The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

couldn’t leave, we had unfinished business. I was heading for the door when my brother David showed up, looking even scruffier than I did. He’s an NYPD cop, the best detective in the city because he’s a Guardian enforcer and not much gets by him. “Jesus, Charlie!” He gave me a bone-cracking hug. “I heard about this robbery on the radio and had a hunch you were here.” Being Dave, it would have been more than a hunch. “Whose blood are you wearing?”
    I stared down at my gory sweats. “Rajiv’s. But he’ll be OK, I think.”
    “Because of you?”
    I nodded. Dave knew enough to guess the rest. I’d used my healing abilities on him often enough. He had a talent for getting banged up. “I need to get moving,” I said numbly. “There was a woman here, Maggie Macrae, and I have to find her.”
    “Macrae?” He recognized the Guardian name, of course.
    I nodded again. “She persuaded two of the yahoos to drop their guns. Now if you’ll excuse me . . .”
    Dave blocked my way. He can read me pretty well. “You liked her?”
    “For me, she’s why men fight,” I said impatiently. “Now get out of my way!”
    His hand locked onto my arm. “You’re dead on your feet, little brother. And don’t you have a final exam later today? Go home, get some sleep, take your exam, clean up so you don’t look like a fugitive from a slasher flick, and then find her.”
    “I need to find her now, David,” I growled. “Will you remove your hand before I break it?”
    He looked startled - I don’t lose my temper often - but let me go. “Want me to find her for you?”
    Which he could easily, since enforcers are always brilliant finders. “Hell, no,” I snapped. “Women are suckers for the tall, dark and dangerous thing you have down so well. I’ll find her myself.”
    “Would that you were right about the tall, dark and dangerous thing,” he said wryly. “Go left, then left again for half a block. And good luck.”
    As I said, he’s a great finder, and I’ll admit that it saved some time to have him point me in the right direction. But that still left a long avenue block of apartment buildings. I followed his directions. Left, then left again. My brain felt wrapped in cotton wool and I wanted nothing more than to collapse anywhere, a bed by preference though concrete would do. But I had to find Maggie Macrae before I could sleep.
    Some senses operate better when you’re tired. I closed my eyes and let my mind drift as I looked for Maggie’s bittersweet Belgian chocolate energy signature. Chocolate and the smoothest Highland whisky, yesss . . .
    I headed into the third apartment building on the right. A sleepy doorman was on duty. He came awake fast at the sight of my bloody self, and he was six and a half feet of frowning disapproval.
    Before he could call 911, I said reassuringly, using all the persuasive magic I had, “Could you ring Ms Macrae in apartment 30D?”
    Glad I’d been able to pull the apartment number out of the ether, I continued, “I’m respectable, really. Ms Macrae and I were both in a convenience-store robbery and I want to check that she’s OK. Tell her it’s Doctor Charles Owens.”
    It must have been the magic that persuaded him, because it sure wasn’t my appearance. He rang up to her apartment. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Ms Macrae, but there’s a fellow here who calls himself Doctor Owens. Shall I let him in?”
    There was a long pause and my heart sank. If Maggie said no, I didn’t have the energy to storm the building. Not tonight, anyhow.
    But she must have said yes because the doorman grudgingly let me in. I don’t even remember taking the elevator up, though when I exited on the thirtieth floor, I vaguely noticed I’d left bloody smudges on the wall where I’d leaned during the ascent.
    Then I was at her door, knocking. Maggie opened it warily, her shields locked as tight as a bank vault. She’d discarded the jeans and blazer and wore a long monk’s robe in gold velvet that matched her eyes. Every inch of skin below her neck was covered, and she was the sexiest woman I’d ever seen.
    Maybe I’d gone nuts - entirely possible - but sexual tension crackled between us like heat lightning. I forgot about fatigue as every cell in my body went on alert.
    Her gaze met mine then slid away. “No need to come by. I’m fine.”
    “I’m not. Can I come in?”
    She stepped back and let me pass while I tried to figure out how to justify being here at 4 a.m.