by Emma Roman
“What is…” Lucien stepped out of the way. Barrett’s gaze landed on the floor. Sprawled out on the floor, with a ball gag in his mouth and a knife stuck in the electrical cord, was their suspect, Robert Waldon.
“What the hell happened? Are you okay?” He grabbed Granny’s elbow and helped her off the floor. His gaze landed on her black getup and he suddenly wished he were blind. There was not enough brain bleach in the world to rid him of what he was looking at.
“I’m fine. Walter, on the other hand, has gone crazy.” She ran her hands along her mini skirt and frowned.
“Somebody better start explaining what the hell is going on,” Jayden thundered. He looked from the unconscious form of Robert back to his grandmother. “How in the hell did you end up with him?”
“Jayden, if you insist on using that language you will need to leave my house.” She picked up something off the table, dear god it was a vibrator, and pointed it at Jayden for emphasis.
“He needs a doctor. His foot caught on the lamp cord and he fell and hit his head.” She frowned. “I thought he was coming to, but he started trembling all over and had this crazy look in his eyes. That’s when I realized he was having a fit, a seizure. I always heard you’re supposed to put something in their mouth so they won’t swallow their tongue.”
“And you put a ball gag in his mouth?” Catty snorted from behind Barrett.
Barrett turned and glared at her, but Catty wasn’t fazed.
“Well, it was the only thing I had on hand.” Granny tapped her finger to her mouth. “I wonder if whoever ordered it is still willing to buy it. Since it’s used?” She shrugged. “Maybe I’ll give them a discount.”
“So how the hell did he get electrocuted?” Damon asked.
“Well, that’s the weird part.” She shook her head. “He was coming to and must have grabbed that knife while he was having a seizure. Anyhoo, the next thing I knew he was growling and raising that knife in the air. I saw it coming right at me so I grabbed the only thing on the floor I could to block it. The lamp cord.” She grimaced. “I forgot it was still plugged in. The knife went through to the wire and gave him a good shock.”
“We heard screaming.” Ava grabbed Granny’s hand.
“Of course you heard screaming. A big hairy man like that getting electrocuted is a scary thing to see. Not to mention the smell.” She wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. “I don’t know how I’m going to get that smell out of here.”
13
“Well, is anyone going to call 911? The first date I’ve been on in a decade and he’s done gone and electrocuted himself.” Granny crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the hardwood floor. She glared at the whole bunch.
“Can you please put some clothes on?” Jayden covered his eyes and held his hands over his face. “And I don’t want to even know what you were thinking to get dressed up like that.” She was pretty sure her grandson shivered.
“Well, I want to know.” Ava grinned. “Granny’s getting her groove back.” She gave her two thumbs up.
Lucien snickered but had the good graces to study the floor when she turned her glare on him.
“For your information, young lady, I was not getting my groove on or whatever the terminology is.” She pressed her lips tight together. “I was trying to explain to Walter what I did for a living. I wanted to get everything out in the open. He didn’t want any secrets between us. He said that we couldn’t have any secrets between us if we were going to start a relationship.” She shrugged. “So instead of trying to tell him that I sold sex toys, I decided to show him. Plus he was coming on to me in the car.”
“Is that so? Well, he should have taken his own advice,” Barrett growled and knelt on the ground beside Walter.
“What’s that mean?” She looked to the Pack Master.
“It means he’s not Walter Meadows. This is Robert Waldon, the escaped criminal, Granny.” Jayden moved his hand and gave her an incredulous stare. “He escaped from Tennessee and was headed to Missouri to avoid extradition.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense. If he was a criminal, then what’s he doing on the matchmaker site I signed up for? And why did he go to all that trouble to get a date with me?”
“How did you get on the computer to sign up? That’s a lot of steps, Granny, and you’re not the most computer savvy person I know.” Jayden stepped closer and narrowed his eyes.
“Barrett helped me.” Granny pointed at the Pack Master who was busy tying up Walter or Robert or whatever his name was.
“He did what?” Jayden turned his gaze on Barrett.
Barrett stood and she could have sworn he said “fuck my life.” But she wasn’t totally sure so she didn’t get on him for language.
“She didn’t tell me that’s what she was going to do. All she said was she needed a picture scanned and needed me to show her how.” He glared at her. “If I had known she was going on a date with a serial kidnapper, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“Serial kidnapper?” She stared at her date on the floor.
“Yeah, he’s a kidnapper and rapist. There are women out there that have gone missing that still haven’t been found.” Catty put her hand around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “You’re lucky he didn’t hurt you.”
“Why that, son of a…” Granny curled her hands into fists and glared. “Granny!” Ava gaped.
“He’s not who he said he was,” Lucien offered. “He stole your date’s car and when it ran out of gas he walked into Little Rock. Apparently he ran into you. He was probably going to steal your car or worse.”
She glared at the male on the floor and then looked at Barrett. “Is he still breathing?”
“Yeah. Why?” He frowned.
She reared back and kicked him hard in the gut. He let out a moan and his face turned red. His eyes blazed with rage and he said something unintelligible around the ball gag.
