Puma

by Jorrie Spencer

  Still, there could be no doubt Scott had tried to save Dev from himself. For that, Callie forgave a lot. Not enough to allow Scott to stay with Dev, mind you. Trey had stated that a zombie and Minder needed to be separated and she wholeheartedly concurred. Trey had contacts who might be willing to rehabilitate Scott, and he deserved that second chance.

  “Callie,” Dev murmured. “My hand is healing.”

  She grinned her cat grin, though she couldn’t explain the potent healing agents in her saliva.

  “Now, I just have to heal my brain. If it doesn’t fall out first.”

  She turned to face him, looked into those dark eyes that no longer seemed quite so clouded with confusion. He was a strong man, stronger than he knew, Trey had said, to have lived through this.

  That conversation was for a later date. For now, she just chirped again and Dev’s chest rumbled in laughter, as if her noises pleased him. “Still don’t know what that means, but I like it.”

  “It means she likes you,” Trey offered wryly.

  Dev didn’t acknowledge Trey, he just smiled at her and mouthed, “Good. I like you too.”

  Epilogue

  “Madison! Supper!” Dev yelled.

  If Madison didn’t hear his call, Callie of the exceptional ears would. They were out in the backwoods somewhere, probably climbing trees.

  By the time they got in, washed their hands and sat down, the homemade pizza was getting cold. No one seemed to care, least of all Dev. There was a happiness in him that hadn’t existed for well over a year and he was never going to take normal for granted again.

  He kissed Callie then Madison before he sat himself.

  “I get to go to school tomorrow.” The words were bright, excited, and Madison was obviously nervous. Well, that was to be expected.

  It had been a bit of a challenge to get his guardianship of Madison established, but that process had been helped along with some gentle Minder involvement. He had mixed feelings about using mind control, even for good, but when the alternative was Madison being shunted into the foster care system, he’d decided that the means justified the ends.

  Madison had gone through enough in her short life, with missing, probably dead parents, and living however briefly with Max. Now she needed stability.

  So in this case, Scott had done good. Scott was doing well too. Apparently. Dev and he no longer had direct contact, for everyone’s sake, said Trey, but Dev recognized mostly for his own. And if he was honest, it was a pure relief.

  “Well”—Callie’s voice brought him back to the present—“Dev starts school in four months.” She spoke encouragingly, as if Madison and Dev were in the same boat.

  And yes, Dev was going back to finish law school. He’d had the wherewithal to take a leave last year.

  “What about you, Callie, will you go to school?” Madison asked.

  “I don’t think so, honey. I don’t do well at school.”

  “Ruth likes waitressing, maybe you can waitress with her.” Madison’s earnest face made Callie smile.

  “I don’t like waitressing much either.” Callie glanced at the clock. “Where is my sister, anyway?”

  On cue, the front door slammed open and Ruth yelled, “I’m home.”

  “Come eat supper,” Callie called back.

  She arrived in the kitchen and Callie breathed in through her mouth, just to check there was no smell of cigarettes, of alcohol. She knew it was good that Ruth was working. Doing nothing had always got her sister in trouble, but she also worried about what Ruth could get up to in the outside world.

  “Sure, I’ll have a piece.” Ruth settled down, shooting a glance at Dev. There were still shadows behind her eyes, and Dev and Ruth had struggled a little to get used to each other post-Scott, but the family life seemed to suit them both. Well, suit them all.

  “We’re just talking about school,” Dev offered.

  Ruth grinned at Madison. “Hey, kiddo, tomorrow’s your big day.”

  Madison lifted her chin. “Yes.”

  “I’ll be starting school too. Online.” Ruth’s mouth twisted. “Going to finish high school, like I should have long ago.”

  Callie squeezed Ruth’s shoulder. “Now’s a good time, sis.”

  “Absolutely.” In truth, Dev thought it was great Ruth had a focus.

