Read Sex Symbol Online

Authors: Tracey H. Kitts

Sex Symbol (9 page)

BOOK: Sex Symbol
4.32Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

“Yep, the Flaming Fig.”

Chase went on to explain the name and Eramus seemed to understand his reasoning.

“So, does it work? Do the homophobes stay out?”

“You bet your sweet ass they do. Afraid they’ll catch some queer disease if they come in.”

“But it isn’t a gay bar,” Eramus said.

“Tell that to these local retards. Still,” Chase said, finishing up, “I don’t want people like that in my business in the first place.”

“Who did you leave in charge?” I asked.

Chase picked up the platter of steaks with one hand like he was about to wait a table.

“Larry.”

I laughed. “Are you sure about that?”

Larry was well meaning, but not the brightest crayon in the pack.

“Mondays at the Fig are slow, he can’t do much harm this evening.”

We followed Chase out of the kitchen and saw Justina coming from the bathroom down the hall, talking on her cell phone.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “And I certainly will. Thank you. Bye.”

“That was my neighbor,” she said, clicking her phone shut. “I found out what I kept hearing last night. Well, sort of.”

“What is it?” Eramus asked. “Has something happened to your neighbor?”

Chase stopped to listen too even though he had the back door open already.

“Something killed her dog last night. I must have heard whatever did it.”

She shivered and Chase asked, “Was it a small dog?”

“It was huge. Biggest Rottweiler I’ve ever seen.”

“Pookie?” I remembered the dog she was talking about now. Justina usually came to my house, I’d only been to hers a few times. But one of those times her neighbor’s dog had wandered up in the yard and scared me half to death.

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

Pookie was not a mean dog, but I had no doubt he could have handled himself. Whatever could take him down must have been one hell of a beast.

“You said whatever, not whoever. Are you sure it wasn’t a person?” Eramus asked.

“Pretty sure. She said he was…torn up.”

“How awful. It’s not safe for you to go home tonight,” I said. “You can stay here.”

“Thanks, but I’d feel safer at home with all my doors locked. You know how I am about sleeping in my own bed.”

“Whatever it was, it’s probably not still there. I can follow you home tonight,” Chase said.

With that settled, we all went out back. I quickly walked over to Ozzy and pulled him aside.

“Did you hear what happened?” I whispered.

“Yes, Chase had the door open.”

“Don’t you think we should say something? I mean, about the…” I lowered my voice even more. “Werewolf?”

“No, I don’t. Dogs die in fights all the time. There’s no reason to scare everybody more than they already are.”

I tugged on Ozzy’s arm, pulling his ear closer to my lips once more. “But what if something happens?”

“If I thought there was really cause for alarm, I’d say something.”

I pulled back with a huff. “And what makes you such an expert?”

He smiled and started walking back to turn the steaks. “I’ll tell you some day.”

What was it that Ozzy had said about me? I was the perfect friend because I didn’t ask a lot of nosy questions. For the first time I was starting to wonder why I hadn’t. I respect the privacy of others when it comes to their personal life. Like Justina—I had never asked about her ex and I didn’t plan on it. I didn’t want Oz’s life history or anything. I just wanted to know how he knew so much about werewolves. And why he’d never said anything to me in six years. Oh well, he said he’d tell me some day. Since I trusted him, I left it at that.

When the potatoes were almost ready and Chase was taking up the steaks, I decided it was time to break out the punch. Since I didn’t think I could carry the heavy bowl outside without dropping it, I put it on the kitchen table and poured a few cups. Chase already had a beer and so did Ozzy, so I guessed these would be for myself and Eramus.

Justina was busy mashing potatoes, but I set a cup of punch beside her anyway. Before going back outside I took the lobster ice mold from the freezer and plopped it into the punch along with a couple of little frozen stars. I’d added a few lime slices to the ice for color and thought it looked nice.

“A lobster?” Justina laughed. “That’s funny.”

I picked up the little red cups of punch and headed out back just as the sun was setting. I paused to watch the last rays of gold and orange plunge below the tree line, leaving only a faint purple glow.

“Is that for me?” Eramus asked.

I handed him the punch and smiled as I looked back at the last traces of daylight.

“Sunsets are so beautiful this time of year. Everything seems so much more crisp and clean, even colors.”

“I take it you like fall?” he asked.

“I love it. How’s the punch?”

