Chasing Demons: Demons and Lies, #1

By Scarlet Le Clair

He was her best friend's father, but with a little love, lust and demon hunting, together they could save the world.

 

Alyssa Hearne

 

When Alyssa Hearne had planned her summer vacation, she was thinking about spending some time to herself and away from the stress of college. Maybe a few drinks poolside with her best friend Madelyn.

The last thing she expects is for a family secret to send her normal, bland, boring life spiraling out of control.

 

Christopher Connery

 

The last thing Christopher Connery expected to upend his happy single father life, was Alyssa Hearne's twenty first birthday.

Everything he knew was flipped upside down after one accidental touch from her. Alyssa is 'The one' for him in more ways than one.

But will he be able to fight the urges of the bond they both feel, yet keep Alyssa close enough to protect?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scarlet Le Clair
• Release date: Feb 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393392545

Book preview

1

Alyssa

Y ou looking forward to going home? Alyssa Hearne looked over to Madelyn Connery, her best friend for over 16 years.

Maddy was driving her gorgeous deep red 4x4, she drove the girls everywhere they went together. Alyssa could drive and she even had her own car in the garage back at home, but since she and Maddy were joined at the hip, she barely ever got her car out.

Yes, I can’t wait to see Digby…., She shot Alyssa a cheeky grin and wiggled her eyebrows at her, causing her short brown curls to jump up and down. And my father of course. She added, rolling her eyes.

Digby had been Maddy’s boyfriend for 6 years. He lived back in their old town of Reidgrave Falls. When the girls had left for college, people had commented on how their relationship would never last, but Digby was always there for Maddy and they had remained strong.

Alyssa liked him as he never complained when they wanted girl time. He was like the perfect boyfriend.

It was a sunny Tuesday morning and they were headed back home to Reidgrave for their summer holidays from college. They were to return in the fall for their masters in English.

"It’s about time you got a boyfriend."

Alyssa rolled her eyes, she loved Maddy like a sister, but she could be quite bossy sometimes. Especially when it came to commenting on Alyssa’s love life.

They had always been there for each other; she had been there for Maddy when her mother, Beth, had walked out and left both her and her father seven years previously. It had broken the little family, but they had picked each other up and it had been just Maddy and her father Chris since then.

In return, Maddy had been there for her when her parents and older brother had been killed in a plane crash. Their bodies had never been recovered and in some ways that was the worst thing because there was nothing to say goodbye to; just empty coffins. It didn’t feel like closure to her, just left her like a shell of her former self.

She was placed into the care of her Uncle Jacob and they lived in his small but modern house around half an hour from Maddy’s huge gated villa.

Alyssa thought of Jacob, he was great at bringing her up, loving and attentive when she was first with him, but as time went on, he started to take more and more shifts at the hospital and barely spent any time at home. Alyssa thought it was because he was lonely, though he never seemed to date. Not since his wife Rosie, who had also been Maddy’s aunt, had passed away shortly after they were married.

Perhaps that was the Hearne way now, to die alone. No man ever took her fancy long enough to get a third date. She was no virgin; she had slept with her first boyfriend Jasper at age 17 but nobody since. It had been awkward and terrible, and they had broken up soon after, her choice not his.

Her dates in college bored her, there was no spark with the guys she dated. They were either boring or so into themselves they wouldn’t notice if she had left the table. She preferred to focus on schoolwork. Love could come later.

I’m good without a man, thanks. Next year’s school work will be enough for me. Alyssa stuck her head out of the car window and cooled it down on the wind whipping by.

Yep, but you really need to get some. Maddy laughed.

Thank you for that assessment. Alyssa laughed back.

A flash of black drew her eye to the side mirror but when she focused on it she only saw her excited green eyes staring back at her.

What about that boy…. Manny, you went on a date with last month?

Alyssa shivered when she thought of him. I told you, he was creepy. He kept telling me I was the one over and over.

Most girls want a man to tell them they are the one for him.

Yes, but not on the first date. Plus, he kept sniffing my hair. Yuck, he was yuck.

