Moonlit Madness

By Anne Kane

Natalie had spent one amazing weekend with Jacob McKinley two years ago. When she awoke the next morning, he was gone. What were the chances that he'd turn up next door to her new home? Or that the mutt she'd rescued would conspire with his bouncy little spaniel to throw the two of them together?

The fortune teller at the local fair tells Natalie that she and Jacob are star-crossed lovers, and warns Jacob that Natalie needs a knight in shining armor. There is something bad coming her way.  Can Jacob convince Natalie that he cares, and convince her to give him another chance, to trust him to keep her safe?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Kane
• Release date: Jan 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386747994

Anne Kane

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, an OCD Aussie Shepherd, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after. She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

Book preview

Moonlit Madness

A Novella

by

Anne Kane

––––––––

Natalie had spent one amazing weekend with Jacob McKinley two years ago. When she awoke the next morning, he was gone. What were the chances that he’d turn up next door to her new home? Or that the mutt she’d rescued would conspire with his bouncy little spaniel to throw the two of them together?

The fortune teller at the local fair tells Natalie that she and Jacob are star-crossed lovers, and warns Jacob that Natalie needs a knight in shining armor. There is something bad coming her way.  Can Jacob convince Natalie that he cares, and convince her to give him another chance, to trust him to keep her safe?

This novella was originally published in the multi-author anthology Seduction: One Fortune at a Time.

CHAPTER ONE

Stop that!  Britney raced across the yard, anger lending speed to her feet. Leave that poor dog alone!

What in the hell did Brent think he was doing? She grabbed his arm, yanking as hard as she could. How had she ever thought he was cute? A man who would beat a helpless animal had to be the lowest of the low.

This thing? Not much of a dog. He’s useless. Brent cuffed the cringing mutt across the side of the head before turning to glare at her. Her hands on his arm didn’t seem to have any effect on him. She really needed to get back to the gym.

I paid good money for this thing. Pitbull mix from champion stock they told me, and now I find out he won’t fight. Hell, he won’t even growl. Just rolls over and gives up. He’s got about as much fighting spirit as one of those purse sized puffballs in a pet store.

The nasty sneer on his face should have warned her. Before she realized what he intended, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and yanked her off balance, sending her reeling. Yup, definitely needed to get back into shape.

She hit the ground, wincing as her head bounced off the hard packed dirt. For a moment the world swam before her eyes, and she rolled awkwardly to get her hands and legs under her. Okay, now she was seriously pissed.

The smell of beer and stale cigarette smoke radiating from Brent made her stomach queasy, adding fuel to her anger. Trying to breathe through her nose, she shook her head and pushed herself to her feet.

Boyfriend be damned. No way was she going to let this asshole harm the dog. Or her. Where the hell did he get the idea it was okay to treat a lady like a sack of potatoes?

Ex-boyfriend, she mentally corrected herself. She didn’t date guys who abused animals, let alone one who thought it was okay to lay a hand on her with anything but gentleness. In retrospect Brent always had been a nasty drunk, and he’d obviously been drinking today. She’d optimistically hoped that her presence in his life would change him for the better, but that obviously hadn’t happened.

She stretched her left arm, wincing as a shaft of pain shot from the elbow upward. Ouch! When the adrenaline wore off, her shoulder was going to need some serious TLC.

The dog padded to her side, whining softly as he pushed his nose against her hand. He looked up at her with sad brown eyes and she felt her heart melt. What a sweetie.  Resting her hand protectively on his head, she glared up at Brent. You’re drunk. Again. You promised you weren’t going to drink anymore.

Well promises are made to be broken, and living with you would drive any man to drink. He lifted his lip in a sneer as his bloodshot eyes raked over her. You laid hands on me first. I was just defending myself.

She’d seen that expression before. She knew she should be scared, but all she could feel was deep-seated anger. Not the best self-preservation instinct.

He raised his arm, palm open. She took an involuntary step backward just as the dog let out a low, menacing growl.

Brent froze, a look of sheer disbelief on his face as he stared at the mutt. What the hell? Now you’re willing to fight?

The dog stalked forward, placing himself squarely between Brent and her.

Britney saw a flicker of fear in her ex-boyfriend’s eyes.

The dog lowered his head and let out another low growl, his lips curling in unmistakable warning. 

Brent stood motionless for a moment before slowly lowering his arm. A flicker of fear passed across his face. Fine. Losers stick together. Take the stupid dog and go. He’s useless to me anyway.

Turning on his heel, he stomped toward his truck. I’m going out. By the time I get back that dumb-assed mutt better be gone or I’ll do everyone a favor and put a bullet between his eyes. Yanking the door open, he slid into the driver’s seat of his pickup.

Britney opened her mouth to object as the motor roared to life. He’d had way too many beers to be getting behind the wheel. Then again, it wasn’t up to her to keep the streets safe. Drunk-driving laws were pretty stiff these days. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and waited until the truck stormed off in a cloud of diesel fumes before dialing nine-one-one.

She wasn’t quite that brave. When the cops slapped his sorry ass in jail for driving under the influence, no point in him knowing why his luck had run out.

By the time she finished talking to the police, her hands were shaking, and that sick feeling in her stomach had intensified into a solid lump. Sinking slowly to the ground, she wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her head on her knees. How had her life gone so wrong so quickly?

The dog nosed her gently on the side of her neck, his breath warm on her bare skin. She draped one arm across his broad shoulders, bringing him closer to her side. Poor thing. So ugly it was cute, and amazingly sweet