  “Big-time lawyer,” said Ruth, but there was affection there, not resentment.

  “Not yet,” Dev pointed out.

  “What are you going to be, Ruth?” asked Madison.

  “Well, I’ve been thinking about that, but I don’t really know.” Ruth shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but Callie knew her sister still felt rather lost. Callie also felt there was time to figure such things out. “What are you going to be, Mad?”

  “A lawyer. Like Dev.” Madison stared up at her guardian with shining eyes.

  “Excellent,” declared Dev. As Madison bit into her pizza, he shot Callie a look of sheepish amusement, and she grinned back. Any child emulating Dev was going to be fine as far as Callie was concerned.

  “They’re doing it again,” said Madison after she swallowed.

  “I know.” Ruth’s tone suggested she and Madison were conspirators.

  “Doing what?” Callie demanded.

  “Making googly eyes at each other.” The smirk on Madison’s face was priceless.

  “I do not make googly eyes.” Dev shook his head to emphasize the fact. “I don’t even know what it means.”

  Madison’s expression became sly. “It means you’re getting married.”

  Hell. Callie choked on her pizza and began coughing till she couldn’t breathe. Ruth banged her on the back, and Madison climbed down off her chair to join in by hitting Callie’s kidney with her small hand.

  When she recovered, Dev was gazing at her with his knowing half-smile. “Bit of a shock there, was it, Callie? Don’t worry, I didn’t know about the connection between googly eyes and marriage either. Perhaps Ruth can fill us in.”

  Ruth held up a hand in surrender while Callie glared at Dev because her face was heating up and she didn’t know what to do with her embarrassment. Truth was, they’d actually discussed marriage once, and she’d told him it was too soon. Still she cherished the conversation, and the fact that Dev seemed committed to this—Madison, Ruth, Callie, family.

  Because family was important to Dev. He had even begun the rather painful process of ending his estrangement with his parents. Right now it was limited to phone calls, because they had too many questions he couldn’t answer. And they were badly hurt by his sudden withdrawal last year. But Dev believed the breach would be healed, with time.

  And belief was a wonderful thing. Callie glanced around the table at the three of them, taking in their presence and the love she felt for them. Perhaps she could believe, after all they’d been through, that it was the end of people leaving her.

  About the Author

  Jorrie Spencer has written for more years than she can remember. Her latest writing passion is romance and shapeshifters. She lives with her husband and two children in Canada and is thrilled to be published with Samhain.

  To learn more about Jorrie Spencer please visit www.jorriespencer.com. Send an email to Jorrie Spencer at jorriespencer@gmail.com or join her Yahoo! group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jorriespencer.

  She also writes as Joely Skye (www.joelyskye.com).

  Look for these titles by Jorrie Spencer

  Now Available:

  Haven

  The Strength of the Pack

  The Strength of the Wolf

  Puma

  Kia must learn to trust—before the evil in her house destroys them all.

  Shadows of Evil

  © 2008 Cheryel Hutton

  For Kia Wolfe, moving to an isolated mountaintop is an act of independence from her demanding family and ex-fiancé. She’s literally dreamed about the regal old house for years, and for the first time in her life she feels at home. She’s here to stay, even though the house’s hi
story of violent deaths is enough to scare off most people.

  Garrett McKnight, owner of the contracting firm Kia has hired to renovate her house, is wary of the new resident. Emotionally bruised and battered by a self-centered ex-wife, he can’t get around the fact that there’s something about Kia that both attracts him and sets him on edge. And when Kia dabbles in a bit of Wicca, accidentally unleashing a hidden evil, it’s tempting to walk away and leave her to her to her fate.

  But he can’t. Not when four people have died in that house.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Shadows of Evil:

  Interest grew large and demanding inside her. Kia leaned against the opposite counter and eyed the man in front of her. “Okay, so tell me about the history of my house.”

  She sipped her own beer as she watched his expression. He was thinking about how much to tell her, of that she was sure.

