In-Between Work and Play (The Jocelyn Frost Series Book 1) Read Free

before casting her amber  gaze back at me.  She mouthed,
“We’ll talk soon.” 
    I gave her a
slight nod before taking a quick glance at the clock over the door. We still
had five minutes. 
    Inez’s stilettos
clicked on the floor as she made her way to the door.  Based on the ample
amount of cleavage hanging over her skintight, ruby-red blouse and the strip of
fabric covering her legs, I sincerely doubted she was headed to another
meeting.  
    I closed my eyes
for a second to refocus.  “Does anyone else have a new topic they would like to
discuss?”
    I saw several
heads shake. 
    “Okay, then
let’s say our pledge, and we’ll end a couple of minutes early.”
    Each of the
demigoddesses reached for the hands of the women on either side of her. 
    During our first
session each year, we agree to a new set of rules and a closing pledge.  The
various rules may differ, along with the pledge, but there is one rule that
remains consistent: no one is allowed to state the name of her godly parent. 
It might not seem like a big deal at first, but believe me, when you have two
different war gods’ daughters in the same room, the sparks can fly!  
    However, the
closing pledge was designed to remind everyone that despite our differences, we
are all a part of the same extended family.
    “I pledge to be
true to myself.  I will do right by my fellow demigoddesses. I will maintain my
integrity.  I know that I am not alone, and my sisters will look out for me.”
    I gave the
demigoddesses one last calming smile. “Good job, everyone.  We’ll meet again
same time next week.”  I stood at the same time as the rest of the girls.  The
meeting went well, so why was my heart palpitating? 
    I really wanted
to give the demigoddesses something to work on. Instead, I was the one with the
homework assignment.  I still didn’t know where to start.  Beads of
perspiration gathered across my brow as my mind raced.
    Bernice gave me
a hard pat on the back. “Can’t wait to hear some good news next week.”  She
strutted out of the group therapy room with the rest of the half-breeds. 
    I flopped my ass
back down on the chair.  The task ahead weighed me down like nothing else I’d
ever tackled in my entire life. 
    My head throbbed
as a wave of nausea filled my chest.  Deep breaths; I needed to take deep
breaths. I pressed my eyelids together. 

Chapter
Three
     
    No new
inspiration hit me, nor could I even focus properly on the task at hand.  My
mind was at war with itself.  Sometimes, I wondered if I needed therapy more
than my clients.
    I don’t know if
I sat there for five minutes or fifty.  The next thing I heard was someone’s
throat clearing. I peeled one eye open and then the other.  A ruby-haired light
elf with equally vibrant red eyes poised his tall frame against the door. 
Carmine Rosewood was Christmas in a fine, tall package, carved up with lean
muscles that radiated the grace of a professional figure skater.  He was nice
to look at, but beyond that, no sparks flew between us.   
    “Are you feeling
well, Jocelyn?”  His head tilted slightly as his eight-hundred-year-old eyes
scanned the room.  I guess that was about as much concern as I could get from
the mysterious elf.  He took several steps into the room, sending a draft of
cinnamon and pine-scented aroma in my direction.
    My knees ached
as I stood.  “Yeah, just give me a second. My legs are asleep.”  I took a step
forward, but stopped for fear of falling flat on my face.
    Never one to
smile at another person’s expense, he glanced down at his phone before raising
a brow.  “If I were you, I would make haste.  I have a group of unseelie fae
arriving in fifteen minutes.”
    I swallowed as
the pins and needles spread down my legs.  Carmine warned me that several of
his clients were addicted to mythos blood, and being a demigoddess, my blood
fell into that category.  Believe me, I did not want to mess with the unseelie
fae.  Not