FMR (15 page)

coffee pot.
Bingo!
She found a set of hodge-podge mugs with various

landmarks and states painted on them. Deciding on the one marked

'Las Vegas' she lifted the carafe from the coffeemaker and began to

pour herself a cup.

"Good morning." A familiar voice came from the kitchen entrance.

"I didn't realize you'd be up so early." Ray pulled a chair out from the

table and sat down, removing his boots. They were coated with a

layer of crushed snow and dirt. He placed them beside a crumpled

sack on the floor.

"And I see you're up with the birds." She grinned, nodding over to

the half-empty sack of bird seed.

"The weather's messy out there. I figured the little ones won't mind

a hand-out this morning for breakfast." He smiled.

Jac placed a hand over her stomach. "Yeah, I'm a bit hungry, too."

"Great! I'll get started making you some breakfast." He grinned.

"Afterwards, you can get a shower and change into some fresh

clothes."

Adding the condiments to her coffee, Jac giggled. "Sometimes,

Ray, you spook me. It's like you're reading my mind."

"Really?" he blinked. "I usually only do that with certain people."

A curious expression clouded his face.

Seeing his uneasiness, Jac decided to change the subject.

"Who's the traveler?" she asked, holding up the coffee mug.

"Someone's been to Vegas, Seattle and Yellowstone State Park."

"That'd be Ritchie," Ray replied as he rose to his feet. "Like I said,

he's a bit of a wanderer and travels around a lot."

"And all you get are the souvenir mugs, right?" She grinned.

"Something like that." He shrugged, placing a frying pan onto the

stove. "How do you like your eggs? Scrambled or sunny side up?"

The thought of food made her stomach rumble again. "Scrambled

with cheese," she replied, "That is, if you've got cheese. I don't wanna

be too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." He grinned as she took a seat at the table,

watching him over the rim of her mug. "Besides," he added. "You're

my guest."

Jac shifted in the chair and cleared her throat. "Well, if I'm your

guest, then why did you say I was in danger last night?"

"Might," he corrected. "You might be in danger. Trust me, Jac,

you're just safer here."

Ray busied himself with cooking. Jac took another big sip of

coffee. Within a few moments, he placed a steaming plate of

breakfast before her.

"
Bon appetite
."

"Thanks." She eyed her food then glanced up at him. "But, after

breakfast and a shower, I expect some answers." She jabbed the fork

in his direction to accent her point. "If I'm going to trust you, Ray, I'm

gonna have to know what the Hell's going on."

Ray straightened, towering over her, but let out an exasperated sigh.

"All right," he nodded. "Okay, we'll talk later. I promise."

To his relief, the rest of breakfast had gone relatively smooth ...

except when Jac asked about the 'doggie' door.

"What?" He set his empty coffee cup down on the kitchen table.

"The doggie door." She gestured toward the large plastic flap at the

bottom of the backdoor. "Do you have a dog?"

"Uh, no. It was there when I bought the house." He shrugged.

"Besides, what's the point in replacing a perfectly good door?"

"Well, this is a rural neighborhood. Don't you worry about animals

wandering in from the outside?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"They wouldn't dare." He flashed a feral grin.

The sound of Jac's laughter made his heart skip a beat. She was

beautiful, her face shining with an inner radiance that made him desire

her even more.

"So, how's my cooking?" He rose from his chair and took her

empty plate. "Are my eggs as good as the diner's?"

"Yes, they're delicious." She nodded, rising to her feet. "Now, let

me help you with those dirty dishes."

Jac helped him load the dishwasher then headed to the bathroom to

take a shower. Her absence would give him time to call Bruce, to see

what he might have found out about Jac's attacker.

Standing at the bay window that overlooked the snow-covered

lawn, Ray punched the buttons of the wireless phone and waited. The

phone rang a good, full three rings before Bruce answered.

"Hello?" His voice was groggy with sleep.

"Hey, it's me. Sorry to wake you," Ray apologized.

"Shit, sorry I didn't call last night, man. It was too late," Bruce

mumbled.

"It's okay. What's the latest?" Ray asked, pacing up and down the

living room rug.

"Nothing, man."

"What? Jessie's clean?"

"Yep." Bruce seemed more alert. "Jessie White was at the store

picking a couple of bags of groceries to drop off at the senior citizens'

center when Ms. Hamilton was attacked. I've got several witnesses,

plus a video tape and a register receipt if you want proof."

"No, that's not necessary." Ray sighed. "I don't know if I'm

relieved or disappointed."

"I know," Bruce consoled him. "It seemed like a logical conclusion

at the time, but you know how the moon affects everything. It makes

us hyper-sensitive, easily agitated and, well, horny."

Ray chuckled into the phone. "You can say that again."

"You got it bad for your new friend, don't you?"

"I told you, it's not like that. I just think she'll be safer here until we

track down her attacker."

"And what if we don't?" Bruce inquired. "How are you going to

explain this to her, Ray? She's a smart woman. Don't underestimate

her."

Ray knew better. He loved the sharpness of her mind as well as the

curves of her body. Even just being around her a short time, there was

something special about Jac that he found infectious.

"Believe me, I don't. I just wonder who sent her to Heather Grove

in search of werewolves. The whole thing sounds strange to me."

"Yep, pretty strange," Bruce agreed. "Well, if you need me, give

me a buzz. I'll be on patrol at 1800 hours."

Ray hung up the phone feeling more frustrated than ever. If J.T.

was innocent, then anyone in town with
sithech
-blood could possibly

be her attacker.

He flopped down on the end of the sofa and gazed out the window.

