Things have been crazy. Not in a bad way for the most part, but definitely crazy. I got thrown off my routine big time, but I chose to look at it as positive. Only good can come of it really in the long run. So I still haven't reached my goal, but that's one of the reasons I didn't set a time limit on it. Right now I don't feel like I've failed so much as gotten derailed a bit. Which I can deal with. There's always coming back from that.
So present date I'm holding at 236 but down from 269. Laughter is not only good for the soul, it's apparently also good for my waistline.
In other news, I entered a short story contest on Goodreads last month and I won! There was a slight mix up, but I won a Kindle Touch and I should get it on Monday which makes me immensely happy. Writing that story was one of the funnest things I've written and also the only thing I've actually finished. Due to the rules of the contest I had to use a few key words/phrases so it was like doing MadLibs. Add to that the fact that is was late and I was exhausted, it amused me. A lot. Just for shits and giggles I'm going to post it here becasue well... I'm kind of proud of it as ridiculous as it is and feeling proud of things is not something I'm always use to. So without further ado, I give you my untitled short story.
Note: Words in bold are the ones I had to use for the contest.
Chapter One
This could not be happening. There was no way she was staring at a dead furniture store owner, who just happened to be her freaking boss, bleeding all over the showroom floor while the biggest freaking guy she had ever seen in her life pointed a gun at her. This kind of thing just didn’t happen in Vermont! She was going to freak out in five, four, three, two…
Felicia Cooper sucked in a breath to start screaming when the giant with the gun, put the weapon back in his shoulder holster and held out his hands in the universal sign of I’m-Not-Going-To-Hurt-You. He took a step toward her and she froze like a deer in the headlights. You know the ones that end up dead on the side of the road.
“Ma’am,” he said and she though, Ma'am? Who am I, my mother? “My name is Jeff McClure. I’m a police officer. I’m just going to reach into my pocket for my badge.”
She clutched her purse to her chest ready to flee while he reached inside his jacket. If she was smart she would have run while he was somewhat distracted getting out his “badge,” but it wasn’t like she would have gotten far anyway. She had learned that much from movies. The chick in the heels who ran always got murdered.
Felicia blinked when he pulled out what looked like a wallet, flipping it open. Really, though, what did she think that he was going to put the gun away to pull out a knife because shooting her would be too easy? Tentatively she held out a hand and asked, “Do you mind if I look at that?”
“Not at all.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
“Detective.”
“Hmm?” She glanced up from perusing the badge (it looked real, but how much did she know?) and caught him smiling at her.
“It’s Detective. Not Officer.”
Felicia blinked. Had he been that attractive earlier? Probably just didn’t notice it with the gun in your face. And the dead guy on the floor. She gasped. “Mr. Murphy! What’s going to happen to him?”
“That’s the name of the deceased?”
“Yes. He owns the store. He’s my boss. Poor Mr. Murphy.”
“I’ll call the coroner and the crime scene guys to come down here and I’ll need to ask you a few questions. We can do that here or down at the station if you prefer.”
The idea of staying where her boss had been shot made her shudder. If Detective McClure hadn’t gotten here when he had she might have been next.
“Wait a minute. How did you get here so fast? I didn’t even call 911!” She took a few steps backward, afraid all over again.
“I got an anonymous call that a murder had just taken place.”
She wasn’t sure why, but she believed him. “Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“It does, yes, but I can worry about that later. Why don’t we wait outside while I place a few calls?” His voice was gentle as were his hands when he took his badge from her numb fingers and cupped her elbow in his other to lead her to the door. Heat radiated from his hands through her body stopping the shivers that had just started. Just having him near made her feel safe.
Until they walked out the front door into hell.
Chapter Two
Jeff smelled them just as he pushed the door open thanks to a shift in the wind, but it was already too late. The door was ripped out of his hand a split second before he pushed Felicia back toward the interior of the store. He heard her gasp and thud to the ground but didn’t have the time to spare a thought. He turned his head a fraction of a second too late and the fist aimed at his temple hit him across the jaw instead knocking him back. Someone standing behind him put him in a choke hold and whoever had cold clocked him delivered a punch to his gut.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the puppy.” The growl rumbled out of his chest before he even thought about it, earning him another hit to the gut. “Still haven’t learned any manners, I see.”
“Still haven’t learned to do your own dirty work, I see, Tommy Boy.” This time the douche putting him in the choke hold tightened his grip, making his sentence trail off in a wheeze.
“You always did have a smart mouth. Why the Council thinks you’ll make a good Alpha I’ll never understand. But I’m about to rectify the situation.”
The reason you don’t understand is why you wouldn’t make a good Alpha, Jeff thought, but couldn’t say since his air supply was severely compromised by Jackass Number 1. Jackass Number 2 was currently winding up for another swing when Thomas held up his hand in a staying motion. “I’ll take care of this myself.”
Oh good. I’ll actually have a chance to wipe that smug look off his face. Or so he thought when Jackass Number 2 handed Thomas a gun and Jackass Number 1 relieved him of his service piece as he stepped back. At least now he could breath. His odds could be better. Three against one and they have guns. Still… He had faced worse.
Felicia chose that moment to remind everyone she was there. He groaned. “Everyone get away from him and put down the gun, I called the cops!”
Thomas and his cronies laughed. Then Tommy Boy pointed the gun at Felicia and a red haze covered his vision.
She was going to die. This was it. She should have bought those Manolos when she had the chance. Felicia squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the bullet, but it never came. Instead, a giant wolf jumped at her would-be shooter and ripped. His. Throat out.
For the second time that night she was staring at a dead body, but this time she did scream. Darting back inside she ducked inside poor Mr. Murphy’s office and locked the door, trying to drown out the screams. Where was Jeff? She hadn’t seen him after the wolf/dog/whatever showed up. Please let him be okay.
She wasn’t sure how long she sat huddled under the desk, but she screamed again when a hand touched her shoulder. She hadn't even heard the door open! “Felicia. Felicia, it’s me!”
“Jeff,” she gasped. “Oh my God, you’re okay!” She launched herself at him belatedly noticing that he was completely naked. She froze. “Uh…”
Jeff looked sheepish and a little sad. “You’re safe now.”
Felicia blinked at him when the realization hit her. “It was you! The… wolf.”
“Yeah.”
“You… you’re a werewolf.” The word felt strange on her tongue.
“... Yeah.” Jeff shrugged. “Are you going to freak out?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“On how good of a kisser you are.”
Jeff smiled, cupping her face in his hands. He brushed his lips across her, nipping at her bottom lip. Felicia pulled back. “How did you find me back here anyway?”
The grin her gave her was decidedly wolfish. “Honey, you’re my mate. I could find you anywhere.”
The End
