A Phoenix Is Forever

by Ashlyn Chase

  “Here’s the good news. You won’t have to worry about that eviction notice. I have a job for you, and it won’t matter where you live. I know you’re getting disenchanted with your job as a flight attendant.”

  “How do you know that?”

  The woman smirked. “Really? I’m Mother freakin’ Nature. I know just about everything. If people were meant to fly, I’d have given them wings.” She cocked her head. “Why did you become a flight attendant anyway?”

  “I—uh. I wanted to see the world.”

  “You mean you wanted to meet a rich businessman and do a little traveling before you settled down. How’s that working out for you?”

  Her back went up. “He doesn’t have to be rich.”

  “But relationships with men in general aren’t working out. Right?”

  She sighed. “Not so much. Every guy I get close to assumes I’m cheating when I’m out of the country and eventually finds a ‘backup,’ or he’s just pissed because I’m not around much. And don’t even get me started on the pilots.”

  “So, how much of the world have you actually seen?”

  Amber grimaced. “Pretty much the same routes over and over again.”

  “So…nothing but the same foreign airports and hotels.”

  “You may have a point.”

  “Of course I have a point. I always have a point. I don’t chat with mortals for my health. Speaking of my health, spreading all that noxious jet fuel so close to my ozone layer is the most harmful thing you can possibly do to me. Did you know that?”

  “Um…not really. Is it?”

  “Sheesh. How dumb can you be? You blow a hole in my sunscreen, and you think I won’t get burned?”

  “I…I don’t really make those decisions.”

  Mother Nature—or whoever she was—rolled her eyes and sat down on the chair across from Amber. “Well, you may be able to make those decisions in the future. I want you to be my muse of air travel.”

  Amber’s brows shot up. “Huh? You’re offering me a job? As a…what?”

  Mother Nature sighed. “I knew you’d have a hard time believing all of this. I gave you a trusting nature but also let you develop some healthy skepticism. Look, I don’t have time for a lot of chitchat. I’m in desperate need of some modern muses. You’ve met one of them. Brandee is my muse of photography.”

  “I thought muses took care of poetry, dance, and other ancient arts.”

  The woman let out a groan. “Exactly. The original nine are useless in this modern age. I tried to get them to reeducate themselves in new areas, but it’s been a disaster. I can’t even get the muse of epic poetry to rap—or the muse of dance to crunk. And forget music videos! Technology is way beyond them, and I can’t wait any longer for my muses to catch up. Your world is growing too fast. Therefore, I’ve begun the task of finding a few modern muses. Any questions so far?”

  “Um, yeah. A few hundred…”

  “Well, hold your questions for the end. I’ll pair you with someone who’ll have the patience to answer them. In other words, not me.”

  Amber wanted to throw her hands in the air and say something sarcastic, but she still wasn’t sure how crazy this woman was—or she was, so she just waited.

  “Good. Let’s see now…” Gaia tapped her chin as if deep in thought. “I know. I’ll pair you with Brandee since you’ve already met and she’s the one who recommended you. That way if she doesn’t answer your questions thoroughly and you screw up, it’ll be all her fault.”

  This insulting woman was trying Amber’s patience. How could she get the woman out of her apartment? Playing along with her was getting old.

  “Why don’t you give me Brandee’s phone number? I’ll give her a call sometime.”

  Mother Nature frowned. “You still doubt me, glitter tits?”

  “What did you call me?”

  “Look down.”

  Amber was bare to the midriff and indeed her breasts were covered in glitter. She gasped and tried to cover herself with her hands.

  “Relax. I’ve seen them before. Heck, I made them.”

  Amber was struck dumb. If she protested, who knew what the woman…or goddess would do. “I—I…”

  “Mother Nature” waved her hand and Amber was wearing her uniform blouse again. Then the self-proclaimed deity shouted at the ceiling. “Brandee, I need you.”

  To Amber’s shock, the redheaded passenger from her latest flight appeared in her living room.

  “Yes, Gaia. How may I be of service?”

  “This is the woman you recommended for the muse of air travel, correct?”

  Brandee turned to Amber and offered a friendly smile. “Yes. I liked her immediately and thought she’d fit in with the others. As you know, I can sense people’s innate goodness and I’m a very good judge of character.”

  “Well, she needs to talk to someone like you or Bliss. One of my modern muses. She has questions, and I don’t have the time or patience to answer them.”

  “Understood,” was all Brandee said.

  The woman looked relieved and smiled. “Thank you. As a reward for your help, I’ll send an influential customer to visit your gallery tomorrow.”

