Canid

As Talia got dressed, she thought about her upcoming meeting with Victor. He was a strange man. And she was almost sure something was going on between him and his office manager, Caroline Thomas.

For some reason, Talia sensed that Caroline didn't like her, although she couldn't recall doing anything to offend the woman. She almost acts jealous of the attention Victor gives me.

She ran a brush through her hair and applied a smattering of lipstick. She needed little else to make herself look presentable. Her skin was clear and smooth, with just a few freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose.

A knock at the cottage door startled her and she jumped. When she saw her visitor though the screen door, she muttered, "That will teach me to close both doors."

Craig Lynch smiled a greeting from the small stone stoop, which served as a front porch. "Hey, Tally, want to come out and play?" he finally said, the grin widening.

"No comment," Talia responded. She did not open the door or invite him inside.

"Good one, very funny. Actually I'm here in my capacity as a reporter. I want to do a story about you and the upcoming art exhibit for the paper. Need to set up a time. How about over dinner tomorrow night. You pick the place."

He was, she would guess, somewhere in his mid-thirties. He was partially balding and slightly built. His pale blue eyes ogled her from behind a pair of rimless glasses.

"I'm just on my way out, Craig. Call me later," she said, opening the screen door. She remembered she didn't have her purse or keys. She went to grab them from the coffee table, and when she turned around, he was standing right behind her.

"Nice dress, by the way," he said, reaching out to touch the silky skirt. He rubbed the fabric between his thumb and forefinger.

"I have to go, Craig. As I said, call me and we'll set up a time for me to come by the newspaper office and do the interview."

Craig had been flirting with her since she'd moved to town and it hadn't taken her long to grow tired of it. However, he never seemed to get the message that she wasn't interested. In fact, something about him almost repulsed her.

He let go of her skirt and moved his hand to her hip. Sidestepping, she walked around him and went to the door, opening it wide.

He followed her. "Need a ride?" he asked, his thin lips curling up in a half-smile. They both stepped outside.

"I'd rather walk into town. It's a great day and I like being outdoors," she said as she locked her door, then strode past him and down the cobblestone walk.

When Talia entered the art gallery, the first person she saw was Caroline Thomas, hovering over an older, middle-aged couple who were studying a bronze sculpture.

She looked around for Victor, but didn't see him so contented herself with examining some of the pieces that were propped against the far wall. In fact, most of the paintings that usually hung on the walls had been removed and the place smelled of fresh paint. Victor was obviously sprucing things up for the upcoming show.

"I'm going to use easels for a lot of the paintings, especially yours," Victor said, from the mouth of the short hallway that separated the showroom from the offices.

Funny, she could have sworn he hadn't been in there when she'd looked for him a few moments ago.

He came to her, then reached out and took both of her hands in his. "You look beautiful as always. So what do you think of the place?" He beamed proudly.

It did look good. The new, lighter shades made a world of difference. "It's perfect." She smiled at him, thinking that he really looked more suited to big city life. So why had he tucked himself away in this little village so off the beaten path?

Caroline joined them, looking Talia up and down, before turning her attention to Victor. "The Swansons want that sculpture. I'm sending it out tomorrow, but they want a word with you."

As Victor went to talk to the Swansons, Caroline leveled her gaze on Talia. "Victor is quite enthused about your paintings. They will be ready, won't they?"

The other woman's animosity was obvious. "They'll be ready," Talia replied coolly.

"See that they are. I wouldn't want to see Victor disappointed," Caroline said before walking away.

Suddenly, the hair at the nape of Talia's neck stirred and she shivered. I'm being watched, but from where? Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of someone staring in the front window. But when she turned to look, there was no one there.

Talia stirred, muttered something, then became fully awake. She sat up, clutching the down comforter around her naked body and looked at the other side of the bed.

Empty.

She glanced at the bedside clock. It read just after midnight.

She listened for movement, hoping she would hear him walking around in the living room, or bathroom. Nothing. She was alone in the house.

Where is he at this hour?

Memories of their ferocious lovemaking came back to her in a rush. She'd been like a woman possessed. Was it because she saw the attention he'd been paying to Abby Stewart?

Lucas had explained the scene she's walked in on and she believed him. There was something innately conniving about that woman.

Talia glanced at the French doors. It was then she noticed they were not locked. Getting quickly out of bed, she went to them and pushed the white curtain aside, peering out. Satisfied that no one was lurking around, she opened one of them and stepped out into the night.        