He took a sip. “Strong, but that’s not a bad thing.”

Eramus turned to look at the setting sun then too, and I took the opportunity to observe him. His expression was thoughtful and at the same time, almost sad. It was as if he hated to see the night come. A cool breeze blew past us, wafting his scent toward me once more. If I didn’t stop breathing deeply when he was close to me, I might faint. What the hell was that all about? I’d been around men who smelled good before. I’d even encountered a few colognes that turned me on pretty good. But not like this.

The breeze picked up and when it blew his shirt open wider I shivered. I’m not sure if my reaction was to the drop in temperature or his exposed flesh. He took a step closer to me and the heat rising from his body relieved my chill. He moved like he knew I needed his warmth, but he never took his eyes away from the sunset.

My stomach growled and Eramus smiled down at me.

“Yeah, me too,” he said.

The pot of boiling peanuts was starting to smell really good. I was absolutely starving.

“How about a sample?” I asked Chase, who was adding more salt to the pot.

Before he could answer Ozzy changed the subject. “What kind of plant is that?”

We all looked to see Ozzy pointing to some purple flowers sitting in a planter near Eramus’ back door.

“Monkshood.”

Where had I heard that name before? As if he read my mind Ozzy said, “You mean wolfsbane?”

“That is another name for it, yes.” Eramus took another sip of punch, but I could feel tension in the air again.

“Kind of an unusual plant to keep around, don’t you think?” Ozzy asked. His tone was casual, but I could tell there was more going on than what I saw. I just had no idea what.

Eramus smiled, seeming unfazed. “I think they’re pretty.”

Ozzy seemed to accept that answer, at least for the moment, and turned back to the grill. His sleeves were rolled up and scratches were visible on his forearms.

“What got ahold of you, a wildcat?” Chase asked the question before realizing what he was saying. He quickly looked at me as if to apologize, but there was no need.

“Something like that,” Oz answered.

I felt closer to Ozzy after spending the night with him, but the fact that we’d had sex still seemed sort of surreal. It was as if nothing had changed. I just knew what he looked like naked, that was all. Was that normal? Either way, I was relieved at how easily he played off Chase’s remark and turned everyone away from the subject of his scratches.

“Is everybody hungry?” Chase asked. “If Justina has those potatoes ready then I think it’s time to eat.”

We were all on our way back inside when Oz took me by the arm and whispered, “No one keeps wolfsbane around because it’s pretty.”

Chapter Ten
It’s raining werewolves

All throughout dinner I kept thinking about what Oz had said. As I watched Eramus select the rarest steak on the platter all sorts of thoughts ran through my head. Not the least of which was, had he been the wolf we’d seen last night? Had he watched us having sex in the front yard? Surely not. If he was a werewolf, I didn’t think he could be growing wolfsbane. Besides, he didn’t have any of the signs. You know—unibrows, excessive body hair, or a pentagram anywhere on his body. Then again, I hadn’t seen all of his body.

After dinner everyone started to clear out fairly quickly. We all had to work tomorrow. Well, I just had to go by and check on Mandy. The whole point of hiring someone else was so that Justina and I could cut back on our hours. We both loved the business, but had fallen behind in other areas, like having a life.

She and I were standing on the porch with Eramus, waiting for Chase to find his keys so that he could follow her home.

“Before you go, I have something for you,” Eramus said.

Justina seemed just as surprised by this as I was. We exchanged a look as he added, “I’ll be right back.”

We both watched as he went through the gate that led to his house and in the back door. He emerged in a matter of minutes with a pot of wolfsbane. It was much smaller than the one outside his door, but it was clearly the same plant. It was also covered with a plastic bag.

“I don’t mean to scare you, but after what happened to your neighbor’s dog, I’d feel better if you took these with you.”

Justina took the pot of flowers, still looking a bit surprised.

“Thank you, but what are they?”

I forgot she missed the whole discussion about the flowers before. She was busy mashing potatoes at the time.

“Wolfsbane,” he answered. “Be careful not to let it touch your skin, it’s deadly poisonous.”

The look on her face said she didn’t need an explanation of what wolfsbane was for.

“That’s nice of you, but I don’t think that a—”

“You don’t think that a werewolf ate your neighbor’s dog?” When she didn’t respond he said, “I wouldn’t rule it out.”

