The Magical Christmas Cat by Nalini Singh & Erin McCarthy & Linda Winstead Jones & Lora Leigh

Author:Nalini Singh & Erin McCarthy & Linda Winstead Jones & Lora Leigh [Singh, Nalini]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_fantasy_city, love_sf
Publisher: BERKLEY
Published: 2008-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

Zane hadn't been asleep very long when the phone rang, jerking him out of a deep sleep. Shit. Phone calls that came in the wee hours of the morning were never good. Never. He lifted the receiver and glanced at the caller ID. Shit, again. He barked hoarsely, "What's wrong?"

The voice he expected to hear responded, "What makes you think anything is wrong?"

He breathed a sigh of relief. Ruby sounded okay, at least. "It's almost three in the morning," he said. "No one calls at three in the morning unless something is wrong."

She breathed steadily, perhaps more deeply than was normal, but did not immediately respond. After a couple of minutes that dragged on too long, she said, "I have to know. How did you get this blasted cat into my house?"

Zane threw off the covers and leapt from the bed, cordless phone in hand as he ran into his office, which was set up in the spare room across the hall from his bedroom. Sure enough, the figurine he'd left sitting on his desk was gone. He had studied it for quite some time before retiring, but he was positive he'd left it right there.

Obviously, the cursed thing had found its way to Ruby's house. He couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet. She would never believe him, and he wouldn't be able to do what had to be done.

"Well?" she prompted sharply.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, forcing a yawn she was sure to hear.

"The little cat knickknack that was left under the tree by my secret admirer," she said testily. "I let you have it to study, but when I woke up after having a bad dream, the thing was sitting on the table by my bed. Don't play dumb with me. You put it there, and I want to know how and why."

"You changed your mind, don't you remember?" Zane said, try­ing to sound sympathetic. "I was going to study it. It's quite an interesting piece, and I think it might be jade, and there are small markings that I'd like to magnify and study."

"I didn't change my mind," she said softly. "You took it home with you."

"No, you kept it. If you've changed your mind I can pick it up tomorrow . . ."

"I . . . brought it in with me?"

Zane leaned against the doorjamb and took a deep breath. Guilt was an unaccustomed and uncomfortable feeling for him. He was usually unfailingly honest and forthright, but now was not the time. A lie that made Ruby question her sanity was better than the truth. "You did. Listen, are you all right? You don't sound like yourself. I can come over."

"No," she said quickly. Too quickly. "I'm just tired, I guess, and the bad dream shook me more than it should've." She laughed un­comfortably. "And apparently my memory is starting to go."

"Want to tell me about the dream?"

"No," Ruby whispered. "I'm sorry I woke you. Good night." With that she ended the call.

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