“Can Jake play the guitar for you?”
He chuckled. “Sure. I bet I could talk him into that.”
“Okay, what do you want me to do?”
“Can you make yourself invisible and float around the property and see if a female werewolf is here? In either her wolf or human form? She smells like the perfume Dior Diorella — mostly Sicilian lemon and honeysuckle — that she mistakenly thought was my favorite. She still wears it.” He’d smelled it at the theater.
“I can do that.”
“Thank you, Evelyn. I appreciate it.”
She beamed happily. “I’ll go right now.”
She faded into nothingness, but the off-key humming sound of “Caught in a Trap” moved toward the back door.
“You have to stop humming or she’ll hear you coming.”
“Oh, right.”
The house went silent. Eerily so. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
After a few moments, when nothing happened, he pulled out his phone and cast some music onto the speakers. Some Elvis songs. That ought to entice Virginia closer, if anything could.
She’d been president of one of his many fan clubs. She was the most fanatical of all his fans. Ever. Evelyn was a mere annoyance compared to the psychotic attentions of Virginia Kennedy.
He turned up the music and started gyrating to the pulsing beat, while waiting for Virginia to attack. She’d be able to see him through the windows.
After a while, Evelyn re-appeared. “I didn’t see her.” She looked really sad, probably because he wouldn’t be singing her three songs.
He held out a hand and said, “Dance with me, Evelyn.”
So the ghost smiled and started to boogie, flickering around the room.
After three more songs, Elvis stopped. Evelyn stopped, as well.
Virginia hadn’t done anything. Yet.
The waiting was going to get to him.
What If You Don’t Win First Place?
THREE DAYS LATER, VIRGINIA STILL hadn’t made another move. It was driving Elvis crazy.
Nora Daniels, one of the female werewolves — a blonde who looked like and was dressed like Charlie — drove out to the house, along with Nicholas Noel, a half-werewolf/half-snow pixie who’d been accepted into the pack several years ago.
When Nicholas had first arrived, he’d been convinced that his lineage was defective — he’d been called “halfsie,” an insulting label meaning only half werewolf. It had been good to see him become more confident in general and feel more a part of the pack.
The bad news was that Nick now felt so much a part of the pack that he liked to tease the others in the pack — which is why he told Elvis, “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog.”
Nora laughed. She’d been in the pack for longer than Elvis, but he hadn’t dared ask her age. She looked thirty, as many of them did.
She asked, “What have you tried so far?”
So Elvis told them what he and Gene had done so far. How he’d come out, turned on all the lights, played his music, and danced, all in an effort to entice Virginia to the house. But she hadn’t fallen for it.
“So now what?” Nicholas asked.
“Now Nora plays the part of Charlie.”
“I’m bait, too,” Nora said, motioning to the the clothes similar to Charlie’s.
He watched Nora turn, and a pang of heartache hit him. He missed Charlie like crazy. Nora was cute enough, but she didn’t have the spark of magic he felt around Charlie.
Charlie.
He couldn’t get her out of his mind. It had been three days, and he wanted to see her, to talk to her.
He could at least call her. Apologize. Let her know he wanted to keep her safe.
Pulling out his cell phone, he called her. It rang. Again. Several more times — and then he got the message for voicemail.
He hung up, disappointed. She was probably too hurt. Maybe she didn’t want to talk to him again.
He couldn’t bear that thought. He missed her and wanted her back.
Did that mean he loved her? He didn’t know. He just knew that something in him ached for her.
He turned to the other werewolves. “I’m going back into town. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “We’re supposed to stay with you.”
“That’s okay. I can drive into town.”
Nora shook her head. “Gene told us to stick by your side like glue.”
She leaned against his side to prove her point. And Nicholas, traitor that he was, walked to his other side.
Elvis said, “This will make it hard to walk.”
The others laughed and unglued themselves.
Nora smirked. “So you want to see your girl?”
“I don’t have a girl.”
“Whatever, old wolf,” Nora said, though she was older than he was.
Noah laughed. “Okay, let’s make a girlfriend run with Elvis.”
Nora said, I never thought we’d ever say anything like that.”
From her place at the desk in Amber’s kitchen, Charlie could hear what was going on in the household.
Amber was getting Caleb ready for school and Samuel was eating his breakfast at the dining room table nearby when the doorbell rang.
She and Samuel exchanged glances. Motioning her to stay, he rose, moving toward the door.
She hated that she had to be protected by everyone. She was glad to have it, but sorry it had come to this.
Maybe she should just tell them what she was — or show them. She could subdue almost anyone who wished to hurt her, though some supernaturals were more immune than others. And, apparently, as Homer described in the Odyssey, people could blunt the effect of a Siren Song by putting beeswax in their ears.
She wanted a home here, in this town, with these people.
Suddenly, agitation that wasn’t her own filled her heart. Anxiety. Worry. And, surprisingly, calm.
Elvis...?
She stood and heard that voice — the one that did things to her insides. It was Elvis.
When she heard the two men moving toward her, she sat back down quickly, and focused on the papers she’d been going through.
“Charlie, you have a visitor,” Samuel said.
