was solid white with a few black specks on her forehead, often giving the impression that she couldn't keep her head clean.

"Yeah, I know," I told her. "Believe me, I don't want to go back there either."

Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was dinnertime. Too early to see the vampires quite yet, particularly since the days were getting longer. I'd have to wait until after sunset to get their version of the bloodsucking showdown. I gave Aubrey a few more conciliatory pats and then straightened up to call Dante. He didn't answer, and I wondered if he actually had a customer for a change. When not concocting vile spells, he made his living giving fake Tarot and palm readings. I left a message, telling him I was back.

With time on my hands, I started fretting about Emerald City. I knew the bookstore really could function without me, but the motherly instinct kicked in nonetheless. And since I did have the time, I decided to go over and check on things.

As expected, all was well. It was almost seven, and people on their way home from work were stopping in to pick up things. Business was steady but not crazy.

"Georgina! You're back."

I'd been watching the registers from a distance and turned to see Maddie standing behind me, lugging a cardboard display for a new book coming out tomorrow. I smiled. No matter how hard things had been for me with her and Seth, there was something about her bright, open personality that could lighten dark moods.

"For a while. I just wanted to check on things."

She grinned back. "That's just like you. Get time off, and come back to work. How are things? Still crazy?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, a little. But it's nothing I can't manage. I'm hoping it'll improve soon."

"Is it something that might improve with a drink?" She wore a mischievous look, and I couldn't help but laugh.




 

 

"Only if I'm drinking alone. You're still here for a couple more hours."

"Nope. I had to come in early to cover someone, so Janice is going to close."

It was always nice if a manager could close, but Janice was certainly competent enough. I hesitated. I'd been avoiding Maddie since Christmas, but before Seth, I'd always really liked her a lot. We'd had a lot of good times together, and our personalities clicked well. Seth wasn't here now, and a drink suddenly seemed like an even better way to pass the time than doing managerial things when I wasn't actually required to do them.

"Okay."

She finished up, and about fifteen minutes later, we stepped outside. I got a cigarette out automatically, then paused. "Do you mind?"

"Nah. I don't like them, but it's okay. Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know." I reached for my lighter, remembered it was out, and pulled out the matches instead. I ran my fingers over its cover and frowned. "You want to go to Mark's Mad Martini Bar?"