SBC Fighter: Tails Of Love Part 12

And I use that word in a good way, considering her family roots and al ."

"Or is she just crazy about my lifestyle, my normal lifestyle that is a far cry from her family's? I feel like she's attracted to me because . . ."

"You're normal as blueberry pie."

"Until I told her I was a werewolf. Weredog to be more accurate."

T-Bone dropped a wrench back into the tool chest, the clank echoing through the garage. He stared at Rex. "Are you out of your flea-bitten brain?"

"And I told her you were one, too, and that I needed her to get us out of this cursed situation by helping me out tonight.

I even gave her the directions." Rex handed T-Bone a screwdriver. "Then she threw me out."

"And you're surprised? Her family's crazy as a bunch of waltzing pigs. She's had her fil . Maybe it's for the best. If you two get together for real, do you want to be dragged into that loony bin?"

Rex nodded at the Suburban. "And who exactly does that piece of c.r.a.p belong to? You sure aren't working on it after hours for your health. You've got the hots for f.a.n.n.y Lou and everyone in town knows it."

"Except f.a.n.n.y Lou," groused T-Bone. "Al I am to her is the local grease monkey. You're giving up too easy on Jane Louise. You need to talk to her. Find out how she real y feels about you now that she's had time to sit on what you went and told her."

"Does the idea of your boyfriend being a werewolf improve over time?"

"Tonight's a ful moon and al the stars a man could want are out there to work al sorts of magic. A good evening to make things happen, least that was your plan. So go for it.

Find Jane Louise. Be a pity to let this night pa.s.s without even trying to get her to come around. How long have you been looking for the right girl? Someone who excites you, makes life worth living?"

"About as long as you have. But I have to know I excite her too."

"Then don't just sit there like a b.u.mp on a log. Find out how the girl feels. Before tonight you were common as an old sweater to Jane. But hel , every man needs to embrace his wolf side now and then." T-Bone faced the open door and the rising moon and let out a long low howl that came from the very depths of his soul.

"What in holy blazes was that?" Mamma asked, her evening cup of tea poised halfway to her mouth. "Sounds like a . . .

wolf. And right here in Savannah." She made the sign of the cross. "Saints preserve us, what is this town coming to?"

Jane stopped spooning honey into her Earl Grey and stared out the window into the darkness, the silvery beams of the ful moon weaving in and out of the live oaks. She s.h.i.+vered. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible," she said to herself more than Mamma.

"You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Rex broke up with me today," she said matter-of-factly.

"The big jerk," she added because it was definitely a fact.

"And of al the excuses in the world he said he was a- you're going to love this-a werewolf."

Mamma's eyes rounded. Not exactly the head-for-the-hil response Jane thought she'd get. Maybe the next news would get to Mamma. "And that T-Bone and his cronies are werewolves, too. Something about crossing Minerva. Now I ask you, Mamma, if that isn't the most pitiful excuse for breaking up with a girl you ever heard? He knows I'd never buy such a story and that was an excuse to get rid of me and end the relations.h.i.+p. He succeeded. I thought Rex was more of a man than that. If he wanted to end things then he should just do it."

"Minerva you say. And T-Bone? How . . . interesting."

Mamma's eyes twinkled with some faraway look. What the heck was that? Where was the cry of unbelievable nonsense? The accusation of the man's out of his brain?

Instead Jane got, "I never would have expected such a thing of T-Bone, but now that you mention it . . ." She smiled.

"Uh, we're talking werewolf, as in fiction and over the top even for the Garrisons. You know and I know there are no such things as werewolves, right, Mamma? Fiction."

Mamma sipped her tea. "Sweet pea, this is Savannah.

Stranger things have happened. Around here fiction and fact get mixed up al the time." She absently ran her finger around the rim of the tea cup. "Did you know werewolves are supposed to be magnificent lovers?"

Jane remembered Rex making love to her that afternoon and she dropped the Haviland china cup onto its saucer, cracking it smack down the middle. Her blood ran hot as the water in the kettle on the stove and her insides ached for . . . Rex.

Mamma stared straight ahead not so much as an eyebrow flinching at the dropped china. "Wel , now, I'm guessing you do know al about that lover part firsthand."

She stood and took her cup to the sink and rinsed it. "I wonder how T-Bone is getting on with my Suburban? I suppose the least I can do is pay him a little visit tonight."

Mamma straightened her shoulders, her eyes wistful as she glided out of the kitchen more than walked. "Don't wait up now, you hear."

"Mamma! What are you thinking? What are you going to do?" Jane fanned herself with the linen napkin but not because of what Mamma said or what was on her mind about T-Bone but what was on Jane Louise Garrison's mind about Rex. He was an incredible lover, not that she had al that much experience but she knew enough to tel the difference between wow and ugh and Rex was al wow!

She could feel him fondling her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, his mouth on the inside of her thighs, his erection pressing into her, slowly, deliberately, hard as steel, and unyielding. Her legs quivered and her heart nearly beat right through her blouse.