She looked up and forced herself not to react. It was Elvis, all right — but she needed to remember that this was the man who’d left her behind, who wasn’t interested in her. “I thought you’d gone back home.”
“I did,” Elvis said. “But there are a few things I need to say to you.”
Behind Elvis, Samuel nodded at her, so she said, “All right. You have five minutes.”
She remained sitting, so Elvis pulled a dining room chair over next to her. He didn’t touch her, but he didn’t need to. His calming spirit wrapped itself around her.
He looked serious. “I need to apologize.”
That was not what she expected. “Yes,” she agreed warily.
He reached out and took one of her hands in his — and she let him do it. The warmth of his hands sent tingles through her. “I gave you the impression that I didn’t care about you and that’s why I was going back home without you.”
“Yes.”
“That wasn’t the reason. Until we find the woman who’s after me, I want to keep you safe. Because I do care about you a great deal. I will come back for you as soon as we find Virginia, but I can’t take you home with me until it’s safe for you.”
The icy hurt in her heart melted just a little. “You just wanted to keep me safe?”
He nodded. “Whatever this is we have, don’t give up on me. I want to get to know you better.”
“Why?”
Her word came out soft, and his lips quirked into a smile. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you. I have two werewolves out in the truck right now who I forced to come into town with me because I had to see you and clear up the misunderstanding between us.”
She could feel her own lips quirking into a smile. “And have we
?”
“Not until you say you forgive me.”
She looked at Elvis, at the face millions of women had adored while he was alive, at the more relaxed hair, the trimmed partial beard and goatee, all of which highlighted his eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes with green flecks, eyes that had seen too much sorrow, eyes filled with caring and concern. For her.
How could she stay mad at him? Especially now that he’d explained.
She squeezed his hand and shot him a smile. “I forgive you.”
He let out a long breath. “Thank you.”
“Now what?” she asked.
“I’m going to give you all of my contact numbers — cell, email address, anything I can think of. And then I’m going to kiss you.”
A kiss, huh? That made her body perk up.
He kept his eyes focused on her as he released her hand and took a sheet of paper and pen off the desk, wrote down his information, folded it, and placed it into her hand.
Then he scooted his chair closer, wrapped an arm about her, and kissed her senseless!
Elvis Smith Presley was a great kisser!
When he pulled back, he nodded. “I don’t know if you feel what I do, but my heart is full right now.”
“Mine, too.” She was glad she wasn’t the only one.
Her heart was happy — and peaceful — and she knew she was falling for him. And, apparently the feeling was mutual.
He kissed her again and said his goodbyes.
As he left the house and Charlie moved to the window to watch him, Amber and Samuel joined her.
Amber put a hand on her shoulder. “Elvis is a good guy. I’m so glad you two are a couple.”
Charlie asked, “Has he dated much since he’s been a werewolf?”
“I’ve known him for thirty-five years,” Samuel said, “and this has never happened before. He’s whooped on you.”
“Whooped, huh?” Charlie smiled.
It had never happened to her, either.
Relieved and feeling calm again, Elvis took his leave of the beautiful Charlie.
He climbed back into the pack truck with Nora in the middle and Nicholas by the window.
Nora smiled at him sweetly. “Can you manage to focus on work now?”
He looked at her. “Yes.”
“Great Icicles!” Nicholas rolled his eyes. “It’s about time!”
“You talked to her, right, and you’re okay now?” Nora persisted.
“Yes.”
“You know what’s wrong with you?”
Elvis looked at Nora. “What do you mean?”
“She means you’re in love,” Nicholas said with a grin.
“Yeah,” Nora said. “That’s exactly what I mean, you idiot.”
“I am,” Elvis admitted. “I am in love.”
“Old news,” Nora said.
“Just don’t pass this news on, please.” When she made a zipping-her-lips-shut motion, Elvis said, “Thanks.”
Nicholas said, “I’ll only tell Jingle.” They both looked at him, and he raised his hands. “Just joking. Your love life secrets are safe with me. Sheesh.”
“Okay, Nora and I will drive back to my place. You’re going in undercover, Nicholas.”
“Paws on the ground. Got it.”
As he drew closer to his house, Elvis could see that the front door was wide open. He clenched the steering wheel tight as he made the final turn.
Nora swore. “Do you suppose Virginia’s been here?”
They clambered out, taking defensive poses.
Was Virginia still here?
Why wasn’t she coming here when he was here? He’d practically put himself on the hook to reel her in — only she hadn’t taken the bait.
The two of them moved carefully toward the house, both holding weapons. Nicholas, still in wolf form, joined them and he shifted back to human.
No one shot at them or attacked them. The place was eerily quiet as they slipped inside and fanned out. Nicholas made hand motions, sending Elvis to check the bedrooms and Nora to the kitchen, while he swiftly took the stairs.
Evelyn stood in his bedroom, wringing her ghostly hands. “She was here. I tried to stop her, but I couldn’t.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Evelyn. Thanks for trying.”
Five minutes later, they were back in the kitchen. They’d closed the doors and secured the house and ascertained that no one was here.
