Read an excerpt from Real Men Have Fangs:
Lauren hopped the same evening flight John and Luc had taken two days earlier. Changing planes in Atlanta, it was almost midnight by the time she reached Hartford. She was tempted to take to the friendly skies in bat form, but she knew John wouldn’t want her to morph with the fungus in the vicinity. She hailed a cab and went straight to the Hartford Marriott.
John wasn’t there. Hmm. He and Luc were probably hunting. She decided to call Luc.
“Hi, Lauren. Is John’s phone dead?” Luc asked.
“No, I wanted to surprise him. I’m in Hartford. Where are you guys?”
“We’re at the DEP office. We should be wrapping up here in the next hour or so.”
“Is Jane Samuels there?” Lauren had a wife’s natural curiosity about any woman working in close proximity to her husband, but Jane being a werewolf was extra fodder.
“Yes, she’s here.” Luc chuckled. “The closer it gets to the full moon, the harder it is for her not to slip into doggie mode. She just scratched herself behind the ear—with her foot.”
Lauren tried to picture the contortion a maneuver like that would require.
“Hopefully, she’s wearing pants.”
“Stretch pants. Lots of spandex.”
“Remind me not to mention this to Meredith—for your sake.”
“She has nothing to worry about,” Luc paused, “and neither do you.”
“Nonetheless, I’d like to see for myself. Tell me where you are, and I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
Lauren took a cab to the DEP office at Meadowlands. The center building in the complex of three had light gleaming from an upstairs window. She was glad the main door wasn’t locked, and after she checked the directory for the suite number Luc had told her, she took the elevator to the second floor. Odd there was no security, but with vampires and werewolves afoot, she supposed there was no need. Her heart raced in anticipation.
When the elevator door opened, she turned left for Suite 220. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. The space she stepped into was divided into two rows of cubicles, and since she didn’t want to spoil the surprise by announcing her presence, she crept down the first aisle, peeking into each cubicle as she passed. She found John bent over a desk, peering through the lens of a microscope. A woman stood behind him. As Lauren watched, the woman put her hands on John’s shoulders and began to massage.
Lauren froze. Just how far would this woman go and how would John react? She felt her fangs extend.
John straightened his back and raised his head from the lens. “If we’re going to work together, Jane, you’ll need to maintain a professional distance.” He didn’t turn to look at her.
“Loosen up, John. It’s almost full moon, and my hormones have kicked into overdrive. What your wife doesn’t know can’t hurt her.”
“True, but what she knows could hurt you.” Lauren stepped into the small cubicle and let one fang hang over her bottom lip.
* * * *
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