Part 12 (1/2)
And I use that word in a good way, considering her family roots and al .”
”Or is she just crazy about my lifestyle, my normal lifestyle that is a far cry from her family's? I feel like she's attracted to me because . . .”
”You're normal as blueberry pie.”
”Until I told her I was a werewolf. Weredog to be more accurate.”
T-Bone dropped a wrench back into the tool chest, the clank echoing through the garage. He stared at Rex. ”Are you out of your flea-bitten brain?”
”And I told her you were one, too, and that I needed her to get us out of this cursed situation by helping me out tonight.
I even gave her the directions.” Rex handed T-Bone a screwdriver. ”Then she threw me out.”
”And you're surprised? Her family's crazy as a bunch of waltzing pigs. She's had her fil . Maybe it's for the best. If you two get together for real, do you want to be dragged into that loony bin?”
Rex nodded at the Suburban. ”And who exactly does that piece of c.r.a.p belong to? You sure aren't working on it after hours for your health. You've got the hots for f.a.n.n.y Lou and everyone in town knows it.”
”Except f.a.n.n.y Lou,” groused T-Bone. ”Al I am to her is the local grease monkey. You're giving up too easy on Jane Louise. You need to talk to her. Find out how she real y feels about you now that she's had time to sit on what you went and told her.”
”Does the idea of your boyfriend being a werewolf improve over time?”
”Tonight's a ful moon and al the stars a man could want are out there to work al sorts of magic. A good evening to make things happen, least that was your plan. So go for it.
Find Jane Louise. Be a pity to let this night pa.s.s without even trying to get her to come around. How long have you been looking for the right girl? Someone who excites you, makes life worth living?”
”About as long as you have. But I have to know I excite her too.”
”Then don't just sit there like a b.u.mp on a log. Find out how the girl feels. Before tonight you were common as an old sweater to Jane. But hel , every man needs to embrace his wolf side now and then.” T-Bone faced the open door and the rising moon and let out a long low howl that came from the very depths of his soul.
”What in holy blazes was that?” Mamma asked, her evening cup of tea poised halfway to her mouth. ”Sounds like a . . .
wolf. And right here in Savannah.” She made the sign of the cross. ”Saints preserve us, what is this town coming to?”
Jane stopped spooning honey into her Earl Grey and stared out the window into the darkness, the silvery beams of the ful moon weaving in and out of the live oaks. She s.h.i.+vered. ”Impossible. Absolutely impossible,” she said to herself more than Mamma.
”You look as if you've seen a ghost.”
”Rex broke up with me today,” she said matter-of-factly.
”The big jerk,” she added because it was definitely a fact.
”And of al the excuses in the world he said he was a- you're going to love this-a werewolf.”
Mamma's eyes rounded. Not exactly the head-for-the-hil response Jane thought she'd get. Maybe the next news would get to Mamma. ”And that T-Bone and his cronies are werewolves, too. Something about crossing Minerva. Now I ask you, Mamma, if that isn't the most pitiful excuse for breaking up with a girl you ever heard? He knows I'd never buy such a story and that was an excuse to get rid of me and end the relations.h.i.+p. He succeeded. I thought Rex was more of a man than that. If he wanted to end things then he should just do it.”
”Minerva you say. And T-Bone? How . . . interesting.”
Mamma's eyes twinkled with some faraway look. What the heck was that? Where was the cry of unbelievable nonsense? The accusation of the man's out of his brain?
Instead Jane got, ”I never would have expected such a thing of T-Bone, but now that you mention it . . .” She smiled.
”Uh, we're talking werewolf, as in fiction and over the top even for the Garrisons. You know and I know there are no such things as werewolves, right, Mamma? Fiction.”
Mamma sipped her tea. ”Sweet pea, this is Savannah.
Stranger things have happened. Around here fiction and fact get mixed up al the time.” She absently ran her finger around the rim of the tea cup. ”Did you know werewolves are supposed to be magnificent lovers?”
Jane remembered Rex making love to her that afternoon and she dropped the Haviland china cup onto its saucer, cracking it smack down the middle. Her blood ran hot as the water in the kettle on the stove and her insides ached for . . . Rex.
Mamma stared straight ahead not so much as an eyebrow flinching at the dropped china. ”Wel , now, I'm guessing you do know al about that lover part firsthand.”
She stood and took her cup to the sink and rinsed it. ”I wonder how T-Bone is getting on with my Suburban? I suppose the least I can do is pay him a little visit tonight.”
Mamma straightened her shoulders, her eyes wistful as she glided out of the kitchen more than walked. ”Don't wait up now, you hear.”
”Mamma! What are you thinking? What are you going to do?” Jane fanned herself with the linen napkin but not because of what Mamma said or what was on her mind about T-Bone but what was on Jane Louise Garrison's mind about Rex. He was an incredible lover, not that she had al that much experience but she knew enough to tel the difference between wow and ugh and Rex was al wow!
She could feel him fondling her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, his mouth on the inside of her thighs, his erection pressing into her, slowly, deliberately, hard as steel, and unyielding. Her legs quivered and her heart nearly beat right through her blouse.
No man was that good in bed unless . . . unless . . . and suddenly there he was beside her, taking her hand and leading her out onto the porch. ”I didn't hear you come in.”
Incredible moonbeams fel over them, a mil ion stars dotted the sky. ”Because you were thinking of me, of us together,” he said in a low husky voice. Dear Lord, husky?
Least it wasn't Chihuahua or poodle. ”I want you to believe in me, to believe in us with al your heart.”
His gray eyes were liquid fire, his hands at her waist, warm and possessive. If he howled, she'd pa.s.s out cold.
”You want me to believe-”
”Yes.” His lips took hers in a hot kiss that was not canine and al man and seared her soul and stole her heart. ”I love you.” His hot breath mixed with hers. ”If you don't believe another thing, believe that. We belong together, and only you can make it happen. Feel with this.” He put his warm hand to her heart. ”And not this.” He kissed her forehead.
”Why are you doing this?”
”For love.”
She pushed herself out of his arms. ”I can't, Rex. I can't live this way. Maybe you do love me, maybe you don't want to break up but for sure you aren't the guy I thought you were either. What happened? Where's my Mr. Mel ow, the good old Rex? The Rex I fel in love with?”
”I'm right here, sweetheart. Take this leap of faith for us.”
Stepping back she shook her head. ”Do you know I never believed in Santa because it made no sense? A big fat guy coming down a skinny little chimney, no way. The tooth fairy? Who would give up good money for old teeth?
Fantasy is not me, Rex, and I didn't think it was you either.
You were so . . .”
”Logical. Predictable.”
”I've got to get out of here, I'm so confused. I'm losing my mind. Maxwel ! Maxwel , where are you, baby?”