Watching the small birds gathering at the feeders out in the snowy

yard, Ray sank deep into thought. He didn't register Jac was finished

with her shower until she spoke from the doorway.

"Wow, I can't believe it snowed even more overnight," Jac

exclaimed as she crossed the room.

Newly showered, she wore her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail,

away from her face. She'd also changed into a fresh pair of fuzzy

socks, jeans and a form-fitting knit sweater. Her fresh-scrubbed

youthful appearance made his groin twinge with longing. Ray shifted

uncomfortably on his end of the sofa as she sank down on its opposite

side. To his relief, she appeared more relaxed and less sore.

"Well, there was another inch of snow last night after we got in, but

it's mixed with sleet," he informed her. "The weather man's saying

school and businesses will be closed for at least another day."

"Good." Jac smirked, folding her arms over her chest. "Since we

can't seem to go anywhere, we have plenty of time for you to explain

to me why I might be in danger."

"I can think of other things we can do with our time." He flashed

her a flirtatious grin.

Her cheeks turned rosy pink, but she seemed immune to his

attempted charm. "Nope, not now." Jac shook her head. "Let's talk,

Ray."

With a heavy sigh, he rose to his feet and began to pace back and

forth in front of the bay window.

"Ernie found the article you were working on in your computer

files the other night," he stated simply. "The article about wolves in

Heather Grove."

"Well, the story's a dead end. Mr. White firmly denied there were

any wolves in Heather Grove. But now ... now, I'm not so sure." A

worried expression dissolved her composure. "But, after last night, I'd

swear the man was lying through his teeth."

"Jessie's a nice man, Jac. He wasn't lying. He was protecting," Ray

slowly explained.

"Protecting what? The wolves?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Ray nodded. "It goes back a long time ago ... back to

Scotland at the end of the eighteenth century."

"Whoa, wait a minute." Jac held up her hand. "What do wolves in

Heather Grove now have to do with eighteenth century Scotland?"

"Most of Heather Grove's ancestors are from Scotland. They came

to the United States for many reasons, but, mostly to escape the

slaughter of wolves throughout the Highlands."

"You mean the killing of wolves like I've seen on those websites

like Defenders.org?" Jac's face went pale. "It's disgusting! I can't

believe, in this modern age, some people are still killing other

creatures so terribly and so brutally just because they're ... they're

wolves."

Ray nodded, recalling the photographs Jac mentioned. He, too, was

mortified by the cruelty of the senseless slaughter. He stopped pacing

and speared a hand through his hair, then glanced over at Jac.

Tears moistened her eyes. "Crying about it won't do them any

good, Jac. Only action can save those poor creatures. But here in

Heather Grove, the
sithech
is kept guarded and safe."

"The
sithech
?"

"Yes, it's an ancient Scot-Gaelic word for 'wolf'," he explained.

She knitted her brow, as if deep in thought, then glanced up at him.

"So, Heather Grove is a wolf sanctuary, right?"

"Something like that." He shrugged, then sank down beside her on

the sofa. "Only a few of us know. It's an important secret, Jac. If

anyone outside of Heather Grove ever found out ... "

His voice trailed off, choked with emotion. He lowered his head as

the unfinished thought sent a chill down his spine.

"It would be like the eighteenth century slaughter all over again,"

Jac said in a low voice, finishing his exact thought.

Ray raised his head, gazing into her eyes. "I think I've just had one

of those 'spooky' moments you were talking about earlier."

An amused smile spread across Jac's face. It was a smile that

warmed his heart and heated his blood. He took her hand and sensed

something stirring in the space between them.

In a bold move, he leaned close and gently touched his forehead to

hers. Jac's rich and luscious scent surrounded him. It teased his

sithech
-senses as the full moon fever began to surge within him.

Before he consciously realized what he was doing, he lightly brushed

his lips against hers before capturing her mouth in a full-blown kiss.

He wanted her ... bad.

It has been so long since Jac had been properly kissed, she thought

she'd melt right there on the sofa. The pressure of his lips on hers was

absolutely delicious. All thoughts of wolves, sanctuaries and

magazine stories dissipated as she yielded to his kiss.

A low moaned escaped from her as he removed his lips to dot the

curve of her jaw with tiny, light kisses. Jac's senses reeled. Arousal

crackled inside her as Ray encircled her in his strong arms and drew

her close.

"I've wanted to do this since we met," Ray confessed between

kisses. Her heart skipped a beat. Deep down, she did, too. Once

again, they were on the same wavelength.

The room suddenly became very warm. Ray's lips trailed from her

jaw down the column of her neck. Closing her eyes and tilting her

head back, she gave into the pleasurable sensations. "Oh that feels

sooo good," she moaned. "Don't stop."

The trail of heated kisses suddenly halted. Jac's eyes snapped open.

He raised his head, his gaze meeting hers. There was a twinkle of

mischief in his eyes. "Don't stop, huh?" he teased.

"Oh, Ray." She gave a playful pout. "Quit toying with me, please."

"Well, I did say I could think of other things we could do since

we're snowed in." He chuckled. "That is, if you want to?"

There was a glow behind his eyes, despite his jovial mood. A

shiver went down Jac's spine. Something about him that she just

couldn't put her finger on. Something mysterious, yet sexy at the

same time. It made her entire body buzz with erotic electricity.

Jac nervously licked her lips. Yet, there was no doubt she wanted

exactly what he wanted. "Okay." She nodded.

Before she could blink, Ray rose to his feet, scooping her up off the

sofa. "Hey! What are you doing?" She gasped as he carried her out of