Howl & Growl: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by Various Authors

  Large predators, in particular, seemed to have an affinity for me. I didn't mind, so long as they had no intention of turning me into a meal. Whatever drew them to me in the first place, it didn't seem to be a sense that I was any kind of threat. Even when I'd walked right up to a bear cub when I was young, and didn't know any better, his mother just came and quietly nudged him back to the woods. I stood there, little eight-year-old me, frozen with fear, but the mother bear just snuffled curiously in my direction and let me be. I knew better than to tell my parents, if I ever wanted to be allowed to play in the woods again.

  I could hear the fountain in the distance. I quickened my pace, but not too much. The last thing I needed was for the cougar to think I was trying to run away. I might have "a way with animals," but I wasn't going to push my luck.

  He wouldn't follow me for much longer. Wild animals never lingered by the fountain for long. Nobody knew why, because it wasn't dangerous. At least, not in any way that we could understand.

  The thing about the fountain is that it's hard to explain.

  It's one of those things that you sort of have to accept from a young age, or it's always going to bother you. Like a lot of local legends and traditions, it doesn't make sense. It's unnerving to newcomers. I've tried to tell the story to other adults, the way it was told to me as a child, but it doesn't quite work.

  When you first learn about the fountain, it helps if you still believe in magic. Even if it's just a little bit.

  The thing about the fountain is, nobody knows how it got here.

  Anyone who's not from Douglas Mountain would stop me right there. How is that possible? It's not mentioned in any of the old records from the loggers and the early settlers? It can't even be all that old. I mean, look at it. Are you saying someone built that in secret? How? Where does the water come from?

  Once you've lived here for a while, you understand. We've studied the fountain as much as we can. There've been specialists from all over the country, but they've done everything they can do without damaging it. As far as we know, the water comes from a natural spring. The fountain's age is hard to determine. They can't get conclusive results from their testing, and after a while, we stopped letting them take samples. Even though the fountain never seems to show any wear and tear, we weren't taking any chances.

  Of course, this was some time ago. Apparently, things had changed. Now there was actually discussion of selling this land - for profit. Some of the old-timers, the people who'd lived here for generations, must be rolling over in their graves. But that was all they could do. Most of their children and their children's children had moved on, buying bigger houses in bigger developments, miles and miles away. They went and bought themselves waterfront property, somewhere like Bainbridge Island, and they never looked back.

  More and more, there was no one left who really understood the fountain.

  Not that we really understood it, in any traditional sense of the word. But even though I couldn't tell you where it came from, or how it was made, or how it worked - I understood the fountain.

  I was reaching the clearing now. As clouds rushed past the waxing moon, it alternated between very light and very dark. But the fountain always shone, as if it were reflecting something. Even when there seemed to be no light anywhere.

  When did it get dark? I haven't been walking that long.

  I'd never been afraid before. Not in the presence of the fountain. But tonight, something felt strange. My hairs prickled on the back of my neck and my heart was starting to pound, harder and harder, and -

  There it is again.

  The smell.

  Cole.

  Hugging my arms tightly around my chest, I turned around so that the fountain was at my back. For some reason, I felt like nothing could approach me from that way. My eyes darted all over, hearing noises in the trees that I wasn't even certain were real. Pure panic rose in my throat.

  "Hello, stranger."

  I was wrong. Something had come from behind me, and it was now standing on the other side of the fountain.

  And in the back of my mind, I was still trying hard to prove to myself that I didn't know exactly who it was. But this time, the smell was no ghost.

  I turned around, slowly.

  Cole Jackman. Still tall and lean, still with that stubble on his strong jaw, that short dark hair, those bright blue eyes. They always had a way of piercing right through me, and tonight was no different.

  I should have relaxed, at least a little bit, but my body refused. My heart still hammered insanely fast as I stared at him. He was smiling - a little bit sheepishly. But not enough.

  "What the fuck?" I snapped, glaring at him. "You should know better than to sneak up on a girl in the woods."

