Claiming Veronica

By Charlie Richards

Veronica learned paranormals were real when a rabid werewolf bit her at age nine, but no one believed her until the elves revealed their existence a decade later. Now years later, Veronica wants nothing to do with them, but the CPA firm she works for accepts paranormal clients. The gargoyle Bullox shows a special interest in her. Veronica runs the other way, right into the hands of a jealous demoness. When Bullox saves Veronica, why can’t she keep her hands off the sexy gargoyle? And why, when with him, does Veronica feel safe for the first time since the werewolf attack? But before answering those questions, they need to stop the demoness that wants her dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Feb 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466003804

Book preview

Veronica learned paranormals were real when a rabid werewolf bit her at age nine, but no one believed her until the elves revealed their existence a decade later. Now years later, Veronica wants nothing to do with them, but the CPA firm she works for accepts paranormal clients.

The gargoyle Bullox shows a special interest in her. Veronica runs the other way, right into the hands of a jealous demoness. When Bullox saves Veronica, why can’t she keep her hands off the sexy gargoyle? And why, when with him, does Veronica feel safe for the first time since the werewolf attack? But before answering those questions, they need to stop the demoness that wants her dead.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Claiming Veronica

Copyright © 2011 Charlie Richards

ISBN: 978-1-55487-905-6

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Smashwords Edition

Claiming Veronica

Gargoyles of Cuchulian Two

By

Charlie Richards

Dedication

Thanks to my husband for always supporting me, and to those at eXtasy Books for their help and guidance.

Chapter One

Veronica Chase took a deep breath. And then a second one, trying to get her racing pulse under control. She knew the demon wouldn’t harm her, but that didn’t mean her body listened to her mind. This was the third appointment with Santos, who needed to incorporate taxes into his detective agency’s business plan now that paranormals were open to the human community. Veronica thought she’d kept her trepidation hidden, but evidently not.

Just before leaving, Santos had reached across the desk and laid his large bronze hand on hers. He’d given it a slight squeeze, amusement dancing in his deep black eyes. You can relax, darling. I won’t ravish you. You’re not my type. Then he released her and left without a backward glance.

Though his words were meant to soothe, his touch had almost sent her into a full-blown panic attack. So much for years of therapy, Veronica muttered bitterly. Just because the paranormals had only come out to society seven years ago, she’d known about them long before that. When she was nine, she’d been attacked by a werewolf. Everyone thought it had been her imagination blowing the incident out of proportion that made the dog look like a giant wolf, but Veronica had known better. Good thing the myth about changing into a werewolf if bitten wasn’t true.

Getting her body under control, she pulled up the file for her next client…and groaned. Another paranormal. Gargoyles? Who’d have thought? Veronica read through the file and whistled appreciatively. The Cuchulian clan lived off the revenue of their real estate holdings, and they had a lot of them. Her phone beeped, drawing Veronica’s attention away from the computer.

Ms. Chase? the voice of the receptionist filled her office.

Hitting a button, she answered, Yes?

Mr. Bullox is here.

Steeling her expression, she replied, Send him in.

A moment later, Catherine opened Veronica’s door and ushered a man into her office.