Excerpt: 'Eighth Grave After Dark' by Darynda Jones

Darynda Jones shares an excerpt from the latest in her Charley Davidson series, Eighth Grave After Dark, out today.

First, here's the blurb about the book (courtesy of St. Martin's Press):

With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can't get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley's been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can't traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn't know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he's near, but naturally he swears he's fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they've accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don't last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life…

Darynda sets the scene for us …

Darynda: One of my favorite characters in the Charley Davidson series is Charley's aunt Lillian. She is so plucky and random and fun. I love it when she's on the page, so I specifically sought out an excerpt for today with her in it. Hope you enjoy!

In this scene, Cookie and Uncle Bob have just been marries and we find Charley and the gang at the reception party. Enjoy!

EXCERPT

Turned out, Cookie had a whole plethora of family that I didn't know about. They were all aunts, uncles, and cousins. No siblings and her parents had passed away years ago, but she still had family showing up to represent like true homies. She even had that gaggle of second cousins. Five young women who had decided that Reyes, Osh, and Garrett were the most delicious beings they'd ever seen. Even Quentin and Pari's tall drink of water, Tre, weren't exempt from the Flirtatious Five. I was right there with them, but I did fear for one's life when she made googly eyes at Quentin. Amber's hackles rose to needlelike points, and I was afraid the other girl would not make it home with all her hair. Or all her limbs. Or both eyes. Or a full set of teeth. So many body parts could go missing in such a scenario.

Thankfully, Reyes headed off that confrontation at the pass, and Amber led Quentin to a quiet little table away from most of the guests. But that put Reyes back in the fray. I watched as the five practically assaulted him, each trying to get closer than the next. He took it all in stride, not that I was surprised. He'd been getting that kind of attention his entire life.

And he knew I was watching from inside. I sat at a window as he endured their attention, but the more I watched, the more flirtatious glances he shot my way. The more winks he offered. The more lopsided grins he wore. It was all quite enchanting, but the one that got me, the killer movement that almost sent me into orgasmic bliss, was when he glanced at me from across the sea of guests, gave me a long, languid onceover, then pulled his lower lip in through his teeth. To say the move was sexy would have been like calling a tsunami a ripple in the ocean. I stood and walked to the door that led outside, about five seconds away from ordering him in, when I heard a female voice.

"Hi, pumpkin head."

I turned to see my aunt Lillian standing behind me, trying to see over my shoulder. Aunt Lil had died some time in the '60s. She was part world traveler and part hippie. Since there were so many people around us, I had no choice but to put my phone to my ear so I could talk to her without looking like a mental patient.

"Aunt Lil," I said, giving her a quick hug before anyone saw us. "When did you get back?"

"Just now, sweet cheeks. What's all the hubbub about?"

"Cookie got married today."

"Cookie?"

I nodded. "She married Uncle Bob."

Aunt Lil cackled with delight at the thought. "'Bout time that boy got hitched. I been worried about him ever since that yogurt incident when he was seven."

I didn't dare ask. "So, how long are you staying?"

"Until you pop, I suppose. I got to see this girl everyone is raving about. Whole place is jumping. Nobody will stop talking about her. Even had to call in the riot police, just in case."

No idea.

"That's so great, Aunt Lil. I'm thrilled you'll be here when Beep arrives."

"Wouldn't miss it, even though I did have to pass up the chance to go skinny dipping with the seventh Tsar of Russia." She wriggled her brows at me. "Now, where is the sexy beau of yours? I need something tall, dark, and scrumptious to look at, if you know what I mean. Men on this side aren't always easy on the eyes."

I laughed softly. "He's right over there, being accosted by Cookie's second cousins."

"Perfect. I'll join them."

I almost doubled over when Aunt Lil disappeared, then reappeared behind Reyes to give his ass a squeeze. He glanced at me, his face accusing as though I had something to do with it. Not to worry. Aunt Lil soon spotted Osh, who was fending off an elderly woman who'd had one too many Chardonnays. The best part, though? Reyes had blushed, and I fell a little further.

Find out more about Darynda and her books at www.daryndajones.com.