  He raised both his hands, palms facing me. "I didn't mean to," he said. "I swear. Just got back in town, and I wanted to see the fountain."

  "You don't give a shit about the fountain," I said, letting myself smile a little bit. It was hard not to, even while every fiber of my being screamed RED ALERT!

  Was I always this jumpy? How could he still have such a profound effect on me?

  "Course I do," he said, taking a cautious step towards me. "I'm from Douglas Mountain, after all."

  Inch by inch, I forced my bunched-up shoulders to relax. "Sorry," I said. "I didn't mean…it's just been a weird night."

  Cole shrugged. "You have every right to be mad," he said. "But I do care. I came back."

  "Nine and a half years later," I pointed out. I took one long, deep breath, and made sure to exhale the whole thing. "What gives?"

  And then, he broke out that crooked smile - the one that never failed to tear down all my defenses. I felt my body melt, my arms flopping down loosely by my sides, my jaw unclenching, my feet growing just a little more unsteady.

  "Does a guy need a reason to come home for a visit?" he said - it was very clearly a statement, not a question, and he was using that voice again. The sweet-like-honey voice that nobody could resist. My skin tingled with far too many memories, ones I should have left behind long ago.

  I swallowed hard. "After nine and a half years?" With an effort, I crossed my arms again. "Yeah. Maybe he does."

  "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But it's nothing juicy. Just wanted to come home." He took another step, and then a few more. "I gotta believe there's some tiny part of you that's happy to see me, Heather."

  "Very tiny," I said, biting back a grin. "How'd you know it was me, from back there?"

  Cole shrugged again. "Just did." He tapped the side of his index finger against his lips a few times, the way he did when he was trying to think of the right words. "That wasn't supposed to be an innuendo, by the way," he said.

  "It never is, with you," I said, letting the grin come to life. "They just come naturally."

  He grinned back. "So to speak."

  This was dangerous territory. Nearly a decade, and a few minutes in Cole's presence was already sending me spiraling back to a person I never wanted to be again. I hadn't thought it was possible. The wanton, needy girl that had once cried over this man was gone. Gone. Dead and buried in the recesses of my mind. In places in my heart that he'd left paralyzed.

  Except, not anymore. His presence was exactly the right brand of necromancy to bring that girl back to life, shouting and clawing and demanding satisfaction. You buried me alive, you bitch. I'll never die. Not as long as Cole Jackman exists in this world, or any other.

  Ugh. What a melodramatic asshole I used to be.

  A thunder clap interrupted the awkward silence. I jumped, feeling my hair stand on end again.

  "That was close," Cole murmured, taking a step closer. "You should get indoors."

  "Just me?" Lightning exploded in the sky, briefly illuminating the angles of his face.

  He's just too god damn beautiful.

  "I'll be fine," he said. "You better hurry."

  "Where are you staying?" I demanded, planting my feet.

  "Dunno," he mumbled.
"It's not important. Seriously - you still live nearby here? You should go."

  "Just a few shakes," I said. "Come on - don't be ridiculous. You can wait out the storm at my place."

  He shifted from one foot to the other for a moment, until the next thunder clap rearranged both of our heartbeats.

  "Okay," he said, finally. "If you're sure."

  "Of course I'm sure," I said. "Now come on. Hurry."

  Chapter Two

  I would have done the same for anyone. Honest. Nobody deserved to be out in a dangerous storm, not even somebody who once broke my heart. My invitation had nothing to do with the way my body tingled just from being near him, in a way that had nothing to do with the very real electricity in the air.

  I set off running, and he was hot on my heels, taking the little winding path that led straight to the back of Steve and Andrea's house. I had my own entrance, so I wouldn't have to answer any awkward questions about letting Cole spend the night. Not that they'd care. But I still didn't want to talk about it. I didn't even want to endure any knowing smiles.

  It just wasn't like that anymore. I wouldn't let him past my defenses again. That was the kind of mistake you just don't make twice.

