Tailing Her (6 page)
Brett’s lion snarled. He knew what he’d promised, but he didn’t want his mate going anywhere near danger. Ever.
“You can keep me safe.”
“Flattery won’t get me to say yes.” Though it did have his cat preening.
“It’s not flattery if it’s what I truly believe.” She stroked his cheek, finger sliding over his skin, and he couldn’t withhold the purr that filled him.
“He’s going to come after you with everything he has.”
Jennifer stared into his eyes, and he knew the truth even as he objected. He was going to ensure her safety because this was important to her, and her happiness was important to him.
“But you can protect me,” she countered.
“But I can protect you.” And God save the man who tried to hurt her.
Jennifer trembled, hands shaking so hard she forced herself to form fists to keep them steady. Her lioness paced, snarling and growling at the delay, anxious to get the answer they’d fought for so they could return to their mate’s side. She hated being away from him for even a moment, detested any physical distance between them since they mated. This whole trial had been a study in separation. There was never the same route, never the same destination, never the same bed… And when it came to bed, there was no guarantee Brett would be there.
But as she stood in place, confident in her abilities and her performance, she didn’t regret their actions.
The jury filed in, twelve men and women who would decide a single man’s fate. After two days of deliberations, here they were.
Colletti no longer wore the pristine Italian suits coupled with handmade leather shoes as he had during the trial. Instead he was clothed in the familiar orange jumper for inmates. What was the point in dressing him up now that he no longer had to look nice for the jury?
She scanned each juror, hunting for any hint of their attitude. Were they going to convict him? Were they going to let him free? The scents in the room overwhelmed her cat’s ability to detect emotions so it was of no help. Which meant she merely stared. Stared and prayed.
She distractedly listened to the judge question the jurors, asking if they’d reached a decision. The foreperson stated they had, and then it was time for the verdict. One that would prove whether Jennifer had wasted so much time being without her mate.
Guilty or not guilty?
“We the jury… Find… Guilty…”
Jennifer propped her hands on the desk, catching herself before she tumbled to the ground. Her knees were weak, body slumping as the words permeated her mind. She recognized joyful shouts surrounding her as the foreperson revealed their decision on each and every count.
Guilty, guilty, guilty…
Years. He would be going away for years, and this was the first step in tearing down the family. Nash had revealed quite a bit from the lion side of the operation, and now the human half was tumbling.
A large warm hand pressed between her shoulder blades and stroked down her spine. The touch sent an immediate wave of strength and comfort through her. He’d been there, at her back and protecting her, every step of the way. Even when she lay alone, wondering where he was, his presence was with her in silent support. He didn’t have to like what she did, she knew he didn’t, but he’d been there for her anyway.
She didn’t listen to the rest, ignored the crying and laughing that surrounded her, ignored the continuous pounding of the judge’s gavel, and merely turned toward her mate. She went into his arms, taking every ounce of strength he offered and simply rested her head against his shoulder.
“It’s over,” she sobbed. She’d done it, she’d put him away. “It’s over.”
“No, baby, it’s just beginning.” She lifted her head and stared into his eyes, noting the joy that filled his features. “This trial is over, but our lives are just beginning.”
She could handle that. Because he was right, her life as a prosecutor was over. But now her job was even more important. Now she had her own practice and a new direction. Human issues were important—that was unquestionable—but so were those of the werelions. Her mate was the beta of the North American prides. He didn’t protect a single small town like the one she’d called home. He fought to protect them all.
And now, so would she.
The End
If you enjoyed this book, please be totally awesomesauce and leave a review so others may discover it as well. Long review or short, your opinion will help other readers make future purchasing decisions. So, go forth and rate my level-o-awesome!
By the way… below are some links to help you hunt up the rest of the series:
Quick & Furry #1: Chasing Tail –
http://bookbit.ly/qfctare
Quick & Furry #2: Tailing Her –
http://bookbit.ly/qfthare
Quick & Furry #3: On Her Tail –
http://bookbit.ly/qfohtare
Quick & Furry #4: Heads or Tails –
http://bookbit.ly/qfhotare
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
If you'd like to be notified of new releases, special sales, and get FREE eBooks, subscribe here:
http://celiakyle.com/news
You can find Celia online at:
http://facebook.com/authorceliakyle
Published by Summerhouse Publishing. Quick & Furry, Book 2: Tailing Her. Copyright © 2015. Celia Kyle. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.