  “People died here,” he finally said.

  Now that was interesting information. “Really, how?”

  “A father and two sons were attacked by an animal right in the front yard.”

  “Thanks for the tip. I’ll watch out for marauding bunnies.” She took a long drink of her beer to hide the smile.

  He sent a narrow-eyed look her way. “A couple who lived here in the seventies was killed by an escaped criminal.”

  “I’m careful, and I have Dracula to protect me.”

  The dog barked to second her assessment.

  “Ms. Wolfe—”

  “Kia.”

  She heard him sigh. “Kia, I’m trying to tell you that you might not be safe out here alone.”

  She put the back of her hand against her forehead and leaned dramatically against the counter. “I’m just a poor little woman in this big old house all alone. Oh thank you, kind sir, for trying to protect me.”

  “It isn’t funny.”

  She put her hand down, and saw irritation along with what looked like true concern on his face. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  He nodded before he turned up the last of his beer.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the dreaded wardrobe smirking at her from the living room door. She took a pull on her beer to cover her smile. “Hey, cowboy. I bet all that physical labor you do makes you good and strong.”

  He eyed her as if he didn’t trust her. Good instincts. “Reasonably.”

  “Good, ’cause I need some help.”

  “Does this ‘help’ involve heavy furniture by any chance?”

  She nodded. “There’s this horrible old wardrobe that just won’t budge for little ol’ me.” She batted her eyes in his direction.

  He sighed. “Where is it?”

  She smiled her prettiest smile, and led him to the offending piece. “When I got this thing, I didn’t realize how heavy it was.”

  He gave it an experimental push. “You’re not kidding. What’s this thing made of, lead?”

  She took hold of the other side. “Yep, it’s where I keep the kryptonite.”

  He caught her gaze and grinned. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m immune.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure, cowboy.”

  It took a lot of struggle on both their parts to move the wardrobe twenty feet across the foyer and into the parlor/bedroom. They were both gasping and drenched with sweat when they were done. “You gonna pay for my hernia surgery?” he asked.

  “No, but I will give you another beer.”

  “One’s enough. I’ll take some water, though.”

  “Coming right up.” She went into the kitchen and took out two bottles. “Thanks for helping,” she said as she handed him one of them. She hoped her true appreciation was showing through. Maybe he wasn’t a pushy jerk after all.

  “You’re welcome.” He gulped the water.

  She smiled. How could drinking water look so sexy? “And for believing my ghost story.”

  He nodded.

  “And for trying to warn me.”

  He looked at her then. “Even if you don’t believe me?”

  There was concern in his eyes again, and it tugged at her. “It’s not that I don’t believe you.”

  “You just aren’t scared of ghosts?”

  “Not really. I think they’re kind of cool.”

  “Got a piece of paper and a pencil?”

  She pulled a small notebook and pen from her purse. “Gonna write me up a bill for the furniture moving?”

  He gave her a slow up and down perusal. “As intriguing as that might be, no.”

  “I appreciate your help.” She felt a smile pull at her face, as her blood began to heat. Wanna help with another little problem? Maybe something involving a bed?

  “You’re welcome.” He handed her back the pen and notebook. “That’s my number. I only live a couple of miles from here.”

  Convenient. “In case the ghosts try to get me?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked into his bright green, way too serious, eyes. “Thanks, cowboy.”

  He tipped a nonexistent hat. “Anytime, little lady.”

  Kia watched as he sauntered across her lawn and climbed into his truck. The view was stunning.

  “I do believe I’m going to like it here,” she told Dracula.

  ***

  As he drove the two-point-three miles between Kia Wolfe’s house and his, Garrett considered what sort of person would move to the middle of nowhere, live alone, and actually enjoy encounters that would send most people running and screaming.

  A sexy one, that’s who. Swallowing hard, he tried to ignore the heat that moved through him just picturing her body. The energy that woman had. And the fire. She would be an awesome lay, that was for sure. And she’d made it pretty clear she was interested.

