Doe and the Wolf (Furry United Coalition, #5) (5 page)

They seated themselves in the corner of the restaurant at opposite ends of a worn leather booth, the cushions bandaged with duct tape. He waited for the waitress to dump a pair of plastic-coated menus before bombarding her with questions.

“So, Dawn, what’s the scoop? Why are you considered a menace to society?”

Her nose scrunched. “I’d hardly call myself a menace.”

“Says the girl who left me tied to a bed.”

“Oh, please. I’m sure it’s not the first time.” Her sly innuendo had her ducking her head, but she couldn’t hide her smirk. Shy, demure with a touch of mischievous. He was liking her more and more.

“No, not the first time, but usually the lady in question sticks around to enjoy her handiwork.”

The comment made her squirm in her seat. “I’m not that kind of girl.”

“A shame.” Really, it was. “But enough teasing, and avoiding the question. Why is it you’re wanted? Are you a traitor to shifter kind? A spy? A serial killer masquerading as a cute and harmless woodland creature?”

“How about none of the above?”

“There’s got to be a reason they’re offering such a substantial reward for your return.”

“Ever gotten screwed for being in the wrong place at the right time?”

More like the right place at the right time, but he nodded so she’d continue.

“They want me because of an accident. A few months ago, some hyena and a rat snagged me as I was coming home from work. Knocked me out cold. When I woke, I was in some cage, prisoner of someone called Mastermind.”

“The rodent who wanted to rule the world?”

“Yes. That’s her. The crazy critter kidnapped a bunch of us. I was lucky. The FUC crew arrived to the rescue only a few weeks into my incarceration, just before they were about to start me on some experimental drugs.”

“What were they doing prior to that?”

“Analyzing me. They ran a gamut of tests on me; blood, exercise, stress, and more, so they could know everything about me before they started the trial drug runs. They wanted ‘before’ results so they could compare them to the ‘after’ ones. But after never came. Not at the institution where I was held prisoner at any rate.”

“So you lucked out. Why weren’t you released when FUC raided and saved you all?”

“I was injured during the attack. Nothing huge. A stray bullet caught me in the temple. She brushed back her hair and showed him a scarred, white furrow. “It caused temporary amnesia so they kept me in a secure location to treat me with the other rescued prisoners. I remembered who I was just before the fateful night when Mastermind injected us all with a chemical cocktail.”

“Bummer.”

“Big bummer. A lot of the patients went crazy that night from the drug. They killed the nurses and guards. Went on a wild rampage. During the chaos, I escaped.”

“Did you go wild too?”

“A little, but not murderously so. I just knew I had to get out of there. To escape. My animal took over, and I blacked out for a while.”

“What about when you came to your senses? Why didn’t you return?”

She slumped on her elbows. “I thought about it, but then it occurred to me, why should I? It was because of FUC I’d ended up worse off than before. If they’d caught on to Mastermind even just a day before, I wouldn’t have gotten injected and...”

“And what?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

Their waitress returned, notepad in hand. They placed their order but remained silent because their server returned immediately with their drinks, coffee for him, a giant vanilla milkshake for her.

He went at her from a different angle. “You aren’t the only fugitive in the woods. I came across something else, some kind of lizard.”

“You mean Joey?”

“I don’t know who or what the hell he is other than nasty, about eight feet tall and very freaking hungry.”

“Sounds like Joey. He started out as a gecko and used to be an all right sort of fellow, I guess. He lived in a jail cell a few up from me. As far as I recall, he was pretty quiet, a docile type of guy who wouldn’t even eat a fly. At least the old Joey wouldn’t. But that’s what the injection did to him. The drug, on top of everything else Joey suffered at Mastermind’s hand, turned him into a science project gone horribly wrong.”

“So you’ve seen him?”

“Glimpses. Mostly I avoided him. Joey knew I was in the woods but left me alone. I take it you didn’t enjoy the same luck?”

“Nope. It’s how I ended up on the shore of that river where you found me.”

“And should have left you,” she grumbled under her breath before sucking on the straw of her milkshake. Pursed lips, cheeks hollowed, she brought to mind something he really shouldn’t be thinking of in a public restaurant. Thank the full moon the table hid his inevitable boner.

