Not sure what he was offering, she nodded again.
“I know this isn’t the most romantic of settings, but I can’t wait even five more minutes.” He kissed her hand again and looked into her eyes. “Will you marry me, Amber?”
“Marry?”
“I love you. I loved you from the first moment I saw you.”
“On your porch?”
He shook his head. “The first time Adam showed me your photo in Afghanistan.”
“Then why did you stop emailing me?”
“Because I felt so guilty about Adam’s death that I couldn’t bear it. I thought if you found out what I’d done, you’d never forgive me.”
She pulled him closer and kissed his lips. He held her close. She whispered, “I have always loved you too.”
“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her. “I was thinking we ought to do it before Adam’s thirty days are up.”
“If it has to be on a full moon, how about July 19th? We can cross out Olivia’s name and write mine in.” She laughed, but it could be the drug.
“Funny lady. Actually, it doesn’t have to be on a full moon. It’s just traditional for two werewolves to marry then.”
“How about July 2nd, then. That’s my mom’s birthday.”
“Anything you want.”
“I want you.”
“You’ve got me.”
And happiness filled her. She was home.
For some reason, she thought of the snow cone that Jingle had made for her. The glowing one that had filled her with such a sense of belonging.
Samuel helped Amber walk outside. The other deputies had driven his truck to the hospital for him, and it was parked near the hospital entrance. Larry had run the key inside to him.
Amber was doing quite a bit better now, though she still clung to his arm for balance.
“I’m going to get you home and tuck you under a blanket on the couch and fix you a delicious ordered-in dinner.”
“My favorite kind.” She smiled up at him. “Your cooking skills are growing on me.”
He clicked his key fob and the truck unlocked. He opened the passenger door and then helped her in. “I’ll buckle the seat belt.”
“I’m not that much of an invalid.”
“Just let me take care of you today, okay? My wolf is feeling very protective. Let’s humor him.”
“All right.” She touched his face, and then kissed him.
He hugged her and breathed in the scent of her, and his wolf was content.
Samuel kissed her again, and then he came around and got in the truck.
As he turned onto his street, he looked her over one more time, just to reassure himself that she really was okay. “I’ll be glad to get you settled.”
She motioned ahead. “Looks like you still have company.”
He saw the vehicles parked at his house again — and swore. All the parents had returned. He turned the wheel. “I’ll take you to a motel.”
“No,” she said quietly, putting a hand on his arm. “It’s time to deal with it.”
Olivia met them on the front lawn, looking worried. “I’m so sorry, Samuel.”
Samuel nodded. “It’s time for them to listen to us.”
Olivia chewed on her bottom lip. “But what do we say to make them do that?”
Amber gave Olivia a hug and smiled. “We’ll tell them to pull up their big-werewolf pants and get over it.”
Olivia stared in disbelief, and then smiled.
Samuel snorted a laugh. “In those exact words?”
“If your words don’t work, yes.”
He glanced over at her and grinned. “You would, too.”
“Yes, I would.”
Olivia grinned devilishly and seemed much perkier. “I can hardly wait to hear you say it.”
“We won’t give her the chance. She’s had a long day already. You and I can handle this, Olivia. Together.”
They walked in, the three of them, to find the four parents sitting around his dining room table, discussing something earnestly.
Samuel took Amber’s hand — and Amber surprised him by reaching out for Olivia’s hand. Olivia nodded and took her hand. It looked like they were going to tell them together. All three of them.
* * *
Epilogue
Witches & Fairies & Trolls — Oh, My!
FOUR DAYS LATER, AMBER AND SAMUEL strolled through downtown Moonchuckle Bay, before finally taking that tour of the studio lot and checking out the dragon. She was even more intrigued now that she knew it was a real dragon. Samuel told her that sometimes it even breathed fire.
Chicory was the first to stop and chat with them. When she spotted the ring, she squealed. “You’re engaged?” She gave hugs all around. “I’m so excited for you.”
On the leash, Wolf danced around Chicory’s feet.
As they walked, they passed — or talked with — three witches in tall hats, a deputy whom she knew was a werewolf, and a fae woman with slightly pointed ears.
They stopped at Craved Ice. Jingle smiled knowingly. “You found your home and family.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“There’s more to come,” Jingle said intriguingly.
