Book 1 - Page 16 (2/2)

“Idiot hopped-up human.”

They looked at the next message. Hey, Mystic Red. Want to be my sweet thing? Don’t you just hate zoos? If I could, I’d free all of the wild animals. And eat the grazers. I never did catch your name, so guess Rosa will have to do for now. Email me and we can arrange to get together. Sooner than later. Lovesick in Oregon. Al

She shuddered. “Alfred.”

Devlyn looked back at her, all at once his posture dark and wolfishly protective. “What?”

“He’s the one from the zoo. The one who wanted me.”

“Red lupus garou,” he muttered. “d.a.m.n it, Bella, what if he’s the killer?”

“What if he is? We could catch him then.”

The email butler, dressed in his tux, walked across the screen and then stopped and faced them. “You’ve got mail, Madam.”

Devlyn clicked on the next message.

Hey, Rosa, I posted to your old message. Guess you were afraid I wouldn’t catch it. So how about a date? A romp through the Cascades? Email me. Al

Devlyn rose from his chair and shoved it aside. “I don’t like this guy.”

“He’s smaller than you. You can beat him if we get into a bind.”

His expression turned stormy. “d.a.m.n it, Bella. You think I can only whip smaller guys?”

The darkness in his voice startled her. She hadn’t meant to cut his masculinity in half. She touched his lightly haired chest. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant you could protect me.”

“Like h.e.l.l you did. You think I can only whip a smaller red’s a.s.s but that I’d buckle under when the compet.i.tion’s a little more my size.” With his long stride, he stormed off to the bedroom.

She fought chasing after him to console him. It wasn’t their way, and he wouldn’t appreciate it. It would emasculate him all the more. Her stomach clenched into knotted ribbon. d.a.m.n lupus garou male pride.

Turning to the computer, she typed in a reply. Hi, Al, hadn’t seen your previous response. Meet me tonight at the Papagalli’s Dance Club. See you there at seven. Rosa

The response was immediate. Hey, Rosa, what’s your real name? Al

Had he been waiting for her response all of this time? Desperate to get in touch with her? Or was he an Internet junkie too?

She stared at the question. What was her real name? She typed: Rosa.

All right, Rosa it is. I’ll play the game for now. Don’t you think a place a little less crowded would be better? Al

Having no intention of meeting loverboy in private, she tapped her fingers on the desk, considering the best response. I love Papagalli’s. Besides, I believe in courts.h.i.+p, don’t you? Rosa

Whatever you want, Rosa. But. . . I don’t believe in long courts.h.i.+ps. See ya, sweet thing. Al

Then a new message popped up. Male rufus lupus seeking female. Have cabin in the Cascades for hunting and wild romps in the woods. Where can we meet? Charlie

She reread the message. Was it just some nutty human? Hey, Charlie! What do you prefer to hunt? Rosa

Deer. What about you? Charlie

How about two-legged mammals? How about redheaded women? Are you the killer, Charlie? She tucked her hair behind her ear and then typed, A male rufus lupus. Rosa

I like a lupus with a sense of humor. Can we have lunch this afternoon? Charlie

Don’t you work? Rosa

A significant pause followed. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Come on, come on. Let me know what you do.

Independently wealthy. But ifyou’re working... maybe tonight? Charlie

Liar. Do you know Papagalli’s? Rosa The dance club? Charlie Yep. Make it for seven? Rosa The more the merrier.

See you there. Oh, what will you be wearing? Charlie Something black. And you? Rosa Something to match. Charlie

Most everyone wore black to the club, and she had no plan to stick out. Another lupus would smell her scent.

Humans wouldn’t have a clue as to who she was, and best to leave it that way.

The kitchen door to the garage slammed shut, sending her heart skittering. Jumping up from the chair, she nearly knocked it over in her haste and headed for the garage. She didn’t believe Devlyn would run off and expose himself to the world while the police were looking for them just because she’d angered him. She yanked the door open.

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