Doe and the Wolf (Furry United Coalition, #5) by Eve Langlais Page B

out now known as a phone. Instead of running off on the basis of a tummy ache, you could just call her.”
    “I can’t. I don’t have a house phone, remember? And she doesn’t own a cell.”
    “So you’re just going to disappear in the middle of a meeting with FUC agents?”
    “Yup.”
    The scowl on Tom’s face deepened. “You know that’s not going to make us look good.”
    Everett rolled his shoulders. “Like I care what they think.”
    A noisy breath rattled from Tom’s lips. “Well, I do! Are you nuts? You can’t do that.”
    “Why not? Tell them something came up that needed my attention. I’m sure you can handle them.”
    Tom pounded a fist on the tabletop, rattling the dishes. “Everett, this better not be your way of ditching me so you can get back to Dawn for a little tickle and squeak.”
    “Dude, we are not in grade school. Tickle and squeak? Really?”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “I do. And trust me when I say that’s not my intention.” Although, if his hunch turned out wrong, it might be.
    “I’m coming by as soon as the meeting is over.” The warning was growled.
    “Take your time.” Everett winked before striding out of the restaurant. He wasn’t kidding, though, about his gut. It urged him to hurry. To run. He did, jogging the few blocks to his house.
    Funny how in a few short days he’d grown so attached to the doe, and it wasn’t just because of her housekeeping skills or great cooking. Under her demure side hid a woman with a backbone of steel. She exuded femininity yet, at the same time, didn’t allow herself to get pushed around. For a man like him, who usually hung out with women who used sex as a tool to get what they wanted and tears when they didn’t, he found it refreshing. And frustrating.
    How she kept holding out again his charm, he couldn’t figure out. He could tell she found him attractive. His nose never lied, and yet, she wouldn’t let herself succumb. Was Tom right? Was it the thrill of the forbidden that rendered her so attractive?
    Only one way to find out. I need to seduce the doe.
    Arriving at his house, all thoughts of seduction vanished. Outwardly, nothing seemed amiss. The windows were all intact. No strange cars sat in his driveway or on the street. The front door was closed. There were no spray painted messages screaming ‘Die, you man-whore!’ All appeared quiet at the lair of the wolf. But the lingering stench of a perfume applied with a much-too-liberal hand hung in the air. Nothing he owned and nothing Dawn wore.
    A stranger had come—he sniffed—and not left.
    A crash from within had him slamming open his front door and charging inside. The cloying perfume permeated the air, along with the more worrisome underlying stench of lizard. A big lizard he’d wager.
    In my house!
    He couldn’t help the howl at the invasion of his space. Quick on the heels of that thought was, Shit, where’s Dawn?
    A female scream sounded, quickly cut off. More noise, that of a scuffle, led him to his kitchen, where he beheld the gecko in a half shift advancing on Dawn, who huddled behind his island, knife in hand.
    “Get away!” she yelled, waving her weapon.
    “Come withhhh me,” lisped the monster.
    “Never!”
    “You heard the lady. Back off,” Everett growled.
    The gecko-man turned his head and flicked his tongue. He didn’t appear surprised at his appearance nor worried, which Everett found a tad bit emasculating. Most people had some kind of reaction when confronting an angry wolf, even in human form. Some shook in their socks, others blubbered, most ran, and those that didn’t usually left puddles of yellow.
    Not Joey the giant freak. Nope, he opened his mouth wide, lined with unnaturally long teeth, and shot a wad of goo at him. Like, gross.
    Everett ducked, and whatever came out of the lizard splattered the wall behind him. Eew. “That better not leave a stain,” he complained.
    “How about we repaint the walls with your blood?” Joey