“That works for me,” Ben said. “How much are we charging for entrance?”
“I thought five dollars would be enough,” London said. “Maybe a gold coin for children?”
“We should make a profit,” Agnes declared.
“We have a healthy balance in the Feline council account,” Sid said. “Why don’t we aim to cover our costs and leave it at that?”
“As long as we cover costs,” Valerie agreed. “That sounds fair.”
“Is that everything?” Ben asked. “My sheep aren’t mustering themselves.”
“Away you go.” Agnes made shooing motions with her right hand. “Sid, I presume you’re going with Ben? Valerie, London and I will discuss the promotional posters and advertising, then adjourn until next week.”
The two men left, and London jotted notes.
“Do you have time to design a poster?” Agnes asked.
“I can do it tonight.” Now that young Ramsey was helping her with the baking at the café, she had more time to attend to her virtual assistant work.
“Thank you, dear,” Valerie said as she stood. “If we are burdening you with too many tasks, please tell us. We don’t want to scare you away.”
“Was there anything else before we go?” Agnes asked.
“No. Truly, all I’m doing is following Emily’s notes and organizing helpers. At the next meeting, I can give you a task each.”
Agnes gave a brisk nod and stood. “Perfect.”
London watched the two elderly women until they exited the café before heaving out a sigh of relief. That hadn’t been too bad. Gerard had told her she’d be great. Henry, Jacey and Megan had offered to help her with behind-the-scenes things. She grinned. They might regret that generosity.
A thought occurred, and she picked up her tablet and stood. After a quick glance around the café, she decided she had time to chat with Ramsey about preparing a Halloween menu.
She entered the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt. Emily stood at one work counter and was mixing a batch of cookies. Ramsey worked at the second counter and sneaked concerned glances at Emily as he rolled out dough for cheese scones.
“Emily, I thought you were taking the rest of the week off.”
Emily swallowed and caught London’s gaze. “I can’t…I need…please, don’t ring Saber.” The large black shadows beneath her bloodshot eyes put years on her age. Pain rested on her features, her shoulders like a heavy weight. “I want to be busy so I can’t think.”
“I’ll ring Saber, just to tell him that you’re here. That’s all.” London came to a quick decision. “I was going to discuss a Halloween menu with Ramsey. If it’s all right with you, I thought we’d plan a set-menu for the Friday and Saturday nights, plus do some themed cupcakes. We can find new recipes and test them or adapt some of our standard bakes. Ideas, Emily? Ramsey?”
“We can do the lemon slice and decorate it with eyeballs, spiders, black cats, pumpkins and things like that,” Ramsey said.
Emily’s cell phone rang. She stilled, then plucked it from her pocket. She thrust the phone at London. “Please.”
London accepted the phone and walked toward the storeroom as she answered. “Saber, it’s London. Emily is here at the café.”
“Thank goodness,” Saber said in a hoarse voice. “I panicked when she wasn’t at home. I’ll come and collect her.”
“No! Please, I think she needs to keep busy. We’re closing at five today. I’ll bring her home once the café is closed.”
“How is she?”
London heard the worry, the pain, the anguish in Saber’s voice. “Not good. If I keep her busy then maybe she’ll sleep better.”
“I…okay. Call me if…if she needs me.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Thanks, London.”
London hung up and rubbed the heel of her hand against her chest in an attempt to ease the tightness. Her eyes stung, and she knew it wouldn’t take much for tears to spill over. She swallowed the scratchiness from her throat, straightened her shoulders and marched back to join Emily and Ramsey.
Right. If Emily wanted busy, she’d give her busy. Afterall, they had a Halloween weekend to plan.
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Tigers have arrived in the country town of Middlemarch! Turn the page for a glimpse of My Romantic Tangle, the next story in my Middlemarch Shifters series.
Enjoy!
Shelley
Excerpt – My Romantic Tangle
Middlemarch Shifters, book 13
Copyright 2016 Shelley Munro
Hari Daya’s breath eased out in a soundless whistle when he caught his first glimpse of Ambar Patel. His feline part froze, attention fixed on his prey.
No doubt about it—he wanted her.
One glance at her striking exotic looks, the nubile curves, and he knew he’d been right to stealthily liberate her file from his cousin and travel halfway around the world to locate her.
While she looked attractive in the photo he’d carried with him for the last six months, the flat black-and-white portrait didn’t capture her essence. It didn’t show the teasing sparkle of her eyes or the luster of her long, black hair. It did nothing to showcase her easy manner with the customers who shopped for groceries at the Patel Store or the sensuous way she moved despite her height and robust frame.
His.
A rush of air escaped him, the accompanying rumble sounding like a purr of contentment. After a quick glance in both directions to see if anyone was watching, he lifted his nose and opened his mouth, dragging the breath across his receptors to test the early morning air for scent.
Yeah, she was all tiger.
Satisfaction throbbed in him, even though Hari knew winning her wouldn’t be easy. Marriage brokers arranged matches in the local Indian community in London where he’d spent most of his life. It was a way to ensure wealth stayed in the family, for prestige to remain intact, but one look at Ambar told him everything. He wanted her in his bed and in his life.
