Blurb
Wildlife photographer and cryptozoology blogger Emma Jordan came
to Birch Hill expecting to find another urban legend. The rumours of a big cat
stalking the woods around this quiet town surely had to be just that - rumours.
But when the evidence starts to pile up that Birch Hill really does have a
killer cat on the loose, Emma finds herself caught in a confusing game of cat
and mouse. And her blossoming relationship with Abi Blakely might just be
pushing her further into danger.
Excerpt
A
couple of hours later, showered, changed, and feeling human again, Emma headed
back to Abigail's Bakes. She told herself she was just looking to grab a quick
lunch and sit somewhere pleasant while she updated her blog. Privately she had
to admit it would be nice to just look at Abi while she worked.
The place was much busier than it
had been that morning; it was full of kids and families jostling for table
space. Abi and a younger girl worked the counter with cheer and ease, and cafe
was filled with chatter and laughter. Emma joined the queue, trying to catch
Abi's eye. When Abi saw her, she waved and favored Emma with that infectious
smile.
“How was your hike? Did you catch
the Beast yet?” she asked Emma as she served her.
“Not yet. Maybe later.” Emma picked
out a bacon and cheese strudel and a spiced apple muffin. “Do you have wifi in
here? I need to get online.”
Abi passed her a slip of paper with
a password on it along with her food. “Help yourself. Catch you later.”
Emma smiled, hoping the words
weren't just a mere formality. She found a table tucked away in the corner and
flipped open her netbook. Her main source of income was her photography,
supplying stock images for websites and brochures, entering as many
competitions as she could, and doing the occasional teaching course if she
wasn't traveling. It was steady money, and a hefty inheritance from a
grandparent she'd never met allowed her to live in comfort and indulge her
other passion – the alien big cat stories. Her blog, After Dark All Cats Are
Leopards, was one of the better-regarded in both the cryptid and sceptic
communities and she had a steady following. When she'd announced last week that
she was heading for Birch Hill, her views had skyrocketed, and even though she
didn't have much news to add yet, it was probably a good idea to update now.
She plugged her digital camera into
the netbook and uploaded the photos she'd taken, eating as she worked. The
strudel and the muffin were both perfectly delicious, and she allowed herself a
brief fantasy of kidnapping Abi and making her bake for her full-time.
She didn't notice Abi had joined her
until the other woman pushed a cup of coffee to her. “Looks like thirsty work,”
Abi remarked.
Emma jumped, then grinned. “Bloggers
are powered entirely by caffeine. Thanks.”
“So I looked you up after you left,”
Abi said. “Why big cats?” She leaned her elbows on the table and rested her
head in her hands. Her dark curls framed her face perfectly, her expression
attentive and interested. Emma squirmed a little under her keen gaze.
“When I was a kid I wanted to find
Bigfoot,” Emma confessed. “My dad used to take me out hiking in the Rocky
Mountains and tell me stories about Bigfoot and skinwalkers, all kinds of
stuff. I just loved it. Then I grew up and decided there wasn't much chance of
Bigfoot really being out there. But big cats? Definitely.”
“You're so sure? Even though
nobody's found a breeding population of wild tigers anywhere?” Abi asked with a
grin.
“America's a big country. There's
plenty of space for wide-roaming animals to hide. And big cats are generally
elusive in their natural territories anyway. Yeah, I'm sure. People brought
lions and tigers over here with circuses in the nineteenth century and there
are thousands of people keeping them illegally today. There are orphanages for
abandoned exotic animals up and down the country. It's not completely
ridiculous that some escape or are released into the wild. And cats are so
adaptable. Even if we're not talking big breeding populations, I think it's
more likely that there are non-native big cats out there than not.”
“You love this stuff, don't you?”
Abi said, looking thoughtful.
Emma flushed. “Was I rambling?”
“No, it's interesting! I wish I
could come out big cat hunting with you, but Jed probably wouldn't let me.” She
stuck her tongue out as if she'd eaten something distasteful.
“Well, he's not coming either,” Emma
said. “I take it he's more than just prickly with you?”
Abi shuffled Emma's empty plates
around, looking embarrassed. “Oh, we just...clash. He's pretty conservative and
I'm not. He thinks I lower the tone of the neighborhood.”
“Not a fan of baked goods?” Emma
joked.
“Baked goods or lesbians,” Abi said
with a shrug.
Emma's heart gave a little twist,
but she kept her tone calm and amused as she replied. “Oh dear. I'd better not
answer any personal questions he asks me then.”
Abi gave her a thoughtful look again
that turned into a shy smile. “So what are you doing for the rest of the day?
I'm off this afternoon.”
“I'm going back into the woods this
evening but I'm free til then. Maybe...” Emma searched for something that
didn't sound too forward but still made it plain she liked Abi. “Maybe we could
hang out?” Ugh. Lame.
Abi didn't seem to notice. She
flashed a dazzling smile. “How about a guided tour of Birch Hill? There's not
much to see, but with the right company it has a certain charm.”
“It's a date.”
Abi stood, grabbing Emma's plates.
“Give me an hour and we're on.”
Emma watched her sashay away with a
flutter of excitement. If the Beast of Birch Hill didn't show up, Abi might
prove just as exciting.
BUY:
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beast-Birch-Hill-Romance-ebook/dp/B00MT8D454/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_6
About the
Author
Naomi likes writing,
perfume, fancy tea, and unfathomable monsters from the dark spaces between the
stars, not necessarily in that order. She has been writing stories ever since
she learned how to write, but is still trying to master the art of biography
writing. When she's not dealing with werewolves, demons, or sea monsters, she's
hanging out with her cat and probably watching a documentary about Bigfoot. If
the cat isn't available, she's with her fiancé watching cookery shows and
silently plotting her next book.
Find me online:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/naomi_jay
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/naomijclark