Amber looked up at her werewolf fiancé, happiness filling her heart. He was all hers.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her.
When he pulled back, her Protector — Henry, who’d been allowed special permission to walk around town as he kept protecting her — clapped his hands and then put his huge hand over his heart. The tourists loved him and wanted their pictures taken with him. He was enjoying his new fame.
This town was enchanting.
Moonchuckle Bay — Monster Movie Capital of the World.
And she got to live here, amongst the monsters, all year round. What could be better?
Witches and fairies and trolls — oh, my!
Wolf started barking and wouldn’t stop.
“What’s wrong, Wolf?” She knelt down to pet him.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light — and a little boy stood there.
Amber nearly fell over in surprise. Even Samuel blinked.
The little boy — naked as a werewolf — grinned tentatively up at them. “Hi.”
He looked about six years old, with strawberry blond hair and lots of freckles.
Amber unfolded her scarf — still hooked to the collar around his neck — and covered the pertinent parts. Amber said, “What’s your name?”
“Wolf.”
She smiled at him. “Your little boy name, I mean.”
“Oh, that. Grandpa called me Caleb.”
“Caleb. I like that. I bet he’s worried sick about you. And your parents, too.”
The little boy shook his head. “My parents died when I was just a pup. When my grandpa got sick, he got a potion from a witch to hide me until I found a good home.”
Amber exchanged a stunned glance with Samuel.
The little boy shrugged. “I’m all alone.”
Samuel knelt beside her. “Not anymore.” He looked at Amber, a question in his eyes.
She nodded, her heart full.
Samuel pulled the young boy closer, and they both hugged him.
She said, “If you want, you’re ours now.”
The little boy beamed up at them. “Can I call you Mom and Dad?”
“Only if we can call you son,” Samuel said.
The Happy Ending
Thank you!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read The Artist Cries Wolf, the first book in the Moonchuckle Bay light paranormal romance series. I love to write light-hearted, humorous stories to allow people to curl up with a good book. I had extra fun writing this book, and I hope you were extra entertained.
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Happy tales, Heather Horrocks
www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com
Author’s Note
For those of you who’ve already fallen in love with my Chick Flick Clique series, you’ll find the same sense of lighthearted small-town fun, friendship, and family — and even movies — in my new Moonchuckle Bay series, with an added sprinkle of fur, fangs, and fantasy!
The Werewolf Diet (a.k.a. Lunar Diet) is a real thing. Google it for a good laugh. It’s hilarious.
And, surprisingly enough, Shih Tzus and Tibetan terriers really are in the first four dogs listed in the top fourteen dog breeds that are closest, DNA-wise, to the wolf! That’s pretty funny. I’m looking at my little Shih Tzu with a new sense of respect.
Mental illness is such a difficult thing to categorize, as there is such a wild spectrum covered under that label, from the majority of people living perfectly normal lives to the small percentage of people who are violent criminals — like the subset of people with other disease who suffer the worst consequences, the diabetic who suffers a foot amputation or the person with MS who ends up in a wheelchair. Of necessity, I drew my villain from that tiny violent subset because I needed a villain, not a person living a perfectly normal life.
* * *
Book Club Questions
1. Do you believe in magic? What kinds of magic?
2. If you could have any magical talent or ability, what would it be?
3. Survivor’s guilt is a real thing that people have to struggle past. Have you known anyone who’s suffered with survivor’s guilt? Have you experienced it?
4. Amber has a stalker who is also part of her family by marriage, so she has very mixed feelings. Is there anyone in your extended family who you love but you have to stay away from because they’re toxic in some way?
5. Amber dealt with her She dealt with it by going into hiding. What would you have done differently? The same?
6. Moonchuckle Bay is the Monster Movie Capital of the World. What is your favorite monster movie and why? How old were you when you watched it? Who were you with?
7. Who was your favorite secondary character in this book? (I had several, but I had a fondness for Henry Scorchbottom, the troll.) 8. If you could go to lunch with any character in this book, who would it be? And which restaurant in Moonchuckle Bay would you like to go to?
9. Have you ever had a shock like Amber did when she learned her stepfather had escaped? Maybe not to that extent, but bringing out that same emotion?