“If the cocktail mutated this harmless Joey fellow into a monster, what did it do to you? You said it changed you, and yet you seem perfectly normal.”

“I am. More or less. It’s my deer side that’s changed.”

“Enough that FUC thinks you’re a threat to society.”

“I’m not a danger.”

“So you claim.”

“So I know.”

“Then why won’t you tell me what it did to you?”

“Because.”

“Because why?” he pressed.

She growled.

Her. A doe. Growling at him, a wolf. Seriously? “What the hell was that?”

“Please stop. You’re aggravating my animal.”

Aggravating a deer to the point she threatened him? He almost laughed, but given the expression on her face—part frightened, part crazy—he held off for now. “All right, little doe, but this isn’t over.” Not by a long shot. Far from convincing him to back down with her threat, now, more than ever, he wanted to know what she hid.

The waitress arrived with two plates heaped high. He’d gone for a chicken club sandwich with fries and onion rings while Dawn got the half-pound burger, medium rare, garnished with the works, accompanied by fries, onion rings, and gravy. Forget the stereotypical woman, or doe, eating a light salad. There was enough grease on her plate to stop a heart in its tracks.

As she inhaled her steaming food—good grief the woman could eat!—his cell phone vibrated in his jean pocket. Everett dug it out and checked the display before answering. “Hey, Tom.”

“I’m bored. Are we done watching for the deer yet? I’m tired of sitting in my car when I’ve got a perfectly good bed calling my name at home. You lost her, dude. Get over it.”

Eyeing the
her
in question, Everett debated how to reply. “You’re right. It’s a lost cause. Why don’t you head back to your place? I’m just going to grab some dinner then I’ll be hitting the hay as well. We’ll regroup in the morning.”

A groan came through his phone’s speaker. “Not more deer watching?”

“Nope. I’m done looking for her. It’s time we planned our attack on the monster.”

“Me and my big mouth,” Tom grumbled. “Fine. But, just so you know, I think we should have stuck to human bail jumpers. It’s safer.”

Safer, easier, and boring. Tom could complain all he wanted, but he’d help hunt the monster because the sloth possessed a strong sense of civic duty. To shifters at least.

Everett hung up and tucked his phone away. When his gaze strayed to Dawn, he found her staring at him.

“Why didn’t you tell your friend you found me?”

Good question, one he didn’t have a clear answer to. He shrugged. “He didn’t need to know.”

She nibbled on a fry, again conjuring an image of what else she could nibble on. At this rate, he’d need an ice pack to settle his dick down.

“What are you? You said before you weren’t a FUC agent, but you weren’t in that forest by chance, and you’re pretty well informed for a civilian, even a shifter one.”

“I’m a fugitive recovery agent.”

She stared at him blankly.

“I catch escaped criminals and collect the bounties on them when I bring them back to the proper authorities.”

“Oh. So that’s why you were in the woods. You were looking to capture me and make some money.”

“You, the gecko, and any other shifters on the FUC wanted list.” No point in lying.

“How much are they offering for me?”

“A decent chunk, but I’m not planning on collecting it.” Whoa. Wait a second. Since when? He hated it when his mind made decisions for him without letting him know first.

She seemed equally surprised. “You’re not?”

“Not yet at any rate. But don’t think this means I’m letting you go free. I might not be working for FUC, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to let you run loose, not without making sure you’re not dangerous first.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

He couldn’t help a toothy grin. “You and I are about to become close friends.” Joined at the hip or, if lucky, much more
interesting
places.

Her slim brows drew together. “I’m afraid I still don’t understand.”

“You, my little doe, will be coming home with me.”

I
f I end up as dinner, I’ll only have myself to blame.

Dawn peered around the obviously masculine living room and wondered once again how he’d convinced her to come here, smack dab in the wolf’s lair.
Have I completely lost my mind?

When Everett had initially told her he intended to bring her to his home, she’d laughed, so hard she practically fell off her chair, only to realize he was quite serious. What surprised her more than his intention was how easily she’d acquiesced. Belly full, more relaxed than she’d felt in weeks, and, oddly enough, entertained by the attractive male, she found herself agreeing, with a few conditions.

