by Beverly Rae
Finished welcoming each other home, I hurriedly pulled my clothes together and finger-combed my hair. Figures. The one time I put my purse with the rest of the luggage would be the one time I really needed my comb.
I helped Kaine clean up, straighten his jacket and zip his slacks. “Are we good?”
The sparkle in his eyes made me wet all over again. “Chrissy-doll, you’re not good. You’re incredible.”
I placed a peck of a kiss on the tip of his nose. “Aw, I bet you say that to all the girls you fuck in your limo.”
He grabbed me then, roughly, a stern expression on his face. “Maybe.”
Maybe? Shoot, I’d been joking about the other women.
“But I’ve never said this to any of them.” He cupped my face. “I didn’t expect to love you. I only thought that you’d give me—”
Give him what? I waited, my heart pounding against my chest, eager hope mixing with a rush of anxiety.
He shook his head, effectively shaking off the rest of his sentence. “I never thought you’d give me so much more. I love you more than anyone and anything in the world.”
I swallowed. Oh, sure, the idea of his having had women in the limo before me wasn’t particularly my idea of after-sex talk, but he’d sure ended the conversation with a bang.
We looked at each other for a solid thirty seconds before Kaine broke the spell. “Let’s go check out our new home.” He pushed the speaker button. “We’re ready now, Roger.” The driver hurried around to the passenger’s side and swung the door open. Kaine slid out of the limo, turned and offered me his hand just like the dashing hero did in all the romantic movies I’d seen.
I took it, feeling every bit the queen of the manor, and scooted not-so-gracefully out the door. Straightening up with Kaine’s arm wrapped around me, I studied the house. “We are talking mansion for sure. I bet this place has at least ten bedrooms.”
“Sixteen.”
“And six bathrooms.”
“Eleven. Not counting the seven half baths.”
I eyed my man speculatively. “And a home theatre?” Please, oh, please, let there be a home theatre.
“What mansion would be complete without one?” He touched my chin, then pivoted to face the crowd gathered at the top of the steps. “Want to go inside now?”
“Do bears shit in the trees?”
“I believe the expression is…do bears shit in the woods?”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” Grinning, I put my attention on the mansion before me. “Take me inside our new home, lover-boy.”
To say I slipped into the lavish lifestyle without a hitch is an understatement. This girl had found her Prince Charming and she wasn’t about to lose that stupid glass slipper.
After I met the staff—all twenty-four of them—Kaine escorted me to the enormous master bedroom where I spent nearly ten minutes oohing and aahing over just the silk bedspread. When he left me alone to get unpacked, I spent another thirty minutes gazing out the six luxuriously draped windows like a queen surveying her kingdom. Although it was still summer, I couldn’t help but wish I could start a fire in at least one of the two fireplaces. And the bathroom was twice as big as my studio apartment, with two long counters, the best lighting any girl could ever hope for, and a spa tub that could have easily accommodated six people. To put it bluntly, I was in Spoil-Me-Baby Heaven.
After enjoying an hour soaking in the tub, I wrapped the softest robe I’d ever touched around myself and stepped through a different door and into yet another room, the sitting area between the two enormous walk-in his-and-her closets. As usual, my Kaine had thought of everything. My closet was filled with not only my pitiful poor girl clothes from my apartment, but with designer duds from gowns to jeans. The shoe collection alone took up an entire wall. I’ve never been a girly-girl and into fashion much, but I have to confess, tears came to my eyes when I looked at my new beautiful wardrobe.
Taking care with my makeup and hair, then dressing in a pair of linen slacks and a silk shirt, I slipped on a bejeweled pair of flats and forced myself to leave my oasis. I was halfway down one hallway when I realized I had no clue where I was. Much less where I should be heading.
“Sheesh, I should’ve asked for a map.” I looked around, trying to determine which way might lead me to Kaine. Maybe I should’ve stayed in my bedroom. But, money or not, I was not the type of gal to lie around in her boudoir waiting for her man to spare her some of his time. When I’d finally decided to take a stab at a left turn down the other hallway, I heard the unmistakable sound of someone talking. Feeling like a modern-day Gretel, I headed in the direction of the voice.
