Hot, Hard & Howling - OpenDrive

Mari Freeman
“Nell?”
Her voice was raspy. He heard the strain it took to utter the words. His fist hit the
hood of his car hard enough to leave a dent. “Den…park…” The hissing overrode the
next couple of words.
The plastic of his small cell phone cracked under the pressure of his grip. “Nell.
Where. Are. You?”
“…the west.” Her voice broke through the static before the line went dead again.
He hit the callback button and got another busy signal.
The west entrance to Denning Park made sense. That part of the park butted up
against Nell’s land. He gritted his teeth as he slammed himself behind the wheel of his
car, figuring he was about eight minutes away.
* * * * *
Nell left her cell phone, open and turned off, on the ground by a trail leading to the
playground then tucked the small sheet of cellophane she’d used to create static into a
pocket of her backpack. She broke several branches along the way, making sure her
scent was left on the foliage. A Chihuahua could follow her trail. Trent Nicholas,
supernatural super cop, would be on her in no time. Nell paused at the opening to the
playground to look back over her shoulder. All was set. All she had to do was wait for a
frantic Werewolf to show up—and then blow up.
She didn’t wait long. He blasted through the trees without much noise. Nell
managed to feign surprise at his arrival. Sitting back, resting on her elbows atop a picnic
table, her knees slightly spread and her feet on the bench, she smiled at the disarray of
his hair and clothing. He looked as though he’d run a mile. Well, technically he almost
had. The trail that led to the playground was about that long. He stood still, staring at
her with all the anger she knew was just about to bust through his tough-guy veneer.
“You’re fine,” he huffed.
“Why thank you, Trent.” She sat up. He took two measured steps forward. Nell
was sure he wanted to rush her and shake her. “You look a little rattled, sweets. What’s
wrong?”
He tossed her phone onto the table next to her. “You dropped this.” He took his
time looking her up and down. His gaze stirred her need more than she had
anticipated. It was key she keep her cool for a little longer. His fists were balled tight
against his thighs and she could see his pulse racing under the tanned skin of his neck.
She swallowed her own racing desire and stood on the bench, knowing that the tight,
white t-shirt and snug cut-off shorts were giving him a very good idea of her intentions.
“Oh, thanks.” She took a step along the bench, accidentally kicking over the
backpack lying next to her feet. The buff leather cuffs tumbled out. She never took her
eyes off his as he watched them roll to the ground. His pupils narrowed, she heard the
sharp intake of air followed by a guttural growl that made her tremble.
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