by Rose Pressey
“Let’s try it again. It can’t hurt.”
“No, I guess it can’t.” I untied the ribbon and added more powder, then a couple drops of oil.
I felt a surge of energy. Was it coming from the amulet? I cleared my throat, looked at Jennifer and began.
“Wait.” She grabbed my hand. “Do you really think it will work?”
“What? You’re asking me now? You’re the one who made me go into that shop in the first place. You just said I had to try.” I moved my arm from her grasp. “How am I supposed to know if it will work?”
“Right. Right. But I can’t believe they sell the stuff and just let anyone use it. What if you do it wrong and it makes it even worse?”
I turned and stared at her. “Are you serious? What are you doing? Shut up.”
She blinked. “You’re right. Continue.”
I took a deep breath. “All right. We need to concentrate. Take a deep breath and exhale. The priestess said belief is the key for magic to work. So clear your mind and only think of ridding the curse.”
Jennifer nodded. Her brows pinched together in a frown from concentration.
“This is it,” I said with determination. “I’ll get rid of the evil hex the gypsy witch cast upon my family once and for all. Remove the dark cloud over my love life.”
We stood in silence, both lost in the moment. It was as if I’d left the room and entered a quiet, serene open space. I’d blocked out all noise and only concentrated on my positive thoughts. My eyes were closed. Where was the magical feeling? The only thing I felt was the surge of energy from the amulet. My breathing seemed to be in harmony with Jennifer’s. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. In the movies there was more. A fury wind. Lightning bolts. Something.
After what seemed like forever, but in reality was only a minute, I opened my eyes. I looked at Jennifer, and she opened hers.
“Well, I guess that’s it.” I let out another deep breath. “Now I have to get back to moping.”
In spite of the surge of energy, I wasn’t going to give up the sulking just yet. I needed more time to stew on my predicament and its outcome.
Jennifer frowned and stared. “Rylie. Rylie. Rylie.” She shook her head. “I have to get to work. I’ll see you tonight? I’ll expect you to be in better spirits by then.”
“Yeah, okay, sure. I’ll see you tonight.” I still held the gris-gris bag.
She stopped at the door. “How will you know if it worked?” She pointed at my hand.
I shrugged. “I guess when a man walks into my life and doesn’t leave at the first sign of fur.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I guess.”
I rested my head in my hands again as she walked out. A new customer would be by soon, and I needed to snap out of my funk. The weird surge-like feeling still ran through my body. Two weeks had gone by since I’d revealed myself to Jack and it was as if he’d disappeared. I hadn’t seen or heard from Martin or Lily. The pack police were on the lookout for Martin, though.
A soft knock came on the door. Had Jennifer forgotten something? Why didn’t she barge in as usual? Maybe she thought I was with a customer already. I’d probably have to reassure her I was all right a gazillion times. Seeing me as a full-fledged werewolf had been a shock to her system, and she’d been acting motherly ever since it happened. Unsure of who could be at the door, I edged over. In case it was a werewolf, I’d be prepared. I prayed my days of skirmishing with furry boneheads were over, though.
Easing the door open with caution, I stuck my head out. Jack stood in front of me with a bouquet of flowers. Beautiful red roses. The scent mingled with his for an overpowering heavenly smell. The aroma tingled my senses. He was still as gorgeous as ever. His blue eyes sparkled, and the side of his mouth tilted up in a half smile.
“These are for you.” He held out the flowers.
I tried to read his eyes and sensed they were inviting me to accept the offering. He watched me. I couldn’t believe he was here. While I was still upset he’d walked away from me in my time of need, I understood what happened was a lot to take in. It’s not every day someone sees another person grow fangs and fur.
“Thank you.” I took the bouquet and sniffed a flower.
He continued to stare. I waited for him to speak. But he kept eyeing me as if he was at a loss for words.
“I wasn’t avoiding you,” he said.
Considering I hadn’t seen him since the incident, I was sure he was avoiding me.
“I just needed time to think.”
Finally, I spoke. “Had enough time yet?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I know an apology isn’t much, but it’s all I’ve got right now. If you’ll give me a chance, maybe we can start over?”
“Can you handle what you saw?” I had to ask, I needed to know.
“I want to try. I don’t fully understand what I saw, but I can’t deny my attraction for you. And it’s not just a physical attraction, either.”
“Well, I guess that’s obvious after seeing me with that much hair.”
His smile widened and he stepped closer. “I didn’t want to believe you were sick. I wanted to help you.”
“Aren’t you afraid to be around a beast like me?”
“I think I can handle it.” Jack’s voice was a whisper. “Rylie, I can’t stay away no matter what. I want the chance to get to know you, all of you. Excess hair and all. Hell, maybe I just need a manual on how to date a werewolf?” The apprehensive emotion in his voice turned playful. He stood in front of me, and I felt the heat from his body.
“Hmm. A manual, huh? It just so happens you came to the right place for that. I think I can get, at the very least, an instruction booklet for you.”
Jack tilted his head back and laughed. His laughter opened the gate to my pent-up emotions. I wanted to cry, but I held it in, even though my tears would have been from joy. I couldn’t allow myself to break down at that minute. There’d be time for that later.
Without uttering another word, Jack scooped me into his arms, just like in my dream, and let his lips glide over mine. His touch sent a jolt through me. Maybe the curse was finally broken, but at that second, it didn’t even matter. Nothing else mattered. The tension eased from my shoulders. Stress that had overwhelmed me seemed to glide from my body. I melted like chocolate on a hot day as he continued to kiss me.
