No Zombies Invited

** Book 5 in Rick Shilling to the Rescue Series **

When Lyra sees a naked old zombie walking in front of her house, her future plans for wedded bliss to Conor have to be put on hold. It's up to her and her team to take on the threat and save the world, or die trying.

Rick Shilling to the Rescue Story 5 -- NOVELLA LENGTH

Excerpt

Lyra cuddled with Conor on the couch, situated in the living room of her home. She gave him a gentle kiss and watched his smile. Life was good—until he opened his mouth.

"When does this house go up for sale?" he asked.

She lifted her eyebrows just staring at her fiancé. "Excuse me? This house?"

"Well," he said, in his Irish accent. "I assume you want to live with me in me mansion after we're wed, since I just bought my place in March and had it all fixed up. I have staff to cater to our every whim and you could do whatever you like doing and don't even have to work." His eyebrows lowered. "Was I wrong to assume that?

She moved away and stood up to stare. She wanted to give him the whole can of wrath inside her head, but bit her lips to think instead. Rick had taught her to filter her thoughts, because he couldn't do any such thing. She didn't want to be anything like her coworker, who lived next door. She also didn't want to move into Conor's home, because it was so impersonal and tidy. Yes, she was a very tidy and clean person, but the sort of tidy in his house made it clinically clean. It wasn't a home in the least. Besides that, she wanted to stay at her job. He'd even agreed that she could do that, in the past. What had changed with this guy?

She just stared, not sure what to say.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the couch, then gave her a gentle kiss. "No use thinkin' too hard about that." He chuckled. "I can see what's goin' on in your wee head there."

"Wee head." She was more than perturbed.

He kissed her again but she didn't respond. She didn't even know how to respond to this guy. She did love him, but if he even tried to control her, she'd let him have it. His last ex-dead fiancé had killed herself back in Ireland for that very reason—Conor was controlling. At least they'd brought the woman back from the dead through strange circumstances.

"Lyra," Conor whispered. "Talk to me. Tell me exactly what's goin' through your head. I can take it."

She wished this would never be mentioned again. But he did have a point. They had two homes and had to consolidate. Considering he spent most of his days at her home, she figured he'd be the one to sell and get rid of the extra staff that really wasn't necessary. If only he wasn't so rich.

She had to look away from his very blue eyes, so she looked out the big picture window, staring into the night. She expected to see dark bushes outside that window backlit by the streetlights, but instead, she saw a very old, wrinkled and saggy naked man staring at her. His tongue hung from his mouth and his arms were outstretched.

Lyra screamed, hopped off the couch, and pointed out the window.

"What?" Conor said, and sat up. But when he did, the naked old guy walked away into the night, seeming to disappear.

Conor looked to where she pointed. "What is it, my love? What did you see?"

Lyra took an extra moment to breathe. "You'd never believe me." She clicked a few buttons on her Steward Timepiece, grabbed Conor's arm and pressed the final button. A swirling of wind surrounded them and they were transported outside, onto the green grass. Since it was early September, the nights were cool, but not freezing. She just wished she'd worn her shoes.

"What is it?" Conor whispered. "You do realize we could've walked out the door."

"Not fast enough." She looked all around but the guy was gone. Since she still held onto Conor's arm, she practically pulled him to Rick's front door and rang the doorbell.

"What is it?" Rick asked from behind the door. "I'm on a date here."

"Tough. It's Lyra. We have an emergency."