Hoodoo Woman (Roxie Mathis Book 3) by Sonya Clark Page A

vampire grinned. “Officer, can Roxie come out and play?”

Chapter 13
     
    The look Ray gave me would have made me burst out laughing, if not for the vampire on the porch. Grumpy teddy bear, indeed. He leaned close and said in a low voice, “You’re not dating this one too, are you?”
    I choked on a mix of laughter and righteous indignation. “Of course not! He’s my.” Cousin was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t say that here. Daniel cocked a smug eyebrow while I scrambled to come up with something. “He’s my friend. My best friend, like a brother to me.” Gesturing from one to the other I said, “Ray Travis, this is Daniel Rambin. Daniel, this is Ray.”
    Ray said dubiously, “Nice to meet you.”
    Daniel’s grin broadened. “Good to meet you too. Any friend of Roxie’s and all that. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I got some information on our latest case we need to discuss.”
    Ray gave me another withering look. I said, “Daniel writes a blog about ghost stories and supernatural legends in the South. He likes to work with me sometimes.”
    Daniel said, “I’m working on turning my blog into a book so this is the perfect opportunity to write about something new, rather than old stuff. I picked up a juicy little tidbit at the pool hall tonight I’d love to talk to you both about.” His tone became conciliatory. “If you wouldn’t mind inviting me in.”
    I held my breath. Daniel couldn’t enter someone’s private residence without being invited. After a moment’s hesitation and another look at me, Ray said, “Yeah, come on in out of the cold. I was just about to make coffee.”
    Daniel stepped across the threshold. I could feel the push against the spell I’d woven with sage earlier. To Daniel it probably felt like mild electric shock even with the invitation, but he showed no reaction. Smiling, he said, “Thank you. I know it’s old fashioned but I don’t feel right stepping into someone’s house without an invitation.”
    Ray nodded, his face guarded and body language tight. “Kitchen’s this way.” He walked ahead.
    Daniel wagged his eyebrows, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “Deputy Hot Pants, whoo-ee.”
    I slapped at his arm. “How drunk are you?”
    “Not too drunk at all and getting more sober by the minute, thanks to my special metabolism.”
    “Just, please, try to behave. Explaining you is going to be hard enough. Ray’s a cop and he’s not stupid.”
    We reached the kitchen before Daniel could reply. Ray had the coffee pot going and was busy clearing dishes from our earlier meal. Daniel helped himself to a seat at the table. I snagged his beer, tossing it in the garbage. He gave me the side-eye but said nothing.
    Ray said, “You from Nashville?”
    “That’s where I live now. Got a house on the lake though. That’s where we’re staying.”
    Ray didn’t miss a beat but I saw the tightness around his eyes. “How long y’all been friends?”
    “A few years now. Roxie’s like a little sister to me.” Daniel laughed, the sound fake and forced. “I can be so old-fashioned about some things, sometimes it’s more like she’s my granddaughter or something.” The fake humor died, replaced with steel in his voice. “You two dated, she tells me.”
    “We did.” Ray placed his hands on the counter, meeting Daniel’s gaze, not cowed in the least.
    “You look like you’re a little older than her.”
    I could have cheerfully kicked Daniel for pulling this shit but it’d probably just break my foot. “You said something about picking up info at the pool hall?”
    The two men continued their calm staring contest. Right before I was about to suggest they both drop their pants and I get a tape measure, Daniel relented. “The coroner’s got himself a nice new house boat.”
    A muscle in Ray’s cheek twitched. “Is that right?”
    “Got a space for it at the marina today. Public servants must make better than I thought. Hell, maybe I should go