She's All Mine (Mine #1) (11 page)

He remembered the strange mind link “Kevin we love you,” was all they said. There was nothing left of their body's, everything was reduced to rubble. What were the odds that they would get hit by a fuel truck? All he had left, were two empty graves.

After wiping the tears from his eyes he got ready for bed. Kevin relived that night all over again in his dreams and asked himself the same question. “If only I could go back and go with them. Maybe, if I was driving home. They would still be alive?”

Keep reading for an excerpt from

AMIMALISTIC

By: Elena Moreno

Heather couldn’t help but glare at the strong man pacing back and forth in front of her. “Heather honey, I’m serious. It’s way past time for you to get your own life. I mean seriously, look around.” He stated while waving his arms wildly in all directions. She tried not to look around knowing exactly what she would see. “Look at yourself, how many animals do you have? You’re starting to scare me.”

            On the plus side, this intervention did not include her younger sister Pricilla or Percy as they like to call her. That was only because she was handling business out in Texas. That left her alone to deal with her brother. Looking down she stroked Mittens on his back as he purred on her lap, while Fluffy slept content to her left.

            “Sis, I don’t want to be mean to you but do you realize you are two cats away from being just like Mrs. Mellows. You remember the crazy cat lady neighbor we had while growing up. What did she have, ten cats?” He turned around and started counting her cats.

            She could see his lips moving as he rattled off “Mittens, Fluffy, Meowmix, Cheetah and last but not least Raven.” She ignored the curse words that followed the last name. Raven was his least favorite. He was the only male in a harem of all females. Raven took his job seriously and seemed to always have her back when she was being bothered.

            He loved to climb the fridge in the kitchen and dive bomb Jason and Percy. Heather found it hilarious. Her brother and sister on the other hand, did not. “Five damn cat’s Heather, I’d say that puts you well on your way to crazy cat lady status. For God’s sake woman, you’re going to be 27 years old in a couple of months. It’s time you started living your life and found yourself a man. I’m already 24 and Percy is going to be 23, your commitment to us has been over for years now.”

            Heather could feel the unwanted tears make their way down her cheek. She understood what her siblings were trying to do. It was just the fact that well; she wasn’t ready to move on. She didn’t know how to move on. Once upon a time, Heather had been in love and thought it was a happily ever after kind of love. Yet when the going got tough after her parents death. The so called love of her life, did not like coming in second to her siblings.

             He had the nerve to give her an ultimatum, him or them. It broke Heathers heart to let him go. Yet she didn’t need a person in her life that couldn’t understand the priorities in her life had changed. Now her she was, 26 years old and successful. Yet strangely in her own way happy.  She hugged fluffy to her chest and closed her eyes, figuring it may not be the right time to tell Jason she was thinking of keeping that little beagle that was brought in last week.

            After wiping her eyes, Heather met her brothers’ gaze. “Jason, I love you so much for worrying about me.  As you so boldly stated, I am a 26 year old woman. I am old enough to live my life as I choose and don’t need you guys telling me when I need a man. So unless you want me to start medaling into your love life, which seems to be busy enough for the both of us. I suggest you drop this conversation. Oh, and tell your sister too. I don’t want to have to repeat myself again later.”

***********

            Jason looked at Heather in disbelief as it sank in that he was being dismissed. He stomped away muttering about her pigheadedness as he made for the door. Too bad Jason failed to notice Raven was at the top of the scratching post waiting to pounce on the male human who dared make his mistress cry. The ferocious “Meeeeooowwww” was the only thing Jason heard before he felt the four legged beast wrap around his head.

            “What the hell!” Jason screamed as Heather leaped off her couch and ran to him. Lucky for Jason the cat had covered his face with its little body. Unlucky for Jason, that meant the little critters claws were now imbedded in his scalp.

     “His face is to pretty for scars,” the felines had insisted. Once he felt his mistress Heathers hands on him. Raven retracted his claws and let her cuddle and sooth him. Raven was not happy she was also trying to sooth that mean male human Jason. He had made his human cry and for that, the male had to pay.  When she placed him back on the floor Raven ran to meet up with the rest of the furry felines. They all high fived him after Heather had taken her brother into the kitchen.

******

     Jason was very angry as he made his way into the clinic. Damn that stupid cat and his need to use him as a scratching post. He could feel the trickles of blood on his scalp. The little bugger sure did a number on him this time. “Thank goodness he didn't get the face.” He had a hot date that night and didn't want to deal with any marks on his face. However, Jason did hope he'd get claw marks on his back, but of the female variety.