The door to the room closest to me was open, allowing me to step inside without announcing my presence. (Yeah, yeah, I know I still should’ve knocked, but, hey, it’s my home after all.) The bedroom wasn’t as opulent as ours, but it was still plush by anyone’s standards. A thin woman stood at an ornate desk on which rested a small cage. Little white mice, all painted with different colored stripes, scurried around the cage, each clamoring to be in the far corner away from the woman. One mouse, painted with a brilliant streak of hot pink, dared to rear up on its little legs, almost as though offering itself in place of the others. I started to speak, then abruptly closed my yap. Something about the intent way she stared at the rodents gave me the creeps.
What the hell was she doing with all those— My brain froze before it could finish the thought. Instead, I gaped, unable to believe what I was seeing. The woman reached into the cage, snatched up one of the frightened creatures and popped it into her mouth. Omigod! Did she really eat that mouse? Even though my eyes told me she had, I still couldn’t believe it. I stumbled backward, out the door and into the hallway.
“Who’s there?”
Damn!
The scratchy-sounding voice sent me running down the hallway. No way did I want to talk to Ms. Mouse Muncher. I kept moving, trying to sort out exactly what I would tell Kaine about my discovery. Hey, sweet man, guess what I saw. Did you know there’s this really creepy lady in the house who likes to eat mice? Please tell me she’s not your sister. Or maybe she’s in training for the next Survivor? I ran on, figuring if I did, then I’d have less of a chance of meeting up with Ms. Munch-a-Bunch-of-Mickey. After all, who knew what else she might like to pop into her mouth? A bit of ear? A tongue or nose? Or maybe my pinkie finger for a little dessert? My stomach roiled every time I pictured that poor mouse squealing all the way down her throat.
I have no idea how long it took, but at last, I found myself in the grand foyer and at the front door. Part of me wanted nothing more than to escape back to my safe apartment. The other half, the good wifey half, knew I could never leave Kaine in a house with the strange woman. So, with a burst of renewed courage, I dashed toward the study he’d shown me earlier.
Pushing the door open, I strode in, intent on telling my husband exactly what I’d seen. After all, he’d have an explanation, right? Because there’s always a logical explanation. “Kaine, you are not going to believe what I saw.” My feet thudded to a stop at the exact moment my heart did. My husband, sitting at his desk, looked up from his papers to shoot me a quick smile. Standing over my husband was none other than the Mouse Muncher.
“Hi, Chrissy.” He stood and opened his arms wide. When I didn’t move toward him, he gave me a funny look and walked over to pull my stiff body against his. “I was about to come and find you.” Releasing me, he kissed me quickly, then turned to face MM. “Honey, I’d like you to meet my right-hand lady, my assistant extraordinaire, Miss Hermatilda Fitzwilder.”
Holy crap! Usually I’m fairly fast on my feet and able to readily adapt to unusual circumstances. I mean, it’s sort of a requirement in my line of work. Yet all I could do was stand and gawk at the woman. My husband, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me went on with the introductions.
“Fitz was needed elsewhere during the staff introductions, but she’s an invaluable asset and has been with me for years. He
r family has worked for my family for generations, doing whatever needs to be done. I trust her with my life.”
The Thin Woman inclined her head at Kaine. “It is my honor to serve the Delcaluca family. My purpose in life is to attend to Mister Delcaluca’s needs in every way possible.” She shot my hubby a look filled with…love? Yet worse, Kaine gazed at the woman as though she were made of gold.
I studied my hubby’s face. Had he noticed the way she’d accented the word Mister? As though the Missus part—yours truly—of the newly married duo was chopped mouse meat?
“She knows all you could ever want to know about everything and everyone. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
Hmm, I don’t know, hubby dear. Maybe get a cat instead? I gawked at him. Was he aware that his Gal Friday was a rodent chomper? He wrapped his arm around me and squeezed. “I was asking Fitz if she would help you get settled into our new home. After all, she’s the whiz who helped me purchase the place. She’s also the one who got everything ready for our return.”