Some things had been smashed — glasses in the kitchen, a bag of flour dumped all over. And the intruder had written You’re mine in the flour on the counter.
“Why’d she come when we were gone?” Elvis asked the other two. “Was it just coincidence? I mean, I was here for three days and she didn’t come.”
Nora shook her head. “I think you’re going to have to sweeten the pot for her. Dangle something before her that she really wants.”
“She wants Elvis,” Nicholas said.
“She wants me to sing,” Elvis clarified quietly.
“Everybody wants you to sing,” Nora said.
Elvis pulled out his phone. “I’m calling Gene.” When the alpha answered, he said, “She’s been here, while we were gone for an hour. The place is trashed.”
“That’s not good. The vampires called and told me to get my house in order. They’re worried this is going to put too much attention on all of us supernaturals. We’ve got to capture her.”
Elvis knew what Virginia wanted. She wanted him, but even more, she wanted him to sing. For her. He was going to have to break his vow, in order to entice the most vile female werewolf on the face of the planet to try to take him.
Elvis said, “Tell the vampires to put their fangs where their mouths are. Bring some vampires and our pack to karaoke night at Fangs tonight. I’ll sing for her. That ought to lure her in. Announce it on the radio and social media.”
“Are you sure?” Of all people, Gene knew what Elvis was offering to do.
Resolute, Elvis said, “Yes.”
“All right.”
Elvis hung up, straightened his shoulders, and let his rage at Virginia Kennedy fill him. She’d done to him what no one should do. Turned him against his will. Torn him from his life and family. Caged him for five years while he raged in his wolf form. And then expected him to sing for her.
He stormed to the back veranda and yelled out into the night. “I’m going to sing for you tonight, Virginia. Just for you. At Fangs at eight. Elvis Karaoke night. I will sing. Just for you. Be there.”
And then he heard it. A delighted gasp from the woods.
Nicholas joined him. “You’re going to sing Karaoke with Elvis impersonators?”
Nora drawled, “What if you don’t win first place?”
The Dust Settled
CHARLIE WAS STILL FLOATING ON a cloud two hours after Elvis had kissed her. Amber teased her, but she didn’t care.
Elvis cared for her. And she was falling for him.
When her phone rang, she checked it, hoping it was Elvis.
It was an unknown number and she debated not answering, but figured he might be using someone else’s phone for some reason. “Hello?”
“Is this Charlie Melodi?” a woman’s husky voice asked.
“Yes,” she answered warily.
“I’m calling on behalf of the Moonchuckle Bay Pack alpha, Gene Winston. He wants you to meet him in town. He has some important information to pass on to you.”
“I’ll tell Amber.”
“No. He specified that he wants to talk with you alone.”
“Is Elvis all right?”
“Oh, yes, he’s fine. Can I pick you up in fifteen minutes? Can you slip out? He doesn’t want to worry his daughter-in-law.”
Hmmm. That didn’t sound suspicious at all. But Charlie played along in case Gene really did want to talk with her. “Okay. I’ll call Elvis and tell him.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already let him know.”
“So he’ll be there too?” Charlie asked.
“Yes. Plea
se hurry. Gene said it was important. Elvis is going to sing at Fangs tonight at eight. He wants you there beside him.”
Stunned, Charlie paused. Elvis was going to sing tonight? And he wanted her there? Touched, but still wary, she said, “Okay.”
“You’ll need to walk out to the main gates of Wolfsbane.”
“On my way,” Charlie said. She would definitely check out the woman before getting in the car. Just in case it was Virginia.
“Good. I’m in a black Subaru.”
Charlie hung up and called for Amber — she wanted reinforcements. Amber didn’t answer and Charlie couldn’t find her in the house. So she’d have to do this on her own.
She slipped out the front door, and headed toward the main gate.
She wanted to see Elvis again. Maybe get another kiss. Definitely get another kiss. But the more she thought about it, she knew he wouldn’t sing. So this was bogus.
Swiftly, she walked the few blocks toward the gate. Soon she could see the gatehouse — and the black car, parked half a block farther.
A hand grabbed her arm, and Charlie spun, ready to defend herself.
It was Amber, looking worried. “Where are you going?”
“Gene had a woman call me. She said she’s picking me up and taking me to listen to Elvis sing.”
“That doesn’t sound like Gene. He does his own calling.”
“That’s what I thought, so I tried to find you to come out with me and check it out.”
“I was in the shed along the back edge of our property.” Amber scowled. “Where is this woman?”
Charlie turned and pointed to the car she could see parked — and the car peeled out.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Amber said. “I’m going to call Gene.”
Charlie stared after the car. “Did Virginia just try to kidnap me?”
“Yes,” Amber said. “I’m sure of it.”
Adrenaline hit Charlie and she shivered. Good thing she’d been wary — and that Amber had shown up.
Amber put her call on speaker and Charlie could hear ringing. Two rings later, Gene said, “What’s up?”
Amber exchanged a worried look with Charlie. “A woman just called and said you’d asked her to pick up Charlie and take her to listen to Elvis sing. She’s bogus, right?”
Elvis Gets His Groove Back (Moonchuckle Bay Romantic Comedy #5 Page 8