The air smelled fresh and clean. She looked up at the moon and felt a stirring deep within her that had nothing to do with sex. Then she recalled the way she'd felt earlier when she'd begun to change, to transform. Fear slithered up her spine.

Lucas said we could control it, that we wouldn't turn unless we wanted to. We promised one another we'd never transform again. Not after the awful things that happened in the spring.

All at once, she knew where he was, and she felt sick inside.

Talia settled into the hot bath water and sighed. Lucas, standing at the bathroom sink was trimming his goatee. "I'm starting to resemble a sailor who's been at sea too long," he said.

"I sort of like the shaggy look, gives you an aura of mystery," she said, with a smile. She sighed and laid her head back against the cool porcelain.

"What are you doing under those bubbles anyway? You're doing an awful lot of cooing," he asked.

"You're a pervert. Besides, if you're so curious, why don't you join me and find out?"

He turned and looked at her. "I think I just might take you up on that," he said, stripping off his under-shorts and walking toward the antique claw-foot tub.

Once he was settled opposite her, his feet wrapped around her hips, he said, "Bliss. Pure bliss."

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," Talia promised, feeling a sense of contentment she hadn't experienced in a long time. She'd been a real bitch at the shop earlier, she realized that. Rachel Lewis was just a young woman trying to earn a living and had been fortunate enough to come across Lucas's ad. Of course she was enthused and felt good about herself--she had a job she liked and was good at. Jealousy was an evil monster and Talia had made a vow tonight to never let it get the better of her again. "I'm thinking we should have Rachel over for dinner soon. She's probably not rich by any means, having just gotten the job at the shop and could probably use a free meal now and then."

"What changed your mind about her?"

She met his gaze. "I didn't have any particular mindset about Rachel, Lucas. I just was surprised by her, that's all. Now I want to get to know her better."

Lucas shrugged. "Sure. Let me know when and I'll ask her. But right now, I have other things on my mind."

Talia smiled. "Oh, like what?"

"Guess."

She bent her knees and scooted toward him. "Meet me halfway?"

“What the hell are they doing here?” Talia asked, her voice full of disdain.

The detectives conferred with two of the firemen who were now walking around in the charred remains of the cottage. The rest of the fire crew members were coiling up hoses and putting away other equipment.

Lucas decided to join them. “Stay here,” he told Talia.

“Forget it, Lucas.” She followed him across the yard to the blackened ruins.

The man who came to greet them had the words Fire Chief emblazoned across the front of the hard hat he wore. “You’re the owners?” he asked.

Lucas nodded. “What happened?”

“Looks like an explosion,” the man said. “I’m Chief Hennesy, by the way. Sorry for your loss.” He took off one of his heavy, soot-coated gloves.

Lucas shook the man’s hand. “Was it the gas line?”

Chief Hennesy suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. As if on cue, Muncie and Reed joined them.

“Someone blew up your house, Ms. Coe,” Muncie said, his gaze fixed on Talia.

Chief Hennesy quickly said, “There are remnants of an explosive device, a timer to be exact. We’ll know more when we get the items to the lab in Kinnard. They’ll be sending an arson investigator to inspect the premises.”

Talia looked as though she couldn’t quite take it all in. “Someone did this on purpose?”

Lucas found it hard to swallow around the lump of fury in his throat. Then it hit him. I was supposed to be staying here tonight, just like I’ve been doing. This was meant for me.

The same thought must have occurred to Talia because when she turned to him, he could see the terror in her eyes. “My God, Lucas, you—”

He silenced her with a shake of his head. “So you’re on the arson squad now?” He was addressing Muncie and Reed.

Reed answered, “We just heard about the fire. We’ve been tied up on an assault out on Carver Road. A man was almost killed. In fact, he’s not expected to make it.”

Muncie took over. “We were on our way to tell you, Ms. Coe.”

Talia looked from one detective to the other. “Tell me what? Stop playing games. I’m not in the mood!”

Lucas knew. Deep down, he knew. He put an arm around Talia’s waist, holding tight.

“Your father was attacked on Carver Road, Ms. Coe. He’s at Bradford County Hospital. It doesn’t look good,” Reed said.

As Talia’s body began to sink, Lucas took her in his arms. “Two alphas in one night, that was the plan,” he whispered in her ear.