  Brandee grinned. “Thanks! We’re doing quite well, but I can always use more—”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Mother Nature disappeared into thin air and Amber let out the breath she’d been holding in a whoosh.

  “Where did she go?”

  Brandee shrugged. “Who knows? She likes to hang out in her office building on State Street, but she could be creating natural disasters like floods or earthquakes. You just never know with her.”

  “Is she really…”

  “Mother freakin’ Nature? Yeah, she is.” Brandee chuckled. “You probably pictured someone wearing rainbows as a halo and patting kittens, didn’t you?”

  “Well, no, but I didn’t think…”

  Brandee sat next to her and lowered her voice. “You didn’t expect a sarcastic crone with the patience of a gnat, am I right?”

  Amber chuckled. “Well, no.”

  “You’ll get used to her. You should meet my friend Bliss.”

  “She mentioned something about a person named Bliss.”

  “Yeah. She’s rather famous among us muses, having been the only one gutsy enough to refuse Mother Nature’s generous offer.”

  “Generous offer? I never received any offer sounding remotely generous.”

  “Really? Huh. I guess you didn’t get that far. Gaia never expects her muses to work for nothing. She rewards us handsomely—usually with our greatest desire. But Bliss…” Brandee shook her head and sighed. “She stood up to Gaia and said no, even with a money tree growing right in the middle of her man’s living room.”

  “Her man, huh?” Amber mumbled.

  “Ah!” Brandee said. “Could that be what you want? A boyfriend?”

  Amber snorted. “No. I’ve had plenty of boyfriends. What I’d like is a stable guy who won’t cheat on me. I don’t seem to be having much luck finding one of those.”

  Brandee set a sympathetic hand on Amber’s shoulder. “We’ve all had our share of failed romances. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another, but both Bliss and I are now ‘blissfully’ happy, if you’ll pardon the pun. So, if what you want is a wonderful, faithful man to love, marry, or live with, I’ll mention that to the goddess.”

  “No! Oh no. Don’t do that yet. I think I’m leaning more toward Bliss’s reaction than yours.”

  Brandee raised her eyebrows. Then she smiled and seemed to relax. “You know what might be a good idea? If we include Bliss in this conversation.”

  “Ugh. Please don’t. I can’t stand any more people popping into my living room. I’m quite convinced I’m losing my mind as it is.”

  “Oh. Sorry. I forgot what it was like in the beginning
. Of course your head is probably spinning. It’s natural to doubt your own eyes and sanity. Why don’t I give you my address on Beacon Hill? Let the dust settle and meet me there tomorrow. I’ll ask Bliss to stop by, if you actually show.”

  “If I say I’ll be there, I’ll be there. Unlike some people, I can be counted on to keep my word.”

  For more Ashlyn Chase check out

  the Boston Dragons series

  I Dream of Dragons

  On sale now!

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank the following people for their law enforcement expertise and contributions to this book. (Every one of them shared a rookie prank that went into the story!)

  Kristin Fili, for brainstorming the entire plot with me!

  Joe Rizzuti, for answering questions pertaining to Massachusetts law enforcement and Boston specifically.

  And special thanks to:

  Captain Joseph Fay, Nashua, NH, Police Department.

  Captain Fay made room in his Friday evening plans to take me on a ride-along and let me watch a booking and fill half a notebook with answers to my nosy questions. I think he was a little disappointed there wasn’t more crime on that crisp November evening, but that just attests to the terrific job the Nashua Police are doing, deterring crime in their fair city.

  Thank you all for your generosity and kindness.

  I would also like to thank my beta reader Peg McChesney, editor Cat Clyne, and agent Nicole Resciniti. To paraphrase John Donne, “No man (or woman) is an island.” Thank you all for your feedback, support, and encouragement.

  About the Author

  Ashlyn Chase describes herself as an Almond Joy bar: a little nutty, a little flaky, but basically sweet, wanting only to give her readers a satisfying story that leaves them smiling.

  She holds a degree in behavioral sciences, worked as a psychiatric RN for fifteen years, and spent a few more years working for the American Red Cross. She credits her sense of humor to her former careers, since comedy helped preserve whatever was left of her sanity. She is a multipublished, award-winning author of humorous contemporary and paranormal romances, represented by the Seymour Agency.

  Ashlyn lives in beautiful New Hampshire with her true-life hero husband who looks like Hugh Jackman with a salt-and-pepper dye job, and they’re owned by two spoiled cats.

  Ashlyn loves to hear from readers! Visit ashlynchase.com to sign up for her newsletter. She’s also on Facebook (AuthorAshlynChase), Twitter (@GoddessAsh), Instagram (AshlynLaughin), and Yahoo groups (ashlynsnewbestfriends).

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