Accidentaly Divine by Dakota Cassidy (best large ereader .TXT) 📗

He was terrified and likely misdiagnosed. He needed help. I gave it. Otherwise, the money stays where it is.”

Marty cocked her blonde head, her ponytail trailing over her shoulder. “But why, George? It’s yours, right?”

She swallowed hard. “It is, but I don’t want it, and I don’t want to talk about it… If that’s okay,” she tacked on, watching Dex from the corner of her eye.

He knew. He knew why she couldn’t talk about her father. She knew she needed to, if she was ever going to move from this dark corner her life was in.

But…she couldn’t. It hurt. It hurt so much, sometimes it was like a physical pain.

Marty leaned forward, tucking her hair behind her ear before she reached for George’s hand to rub her cold fingers and say, “No worries. I didn’t mean to upset you, honey. I’m sorry. Forget I ever asked. I’m just thrilled that you were able to help someone in need. Let’s see if we can keep that trend moving forward, yes?” Then she smiled her warm smile, and George relaxed a little.

“You mean Effie Sampson, right?” she said, gladly willing to leave the subject of her family alone and focus on someone else’s problems.

“Well, you do want to get those permies, don’t you?” Marty asked on a beaming grin. “I think helping Effie’s part of it. Have you figured out what she needs?”

“Other than maybe a hand to hold when she passes over? No.” George shook her head, pulling the sleeves of her sweater over her wrists and hands. “I haven’t figured out what she needs, but I can’t help feeling like she needs more than just a hand to hold. It’s more complex… Or something.”

“And your instincts are amazing so far. I think you’re probably right,” Dex commented. “She needs something more from you, and I hope Titus will tell us what that is—soon.”

That’s when George sat forward, remembering the picture of the man on Effie’s Facebook page. She’d once said she didn’t use social media at all. So why was she looking up that guy?

Maybe he was a lost love? Someone she needed to reconcile her feelings with? Damn, what was his name?

David Eisen.

The name popped into her head as though someone had just whispered it in her ear.

Pulling her phone from the back pocket of her jeans, she went to Facebook and looked up his profile. There were several David Eisens, but the face she’d seen on Effie’s computer was easy enough to identify.

She held it up to show everyone. “This name just popped into my head. It’s the same page that Effie had on her laptop screen earlier today.”

Marty whistled. “He’s cute. Says he’s fifty-six and from Texas. Need a date, Nina?” she teased.

“Shut the fuck up, Marty, or you’re gonna have a date with the Grim Reaper.” Nina grabbed the phone from George and looked at the picture. “Didn’t I hear Effie say she was originally from Texas?”

“How did you hear that?”

She tugged at her ears. “Vampire hearing. Remember? I was on angel babysitting duties today. I was right outside the door. I heard everything she fucking said because that’s what vampires do.”

George clucked her tongue and shook her head. “Well, there’s not much to see unless we’re friends, and I don’t think he’s going to accept a friend request from someone in Buffalo. Most of his profile’s hidden, but there must be a reason his name popped into my head.”

“That should have happened hours ago. Any and all information pertaining to the assignment should have been made available to you,” Dex reminded her.

“Maybe upstairs is on the fritz and I’m getting spotty reception?” she asked Dex with a grin, grateful for the lighter mood.

He rose from the couch and stretched his arms upward with one of his chuckles. “I don’t get it. But I’ll keep trying to get in touch. Titus needs to know someone tried to steal your wings, too. Until then, I’m going home to get a couple of things done before work tomorrow. You guys okay without me?”

“Do you mean will we shrivel the fuck up and die without the big strong man to protect us from the scary bad guys?” Nina asked with thick sarcasm.

He leaned down and kissed Nina’s cheek. “You know darn well that’s not what I meant, Vampire. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Text me if you need a ride to work.”

Nina chuckled, pinching his cheek. “Get out. I’ll make sure she gets to work.”

“Night, ladies. Thanks for everything.”

Marty lifted a hand to wave goodbye before she went back to stroking Gladys with a soft smile, making George feel incredibly grateful these people were such animal lovers. They didn’t appear to care about the hair on the couch or the slobber on the throw pillows.

As Dex began to take his leave, George hopped up off the couch. “I’ll walk you out.”

She followed him to the door, pulling it open. The cold rushed in, glacial and biting, but she didn’t feel it much—which was still a pretty weird experience.

“So, see you tomorrow? Maybe I’ll go with you to Effie’s this time?”

She smiled up at him, relishing the smell of his spicy cologne. “I feel like that’s a good idea. I’m not ready to go without my training wheels quite yet. I think I’ve proven that.”

Dex entwined his fingers with hers, his face so close she felt his breath on her skin. “I think you were great today, and if anything, you’ve proven how awesome you are and how willing you are to tackle your new lot in life. That’s huge.”

Her cheeks went hot. “Thanks, Dex. For all your help tonight.” And then on pure impulse, George stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, her lips brushing against the dark stubble of his jaw.

He gazed down at her, his eyes swirling and intense, but he didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he simply smiled and cupped her cheek, making her knees weak when his palm made contact with her skin.

Then he