Well maybe there’s someone just around the corner for you.

Maybe. Alyssa wasn’t opposed to the idea of a boyfriend. The thought was kind of nice, but she didn’t want to settle for just anyone either. She wanted it to be… perfect. Alyssa was an old romantic at heart.

Maddy pulled up outside Alyssa’s house and waited for her to drag her oversized backpack from out of the back.

Maddy wound down her window and called through, You coming over later?

"Gonna spend tonight with uncle Jake so you can go get some but I’ll be over tomorrow. Tell your dad I said hi." Alyssa gave her a little wave before Maddy pulled away.

Lyss, you’re home. Her uncle Jacob was waiting for her in the family room standing next to a welcome home Alyssa banner in hot pink with silver lettering.

Uncharacteristically he had on jean shorts and a tight white v neck t shirt. He looked different.

Uncle Jake, I’ve missed you. You been working out? She dropped her bag at the front door and moved in to give her uncle a hug.

At just over 6ft he towered over her and since the last time she saw him he had filled out his slim frame with a huge slab of muscle all over. She stepped back and grinned at him, happy to be home. His hazel eyes sparkled back at her, reminding her so much of her father. Although unlike her father’s shoulder length hair, Jacob’s hair was short and spiked with gel at the front into a peak.

Me too Lyss, it’s been too long. I’ve been hitting the gym a little bit. I had to, in order to eat junk food with you when you come home. Come into the kitchen, I’ve made pie.

That was all she needed to hear, uncle Jacob made the best pies.

So, for your twenty first, what would you like to do? Her birthday was on Friday, just a few days away.

Nothing much, I’ll probably just hang out with Maddy, if that’s okay? She added hastily, unsure if he had plans.

Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for a wild weekend away for you both? He grinned at her, waggling his eyebrows. He pulled the pie from the fridge with a carton of cream and a jug of custard.

No, we’ve just got home and I don’t really want to be going off again so soon but maybe in a few weeks. She shrugged.

Chris and I thought you might say that, so we’ve planned a BBQ party round at his house, just the four of us and Digby. He cut her a slice of apple pie and handed it over, along with the carton of cream. He poured custard over his and ate a huge mouthful.

Sounds perfect to me. She had never been one for nightclubs, so a small intimate BBQ with all the people that mattered, was perfect to her.

They moved into the family room and as she sat down something in the window caught her eye. A shadow like someone was watching them, yet when she looked there was nothing there.

All okay? Jake looked from the window to her.

Yeah, I just thought I saw someone at the window.

Stay there. Jake didn’t call her silly or dismiss her idea as she thought he would but instead moved to the front door, looking outside before closing the door and locking it behind him.

Anything?

Nothing, not even the evil cat next door. He smiled at her but it was a tight one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Must have been a trick of the light.

Probably, now tell me what you have been up to in college. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtains closed even though it wasn’t quite fully dark.

They spent the rest of the evening talking about her time at college and his job as an ER doctor. Some of the things he saw at work were beyond amazing and other times extremely gross. Alyssa was glad that she had not chosen to follow in his footsteps.

 Sadly, Jacob had to work for the rest of the week but he assured her he had Friday off. It meant early hours and late nights for him. It also meant a few lonely days for Alyssa.

She had just returned from her morning jog and was putting some of her washing into the washer when her phone began ringing a familiar tone.

Hey, what you up to? Maddy asked.

Hey Mads, nothing much. Just been out for my run. Jake’s at work

I’m having an hour at Dig’s before he goes to work. Want to come over later for a pool day?

Yes, that sounds wonderful, text me when you leave your place and I’ll be ready.

Is Jake working all week now?

Yeah until Friday, Alyssa sighed. She should be used to it by now, but it sucked being in the house all alone so often.

Then bring extra clothes and stay over until Friday? Digby is working tomorrow too.

Yes!!! Sleepover. She replied in a singsong voice.

Yes!! See you soon, Maddy ended the call.

Maddy’s father Chris beeped outside an hour later but Alyssa was already locking up the door and running down the steps.

