Cats And Dogs: A Shifter Novella by Georgette St. Clair Page B

help
here at the store.”  Her aunt and uncle had put her to work as
soon as she came to live with them on their farm, after both her
parents died of a mutated strain of rabies which had wiped out
dozens of panthers in the town she’d once lived in.  She’d
been eight years old; she’d worked on the farm all day, every day,
until she was 12. Then they’d put her to work at the
store.

    “ Their kids go to school, right?”
He asked, frowning.

    “ Oh, sure, of course.” And they’d
go to college. And she wouldn’t. That wasn’t even a
question.

    He shrugged, a frown creasing his brow, but
didn’t pursue the subject.

    “ Anyway, I was thinking maybe I
could come by your house and pick you up some time this week.
Dinner and a movie? And another chance to admire each other’s
perfect asses?”
    Agnes let out a yelp of laughter.

    “ Uh, Axel…” his cousin Lucas tapped
him on the shoulder, looking concerned. “Maybe it’s not the best
idea for you to go onto panther territory.”

    “ He could pick her up here, after
work,” Agnes said boldly.

    “ Oh really?” his cousin flashed
Agnes an admiring glance. “That’s not a bad idea. You know, a
double date would be twice the fun. If you don’t have a problem
with werewolves, that is.”

    Agnes giggled. “Only shy
werewolves. I like a werewolf who’s not afraid to let his inner
animal out, know what I mean?” Lucas’ eyes lit up at her
innuendo.

    Axel let out a low growl of displeasure,
scowling at his cousin. “Maybe I want to enjoy an evening with her
all by myself.”

    His cousin smirked at him, unfazed by his
annoyance.  “Well, isn’t that just-“

    “ Belle! Agnes!” Aunt Edith’s voice
cracked through the air, from inside the store. “Are you planning
on getting any work done this afternoon, or were you going to stand
outside and bother the customers all day?”

    Belle went pale.  “Oh, no,” she said, and
rushed inside the store with Agnes hot on her heels.

Chapter Two
    Edith, an older woman with permanent scowl
lines stamped on her forehead, had come out from behind the
counter. She glared at the two of them, taking a deep breath to let
loose a vicious tongue-lashing, which was her main form of
communication, at least when it came to her employees. It was an
entirely different story when it came to her children.

    She’d been acting very strange with Belle
lately, keeping her on an increasingly short leash, constantly
demanding to know where Belle was every second that she wasn’t at
the store.    Belle especially didn’t want Edith’s
anger to spill over onto Agnes.  Agnes desperately needed this
job.

    “ I’m sorry, Aunt Edith. It wasn’t
Agnes’ fault. I was just-”

    Axel walked up behind her. “She was just
talking me into buying 50 gallons of paint to repaint our barn,”
Axel said smoothly. “She’s very persuasive.”

    Edith’s mouth opened and shut, and then she
forced her mouth into a smile.  It looked unnatural and
frankly quite frightening on her.

    “ Well, she sure is,” she said in a
sugary voice. “She’s one of our best workers.”

    Axel glanced at Belle. “So I’ll pick you up
tomorrow night after work? About six o’clock?”

    Edith shot Belle a look of alarm. “Certainly
not!” she interjected, before Belle could answer. She rushed over,
standing between Belle and Axel.  “She’s working late tomorrow
night.”

    “ Since when?” Agnes said
indignantly, and Edith shot her a poisonous look, a look that said
 “I’ll deal with you later, missy.” Belle shook her head at
Agnes frantically, but Agnes ignored her. Agnes always had a big
heart and a protective streak where Belle came in...and no comon
sense.

    “ Since we need to do inventory.”
Icicles dripped from Edith’s voice.

    “ We did inventory last week. You
just don’t want her to go out with him.” Agnes folded her arms and
stared at Edith defiantly.

    “ The night after tomorrow, then,”
Axel