No man was that good in bed unless . . . unless . . . and suddenly there he was beside her, taking her hand and leading her out onto the porch. "I didn't hear you come in."

Incredible moonbeams fel over them, a mil ion stars dotted the sky. "Because you were thinking of me, of us together," he said in a low husky voice. Dear Lord, husky?

Least it wasn't Chihuahua or poodle. "I want you to believe in me, to believe in us with al your heart."

His gray eyes were liquid fire, his hands at her waist, warm and possessive. If he howled, she'd pa.s.s out cold.

"You want me to believe-"

"Yes." His lips took hers in a hot kiss that was not canine and al man and seared her soul and stole her heart. "I love you." His hot breath mixed with hers. "If you don't believe another thing, believe that. We belong together, and only you can make it happen. Feel with this." He put his warm hand to her heart. "And not this." He kissed her forehead.

"Why are you doing this?"

"For love."

She pushed herself out of his arms. "I can't, Rex. I can't live this way. Maybe you do love me, maybe you don't want to break up but for sure you aren't the guy I thought you were either. What happened? Where's my Mr. Mel ow, the good old Rex? The Rex I fel in love with?"

"I'm right here, sweetheart. Take this leap of faith for us."

Stepping back she shook her head. "Do you know I never believed in Santa because it made no sense? A big fat guy coming down a skinny little chimney, no way. The tooth fairy? Who would give up good money for old teeth?

Fantasy is not me, Rex, and I didn't think it was you either.

You were so . . ."

"Logical. Predictable."

"I've got to get out of here, I'm so confused. I'm losing my mind. Maxwel ! Maxwel , where are you, baby?"

When the little dog came to the screen door, she opened it, scooped him up, snagged her purse and the leash from the counter, and ran back past Rex to the sidewalk. No stopping, no looking back or she'd believe white was black and black was white or anything else just to have Rex in her life. But she looked back anyway and he was gone and she never felt more rotten than right this minute.

Snapping the leash onto Maxwel 's col ar, she set him on the sidewalk, adjusted her purse on her arm and together she and her dog headed down St. Julian. She crossed Reynolds Square, then Warren, then Was.h.i.+ngton, one little park more beautiful than the other. See, these were normal thoughts, like everyone else's in Savannah out walking this time of night. She was in control of her life, of her thoughts, just the way it should be. Street light dappled the gra.s.s and bushes. Live oaks joined their branches forming a canopy overhead. Horse-drawn carriages clattered over the cob blestone streets. Children ate ice cream from a vendor.

And a dog with a fine black and white coat stopped at the crosswalk waiting for traffic to pa.s.s as if he were . . .

human?

Jane watched the dog. Self-a.s.sured, proud, part of the city. "Get a grip, Garrison," she muttered to herself, not getting a grip at al . "It's just a dog, right? Someone's pet.

Yet . . ." She shuddered at her own question. Scooping up Maxwel , she dropped him in her purse and ran, not having any idea what she was running from. She crossed Houston, turned down York, not quite sure where she was.

Stopping to catch her breath, she leaned against the side of a boarded-up brick building ready for renovation.

Quiet, calm, peaceful. Al was wel here. She could get herself together.

"Give me the dog."

"Huh?" Jane looked up to a scruffy man holding a knife.

"Do you believe in werewolves?"

"What?"

"Werewolves? You know, mythological creatures. Do you believe in them?"

"What the hel have you been smoking, lady? Just hand over the d.a.m.n dog." Jane squeezed her purse handle, holding it tight to her side. "I can get a lot of money for that flea hound. Women go ape-s.h.i.+t for those purse dogs."

"And you can go straight to hel ."

Not a good answer because the man came at Jane with the knife. Oh, c.r.a.p! She ran because she left her pepper spray in her non-dog purse. She tripped and went sprawling and the b.a.s.t.a.r.d snagged the purse right off her arm. "Give me back my dog!" she screamed, Maxwel 's retreating yelps tearing at her heart. "I'm coming, baby.

Mamma's coming."

She took off but she wasn't quite fast enough. Where was that adrenaline rush people had in an emergency?

Maxwel 's little fuzzy black head disappeared around the next corner. c.r.a.p! c.r.a.p! c.r.a.p! She ran faster but so did the b.a.s.t.a.r.d til a big dog lunged out between the bushes and landed smack on the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's back. Maxwel jumped out of the purse and attacked his hand, making him drop the knife.

"Ouch! d.a.m.n it al ! Help!" His words were mixed with growling and snarling. "Get 'em off! They're kil ing me."

"One can only hope."

The man squirmed and thrashed around on the sidewalk like a landed fish. It was hard to get up with two dogs having him for dinner and a real y p.i.s.sed off woman tying his feet together with a leash. Jane retrieved her cel from her purse, took a picture for Maxwel 's Facebook page, then punched in 911. The big dog stopped and gazed up at her, gray eyes dark and mysterious. He gave a little yip, then trotted off down the al ey. "Rex?"

"My name's Joey," the guy said. "Who'd have a stupid name like Rex. That's a dog's name."