“If there’s one thing I don’t tolerate it’s an abusive man. That’s for all those females you kidnapped and hurt. You thought you could come in here and take advantage and hurt me because I’m an old woman? Well, guess what, jackhole? You thought wrong.”
“Jackhole?” Lucien looked to Catty. Catty shrugged.
“And you can forget about a good night kiss!” She kicked him again.
He let out another muffled groan and turned redder.
She grinned in satisfaction.
“Come on, asshole.” Barrett snatched him off the ground and dragged him to the front door.
“Wait. I need that back!” She pointed to the ball gag.
“Order another one. I think I’ll keep it on him so all the Tennessee Guardians can see what Arkansas women do to criminals who cross into their state.” Barrett grinned.
She smiled wide and crossed her arms. “Yes. You do that.”
“Granny, are you sure you’re okay?” Jayden held her face between his hands and looked down at her with serious eyes.
“Of course I’m okay…”
“I’ll get you some water.” Catty hurried into the kitchen.
“Come sit down. I’ll fix you something to eat.” Ava grabbed her arm and led her into the living room.
Granny frowned and eased into her favorite chair. “I’m fine, really.”
“I’ve got to go with Barrett to transport the prisoner back to Tennessee. When I get back, I’ll bring some food and we’ll spend the day. How would you like that?” Jayden knelt beside her chair.
“I’m…” She froze and looked around at everyone surrounding her. Even Barrett was staring at her with concern.
They were all concerned. For her safety and wellbeing. She knew they all cared about her. And that they were family regardless of blood. But now looking at all the concerned faces she realized just how lonely she’d been.
“That would be nice, Jayden. I’d like that.” She smiled.
14
“Come sit down, dinner’s ready,” Granny announced to the living room full
of hungry faces. Since her failed attempt at a date and the capture of Robert Waldon, one of Tennessee’s most notorious criminals, she’d had visitors every day.
Even Barrett stopped by and checked on her to make sure she had recovered from her ordeal. And he brought her a bottle of Wild Turkey.
Damon and Ava stood up from the couch, while Haley and Jayden eased out of her recliner. Lucien and Catty got up off the floor and Barrett pushed off the wall where he was leaning and headed into the dining room
“This smells great, Granny.” Ava smiled and sat down beside Damon, who was eyeing the pork chops with interest.
“I have to agree, dear. I prefer the smells of home cooking to the smells of electrocuted werewolf.” She shook her head and took a seat at the table. “You would not believe how much I had to clean to get that stench out of here.”
“Thank you again for inviting us for dinner.” Catty looked at Lucien and back at her. “I feel bad that you’ve been cooking for us every single night this week. If I knew how to cook I’d offer to make dinner next time.”
“Don’t’ you worry about a thing. I love doing it.” She smiled and reached over and patted her hand. She loved Catty, but like Ava, the poor girl couldn’t boil water.
“This looks wonderful, Granny,” Barrett said as he eased into the chair at the head of the table. “How are you doing?” He cut his eyes at her.
“I’m doing well. Better than well.” She placed her napkin in her lap and pressed her lips together. “Except for what’s going on online, of course.”
“What are you talking about?” Jayden’s ears seemed to perk up with that information and he stopped shoving mashed potatoes onto his plate.
“Did you know that the real Walter Meadows gave me a bad rating on that dating site?” She shook her head. It made her mad every time she thought about it.
“Why did he do that?” Lucien asked. “It wasn’t your fault you went out with the wrong guy.”
“That’s exactly what I thought too.” She nodded. She’d always liked Lucien.
“I didn’t know they give ratings on a dating site.” Damon arched his eyebrow.
“Well, they do. And because of his bad rating I’ve had at least a hundred requests from men all over the United States wanting a date.”
“What?” Barrett dropped his fork.
“Yep. She’s actually has a hundred and twenty-five.” Catty shrugged. “It’s probably gone up since I last checked this afternoon.”
“Oh, hell no.” Jayden threw his napkin on the table and glared. “You are not going on any more dates. No way. No how. If I have to move me and Haley in with you to make sure you’re not getting into any trouble, I’ll do it.”
Haley smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
“Can someone pass the beans?” Damon scowled and ducked his head, trying to avoid getting pulled into her conversation.
Ava smiled and passed him the dish.
“If Walter Meadows gave you a bad review how are you getting so many date requests?” Barrett asked cautiously.
“Well, apparently it got out”—she glared out her window across the street—“how I had dressed. Black leather, fishnet stockings, you know, you saw.”
“Yes, we all saw.” The muscle in his cheek began to twitch.
“It’s all my neighbor Beatrice’s fault. She took a picture of me through my window.” She shook her head. “I knew she was a shady snake when I moved here, but I had no idea she was that bad.”
“So how did Walter get the picture?” Ava asked.
“Apparently Beatrice and Walter are related. Cousins, I believe.” She waved her hand in the air. “He got to talking to her about missing our date. When she figured out I was his date she showed him that picture.”
“What a bitch,” Catty snarled. “You want me to have a talk with her?”
“No, dear. I’ve got her number. Don’t you worry.” She smiled. “Anyway, Walter said I was not the nice woman I portrayed myself to be online. Said I was loose as a goose.”