So far, Fitz hadn’t moved a muscle. She stood stock-still, her rat-snatching hands folded in front of her, her face an emotionless mask, listening to Kaine ramble on about how terrific she was. He kept extolling her virtues, but his voice soon became a distant drone. I locked eyes with Fitz and knew she disliked me, even distrusted me.
“You are correct.”
The heavily accented words entered my head before I knew what had happened. Although I hadn’t been listening to Kaine, I glanced his way, thinking he’d probably be waiting for me to respond to what he’d said. Instead, I heard the voice again. The very scratchy female voice.
“You are an intruder.”
I couldn’t believe it. Staring straight at Fitz, I dared her to confirm the unbelievable. What did you say?
A tiny smirk lifted the corners of her mouth. “I am telling you that you are correct. You don’t deserve him or this life. Kaine is mine to protect.”
She’d spoken to me without speaking out loud. But how? I knew there had to be a reasonable explanation. Yet I was damned if I could find one at that moment. Why was I having such a hard time explaining things? Had I hit my head without knowing it? Had I gotten drunk and this was all a way-out-there nightmare? I shook my head, denying her words and the idea of telepathic communication.
“I do not care if you believe what is real. Simply know that I will always be by his side. You, however, will not last long.” Her smirk grew bigger, but Kaine didn’t seem to notice.
Had this psycho rat-gulping bitch just threatened to steal my man? I glared at her, preparing to blast her big time. Okay, Minnie-mauler, let’s settle this right here, right now. I moved out of my husband’s hold to take two steps closer to her. Yet instead of the confrontation I expected, Fitz bobbed her head in deference.
“I am so happy to meet you, Mrs. Delcaluca.”
Kaine gave her one of the beatific smiles I treasured. “Good. I’m sure you two will become fast friends.”
His gaze fell on me and I almost shouted, “See? He loves me. Take that bitch!” Instead, I kept my mouth shut.
“Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have a few business matters to attend to.”
When Kaine turned to leave, I quickly lost my bravado and wanted to reach out and stop him. But my pride wouldn’t let me. Don’t let her see you sweat, Chrissy.
Kaine had barely exited when Fitz reached into a pocket of her drab gray off-the-rack suit and whipped out a photo. “If she couldn’t hold him, you won’t be able to do so, either.”
Could this bitch get any ruder? I’m not one prone to violence, but I had to clench my fists to keep from snatching her bald. Not that being bald would make her any less attractive. Her emaciated body coupled with a hound-dog face and scraggly dishwater-blonde hair would’ve scared the varmints she liked to devour. Still, I took the photo.
The woman in the picture standing next to Kaine, arms wrapped possessively around him, was nothing less than movie-star gorgeous. You know the type: sick body like Megan Fox’s, hair like Jennifer Aniston and super-kissable lips like Angelina Jolie. I immediately hated her. But so what? Obviously, she hadn’t had what Kaine wanted.
Fitz snatched the photo away from me and repeated her previous prediction. “You won’t last long.” Her two beady eyes narrowed as she looked snidely down her nose at me. “How can you? You don’t even know what he is.”
What he is? What the hell does that mean? I opened my mouth to ask, but Fitz was already striding out of the room. For a skinny skank she sure could move fast. “I hope the rats bite your finger off,” I mumbled.
Mi Familia, Su Familia
I hated to admit it, but the Thin Woman had effectively delivered a punch to my solar plexus without lifting a hand. Instead of knocking her on her butt the way I itched to do, I had no choice except to regroup and live to confront her another time. After all, how would my belting his favorite assistant stack up with Kaine? Not good, I imagined. So, unable to do anything else, I took another accidental scenic route back to our bedroom, all the while thinking about the two other women in my hubby’s life. If I’d known, however, that I wouldn’t see Kaine until the next morning, I’d have tracked him down and dragged him back to christen our new bed.