Hey Lyss, how’s things? Chris gave her a friendly smile.

Good, good. Jake told me about the Barbeque, thank you. She wasn’t surprised to see Chris picking her up instead of Maddy, who was probably sunning herself up by the pool already and didn’t want to drive over.

Chris was often a taxi for the girls when they were home, yet he never complained; he was a really good dad.

We knew you wouldn’t want to go nightclubbing and food is the next best thing, he laughed.

Agreed.

They fell into a comfortable silence and she took the opportunity to watch him as he drove; one hand on the wheel, the other lay on his thigh. He had a few more grey flecks in his dark brown hair than he had the last time she saw him, a few more laugh lines around his bright blue eyes that were so much like Maddy’s and now he sported a beard and scruff that she found suited him.

What? Do I have something on my face? He checked himself out quickly in the interior mirror before his eyes returned to the road.

No, she giggled. So you’re going for scruff now, huh? Any ladies we should know about? She joked, knowing he hadn’t been on a date since his wife, Beth, had walked out on him, but realizing that he really should. His tall, broad shouldered, lean, fit body and handsome features turned heads everywhere they went. Not to mention his azure blue come-to-bed eyes.

Yeah, I’ve been working a lot and kinda been lazy about shaving. You think I should shave? And no, there are no ladies in my life, except for Maddy… and you of course, he chuckled and ran his hand over his beard.

No, don’t shave it. It looks good on you. It gives you the rugged, handsome, hot dad, kinda vibe, she told him honestly.

Chris was good looking, she thought. He and Maddy’s mom, Beth, had had her when they were both only sixteen and a lot of the time, he was mistaken for Maddy’s older brother rather than her dad.

I can’t believe you just said, ‘hot dad’, I’m not sure I like that description. He glanced at her, his cheeks turning a little red.

Alyssa laughed at his disturbed look. Well, like it or not, that’s my opinion of your scruff. Whether or not you decide to keep it is up to you.

Anyhoo, this afternoon we have a pool party and pizza planned, and tonight, board games and finger foods. That sound good? He changed the topic of the conversation.

Yes, I can’t wait. I really need some fun, chilled days. She lay her head back against the car seat and closed her eyes letting the sun warm her face through the window.

Alyssa had worn her two piece under her yellow summer dress and so she only had to pull it off and dive in the pool when they arrived.

The girls had so much fun in the pool, splashing and playing volleyball. It felt good not to have to worry about deadlines for a while and to be able to just let go.

Chris cooked home-made pizza’s, he had made his own dough, and had placed a selection of toppings on the counter for the girls to select their own.

Thanks dad. You gonna shave or what? You’re looking like a homeless guy. Maddy stated and didn’t wait for him to reply before she tittered off back outdoors.

Homeless guy? I thought you said it looked good? Chris turned his attention to Alyssa.

She could feel the heat prickle in her cheeks, she looked at him from under her lashes You do look good, really good. I like it a lot on you. Thanks for the pizza, she pushed her topped pizza towards him and quickly trotted after Maddy.

That night they settled in for board games in the dining area of the kitchen. As always Maddy won, but Alyssa didn’t care. She lapped up the love and laughter and the playful competitiveness that warmed her heart and left her grinning from ear to ear.

Thursday’s fun and games was a mini casino set up in Chris’ study.

He was an architect; a very highly paid one who had the fun of working from home. The two-seater sofa and two wingback chairs had been pushed against the wall by the fire.

Chris had set up a table for card games, a roulette wheel and a poker table, with chips and all. They each had a buy in so that at the end of the week the person with the most amount of chips could exchange it for a gift card.

They had wine, martinis and beer all ready in the mini bar set into the high gloss cupboards on the far wall.

Alyssa loved dressing up and pretending that they were going to a real casino. She wore an over the top glitzy black cocktail dress with silver glittery heels and she had pulled her hair into a messy French braid. Maddy had gone for a rose gold mermaid tail type dress with a rose gold tiara.

Maddy had gone down before Alyssa to meet