Fur Magic Boxed Set: Talisman, Sage, Fawn, Lola: Paranormal Romantic Comedy by Colleen Charles Read Free Book Online

would scare the crap out of him, especially, if I showed up naked. He might get the wrong idea about me and our doctor/patient relationship.
    The lights of the shelter glowed in the distance, and we’d be home in less than five minutes. I hoped Pen had warm milk and tuna waiting. So much for my expensive bath and brush. I’d gotten a whiff of myself multiple times on the way home and appreciated Dr. Luke for not mentioning that I smelled of exhaust, dirt and fear.
    Hoot. Hoot.
    I glanced up and saw that Sage had flown back, concerned when I hadn’t returned home and had gone completely off the grid while I was unconscious. As he used his massive wing span to come closer, Dr. Luke heard the flapping and spotted him at about the same time that I did.
    What happened?
    I got hit by another car and Dr. Luke found me and helped me.
    Why was he out in the woods at night? Are you sure he’s safe? He could be one of them. The only people that are in the woods at night are evil witches, intent on casting spells and perpetuating their evil deeds.
    No, I’m sure. He babbled the entire way here and he would have let something slip. He was collecting wild Aloe Vera for some trial he’s doing on skin conditions at the vet clinic. Besides, he’s sweet on Penelope and wants to take her to that volcano movie showing that the science museum.
    Good. I like Dr. Luke. He patched up my broken wing so I could fly again after my accident. I wouldn’t want to have to peck his bloody eyes out.
    “We’re home, Tali,” Dr. Luke said as he rang the bell. “I see Sage has joined us. You have a great friend in Sage to go out at night to find you. He must have known you should have been home by now from your nightly escapades.”
    Sage cocked his head to one side in acknowledgement as he perched himself on top of the wooden railing of Penelope’s front porch. I was happy to see that Old Glory had returned to its rightful place flying proud from the flagpole instead of around my hips.
    Penelope peeked through the curtain on the side window and flung the door open when she recognized Dr. Luke standing on the porch.
    “Dr. Collier,” she exclaimed. “I didn’t expect you to stop by tonight.”
    The moment she noticed the bundle in Dr. Luke’s arms, her blue eyes widened and she gasped.
    “He’s going to be fine, Penelope,” Dr. Luke assured. “He got clipped by a delivery van in the rear end when he was on his way home tonight. It knocked him for a loop, but he doesn’t have any broken bones or internal injuries. He’ll just need a painkiller and a few days of rest.”
    “Oh, Tali,” she said as she took me from Dr. Luke and clutched me tight to her soft chest. That smell, the one that was unique to her, overtook my senses and I snuggled in to her neck. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you. Let’s go inside and I’ll get you some tuna to go with your medicine.”
    And warm milk? Surely a car accident is worthy of the double reward?
    She turned to go back inside, completely focused on me when she realized that Dr. Luke was still standing in the doorway.
    Ask him inside. It’s the perfect time for you two to get to know each other better. Come on Pen, he can help you with my medicine and then he can ask you to the movie and maybe we can get closer to True Love’s Kiss.
    “Penelope, I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Dr. Luke said as he stepped closer, intending to step over the threshold and in to the house.
    “Thanks so much, Dr. Collier … I mean, Luke. I really appreciate you walking Talisman home. It could have been much worse if you hadn’t stumbled upon him.” She flung the words over her shoulder, not even turning around to give him eye contact and promptly slammed the door right in his face. Right before he slipped from my view, I saw a look of utter defeat on his chiseled face.
    Good grief. The night was about to go from bad to worse. Penelope wasn’t usually so preoccupied. Or dense.