Read Of A Darker Nature for Free Online

him and pop out a couple of his kids.” The prospect was appealing though.
    The allure went deeper than just his faultless body. Once he had healed, and Emily saw how he truly was, she’d been captivated. He'd given her a wild look at first, but who wouldn't upon waking naked in a strange place? When he'd reached out to her, and their fingers touched, it was like he'd infused a part of himself inside her. She couldn't get him off her mind. She longed to know more about him, her hero, and sometimes dream lover. Until she did, she would continue to dream of him and wonder just who he might be.
    “Just let it go.” Scott sounded perturbed all of the sudden. He frowned, and his eyebrows dipped.
    “I feel like I owe him.” She stared at the carpet between the toes of her shoes and shuddered. “I witnessed his death. To come back from that and fight off three lunatics…”
    Beau cut her off. “That's not a good idea, Emily.”
    “Why? Is this where you tell me vampires are real, and he really will eat me?”
    Beau and Scott exchanged another strange look.
    “What? Why do you keep looking at each other like that?”
    A woman appeared in the doorway before either could get geared up with another argument. Wren ducked her head and darted out of sight. Maybe she suddenly remembered the toilet needed a good scrubbing.
    The dark skinned woman looked comfortable in a peasant shirt and white linen pants. Her fingers smoothed across the close-cropped platinum hair. A silver ring adorned each finger.
    Scott summoned a smile and extended his hand. “How can we help you?”
    She ignored him and her gaze homed in on Emily instead. A rubbery smile twisted her lips. “Are you Emily Cross?”
    She glanced up in confusion. “Yes?”
    The woman’s gaze flicked to the men, and she pursed her lips. She looked at Emily once again. “Can we speak in private?”
    “I guess we'll use your office if that's okay,” Emily informed Scott. It didn't appear to matter since the woman had already settled into one of the visitor's chairs.
    “Want me to sit in?” Scott paused in the doorway.
    Beau shuffled out of the small room, the corners of his mouth turned down in a frown.
    “Nah, it's okay.” Emily walked around the end of the desk to sit in Scott’s leather chair. “It probably has to do with the estate settlement. Liz and I have been arguing about it.”
    The woman sat with back rigid and hands clasped in her lap. The platinum hair looked harsh against her dark skin.
    “Starr Carter.” She said the name as if Emily should have already known it.
    “What can I do for you, Ms. Carter?”
    Starr's broad face split into an eerie grin. The woman's eyes were quite round and reminded Emily of a toad. “I've heard about your fantastic ability and wanted to meet you in person.”
    “How?” Apprehension skittered down Emily's spine.
    “You know how news travels.” She waved away Emily’s concerns. “I've never met anyone with your unique talent. You can read the dead?”
    Emily's mind whirled. Hardly anyone was familiar with her curse. “I'm sorry, how do you know this?”
    “That isn't important.” She brushed imaginary lint from her sleeve. “I'd like to put you on retainer. What are your fees?”
    “I don't think you understand how this works.”
    “Sure I do. You touch the dead thing, and you tell me what they saw. Can you read their memories too?”
    “Sometimes, but I don't do this for the public.” At least not since Arizona, and as far as Emily was concerned, that didn't count.
    “You should. You could make a lot of money.” Starr leaned forward, an intense expression on her face. “So can you help me?”
    “I'm not sure. I have to be in contact with the decedent directly. Is the deceased a relative of yours?”
    “No.” Starr's mouth pursed. “What do you mean by directly?”
    “I can't use a personal item or ashes. It has to be skin on skin contact. I suppose I could meet you at the funeral home of your