One, she got her own bed, in this case his bed, since he only owned one. He’d sleep on the couch. Two, he was to tell no one of her presence. Three, once she proved she was harmless, he’d let her go. Where, she still had no idea, but so long as it didn’t involve a jail cell, or more doctors, she was pretty easy. Just not the kind of easy he hoped for.

“Welcome to the Wolf’s Den,” Everett announced from behind her.

“More like the three pigs’ sty.” She wrinkled her nose as she turned to face him. “When was the last time you tidied the place or thought to use a vacuum?”

“I’ve been busy.”

Bending down, she snagged a pizza box with a receipt taped to the top. “This was bought almost four months ago.”

A red flush inched its way to his cheeks. “So the place could use a little help.”

“Little? Try a lot. You’ve got some fuzzy stuff in here that’s about ready to splinter off and start a colony.”

“Excuse me for lacking housekeeping skills,” he snapped defensively.

“Then hire someone.”

“I haven’t had the time.”

But she did, for the moment. “I’ve got a deal for you. Since I’m going to need some money for when I leave, how about I clean the place for you in exchange for a paycheck?”

“Isn’t keeping you safe, feeding you, and giving you the pleasure of my company enough?”

She snorted. “No.” She waved a hand around. “Considering I’m exposing myself to all kinds of probably toxic substances and possible mutant life, I’d say you’re getting off cheap.”

“Fine. I’ll pay you. I never knew deer were so stubborn.”

“My great grandfather was a mule.”

The bark of laughter and subsequent smile on Everett’s face just about stopped her heart. Gosh, he was cute. Hair sticking out in all directions or not, scruffy beard on his chin, sideburns that should have looked dumb but didn’t. Wearing disreputable clothes that had probably never seen better days, he was everything she usually avoided in a man. Yet, she couldn’t deny his appeal.

Unlike her preppy ex-boyfriends, always perfectly well behaved and dressed, Everett was a wild one. He didn’t temper his comments, didn’t give a damn about appearances, and didn’t treat her like a delicate princess. It was refreshing, attractive, and confusing. Given the turmoil in her life right now, the last thing she needed was to form an attachment, even one she didn’t intend to pursue, especially for a male who admitted he’d initially planned to turn her in for money. As for his current intentions... The hunger in his eyes plainly said he wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of her, an erotic bite. Eep!

He gave her the grand tour of his small bungalow, each room just as messy as the living room. The kitchen was a write-off. No way was she eating anything in there until it got a Lysol bomb. The most surprisingly clean location was his bathroom. She could actually see the floor in there. As for his bedroom...

“Welcome to the love cave,” he purred, as he swept out an arm and gestured her in.

“Ugh. Please don’t tell me that line actually works?” Hard to believe with the piles of laundry heaped all over.

“Actually, I’m more of a sleep-over type of guy.”

“Of course you are. It’s much easier to ignore a woman the next day if she doesn’t know where you live.”

He clutched his chest and staggered. “Ouch! That was cruel, little doe.”

“Sorry.” Not. He was a womanizer and made no bones about it.

“I know how you can make it better.” He waggled his brows.

She pursed her lips. “By making sure you don’t need a tetanus shot. This place is a biohazard. I might have to ask for a supplement on my paycheck given the danger.”

He growled. “I am really beginning to question my decision to bring you here instead of straight to the FUC lockup.”

“A deal’s a deal.”

“Lucky for you, I’m a wolf of my word.”

Lucky indeed. Dawn knew she should stop baiting Everett. He was, after all, keeping to his side of the bargain so far by not turning her in. But teasing him came so easily, and she got the impression he didn’t actually mind it. As she gingerly stepped around the strewn clothing, putting some space between her and the wolf, she asked. “Do you have any clean sheets?”

“Maybe. Somewhere.” For some reason her request seemed to fluster him. “Listen, I’ve got to go out for a little while. Will you be all right if I leave you alone?”

She couldn’t help arching a brow. “I don’t need a baby sitter.”

“I wasn’t implying you did. I was more wondering if I can trust you to stay here and not run. Or do I need to take you with me?”