Breaking free for a moment, he said, “Really, an instruction booklet? I’d like to see that.” An impish grin twisted his mouth. He leaned in to plant another kiss on me when the phone rang.
“I’m not answering that,” I whispered.
“Go ahead, answer the call. It might be important. Maybe it’s the police. Did you tell them who sent the bullets?” Oops. I still needed to clue him in to all the developments. Jack still didn’t know the full details of Martin. Maybe he wouldn’t stick around after all when he heard all that craziness, or possibly he’d clobber Martin.
Reluctantly, I reached for the phone, not taking my gaze off Jack. He had a hypnotic element that couldn’t be ignored.
“Hi, Ry. How’s it going, sweetheart?” My mother. Now she calls. Her timing was impeccable. She’d called me back after the incident, but I’d missed her call. We’d been playing phone tag ever since.
“Where did you go for so long? I’ve tried to call you repeatedly.”
Jack eyed me suspiciously.
“Your father and I went to a spa for a little vacation. The one in Baton Rogue, you know the one. They give the best deep tissue massage.”
“And you didn’t tell me…you didn’t answer my calls. Did you ever stop to think I’d be worried?”
“You’re a big girl now, sweetheart. You can take care of yourself. Besides, I called you back.”
“That may be true, but there was a little matter I needed to discuss with you.” I lowered my voice.
“Ask away. I’m here now and all ears. What is it? Is everything all right?”
“You know darn well what I’m talking about. Jenn
ifer called you.”
Jack was getting a glimpse of my dysfunctional family in all its glory. If he didn’t run away from the werewolf thing, surely he would when he met my parents. They were hard to hide. He’d find out how wacky they were eventually.
“Oh yes, that.”
“Oh yeah, that...do you want to tell me why you told Jennifer you didn’t know anything about a curse?” I could have heard a pin drop. No noise came from the other line, which was not a good sign. “Mother? Are you still there? I hear you breathing. I know you’re still on the line. Did you tell her that or not? ’Fess up.”
After a long pause she finally said, “I did, dear. I didn’t want the family secrets out. We have to keep these things guarded, you know.”
“I’d already told her, anyway,” I said. Again, silence. “Look, Mama, maybe we can talk about this later. I have company right now.” I winked at Jack. How I’d explain talking about a curse I didn’t know, but at this point nothing should surprise him.
“Rylie?” Trepidation dripped from her words.
Oh no. What had my parents done this time? The news couldn’t be good. I probably needed to take a seat.
“I’m waiting.” I wanted to get back to the yummy kiss.
“I just wanted to say…”
“Spit it out, Mama. You’re killing me over here.” I wanted the facts.
Jack eyed me curiously, but didn’t say a word. He might as well get used to the outrageousness of my life. Seeing his face set the butterflies fluttering uncontrollably in my stomach.
“I don’t want you to be mad at me. And I love you. I was only trying to protect our secret.”
“I love you too, Mama.”
“Please don’t be mad, Rylie.”
“I’m not mad. Listen, you only did what you thought you had to. I have to go now. We’ll talk about this later.” I felt dizzy from the confusion. My brain couldn’t absorb everything that had happened.
“And you’re not too mad? Are you never going to talk to me again?”
“No, Mother. I promise, I’ll still talk to you. Now can I go?”
Banging came across the line, followed by loud voices.
“Wait. Oh my God.” Fear and panic sounded in her voice.
“Mama. What’s wrong?”
“Your father is arguing with some men in the living room. Hold on, I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, don’t go in there.” It was too late. She’d thrown the phone down, and it banged against what I assumed was the table.
What had happened this time? Again, why couldn’t I have normal parents? I held up my finger to Jack, letting him know I needed one more minute. He smiled, what seemed like a genuine smile, and sat in the chair in front of me. His heavenly aroma almost made me collapse on the spot. He had a natural scent, not just some cheap cologne. I needed to get off the phone and back into his arms. On the other end of the line, I heard mumbled conversation, and not much else. The words were garbled and I couldn’t make them out. After a second, I heard what I recognized as my mother’s hurried footsteps approaching.
“Rylie, you have to come and help. The thugs who work for the vampires are here.” She kept her voice low.
“What? Why?”
“They’re looking for Uncle Ernie. They say he owes them for a gambling debt.”
“Why did they come to your house?” I fumed. I really was ticked now. Ernie was putting everyone in danger.
“One of the men calls himself a collector, whatever that means,” Mama said.
“Oh my God. The goon who messed up my office. It sounds like the same man.”
“What’s that? What do you mean?”
“Never mind, I’ll be there as fast as I can. Don’t do anything to make them any angrier than they already are. How are you so sure they’re working for the vampires?”
“Because they said so.”
Good enough reason.
“Try to stay calm until I get there. And call the pack police, see if they can help.”
I slammed down the phone. “I gotta go.”
“Where?”
I grabbed my purse. “My parents need me. I’m sorry I have to rush out--”
“I’m going with you. You can’t drive in your stressed-out condition.”
And I thought things were looking up. Now he’d meet my parents and the rest of the paranormal world. Poor Jack had no idea what he was in for. Wait until he found out vampires were real too. I prayed he could handle it. At least he knew about me now. How bad could my wacky life be with him by my side, right?
About Rose Pressey
Rose Pressey enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. She’s always found the paranormal interesting. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.
When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires, and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She can’t help herself.
Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son and two sassy Chihuahuas.
www.rosepressey.com
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About the Rylie Cruz Series:
Book One: How to Date a Werewolf
Available in ebook
Book Two: How to Date a Vampire
Coming soon
Book Three: How to Date a Demon
Coming soon
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
