Lie Down with Dogs Read Online Free Page B

home to keep him company. “It’s got to be hard on a cat used to living in the forest to stay cramped up inside an apartment in the city all day.”
    She made a commiserating sound before her brow puckered. “The guards don’t like cars, right?”
    I shrugged. “Not mine anyway.”
    “What about Diode?”
    “He’s managed to avoid getting in one so far,” I admitted.
    “It’s just—my car is new and the seats are leather...”
    “I’ll ask him what he wants to do.” I foresaw a feline hissy fit in my future. “So far he’s been content guarding the apartment.”
    “Sounds good.” She looked relieved at the prospect of leaving him home. “What about Shaw?”
    I picked at the applique on my shirt. “Like I said, I haven’t heard from him in a few days.”
    “Can he last a week without—” she rolled her hand, “—you know?”
    “I’m not sure.” I tugged on a string. “He’s getting stronger now that he’s being fed regularly.”
    Mai popped my hand before I unraveled the embroidered patch. “You can’t feed him forever.”
    But I couldn’t let him die, either. Not when I was the one who broke him in the first place. “I’ll figure something out.”
    “You better do it fast,” she warned. “He can’t follow you to Faerie. Your hubs would gut him.”
    I rolled my eyes so hard I heard rattling noises. “My husband can suck it.”
    “Don’t give him any ideas.”
    I snorted, grabbed a pillow and bashed her over the head with it. “Hussy.”
    “What?” She cackled. “You said he’s hot, and you two are married.”
    “We’re not that kind of married.”
    “Pfft.” She sighed. “How can I live vicariously through you if you never do anything even remotely naughty?”
    “Sorry, sugar paws.” I reached up and patted her cheek. “But your future husband will thank me. After a lifetime of suppression, when your soul mate passes your foxy test, he’s in for a sexplosion.”
    “God yes,” she agreed. “He’ll be lucky if it doesn’t kill him.”
    I grinned up at her. “He’ll be lucky either way.”
    A slight flush pinked her cheeks. “So, and I expect total honesty here, because I will know if you’re lying. Tell me, are you ready to give up your ice-cream-gorging ways and embrace the light?”
    “Yes.” I rose onto my elbows. “I guess I should tell Mom, huh?”
    “That’s your call. Literally.” She considered me. “A trip to the beach is innocent enough even she can’t take offense.”
    “Mai,” I said in a warning tone too tired to fool either of us.
    “Okay, so, you make your calls. I’ll make my calls.” She slid out from under me, hopped off the couch and left my head to bounce on the cushions. “Car leaves at seven a.m. Be there or be square.”
    The goober was backing toward her bedroom, holding her thumbs and index fingers in a square shape, when she tripped over the sneakers I’d kicked off by the door.
    “I am so sorry.” I jumped to my feet. “Are you okay?”
    She held two thumbs up. “I meant to do that.”
    I was still grinning when my phone’s caller ID flashed Shaw’s number.

Chapter Five
    M y thumb hesitated over the green call icon. As cranky as I was, as bad as my day had been, Shaw would pick this moment to check in. He was the needle pricking the balloon of happiness Mai had inflated for me.
    “Well, color me pink and call me a tutu,” I answered. “You do know how to use a phone.”
    His husky voice rolled across the line, giving me shivers. “I heard about what happened.”
    I groaned and shifted onto my side. “I love her, but Mable’s mouth needs an off switch.”
    “Do you want to talk about it?”
    “No.” I was done rehashing my stupidity over and over in my head. I didn’t want to go for round three out loud.
    “Are you sure?” he pressed.
    I ground the heel of my palm into my eye. “I forgot I sucked at math and took a calculated risk.”
    “Are you sure you don’t mean chemistry?” Mai chirped.