Where There's Smoke by Karen Kelley Read Free Book Online Page B

of sex toys.
    “Oh, that’s sex gadgets,” LeAnn said, her expression puzzled.
    “I thought I would buy a few things.” Destiny moved to the chair across from LeAnn. “Do you have any recommendations?” Destiny innocently quirked an eyebrow. Okay, that should do it. LeAnn would run from the apartment any second now.
    “Well, actually, I’ve never ordered from a magazine, but I do know this great little shop not far from here. I mean, that’s where I get mine. The store owner, Maggie Jean, she’s great about helping her customers.”
    Destiny’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it closed, then asked, “You use sex toys?”
    LeAnn shrugged. “Well, yeah, I thought everyone did. Sometimes I don’t have time to get dressed up and go out on a date, and I’m not seeing anyone steady now so that makes it even more difficult. I won’t just take any guy to bed, but a girl has to get release somehow or she could blow an ovary.”
    LeAnn had to be joking. Any second she would burst out laughing and say of course she didn’t use sex toys.
    Except she didn’t.
    “You’re going to tell me you’ve actually walked into a store that has sex toys, and you’ve bought them.”
    LeAnn nodded. “Maggie Jean is very discreet, and I don’t think a guy would be caught dead in her store. It’s very frou-frou. Kind of like a lingerie store with pretty stuff in the windows. Pfftt, I don’t think guys even know what kind of store it is. The toys are at the very back.”
    Wow, Destiny really was born way too soon.
    “If you want, we can drop by the store.” She glanced at her watch, then grimaced. “She’s probably closed.” She brightened. “Sometimes Maggie Jean locks up but stays late to do inventory. Let me make a quick call. She won’t mind at all if we drop by.”
    “Sure.” Why not? Nothing would surprise Destiny about this woman now.
    LeAnn’s grin stretched across her face. Destiny tried to wrap her brain around the fact that LeAnn, who looked like the perky cheerleader next door, was actually a nymphomaniac with sex toys. Nope, she just couldn’t see it. So maybe she would go to this so-called sex toy store and see if LeAnn was ribbing her or telling the truth.
    Mixing with mortals was a big no-no, but she couldn’t resist. Really, what harm could there be in going to a sex store? It might even help her cause. Not much information about changing times came to her at the sorting station. Didn’t she have a duty to know about the ways of the world and all the changes that had taken place since she’d died? Not to mention it might give her the edge she needed to seduce Chance—and she so wanted to turn the game they played back to her favor.

Chapter 5
     
    Something didn’t feel right to Chance. He had a great sixth sense that usually told him when something was out of kilter. His intuition warned him to watch his step.
    No one saw him materialize. He was pretty sure about that. Still, he slowly scanned the area behind the bar. An overflowing dumpster braced a partially crumbling brick wall. Other than a few boxes that looked as though they were tossed out the back door, nothing seemed that unusual.
    It was the safest place for him to land and not be detected. He learned long ago not to pop in just anywhere. Especially during the Spanish Inquisition and the witch trials. That had been a little uncomfortable, especially when that crazy puritan started yelling, “Burn the witch!”
    There were no puritans behind the building. He’d stake his immortality on that. Even so, he had a bad premonition.
    Chance sniffed the air. The only bad odor he detected were the fumes from empty alcohol bottles. There were definitely no demons around; they had a distinct odor, like garlic and rotting flesh.
    His bad premonition could only be something he sensed, rather than something actually there. Destiny might have gotten pissed because he’d yet to make love to her. She might have decided not to show. She could already be