The Naughty List by L.A. Kelley Page A

David released her hand, but kept one arm protectively around her. “Are you okay? Travel by dash-away is a bit unsettling.”
    “I’m fine.” Neither one made an immediate move to break free. After a few awkward seconds, Rosalie backed up. “Where do we begin?”
    “You tell me. Where would be the best place to hide a mystical object?”
    “Central Receiving,” she replied without hesitation. As they headed toward the r K toas Santaear of the store, she asked, “How long have you searched Penrose’s?”
    “About a week, but…” Worry clouded his face. “The longer The Book is out of my hands, the weaker the link grows. The connection is barely more than a thread now. Once broken, The Book will be lost to me forever.”
    “How did it end up here? Who stole it?”
    David stiffened. “I don’t see how the information is relevant. I only want it back.”
    Rosalie gave him the eye. “What do you mean, the information isn’t relevant? If you know the thief, you’re one step closer to finding The Book.” David ignored her. “I said…” She planted her feet in front of him. “Do you know who stole it?”
    “Not exactly,” he admitted, obviously uncomfortable. “I only know when.”
    Rosalie crossed her arms and glared. “Spill it or I won’t go anywhere.”
    David shuffled awkwardly. “I was at a big party at headquarters—the Odin’s birthday. And there were these girls. They wanted to see it.”
    Rosalie gaped at him. “You tried to impress a couple of girls?”
    “They were dryads,” he appealed to her, weakly. “And hot and I only took The Book out for a second. They wanted to see if their names were…you know.”
    She snorted in disgust. “On the Naughty List.”
    David reddened. “I know, I know. What I did was beyond pathetic, but,” he asserted, “I swear, I didn’t let the dryads touch anything. I didn’t even bring them into the repository. I only opened the vault long enough to look up their names. By the time I returned the dryads had already hooked up with someone else and left. Lots of demons were at the party. I realized how stupid I acted and went home. I didn’t talk to them, again.”
    He eyed her with a sick look on his face. “I woke up in the middle of the night and knew The Book was gone. The vault was open. I must not have locked the door correctly. I immediately followed the trail, but the connection started to fade.”
    Rosalie glowered. “What is it with men? A push-up bra and a pair of stilettos and the next thing you know they open vaults and are too busy for a cup of coffee with a co-worker.”
    “I’m sorry,” he blurted out though his face gave away his bewilderment. “I confess I don’t get where you’re going with this.”
    “Human or Integral,” Rosalie huffed, “men are all the same. A little attention from a bimbo in a pencil skirt, and you all turn to pudding.”
    Bewilderment instantly changed to sympathy. “Who’s the guy?”
    Rosalie stared at the floor. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Yes, you do. Who is he?”
    Rosalie shuffled her feet. The past was painful to bring up, but David’s attitude was so compassionate. Without thinking, she spilled out, “Not he—they. My last boyfriend dumped me for a girl with a low IQ, but a big bra size, and then we had a new hire at the store. He seemed nice. I-I thought maybe if things clicked I wouldn’t spend Christmas alone.” Her voice hardened. “Not that I had a chance to find out. As soon as Stephanie shook her business in his face, he lost interest in anyone else.”
    “Those guys were both jerks. I’ve only known you a short time, but if neither one could see right off you were worth fighting for, then they’re dickweeds who aren’t worth a second thought.”
    Her cheeks heated. “Thank you.” She hazarded a questio Kdedre dickwen. “May I ask why—”
    “—did I do it? Why did I open the vault to impress a couple of girls?” He gazed off in the distance. “I asked