The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (best ereader for comics .txt) 📗

sole job it was to find such lost spirits. Of course, needing to call them in created a bunch of red tape for the agency. Meetings upon meetings. Retraining. Reprimands. This was why Cheryl had hesitated to do it when Tessa lost a soul, preferring to browbeat Tessa into finding him herself first.

Fingers snapping in front of her face drew Tessa out of the reverie. Gloria’s well-manicured eyebrows were up. “Earth to Tessa Randolph. Are you in there? I was asking whether you like sushi. I know it’s somewhat of an acquired taste. There’s a good place close to our hotel that I forgot about. Last year, some of the other reapers and I ate there four times. It’s that good.”

Tessa’s stomach growled at the thought. “Yum. Let’s do it.” There was no good sushi in Mist River. In fact, many small towns in Michigan lacked that particular delicacy, and Tessa loved it.

“Decision made!” Gloria gave a little fist-pump as they entered a large room dotted with rental car kiosks. “Hey! That’s a familiar face a long way from home. Isn’t that your hottie landlord?”

Tessa followed her friend’s gaze and found Silas’s smiling face as he exited the line of a competing rental car agency. She was a little surprised Gloria recognized him—she’d only met him once briefly when she came over to watch movies with Tessa and Abi. But she’d immediately honed in on Tessa’s interest in Silas. In true close girlfriend fashion, Gloria had instantly made it her mission to tease Tessa about having a crush every chance she got.

“I wondered if I’d see you here—I didn’t know which flight you’d be on.” Silas held a set of car keys in one hand and carried a navy-blue duffel bag in the other. He wore khaki cargo shorts and a bright blue T-shirt.

He looked vacation ready and oh, so good.

“Hey,” she managed to respond. “You’re here!”

“I’m here.” He shrugged. “I decided to just go for it, ya know?”

“That’s great.” It was great. Tessa’s heart told her as much as it thumped louder and faster in her chest. Silas had come at her encouragement. But now that she saw him here, she wasn’t sure what to do.

“I’m staying at the Roundtree Resort and Spa. Your hotel—the one you suggested—was completely booked, but mine isn’t too far away.” He glanced at Gloria and included her in his thousand-watt smile. “I’m Silas. I don’t know if you remember—”

“Oh, I remember.” She smiled back and sent a wink in Tessa’s direction. “What brings you here, Silas? Vacation?”

“At Tessa’s encouragement, yeah. I haven’t had a vacation in so long that I’m already wondering what to do with myself. Not sure I know how to relax and live in the moment.”

“I find it’s easier to do than you think,” Gloria said.

“I don’t know.” He turned to Tessa. “I’m already worrying about Mrs. Cross’ dental appointment in two days. I usually take her to that kind of stuff.”

“Your cousin can handle all that,” Tessa said. “Try to put it out of your mind and just chill.”

He shrugged. “I’ll try.” He leaned closer and whispered, “I’m a little afraid I’m going to be bored with nothing to do and no one to talk to.”

“Tessa’s going to have lots of free time,” Gloria offered. She ignored Tessa’s wide-eyed, questioning look. “I’ve got more meetings than she does because I have to attend some of the advanced stuff, so she’ll be looking for something to do too. You guys should hang out.”

What the heck was she talking about? This was the first Tessa had heard about Gloria having to go to presentations Tessa didn’t.

Was she lying? She had to be. But Gloria’s grandpa, who’d taught her to play Blackjack, would have been proud. Her face didn’t show her hand at all as she kept her gaze on Silas.

Tessa realized then that he was looking at her, expecting some sort of confirmation. She stammered, “I’ll be available most evenings. It would be nice to hang out. Fun,” she corrected.

Silas set down his bag and pushed hair out of his eyes. “Yeah? Awesome. How about tonight? Would you maybe want to grab a bite to eat with me and then go see some sights?”

She cut her eyes to Gloria, whose smile was so wide it reminded Tessa of the Cheshire Cat. The other reaper nodded at Tessa encouragingly, despite their earlier plans.

“Okay,” Tessa agreed. “That sounds like fun. Let’s do it.”

“How about now? I’m starved.”

“Go ahead,” Gloria urged, even giving Tessa a tiny shove toward her landlord. “I’ll get our rental car and take your luggage to the resort. Get us both checked in too. There aren’t any presentations until tomorrow morning.” Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Tessa’s suitcase and started off. Over her shoulder, she called, “Have fun, you two.”

Silas picked up his duffel bag and started toward a nearby door. “I asked around a little bit and found out where the best Cuban food in town is. You up for that?”

Tessa followed him, glancing back at Gloria, who stood in line at one of the kiosks. She winked and gave Tessa two thumbs up and then made a shooing motion.

“It sounds good, but I’m not dressed for a fancy meal. I’ve got my traveling clothes on.”

Silas glanced at her, his eyes taking in her stretchy black yoga capris and worn Detroit Lions shirt. “You look great. I’m sure this place doesn’t have a dress code.” He used the key fob to unlock a silver sedan and shoved his bag in the trunk before opening the passenger door for her.

“Maybe we could just drive around a little and see what looks good?” She got into the car, her stomach doing a little flip. Whether from hunger or nerves, she wasn’t sure.

Why would she be nervous? She was just going to explore a new city with a friend. That’s all. It certainly wasn’t a date or anything. No matter how much Gloria had acted like a slightly insane matchmaker.

“That