Justina and I both looked at him for a moment before she said, “You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

She looked down at the plant and her expression was grave. She looked as if her fears had been confirmed.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

I looked from one of them to the other in disbelief.

“You didn’t even see anything and you’re just going to accept that a werewolf most likely killed your neighbor’s dog?”

“I did see something,” she said, lowering her voice. “I didn’t want to scare Chase. You know how jumpy he gets sometimes. Anyway, there were these really big tracks in the mud beside my house. Bigger than Pookie, because I’ve seen his footprints before.”

She handed me the pot of wolfsbane and put her hands together, indicating the size.

“Whatever the fuck did that, I don’t want to run into it.”

“Fine, but doesn’t this all seem just a little farfetched to anyone else?” I asked.

“It’s all over the news every day. It’s common knowledge that they are out there,” Justina said.

“And didn’t you say that you and Ozzy saw something here last night?” Eramus asked. “Who’s to say that what you described as a big dog wasn’t a werewolf?”

“Did you see anything last night?” I asked him.

What I really wanted to ask was, “Did you see us last night, watching you through the kitchen window?”

“No, but I heard it.”

I turned toward him and it was like no one else existed. Vaguely I was aware of Chase coming out of the house and of Justina taking the plant back from me. But all I could see was Eramus and all I could feel was his presence.

“I said goodnight,” Justina called back from her truck. “Geez, he’s not that good-looking.”

Eramus and I both laughed as he called back, “Yes, I am.”

I could tell already that he and Justina were going to be good friends.

About that time Ozzy came out too and gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“I hate to eat and run, but I’ve got to be up early tomorrow.”

For the first time I wondered what he had to be up early for. To my knowledge, Ozzy didn’t work. But, now was not the time, I supposed.

“Night, Oz. Thanks for coming.”

“I did most of the dishes,” he said.

“Thanks.”

Eramus and I were left on the porch, watching everyone’s taillights fade into the distance.

“Is he always that nice?” he asked.

“Yeah, that’s why we’ve been friends for so long.”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

Wow. What a question. As I looked him up and down I could think of several things he could help me with. None of which were appropriate to say out loud.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll finish up.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to it then. Thank you for inviting me.”

Once he was out of sight I went back into the house and let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Why hadn’t I asked him to stay? Not for the night or anything, but for a little bit of company? I really didn’t want him to go, but couldn’t think of a reason that wouldn’t sound desperate to ask him to stay a while.

Oh well, time to do the rest of the dishes.

*

By the time I was finished with the kitchen thunder was already rumbling outside. I went upstairs and was changing into some comfortable pants and t-shirt when I remembered to call Justina.

I had meant to do it earlier and make sure she got in all right. I picked up the phone beside my bed, but couldn’t remember her number. She didn’t have a home phone, only a cell, and had recently changed the number. The only place I had it was programmed into my cell phone, which should have been on the bedside table too, but it wasn’t.

I thought I’d put it in the kitchen, but all that was there was Ozzy’s ice chest and the beer I hadn’t finished earlier. I looked everywhere, but with no luck. I decided to double check the locks while I thought over where I might have put my phone. I was just passing the back door when I heard my ringtone.

About that time the rain cut loose.

“Shit.”

I really didn’t want to go outside. It was cold, wet, and apparently there was a werewolf roaming around. It rang again.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.”

It was a new phone. I’d paid three hundred dollars for the damn thing. I couldn’t let it sit out there and get ruined by the rain.

I opened the door and leapt outside, making a mad dash for the grill. My phone was sitting on the little tray beside the grill and still ringing so I guess it wasn’t too wet. Justina was calling. I picked up the phone and cradled it in my hands to try to minimize the damage. No sooner had I turned around than I heard snarling. My heart leapt into my throat and I found it very hard to breathe. I should have stayed inside. What was three hundred dollars compared to my life? Stupid, stupid, stupid. I wasn’t used to having any money. It was a gut reaction to not waste it. However, in this case I did not think my instincts had served me well.

BOOK: Sex Symbol
4.32Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Tangles and Temptation by India-Jean Louwe
AZU-1: Lifehack by Joseph Picard
I Heart Me by David Hamilton
Midnight Rose by Patricia Hagan
The Promise of Lace by Lilith Duvalier
A Plain Jane Book One by Odette C. Bell
Truth or Demon by Kathy Love