“And that led to all these date requests.” Lucien nodded his head slowly.
“Please tell me you’re not planning on going on another date.” Jayden gave her a pained look and waited for her reply.
She sighed and shook her head. “No, dear. No more dating for me. I had the one love of my life, John, and I don’t need to try to compete with that.”
Everyone got quiet.
“Now, now, don’t get all sad on me now.” She smiled around the table. “If I had to tell you each something, if I could give you only one word of advice to carry you through life, it would be this. Savor every moment you have with your mate. And make every single second count. Whether you’re kissing, or holding hands, or just snuggled up on the couch, make it count and burn it into your memory.”
A little laugh rolled out of her mouth and she shook her head. “I see humans running around, stressed and worried and trying to outdo one another. They claim they are striving for success. Boy, do they have it all wrong. Success isn’t money or things or fame. Success is wringing out every single joy of everyday things.
“I like that, Granny.” Ava nodded.
“Then remember it.” She pointed her finger at Ava for emphasis.
“I’m going to have to disagree with you on that, Granny.” Barrett picked up his fork and began to cut into the pork chop.
A slow smile crept across her lips as she stared at her Pack Master.
“I bet you think you’ll never get mated, don’t ya?” She grinned.
“You read my mind,” he deadpanned and popped a piece of meat into his mouth.
“You’re not immune, Barrett. Being mated is natural for all werewolves.”
“Maybe, but not for me. I’ve made up my mind, so you can stop trying to convince me otherwise.” He arched his brow and shoved some potatoes into his mouth.
“I’ll make a bet. I’ll bet you five million dollars that you’ll get mated within the next year, year and a half. If I’m wrong, I swear to never get involved in Guardian business again.” Granny sat back in her seat and waited for him to take the bait.
The room grew quiet and all the Guardians looked at Barrett.
He set his fork down and met her gaze with determination. “I think that’s a safe bet. You’re on.”
She stuck out her hand and they shook.
She’d seen how hard the Guardians had fallen for their mates, hard and fast. But she was willing to bet that when Arkansas’s own Barrett Middleton found the female of his dreams it was going to be epic.
And she was going to be five million dollars richer.
She’d bet her life on it.
The End
Jodi is an USA TODAY bestselling author and a National Readers Choice Award finalist for best paranormal. She is the author of the RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES series and writes paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance. Born and raised in Mississippi, her deep Southern roots and love of the paranormal led her to write Southern Paranormal novels. When she is not conversing with characters in her head, she can be found at her home in Northeast Arkansas with her handsome husband, brilliant son, a temperamental swan, and yellow lab that is fond of retrieving turtles when duck season is over. She has recently added a black lab to their family who will eat anything not nailed down.
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RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES Series
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON (Book 1)
BENEATH A BLOOD LUST MOON (Book 2)
DESIRES OF A FULL MOON (Book 3)
DARKSIDE OF THE MOON (Book 4)
SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON (Book 5)
SECRETS OF A SILVER MOON (holiday novella)
CLOVERTON SERIES
CHRISTMAS IN CLOVERTON (No
vella)
LOST WITHOUT YOU (Book 1)
LOST ALL CONTROL (Book 2)
4. Loving Hallie
A Vegas Mates Novella
Krystal Shannan
For all the fans that kept insisting Hallie needed her Happily Ever After!
1
This was it. Prince Reginald Montague III was the last royal werewolf on her list of whom her parents would’ve called upon for her mate hunt—had they still lived—and he lived in some out-of-the-way small town in Canada. She was pretty sure she’d seen a diner and a couple of bars as they’d driven through. Nothing but snow and trees and more snow.
“I think it looks like fun. We should take a run.” Hallie’s inner wolf chuckled.
Hallie rolled her eyes and stared out the window into the bright white powder-covered landscape. Her aunt had let her twenty-fifth birthday come and go without so much as a whisper. Understandable, after everything that had happened. Her eldest sister had trampled tradition, scraping through her mate hunt by the edges of her fangs, and married a common wolf. Then Nicole got kidnapped by her magickally fated mate—a leopard shifter sent by their blood grandparents to force her into a hunt. Even her twin sister Tess had run off with a bear shifter. Ever single one of the Demakis sisters had snubbed tradition. Expectation. Everything their parents had wanted for them.
“You can’t just ignore me. I get a say in this wild goose chase you’re on too, you know.”
“Do shut it,” Hallie snapped aloud, frowning at the strange look the car driver flashed her via the rearview mirror. If only humans knew what it was like to share a soul with another entity—one that could talk. No secrets. No breaks. Ever.
“You’re just pissed. No need to take it out on me because you want your mate to be a royal.”
“It’s what they would’ve wanted. What everyone expects.” Even her aunt had mentioned it on more than one occasion after the shock over her mother’s death had passed. The New York pack ran like a well oiled machine. Her father’s sister was a brilliant and well-loved leader and Hallie loved it there. Had no desire to stay, but as a Demakis royal werewolf, Hallie was the heir to the vacant throne in Las Vegas. A throne that if left empty too long would start to cause problems between the other ruling packs.