Wicked Fantasy Read Free Page B

plastic surgeon on speed dial. I feel a Botox moment coming on.” The woman leaned closer to the mirror, the better to view the horror.
    â€œGod, I hate these lights. They show up every little thing. Look at these grooves next to my mouth. I look like Pinocchio.”
    Gerry coughed to get their attention. “Umm, has anyone seen my pet snake? He slipped in here—”
    Oomph. The women shoved her against the wall as they all stampeded from the restroom like the wrinkle fairy was in hot pursuit. The two women still in the stalls screeched as they lifted their feet off the floor.
    â€œIs it poisonous?” This from the stall nearest the exit. Sounded terrified. “If I tiptoe, can I slip out the door?”
    â€œWho the hell would bring a snake into a club anyway?” The middle stall. Sounded really cranky. “I bet it’s illegal. Where’s my cell phone? I’ll ask my lawyer.” Rooting-around-in-purse noises.
    Uh-oh. Gerry had to keep them there until she cornered Jinx. He’d be waiting for the first woman to open the door so he could slither out. “Leaving is so not a good idea. Jinx attacks anything that moves. Stay still. And keep your feet off the floor. He loves ankles. Can we say bloodthirsty predator? He enjoyed the last ankle he bit so much that he left his little fang embedded in it. Don’t worry, though, the fang grew back.”
    Silence. Okay, that had worked out semi-nicely. Gerry figured it wouldn’t take her long to locate Jinx and then—
    Someone flung the restroom door open. Damn. Jinx’s body was a green blur as he made a break for freedom. “Stop him!” If she didn’t catch Jinx, she may as well flush her budding career down any one of the room’s toilets. What were her chances, though, that any woman walking through the door would collar Jinx?
    But the hand that reached down with blinding speed to scoop Jinx up was very male. And very familiar. “I think you have some explaining to do.” Conall’s sexy mouth was drawn into a grim line.
    He glanced at the stalls. “I have the snake, ladies. You can come out when I leave. Be sure to talk to Sparkle Stardust. The club will want to make up for all your mental anguish.”
    â€œMental anguish? Give me a break.” Gerry blinked to keep from rolling her eyes.
    â€œMmm. Every club should have a sexy guy in the ladies’ room for little . . . emergencies that come along.” Eyes peered at Conall through the cracks in the stall doors. The middle stall was in a better mood now.
    Conall held Jinx by his tail. The ring slid from the snake’s body and into Conall’s open hand. He studied the ring before handing it to Gerry. Then without speaking, he pulled open the door and waited for her to walk past him.
    Once in the hallway, he studied the little green snake still dangling from his fingers and then speared Gerry with a tell-all-or-die glare. “Talk.”
    Urp. Gerry stared up at Conall. Way up. Good Lord, he filled the whole doorway. And he looked determined. Really determined. She didn’t blame Jinx for not trying to change back to human form. This guy would make green Jell-O out of him.
    There’d be no escaping without feeding Conall some kind of story. Possibilities raced through her mind, all completely implausible. If she couldn’t think of a believable lie, she may as well tell him the truth. He’d think she was crazy, but that was fine with her. As long as he gave Jinx back.
    She nodded at the snake. “Jinx is a thief. He’s also a shape-shifter. I work for a group dedicated to making sure that nonhuman entities obey Texas laws.” There. He’d gaze at her blankly and then either laugh or shake his head in disbelief. “Now if you’ll give Jinx to me, I’ll see that he doesn’t visit the Castle of Dark Dreams again.” She held out her hand.
    Jinx turned his beady little eyes toward her,