in his chair, thinking of his grandfather’s warning. He studied Cyn a bit closer, but her expression was bland. It was rare to hear someone admit so freely to a belief in the supernatural, but he certainly wouldn’t argue the point.
“Animals have been stirred up as of late. Surely you’ve heard reports of bears and coyotes attacking people in the open. It’s like something is up that humans don’t know about.”
“Do you think that’s a sign that the Devil is visiting the area?”
She returned his gaze steadily. “Possibly.”
“And you write about this kind of thing for a living?”
“Before coming up here I spent two years studying the Bell Witch legend in Nashville.”
“Sounds familiar,” Hunter said.
“The Bells lived near Nashville in the 1700’s. They were haunted, terrorized really, by an unknown entity. Their property has been the site of well-documented paranormal activity ever since. I wrote my dissertation on the subject and turned it into a book published this past summer.”
“That’s cool. A bestseller?”
Again a smile curved her lips. “Not really, but I have high hopes for the Devil. In the meantime, I’m guest lecturing in folklore at Wayne Paterson University.” She hesitated, then added, “I also write for a couple of publications. Ever heard of Out There? ”
“I read it all the time,” Hunter said with enthusiasm. “You’re awfully pretty to be running around looking for monsters.”
“And you’re awfully smart to use such a stupid line on a woman who has two PhDs,” she retorted.
Hunter had the grace to blush. It had been a while since he’d been in a battle of wits and lost. “Can I make up for that by taking you out for dinner in the city?”
“Maybe another time,” she said, then checked her watch and slipped the computer into her backpack.
“Have to get home to someone?” Hunter was surprised to feel a spark of jealousy. No matter that he already had a hot date with Mandy, he was used to women being very interested in what he offered.
“No one at home.” Cyn’s smile was easy. “But I’m busy tonight. And I’d prefer we stay around here when we go out. I put in long days and usually like to grab a meal late.”
“When” they went out, not “if.” Slightly mollified, Hunter rose and followed her to the door. “That works for me. I’ll give you a call…if you’ll give me your number.”
She handed him a business card. “You can reach me at this number. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you when I can.”
She left him with a dazzling smile and her strong and alluring scent. Hunter noticed that she looked around, surveying the parking lot before she got in a dark green Jeep Grand Cherokee. She drove away without looking back, which irked a little. But mainly he felt a tug of sexual curiosity he hadn’t felt in a long time.
With a woman who hunted legends for a living.
“Shit, this is crazy,” he said, but grinned as he headed to his car.
He went home instead of the wildlife preserve, thinking of what Cyn had said about the local animals being stirred up. His frequent runs of late might be the cause, not the New Jersey Devil. He could work out his physical frustrations with the punching bag in his home gym. He had learned that part of being a shifter was exercising control.
Then there was Mandy to consider.
Funny, an evening of whipped cream and Mandy just didn’t seem as appealing now. He was almost relieved when she cancelled. Seems her husband stayed up late and didn’t want her to go out “to tend to a sick friend.”
On Sunday, Zoe had a break in the hospital CEO case. The wife really was cheating. Zoe was bummed, and Hunter ended up spending much of the day with her.
He thought about calling Cyn. However, all thoughts of the redhead fled when Mandy showed up at his office on Monday morning.
He, Zoe, and Darla were in the front office when Mandy walked in wearing a black, belted trench coat and black leather
“Animals have been stirred up as of late. Surely you’ve heard reports of bears and coyotes attacking people in the open. It’s like something is up that humans don’t know about.”
“Do you think that’s a sign that the Devil is visiting the area?”
She returned his gaze steadily. “Possibly.”
“And you write about this kind of thing for a living?”
“Before coming up here I spent two years studying the Bell Witch legend in Nashville.”
“Sounds familiar,” Hunter said.
“The Bells lived near Nashville in the 1700’s. They were haunted, terrorized really, by an unknown entity. Their property has been the site of well-documented paranormal activity ever since. I wrote my dissertation on the subject and turned it into a book published this past summer.”
“That’s cool. A bestseller?”
Again a smile curved her lips. “Not really, but I have high hopes for the Devil. In the meantime, I’m guest lecturing in folklore at Wayne Paterson University.” She hesitated, then added, “I also write for a couple of publications. Ever heard of Out There? ”
“I read it all the time,” Hunter said with enthusiasm. “You’re awfully pretty to be running around looking for monsters.”
“And you’re awfully smart to use such a stupid line on a woman who has two PhDs,” she retorted.
Hunter had the grace to blush. It had been a while since he’d been in a battle of wits and lost. “Can I make up for that by taking you out for dinner in the city?”
“Maybe another time,” she said, then checked her watch and slipped the computer into her backpack.
“Have to get home to someone?” Hunter was surprised to feel a spark of jealousy. No matter that he already had a hot date with Mandy, he was used to women being very interested in what he offered.
“No one at home.” Cyn’s smile was easy. “But I’m busy tonight. And I’d prefer we stay around here when we go out. I put in long days and usually like to grab a meal late.”
“When” they went out, not “if.” Slightly mollified, Hunter rose and followed her to the door. “That works for me. I’ll give you a call…if you’ll give me your number.”
She handed him a business card. “You can reach me at this number. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you when I can.”
She left him with a dazzling smile and her strong and alluring scent. Hunter noticed that she looked around, surveying the parking lot before she got in a dark green Jeep Grand Cherokee. She drove away without looking back, which irked a little. But mainly he felt a tug of sexual curiosity he hadn’t felt in a long time.
With a woman who hunted legends for a living.
“Shit, this is crazy,” he said, but grinned as he headed to his car.
He went home instead of the wildlife preserve, thinking of what Cyn had said about the local animals being stirred up. His frequent runs of late might be the cause, not the New Jersey Devil. He could work out his physical frustrations with the punching bag in his home gym. He had learned that part of being a shifter was exercising control.
Then there was Mandy to consider.
Funny, an evening of whipped cream and Mandy just didn’t seem as appealing now. He was almost relieved when she cancelled. Seems her husband stayed up late and didn’t want her to go out “to tend to a sick friend.”
On Sunday, Zoe had a break in the hospital CEO case. The wife really was cheating. Zoe was bummed, and Hunter ended up spending much of the day with her.
He thought about calling Cyn. However, all thoughts of the redhead fled when Mandy showed up at his office on Monday morning.
He, Zoe, and Darla were in the front office when Mandy walked in wearing a black, belted trench coat and black leather
Similar Books