Determined to begin our life together in our new home with a night of blistering sex, I stayed up, waiting for Kaine to return. I waited. Then waited some more. Yet, instead of my handsome hunk coming to make his new bride oh-so happy and sexually satisfied, I spent the night listening to strange sounds. Not only did our home have the usual creaks of a house settling, I was positive I heard someone crying. Creepy much?
I opened the French doors leading to the balcony off our bedroom and yes, for a moment, pretended to be a wealthy, sophisticated heiress surveying Paris. I peered into the yard below. A full moon lit the area, helping me see past the Olympic-size swimming pool and on toward the extensive gardens. A nervous tickle traveled up my spine. Come on, girl. You check out spooky things for a living. Why are you letting a few weird sounds unnerve you? Gathering my courage, I remained on the balcony, telling myself to enjoy the serenity of the night. I may not be able to lie well to others, but I can do a bang-up job fibbing to myself. My unwanted friend, Dee Nial, has often been my sidekick. At last, however, I gave up trying to see into the places where only night-vision glasses could penetrate and turned to go back inside.
A howl, deep and rich, echoed through the air, making me swivel toward the yard below. I dashed to the railing and, my hands gripping the white stone, leaned over to stare into the night again.
I gasped, blinked several times and even pinched my arm. Directly below me, standing next to the pool, was a dark form. The creature, too massive in height and width to be called a dog, cocked its head at me. Blazing red eyes hit me, holding me to the spot even though my legs wanted to turn tail and run. Saliva dripped from the side of its mouth as it curled back its lips, exposing fangs that had to be at least six inches long. I swallowed, finally letting my legs take the lead, and took a step back. The creature growled, flashing more fangs. Letting out a sound I will never forget, it howled its displeasure and darted into the shadows of the house.
Holy shit! What is that thing? I came up with an answer, but it was one I didn’t want. A werewolf. No other canine would stand on two legs the way this one had. No other wolf or dog, not even a Great Dane or St. Bernard, would be as large. But it was the look in its eyes that confirmed it as a werewolf. No wolf or dog—not even Lassie—could claim such intelligence. The kind of intelligence that was all human.
My pulse beat against my chest. I stood, unable to move, unable to react. Should I find Kaine and tell him what I’d seen? I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to. But my ego wouldn’t let me. No. I wasn’t ready to tell him that he’d married a hallucinating looney. Maybe after we’d been married a few years, but now was not the time to go down that particular road. Besides, how would it look for the myth-and-monster debunker to literally start c
rying wolf? Werewolf, that is.
Suddenly I wished for a camera, something to prove what I’d seen. Or maybe disprove my eyes and confirm what I knew. Werewolves didn’t exist any more than all the ghosts and ghoulies I’d exposed over the years. Often studying a photo and dissecting the image with technology would prove a person’s sight wasn’t always trustworthy. I couldn’t count the number of times a ghost had turned out to be nothing more than a trick of the eye. This was a hoax. A prank. Maybe one of the staff was having fun with the new lady of the house. Yet, although I wanted to believe my idea, I couldn’t rid my gut of the uneasy feeling that what I’d seen was real.
I glanced around the area surrounding the home and worked up the nerve to peer over the edge of the railing. Why hadn’t the wolf bolted for the gardens and run into the wooded area beyond like any self-respecting wild animal would do? Why had it gone into the shadows below me, directly under my balcony?
Uh-oh. It went below me. Right below me. My imagination took over, forming a huge woman-eating animal standing underneath me, ready to break through the stone of the balcony. Its claws would dig into my legs, snagging them like hooks into sides of beef, and pull me down into the darkness. Get a grip, girl. You know monsters don’t exist. Yet, try as I might, I couldn’t buy into my own assertions.
Feeling as though I was about to literally risk my neck and the blood pumping through it, I leaned farther over the railing, both hands holding onto the stone with a death grip. Urgh. Lousy choice of words. Death grip. Why not life grip? After all, I was hanging on to stay alive.
It’s a sad fact, but true. My mind tends to wander, taking up the most ridiculous thoughts when stunned with fear. But I can’t help it. That’s just the way I am.
