Edge of Darkness by J. T. Geissinger

Author:J. T. Geissinger [Geissinger, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Teen Paranormal
ISBN: 9781477848944
Amazon: 1477848940
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2013-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

“Dante?” Ember called through his apartment door as she knocked. “Are you home?”

He was; the sound of shuffling feet alerted her first, then he appeared wearing a plaid robe, black socks and a smile. “Ah, la hermosa Americana! Buenos dias, como estas?”

“Bien, gracias. But English, remember?”

“Oh!” His hand flew to cover his mouth. “Si! I mean yes!” He straightened his toupee, adopted a strange pose with his hands on his hips and one leg stuck out like it was broken, then in the most terrible John Wayne impersonation she had ever heard, drawled, “How’s it hangin’, pilgrim?”

That stunned her into silence for a moment. When she recovered enough to speak, she asked, “Dante, why haven’t you asked for my rent again yet?”

His smile died a quick death. “Er, I, ah…I told you…don’t worry about it—”

“Don’t worry about it because it’s already been paid, you mean?”

He sucked his lips between his teeth like someone had just stuck a lemon in his mouth.

“Dante,” she warned, “don’t lie to me.”

His nose wrinkled. He blew out a lip-flapping breath, then made a very Gallic shrug, which looked as if it translated to, you got me.

Already knowing the answer, Ember asked, “Who paid my rent, Dante?”

He looked left. He looked right. He looked back at her and said, “I can’t tell you, hermosa. That was part of the deal.”

Ember passed a hand over her face. So—it was true. “We’re changing the deal, Dante. I’m going to pay you for this month and you’re going to give the money back to whoever paid it.”

Christian, of course.

But Dante was already shaking his head no. “Lo siento, but…that is not possible.”

She could tell by the look on his face that Dante was very serious. He would not be taking her money this month. Well, fine, she’d just repay Christian directly then, after telling him in no uncertain terms to butt out of her financial problems.

“All right, Dante, forget it. But don’t do anything like this again. The rent is my obligation, okay? Don’t ever take money from anyone but me for my rent.”

He began to look worried. Hesitantly, he said, “Ah…si…”

Ember crossed her arms over her chest. “Out with it.”

There was some fidgeting, some lip-chewing, a little toupee adjustment, then Dante said with regret, “That might present un pequeño problema.”

Ember’s left eyebrow slid up. “And why would me paying my own rent be a problem?”

He debated silently for a moment, looking at her with a hesitant expression, as if undecided if he were allowed to tell her something or not. Finally he sighed. “Because technically—that is the correct word, yes?—technically you don’t have any more rent.”

Oh no. No, no, no, no, no.

No.

Ember said carefully, “Dante, please tell me you’re not saying my rent has been paid for the year?”

Immediately, he brightened. “No! Your rent has not been paid for the year!”

She heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh thank God. You really scared me for a minute—”

“Your rent has been paid forever!”

He was smiling brightly as he said this, and flung his arms out in a “ta da!” gesture.

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