  After the next crack, the rain broke through. We were both soaked instantly, and I suddenly felt the chill in the air that hadn't been evident before. The soft dirt turned to mud beneath our feet, and as I jumped to avoid a rock in the pathway, I felt myself start to slip.

  Cole's hand closed around my arm before I could truly lose my footing, lifting me back up like I weighed nothing.

  "You okay?" he asked.

  I nodded, trying not to let his plastered-down hair remind me of the first time we showered together.

  When we finally reached my door, we both huddled under the woefully inadequate awning while I fumbled with my keys. Getting inside was a relief, but it only served to highlight just how soaked we both were.

  "Ugh," I said, wringing out my hair on the boot tray while Cole dripped onto the mat. "Just give me a second. I'll get you a towel."

  "Take your time," he said. "Get yourself changed. I'll be okay." He glanced around, taking stock of the place. "So you're staying with Steve and Andrea, huh? They offered me this place back…before graduation." He'd almost said before I left. I could tell, but I didn't say anything - just nodded in acknowledgement.

  Thankfully, there wasn't much to ruin down here. The tile floor didn't protest as I squelched across it, heading for the linen closet.

  "Steve has some old clothes in the garage he was going to get rid of," I said, shuffling back over with the towel. "I'll just grab something for you. I'm sure he won't mind."

  Particularly because I'm not going to tell him.

  "Oh - thanks," Cole said, sounding surprised.

  "What?" I laughed, rubbing my hair vigorously. "I'm a good hostess."

  "You sure are," he said. "I didn't exactly expect a warm welcome when I came back."

  This time, it was my turn to shrug. I went to the connecting door and ducked out into the garage, grabbing the first few things that I could find in the bags that were bound for Goodwill. There was the tiniest risk of running into one of my housemates, but thankfully they were both upstairs somewhere.

  "Here you go." I shoved a bundle of clothes at Cole, then went to my own dresser to fetch something for myself. "I'll just be a second."

  I took my time changing in the bathroom, finger-combing my damp hair and trying to imagine how Cole would see the woman in the mirror. All those times he'd called me beautiful, and I never quite believed him. Did he still think that? Did he ever? Or was he just a clever high school student trying to get laid, picking off the stragglers from the back of the herd?

  That's unfair. Don't be so hard on him.

  Was that present-day Heather talking, or high-school Heather?

  I couldn't tell anymore.

  Oh, shit. I was in trouble.

  The T.V. was on when I came back out, and I had to chuckle at Cole's frown as he flipped through the fuzzy channels.

  "No cable?" he asked, rhetorically.

  I shrugged. "What's the point? Everything's online now. Steve and Andrea invite me to their watching parties for everything that's good - plus they let me use their HBO Go password."

  He made a disapproving noise, and kept on flipping. Thanks to the mountain, antenna and even satellite signals couldn't really reach us. Cable was the only option, and while I could have paid for an extra box on Steve and Andrea's account, I just never bothered with it. After all these years, I hadn't forgotten much about Cole - but I did admittedly forget about his T.V. addiction.

  Watching him out of the corner of my eye, I had to smile. The worn-out, oversized Seahawks shirt and threadbare khakis weren't exactly his style, but he wore them surprisingly well. But of course, he wore everything well.

  I shook my head, trying to focus on the headache-inducing static. Anything was better than letting my thoughts drift to Cole and his amazing body while he was sitting right here next to me.

  Holy shit, he was sitting right here next to me.

  I hadn't quite allowed myself to think about the full implications of this. The reality of him. Cole. He was back. He was in my apartment. My tiny, one-room apartment, where I'd touched myself countless times to memories of him.

  My face flushed hot. I couldn't think about that now. Not now, when things were actually going okay between us, somehow, even though anger and lust were currently fighting it out inside my head, and I had no idea what he was thinking.

  "So," he said, the rumble of his voice shaking me out of my thoughts. But not quite far enough. I swallowed hard, and looked at him, my pulse pounding.

  "Yeah?" I said. "So, what?"