Or a werewolf's. She needed a martini. After handing Joey over to the cops she decided two martinis were in order. And as she got closer to home she decided on three martinis, because Mamma and T-Bone were in the pink Mustang parked in the driveway behind the magnolia bushes. And they were necking like teenagers!

Without breaking a kiss, Mamma gave Jane a little finger wave as she walked by. Her mother had a better s.e.x life than she did. Not fair. None of this was fair except for Mamma, who seemed to embrace the werewolf idea with much enthusiasm. Why couldn't Jane have some of that enthusiasm? She sat down on the porch steps.

"Are you okay, Sweet pea?" Mamma asked as she came up the walk a moment later. She sat down next to Jane. "You look a bit frazzled and that is not a usual look on you."

"It's been a frazzled kind of night."

"I think it's been an I miss Rex kind of night." She gave Jane a hug. "You think too much, Sweet pea. You got to let your heart have its way once in a while. Granted, the Garrisons let that happen on a regular basis and you get to pick up the pieces but just this once don't think, just go do whatever you have to do to be happy and don't ask questions. You won't be sorry, Jane Louise. You deserve to be in love. Rex is a great guy. He loves you beyond words.

Listen to your mamma just this once." She kissed Jane on the cheek then strol ed back to the magnolia bushes.

Bonaventure Cemetery was a real y creepy place Rex realized as he hunkered down in the bushes and waited for Jane. Would she come or not? Did she love him enough to do this for him, for them? It was asking one hel of a lot, especial y for logical, rational Jane Louise Garrison. d.a.m.n it, his ears were cold, his nose was cold, even his d.a.m.n bal s were cold. He liked summer so much better, except for flea season. There was rustling, then footsteps and Jane Louise walked into the little gra.s.sy clearing to the headstone marked Mr. Bentley. He was the Schnauzer who kept Lil y Bentley company for twenty-two years in this life and now into the next. A dog ritual needed to be on a dog grave.

"This is crazy," he heard Jane say as she turned away, his heart sinking in despair. He wanted more than anything to yel back, "Don't go." But he couldn't. He'd said al that he could and now it had to be her choice. Did she love him or love who she thought he was?

Jane turned back. Yes!

Grumbling, she laid out the paper he'd given her earlier, the one she'd crumpled up and tossed across the porch but now had. Taking a stick she drew a circle around the grave, then added seven white candles with five dog biscuits and one raw steak in the middle, just as his instructions directed.

Moonbeams cascaded down on Jane, her soft curls swayed as she lit one taper, then the next. She knelt down in the circle, her lovely body silhouetted against the golden light. "I cannot believe I'm doing this," she muttered. "I am completely crackers and belong in the loony bin . . . or I'm in love." She sighed. "Definitely love." She held out her arms to the sky.

Hail, hail, hail, great wolf spirit, hail A boon I ask thee mighty shade Within this circle I have made Release Rex a werewolf strong and bold Release him to me to love and hold Rex's heart beat wildly. She did it! She did it for him. She loved Rex Barkley. The dog strol ed out of the bushes and into the clearing. He wagged his tail.

Jane gasped. "Rex? Oh, my G.o.d, Rex? Is that real y you?

You were the one in the park. You saved me and Maxwel .

Come here so I can kiss you on the nose. Least that's what you have written here on the paper. If this winds up on YouTube I'm having you neutered." She licked her lips.

"Here we go. Are you ready? I'm not sure I am." She closed her eyes and kissed him.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Al right. I did everything that you said. So switch into a man. Abracadabra. Alakazam.

Hocus pocus. Poof. Come on, do the poof! Hey, come back here. Don't you dare walk off into those woods, Rex Barkley." She stood. "Rex, d.a.m.n it! Get back here. Where are you going? Rex?"

"I'm right here, sweetheart," Rex said as he brushed leaves from his jacket and walked out of the woods to Jane Louise, his Jane Louise. He slid his arms around her sweet body and kissed her incredible lips that he feared he would never kiss again. "G.o.d, I love you. You rescued me, Jane."

She squeezed his arms and shoulders and gazed into his eyes. "It is you. It real y is." Her eyes got a little squinty.

"But was the dog who was just here you or a dog you trained? Are you . . . were you . . . real y a werewolf, Rex?"

He laughed. "I'm just a guy in love with a girl. A magnificent girl. I'm yours, al yours. Did you know, werewolves are wonderful lovers." He winked. "Want to go home and see if that part's changed?"

"But . . . but . . ." She gazed around at the candles and woods and moonlight. "I have no idea what just happened here."

"Al that matters is you love me completely with al your heart. That you love me as much as I love you."

She shook her head, then nodded and shrugged. "You're right, I do love you. You may not have been the guy I always thought you were and that's okay. I love you now no matter who you are or what you are. But one of these days, you'l have to tel me what real y happened. Were you . . . weren't you?"

"A werewolf brought us together, Jane. Now we have the rest of our lives to love each other. Nothing is more normal or logical than that."