     He smirked sure as hell knowing Heather and Percy would have his head, if he ever voiced half the crap that came into his mind. The thought of luscious Candy inspired nothing more than a rump over or under his sheets. Whistling, Jason made his way to one of the consultation rooms and proceeded to take out the things needed to care for his injuries.

     As Jason bent over the sink. One of the assistants came in. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?" Came the question from behind. Not able to straighten he just muttered. "That damn Raven hates me." Well hell if she didn't start laughing uncontrollably, making poor Jason even angrier. "If you're not going to help, get lost." A snickering Diana made her way to help him.

     "Are you aware that cats are a good judge of character? Makes me wonder what they sense in you that makes them dislike you so much." It was at that moment she dabbed his wounds with an alcohol swab. The sting left him unable to answer. Once he was cleaned up he straightened to face Diana.

     She was a cute little thing, could not be older than 18 or 19 he thought. She had been hired by Heather about a year ago. He really hadn't had much time to talk to the girl. Yet it seems the stories of his wild adventures had been relayed to her. Smirking he pulled a strand of her honey colored hair and twirled it around his finger. "Thanks," he whispered before making his way out of the room.

     Once in his office Jason picked up the phone and called Percy. She answered with that same stupid greeting. "Your dime, my time." He had told her plenty of times that it was not a good way to answer the phone.

     "I did it, I had the talk with your sister and her monster of a cat attacked me again." The words were gritted out. He frowned when he heard laughter on the other end of the phone. "Did you know she has five damn cats now?"

     "Only five, I would have thought she had more by now.” Percy chuckled, “has she told you she plans on keeping the dog that was brought in last week?" Jason cursed at the news. "Well it seems we will proceed to plan B. I will fill out the questionnaire on my down time and let you pick out a picture. Once we see if we get a response, we can tag team her about it."

****

     Once the mean human Jason left. Heather filled their food bowls and refreshed all their water. They could tell she was a little emotionally drained and were happy when she decided a little nap was needed before going back to the clinic. Raven took the opportunity to gather the litter. "Meow, good job defending our human." Meowmix said as they gathered in the living room.

     "Meow, he had some nerve making her cry." Raven said extracting his claws. He could still see the dried blood on them. "You have to admit, his scream was classic." Their hissing laughter could be heard throughout the whole room. Raven raised his paws silencing them. "Meow, you do realize now they will find a way to get her to bring a male home to mate with?"

     "Meow, I hope it is a sexy male human." Cheetah said making Raven hiss at her, which in turn made her ears go down.

     "It will be our job to help pick out a suitable mate." He called them closer and looked around as he relayed his plan.

~*~*~*~*~

     That night, Percy took out her laptop as she lay in bed. It was time to work on the questions the website asked.

Age: 26

Profession: Veterinarian

Hobbies:

     Hmm, Percy didn't think taking care of 5 smelly cats was a suitable hobby. Well ok, they weren't smelly but that was what she did on her down time. So what would be a good thing to write down? With a little creativity she came up with a good answer.

Hobbies: Singing, dancing, rollerblading, mountain climbing.

     It wasn’t hard to fib her answers. Heather did sing every day in the shower. Percy heard her on many occasions, and to be honest. She wasn’t good. Mittens, seemed to always be her backup as he screeched right along with Heather. The dancing part wasn’t a lie. Heather danced on occasion. Granted it was usually while cuddling one of her cats as a partner but hey, semantics. Rollerblading came from when she has to move the big cages around at the clinic. She likes to hop on and use it as a skate board type of thing sometimes.

     Last but not least, you have the mountain climbing. Heather has a trail of shelves around the top of her living room. Allowing the cats more room to climb and get exercise. When they would not come down she climbed her couch to get them. The only bad thing with the set up. It gave the cats a great point for them to dive bomb on top of Jason and herself. The thought of what her brother Jason had told her earlier made Percy smile.

     It was the first time ever that the critter had drawn blood. Then again, it was the first time Jason had ever made Heather cry. Percy truly believed animal's sense discord. She continued to fill out the form and waited for the picture Jason was picking out before hitting submit. By tomorrow she will be in the system and it would be a matter of waiting to see who they thought was compatible to Heather.