  So why wasn’t he in her bed right now? It was a man’s dream come true—a sexy woman ready to offer herself up without strings. He suspected that she’d be insulted by an offer of commitment.

  So why not take advantage of the situation?

  Because he was far from convinced that would be a good idea, that’s why.

  The fact that she seemed thrilled to have bought a haunted house bothered him. Did he want to get involved with another screwy woman? Hadn’t his ex-wife taught him anything?

  Not involvement, he reminded himself. What Kia Wolfe was offering was a roll in the hay. At least that’s what she seemed to be offering. You never knew with women. Again, there was his ex-wife as an example. Tricky creatures they were.

  Then again, it had been a long time since he’d been with anybody. Kia was offering, and he was tempted. Fun, that’s what she wanted. And he could use a little fun. Short-term fun. Until the house scared her away.

  If she was lucky.

  The best way to tempt a wolf? Offer something irresistibly sweet.

  To Tempt a Wolf

  © 2008 Colette Denee

  Cadon Sterling thought retirement would be easy. Then not only does a new Rune show up in his town, but his successor isn’t living up to expectations. Plus, his best friend is driving him crazy. On top of that, he just met a human who could tempt a saint to sin with the smallest whiff of fudge. Oh, yes, and there will be hell to pay should he fail to complete his task. Did he mention the fudge?

  Brielle Austin lives a simple life. Make sweets, sell sweets. But simple doesn’t quite cover it when she meets Cadon, leader of a local pack of wolf-shifters. She’s afraid to offer her heart, but learns the hard way that some things just aren’t a matter of choice. As her safe little world slips from under her feet, Brielle struggles to accept the true nature of her magic, and her soul.

  Blessed by Odin and targeted by two rival races, Cadon and Brielle fight to stay alive—and together—long enough to see the Rune gets where it needs to be. Enemies lurk around every corner, but it is the demons inside that will either kill them, or set them free.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for To Tempt a Wolf:

  Cadon. Her heart ached at never seeing him again, but that was her only choice. Too sweet a te
mptation, to be in his arms. Too wicked a wonder to taste those lips. But oh, how she lamented his loss. The shrill ring of the phone interrupted her melancholy. Sprawling across the bed, Brielle snatched up the receiver.

  “Hello?”

  “Good evening, Brielle.”

  Her eyes slid shut on a silent curse. “Cadon?”

  “None other.”

  “How did you get this number?”

  His smooth baritone chuckle rumbled through the phone line, sending small shivers along the back of her neck. “I have connections.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Is this a bad time? I mean, if you’re busy or something…”

  “No, I’m not busy.” She laughed and flopped onto her back, one arm over her forehead. “Just making a few adjustments to my aura.”

  “O…kay…” Cadon drawled. “Maybe I should let you go then?”

  Brielle’s gaze slid to ceiling. “No, I’m done. What can I do for you?”

  “Oh, I can think of a few things.”

  The soft, husky timber of his voice, bodiless yet pressed so close against her ear, sent a sliver of need through Brielle’s heart that knotted things low in her abdomen. A vision of his face rose, unbidden, against the black canvas of her closed eyelids. She bit her lip to keep the whimper silent.

  “I’ve been thinking.” He paused. “Pizza is good food.” Pause again. “I mean, I can’t eat sweets all the time.”

  “True.”

  “Pizza has your basic food groups in there. Cheese for dairy, bread for the carbs, sauce for the vegetables, pepperoni for the protein.”

  “Actually, the tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable.”

  “Really?”

  “Mhm.”

  “You like pizza though, don’t you?”

  She smiled at the receiver. “Is this your charming way of asking me out on a date?”

  His sigh buzzed in her ear. “Would you like to join me for some pizza?”

  Brielle blinked at her clock. “Now?”

  “No, not now. Some other night.”