10. What did you think of Wolf and his story?
About the Author Heather Horrocks is the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of numerous books (Moonchuckle Bay paranormal romances, Chick Flick Clique and Christmas Street romantic comedies, Who-Dun-Him Inn and Bad Mothers Club cozy mysteries, a novel in the unprecedented American Mail-Order Bride series, and the Women Who Knew inspirational books) plus an upcoming series for writers, sharing her unique character interview and amazing book-in-a-day system developed by plotting over seventy-five books with Diane Darcy, each in one day, with her Conspiracy Group (two or more people plotting together—some with Kristin Holt, others with Bruce Simpson, and others all by themselves). She is also the founder of Word Garden Press, a niche publisher of PG-rated fiction and non-fiction.
Raised overseas for her first seventeen years, she hid under the bed with her mother during a South American coup, waterskied through an oil slick in the Persian Gulf, partied with a Kuwaiti princess classmate, flew in and out of the blacked-out Cairo airport mere moments before it was bombed during the Six Day War, rode a camel (and ate a camel steak), crossed the finish line first at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park—and walked on hot coals—without getting burned!—at a firewalk workshop!
She loves all things whimsical and anyone who can make her laugh, which explains why she adores her witty husband, her clever children, her funny friends and sisters, Anne George mysteries, and her cute little dog Gus. She loves to cook for friends, siblings, and especially her children and their families. She and her husband reside in Utah. You can find her online at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.
Books by Heather Horrocks
MOONCHUCKLE BAY Paranormal Romantic Comedies: Jingle Belle (free book for signing up for newsletter), The Artist Cries Wolf, The Bridesmaid Earns Her Wings, The Director Gets a Grip, The Fireman Finds His Flame (Feb 2017), Elvis Gets His Groove Back (Mar 2017)
CHRISTMAS STREET Romantic Comedies: Bah, Humbug!, Kissing Santa, The Naughty List, Deck the Malls, boxed set Love on Christmas Street (#1, 2, & 3)
CHICK FLICK CLIQUE Romantic Comedies: Pride and Precipitation, A Hound Dog Named Elvis, Regally Blonde, A Pink Dog Named Fluffy (formerly titled Puppy Love), My Spare Lady, Movie Night at Candy’s Cafe (#1, 2, & 3), A Bulldog Named Desire, Fifty Shades of Greystoke, While You Were Stranded, Davidson and Goliath
WHO-DUN-HIM INN Cozy Mysteries: Snowed Inn, Inn the Doghouse, Inn the Family Way, Laugh Yourself to Death at the Who-Dun-Him Inn (#1, 2, & 3), The Czech’s Inn the Mail #4 (2017)
BAD MOTHERS CLUB Cozy Mystery Series: Murder is Misunderstood #1
INSPIRATIONAL: Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Women and Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, Women Who Knew the Great Jehovah (2017)
AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDE: Violet: Bride of North Dakota
OTHERS: How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini, Old Maid of Honor, Baby Mine
Receive two FREE STORIES for signing up for Heather’s New Release Newsletter at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my dear friend and USA Today Bestselling Author Diane Darcy for plotting with me. And, in this case, for bringing so much to that week in Harrisburg where we birthed our two new paranormal series. I love the books we plotted that week — and the worlds where we set them.
Thanks to Anissa Wall of Anissa Edits (http://www.anissaedits.com/) and Theresa Crouse of Magical Words Editing for bringing out the scrub buckets and cleaning my book-house from top to bottom.
Also thanks to my beta readers, who then come in and dust and clean up the cobwebs and the crumbs on the floor: Christine Hellewell Jensen, Desiree Rowe Taggard, Heidi Nielsen, Lois Sturdivant, Sara Mar, and Shauna Leigh Best.
Copyright © 2016 Heather Horrocks www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com
Word Garden Press
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
Cover Art Copyrights
Retro Theater Marquee © 2016 KeithBishop (istockphoto.com) Newlyweds © 2016 Nataniil (istockphoto.com)
Howling to the Full Moon © 2016 Wolf ElemenTxD (istockphoto.com)
Inside Graphics Copyrights
Halloween © 2016 luplupme (istockphoto.com)
Monster At The Window © 2016 Dean Murray (istockphoto.com)
All Rights Reserved
This includes the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions.
Work of Fiction
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.
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Previews
For previews of upcoming books by Heather Horrocks, to sign up for mailing list, to order personalized print copies, or for more information about the author, visit www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.
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