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This one&039;s for Daven and Wendi, friends who finally taughtThanks for the inspiration

For Jonathon, too, because he was there by ht me that to be happy with

someone, first they must beelse

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by thisthat a neorld is born

- Anais Nin

Acknowledgments

To Carri, ith this book, saw the process fro to end for the very first time Welcome aboard Shawn, Semper Fi I know you both have my back Pili, thanks for the food and the friendship To the rest of the creho are still hanging in there: Mary, Sherry, and Teresa To Jennie, for all the funny and the hard work To roup: Tom Drennan, Deborah Millitello, Marella Sands, Sharon Shinn, and Mark Suenuinely liking others, at least at the actual enuine; it may be superficial but it isn&039;t false

- P D Jaet h for a book? How do I work?

I get these questions so often that when the idea for this book, Flirt, came to me, I decided to pay attention to the entire process from initial idea to finished product You can read the novel and then read the nonfiction piece at the end of this book that tells the real-life event that inspired Flirt

And once you&039;ve read the book and essay, you&039;ll get cartoons No, really-cartoons from Jennie Breeden of "The Devil&039;s Panties" The comics are her take on the event that inspired it all If you read the essay or peek at the cartoons you will spoil so, okay? Think of it as a spoiler alert You have been warned

Now turn the page and enjoy spending some quality time with Anita Blake

"I want you to raise ton said, in a voice that matched the expensive suit and the flash of the Rolex on his right wrist It probably meant he was a lefty Not that his handedness mattered, but you learn to notice priular basis

"My condolences," I said autorief His face was coray-haired, I&039;ood-shape way, the lack of expression took all the fun out of it Maybe the blankness was his way of showing grief, but his gray eyes were steady and cold as they rief, or he didn&039;t feel anything about his wife&039;s death; that would be interesting "Why do you want ton?"

"At the rates you charge, does itblink and crossed hs as autoe of a smile that I knew didn&039;t reach my eyes "It does, to er His voice held barely a hint of the eray Maybe it was steely self-control after all "It&039;s personal, and you don&039;t need to know it to raise her as a zoton, not yours You don&039;t knohat I need to raise a zombie"

"I did my research, Ms Blake My asn&039;tone near any other religion thatin her background that makes her a bad candidate for the ceremony"

I raised an eyebrow "I&039;m impressed; you did do your research"

He nodded, once,his tailored lapel "Then you&039;ll do it?"

I shook my head "Not without a reason"

He frowned at er back in his eyes "What kind of reason do you want?"

"One good enough toto pay your rather exorbitant fee, Ms Blake; I would think that would inspire you"

"Money isn&039;t everything, Mr Bennington Why do you want her raised froain from it?"

"Gain," he said "I don&039;t knohat you mean by that"

"I don&039;t, either, but you keep not answering ht maybe if I rephrased it you would"

"I don&039;t want to answer either question," he said

"Then I won&039;t raise your wife There are other animators at Animators Inc ill be happy to take your e my rates"

"Everyone says you are the best"

I shrugged I was never sure what to say to things like that, and found silence worked best

"They say you are a true necromancer and have power over all types of undead"

I kept otten better at over the years He was right, but I didn&039;t think it was coirl&039;s head with talk like that"

"You have the highest number of executions of any member of the US Marshals preternatural branch Most of theue vampires, but soed "That&039;s aon what you want froton"

"I suppose it has as little to do with my request as your reputation as a sort of fe to do with my ability to raise the dead"

"If you can truly control all ht explain how you can slay vampires and still date them"

Jean-Claude, one of the vampires in question, was a little iffy on ore the pants in our relationship sometimes because of my powers; just as I was iffy on how much of our relationship was my idea because of his vampire powers over me We had a sort of metaphysical detente "Jean-Claude and I were in the papers recently, so that didn&039;t take much research"

"One of St Louis &039;s hottest couples, I believe was mentioned in the article"

I tried not to squired it "Jean-Claude is pretty enough that anyone on his arm looks hot"

"That ton said

I blinked at hi "Sorry, I don&039;t knohat you mean by that"

He studied my face, then said, "You really don&039;t, do you?"

"I just said that" I felt like I had , and didn&039;t like it "I a me over"

"I need to know if your reputation is real, or just talk, like so many of the tall tales about you"

"I&039;ve earned my reputation, but if you really did your research on me then you also know that I don&039;t raise zombies for kicks, or thrill seekers, or tormented relatives unless they have a plan"

"A plan What kind of plan?"