The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (good short books .TXT) 📕

What would she do if a big sum of money fell into her lap? “I know! You should take a vacation.”

He grimaced like vacations were torture. “Why would I do that?”

Yep. She knew Silas, all right. She snorted. “To relax like a normal person for more than a minute and a half? I mean, I’m starting to think you’re a workaholic. If you aren’t fixing something around here are getting groceries for elderly residents, you’re working on Linda for just the cost of parts.”

Silas wasn’t convinced but his wince dissolved into a thoughtful expression.

“You deserve a break more than anybody I know,” she pressed.

He shrugged. “Lots of people work harder than I do.”

A sudden thought leaped into Tessa’s mind and before she’d slowed down to examine it, she blurted out, “You know I’m going to Florida in a couple days. It’s a work conference at the Salt Water Resort in Miami Beach. I don’t think all of the rooms are taken.”

That was weird, right? Why had she said that? Now her landlord was going to think she was imagining him in swim trunks lounging by the pool. Which she totally was, but it was super embarrassing to be caught thinking it.

Silas cocked his head with a come again type expression.

“I mean, you could go anywhere, really. I just mention it in case you want to have somebody you know around. You know, on your vacation. Someone there to have dinner or drinks or something with.” Tessa stammered to a halt and pressed her lips together to stem the tide of awkward rambling.

“You know, that does sound like fun. But I’m not sure what I’d do about this place.” He waved a hand vaguely at the ceiling, then sighed, considering.

“What?” Tessa questioned the sigh.

Silas shook his head. “It’s just my buddy Jason owes me a favor. A few favors. He could probably fill in for a few days or something. I’ll have to think about it.”

Pushing herself away from the desk, Tessa nodded. “Good. Well, do that. And congratulations on the windfall. I’d better run.” She headed toward the door leading to her apartment’s hallway.

“Bye.” Silas seemed distracted.

Maybe he was imagining Tessa in her swimsuit next to the pool in Florida? She groaned and clamped down on the thought. Silas was nice but he’d never really flirted with Tessa. Why would he be thinking that?

He wasn’t. He was probably thinking about the disarray the apartment would go in if he did leave. Or, maybe, he was considering the sun and relaxation—the thought of a cocktail or two. Yeah, that was it, for sure.

Feeling a little better, Tessa let herself into the tiny apartment she kept clean and tidy, mostly because she didn’t have too much stuff. Her new job was rapidly helping her get square on past-due bills and things but there wasn’t much left over to indulge in her desire to buy a dozen brand-name purses yet.

Her small tortie, Pepper, rubbed on Tessa’s leg, purring louder than such a tiny little thing should be able to.

“Hey, cutie. It’s good to see you too. Are you hungry?”

The cat sat on her haunches and yowled mournfully.

“Oh, I see. You’re actually about to starve to death, huh?”

Pepper inclined her chin in a motion that made her look haughty and meowed more softly.

“I did so feed you breakfast this morning. Don’t lie.” Tessa crossed to the kitchen and poured some kibble into the cat’s bowl. “There you go.”

Pepper didn’t move. She narrowed her eyes and coughed.

Tessa mimicked the cat’s expression. “Don’t you threaten me with a hairball, missy. You don’t need canned food right now. Eat the kibble—it’s good for your teeth.”

Pepper raised her nose and stalked away, down the short hall to Tessa’s bedroom.

“You behave!” Tessa hurried after the cat and found her curled at the foot of the bed. “Good girl.”

Later, Tessa pulled a rolling suitcase out of the closet, and the tortie lifted her head. “Yes, I’m going on a trip. You’ll be fine. Abi is going to feed you and clean your box while I’m gone.”

A rumbling purr erupted from the feline’s throat.

“You like Abi, remember? Plus, it’ll give you plenty of alone time. I know how much I annoy you.” Tessa grinned and shook her head. She patted Pepper’s rump and set to work gathering the clothes she’d need for a few days at the conference.

And as she packed her swimsuit, she hardly thought about Silas with his shirt off at all.

Chapter 3

THERE WAS AN UNFAMILIAR car in the lot at work the next morning. Tessa wondered if someone was in there trying to buy life insurance. It wouldn’t be the first time, but it was a rare occurrence. There was a protocol—forms and brochures. Real ones that paid real money upon death. All part of the guise.

But in the lobby, a man and woman stood talking to Cheryl.

Nope. Not random laypeople.

It was clear the two strangers in the lobby were related to the reaper business. For one, they were talking to Cheryl, who would never come out of her office to intercept a wayward insurance buyer. For two, the woman gave off a certain air. It couldn’t really be called an aura. It was more like a vibe. Whatever it was, Tessa had learned to identify other reapers by it since she’d gotten her own powers.

The woman looked to be around Cheryl’s age—late fifties or early sixties. She wore a light gray pantsuit that almost exactly matched the color of her straight, bluntly cut, shoulder-length hair.

“Ah, there she is. Our new reaper.” Cheryl gestured for Tessa to join them. “My daughter, Theresa Randolph. This is April Henderson.”

“Tessa,” she corrected, giving April’s hand a firm shake.

“Pleasure,” April said. “It’s always nice to keep things in the family. I just never had time to start one of those.”

“April’s the district supervisor for the eastern United States and Canada,” Cheryl added.

“Oh.” Tessa was caught off-guard. She knew her mother had bosses, but she never expected to meet