And he’d do anything to get her there.
The idea of a stealthy hunt didn’t bother him. Seduction—his feline rather liked the idea. Another purr erupted along with a pleased grin. He had plenty of money and had no need of a dowry to sweeten his bank account. No impediment there.
He’d placed the official things in motion already, applying and receiving the necessary documentation to start a new life in New Zealand. With his computer skills, it wasn’t difficult to obtain work, and he’d covered that angle quickly, signing a contract for freelance design work he could take care of while he set up base in Middlemarch.
City born and bred, the countryside captured his heart—the endless green and open spaces. The mountains and the crisp, exhaust-free air. It was easy to see why the Patels had moved from Auckland to the South Island of New Zealand. The sense of freedom sang through him, enticing his feline to run and play. Other cats lived in the area—he could smell them along with the Patels’ distinctive tiger scent. On one level that pleased him, but it made him realize he shouldn’t dally outside on the street, spying on Ambar Patel like a voyeur. Six months had passed, and he had to make sure no one else had claimed her first.
Time to make his move.
Straightening, Hari switched his laptop bag from one hand to the other and strode toward the store, sighing when Ambar moved out of sight. Impatiently, he waited for a mother and daughter to leave. He pushed the door open, setting off a bell. The tinkle faded seconds after the door closed behind him. The faint strains of off-key humming drifted from behind the scenes, making him smile.
He marched up to the counter, unaccountably nervous because this meeting was so important. “
Hello?”
Footsteps sounded and Ambar came into sight again. He felt his lips curve in the beginnings of a smile and opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out.
Aghast, he snapped his mouth shut so he didn’t look like the village idiot. That would be a first, and a terrible impression on the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life making happy.
Swallowing, he tried again. “Hi, I’m Hari Daya.” He stuck out his hand and waited for her to take it, desperate to touch even in an innocent way. His breath eased out with a whoosh when she clasped his hand. Soft and feminine, the touch left him with sex on his mind. He couldn’t wait to experience her fingers wandering his naked body.
“It’s nice to meet you, Hari.” Her welcoming smile faded while he stood there like a fool. “I’d like my hand back now.” She tugged to emphasize her point.
“Sorry.” Damn, this wasn’t going the way he’d intended. He released her hand, his heart beating a fraction faster. Who knew he’d turn into an idiot the minute he stepped into her proximity? He wiped his clammy palms on his jeans-clad thighs. A first, that’s for sure. He continued to stare, imprinting her image in his mind so he could recall it later. Belatedly, he noticed the pucker of her forehead, a cute wrinkle between her golden-brown eyes.
“I’m here to marry you,” he blurted. “I need to speak to your brother.”
For an instant she stared at him, her mouth dropping open. Then her teeth clacked together, her lips pursing in a firm line. Pure fire erupted in her eyes. “Out!” The thrust of her finger indicated the direction.
“Huh?”
Before he could say another word, she was around the counter and shoving on his shoulders, pushing him to the door.
Hari was so surprised and distracted by her touch he didn’t put up a fight. She propelled him outside.
“We’re closed,” she snapped at the elderly man about to enter. Then she slammed the door and shot the bolt, turning the Open sign to show Closed, every line of her body indicating fury.
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About Shelley
Shelley lives in Auckland, the City of Sails, with her husband and a cheeky Jack Russell/mystery breed puppy.
Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand speak – big overseas experience). A year long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland, and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.
While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love – that of writing stories of romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby (strictly for research purposes), cycling, baking bread and curling up with a good book.
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Other Books by Shelley
Paranormal
Sea of Change
Price of Love
Blue Moon Dragon
Lynx to the Pharaoh
Curse of Brandon Lupinus
Middlemarch Shifters
My Scarlet Woman
My Younger Lover
My Peeping Tom
My Assassin
My Estranged Lover
My Feline Protector
My Determined Suitor
My Cat Burglar
My Stray Cat
My Second Chance
My Plan B
My Cat Nap
My Romantic Tangle
Bundles
Middlemarch Shifters 1 – 3
Middlemarch Shifters 4 - 6
House of the Cat series
Sampled & Seduced
Captured & Seduced
Claimed & Seduced
Merry & Seduced
Stranded & Seduced
Seized & Seduced
Hunted & Seduced
Festive & Seduced
Bundle
House of the Cat
Contemporary
Stranger Things Happen
Wild Child
One Night of Misbehavior
Blindside
Fringe Benefits
Lovers at Last
Ain’t Misbehaving
Playing to Win
Summer Encounter
Reformed Bad Girl
Military Men
Innocent Next Door
Soldiers with Benefits
Safeguarding Sorrel
Bundle
Military Men
Sci-fi/Futuristic
Interplanetary Love
Alien Encounter series
Janaya
Hinekiri
Alexandre
Gay Romance
Eye on the Ball
Lone Wolf
Seeking Kokopelli
No Defense
Best Man
Last Wish
Historical
Mistress of Merrivale
Evening Tryst
Copyright Page
My Cat Nap
Copyright © 2016 Shelley Munro
ISBN: 978-0-9941433-0-3
Cover: Killion Group Inc.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Shelley Munro
My Cat Nap Page 20