  He half-smiled, and I melted a little more. "Tell me what I've missed. What's new in Alki Valley?"

  For the first time since earlier in the day, I remembered the news story about the land sale My forehead crinkled a little. "Nothing much," I said. "Except they're talking about selling that land between us and Foxwoods."

  "No!" Cole's brown instantly furrowed to match mine. "You're kidding. They couldn't. They wouldn't. Would they?"

  "Who knows?" I stared down at my hands. "Nobody knows what would happen to the fountain, if they did. The new commissioner won't give a straight answer. People are pissed. But Foxwoods - well, apparently, they're all for it."

  "Of course," he said, bitterly. The development was half-finished when he moved away, but Cole still felt the same knee-jerk reaction that everyone from Alki did when they thought about Foxwoods. I could remember the protest signs when the developers first talked about building it. SAVE OUR COMMUNITY! SAY NO TO FOXWOODS!

  "But, who knows," I said, leaning forward to switch off the T.V. before the static actually bored a hole in my eardrums. "Maybe it'll all come to nothing."

  Something told me it wouldn't, but I didn't want to have this discussion with Cole anymore. I liked it better when he was smiling.

  "So, what's new with you?" I turned to him, smiling, trying hard to keep my tone casual and light.

  He shook his head a little. "Nothing," he said. "I mean, nothing's ever new. But I guess it's all new to you." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "It's just been a string of odd jobs and boring shithole towns since I left. I dunno what I thought I'd find out there, but it wasn't much."

  This was a mistake. Thinking about him leaving - it still hurt like a gaping hole in my chest, just like it had happened yesterday. What a ridiculous sap I was.

  Get over it, Heather. Almost ten years ago. You really still pining for this asshole?

  "I could've told you that," I said, as cheerily as I could manage. "But sometimes people just need a fresh start, I guess."

  "Mhmm." He picked up the remote and turned it around, absently, in his hands. "Yeah, you know - not much to tell. But you're working down at Joe's now, huh?"

  Instantly, the memory of his smell came back. "How'd you know?" I asked, a little more sharply than
I meant to.

  He raised an eyebrow. "You smell like tires," he said, with a halfway grin. "Sorry - but it's true."

  I laughed a little, but I couldn't shake the feeling. You saw me there. You were watching me. I didn't see you, but I smelled you. It might reek like rubber and automotive oil in that place, but it wasn't strong enough to fool my nose.

  "Thanks, dick," I said, thwacking him on the arm. He pouted a little, and I pretended like it hadn't been an excuse to touch him. "Maybe it's time for a shower." I made a move to stand up.

  "Nah, no, don't - please, I was just messing with you." His hand shot out and clamped over my arm, holding me in place.

  "You mean I don't smell like tires?"

  "You absolutely do," he said, his eyes sparkling. "But I like it."

  Swallowing hard, I jostled my arm a little. He was still holding on, but he didn't seem too inclined to let go.

  Finally, he cleared his throat and sat back, letting me go. It was like he'd just realized what he was doing. After all this time, I couldn't believe how easy it was to slip right back into flirting with him. But I had to put a stop to it.

  "It sure beats smelling like fry oil," I said. "And those were basically my only two options. So, you know. I learned a thing or two about lug nuts, and now I answer Jim's phones. There are definitely worse jobs out there."

  "Absolutely," he said. "You don't happen to know if he's hiring, do you?" There was that sparkle again. Was he joking?

  "Doubt it," I said. I couldn't imagine working in close quarters with Cole. I'd go insane. "Besides, you have to be certified. Occasionally changing a tire doesn't count."

  "Hey," said Cole, stretching his legs out in front of him, and interlacing his hands behind his head. "For all you know, I went to trade school while I was away."

  "But you didn't," I said. "Did you?"

  "Nah." He leaned his head back. "But I always felt like I'd make a good mechanic."

  "Well, rebuilding an engine requires something more than 'feelings,' I think." I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly chilled. "But I'm sure you can find work around here. Even if it does involve fry oil."