Caterpillar, a Paranormal Romance With a Touch of Horror Read Free Page B

most beautiful date there.  Plus there’ll be lots of rich prey for you to sink your claws into.”
I swallowed a groan of displeasure.  Scott obviously didn’t know about my deadly discovery only hours before and I certainly didn’t want to rehash the story so soon.  And, he was right.  Such a party would present a great opportunity for networking with wealthy high society types that liked to invest and juggle real estate. 
“I know you hate big social events where you’re forced out of ‘wallflower mode’, but—”
“I don’t have a ‘wallflower mode’,” I griped.
“—won’t you go for me?”
“I’m just not naturally comfortable in a crowd,” I continued, still stuck on the “wallflower” remark.
And that was true.  I had to work at being out-going.  Losing my parents at a young age had left me feeling insecure and vulnerable, not quite at home in the world around me.  I’d always felt inexplicably different, but I was becoming quite adept at hiding behind my gregarious mask. 
But Scott was right.  Rarely did I go and not end up with one or two good connections so it was usually worth it.  Plus it would make Scott happy.  I shouldn’t have needed any more reason than that.  The fact that I thought of that last was just another indication that my feelings for him weren’t quite…right.  I wanted to like him more, to love him even, but it just wasn’t there, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that it was slowly coming on.
“Please.  I miss you, baby.”  Scott’s last ditch effort was always guilt and, when he used it, he laid it on thick.  “You have clients that see you more than I do.”
“Alright, I’ll go.  What time?”  I mentally flipped through my closet, trying to remember if there was a formal dress in there that wasn’t thread bare from overuse.
“They’re serving hors d'oeuvres at six thirty.  I’ll pick you up at five-thirty, k?”
“I’ll be ready.”  As ready as I can be anyway , I added inaudibly.
Despite the previous evening’s monumental scrubbing, I showered.  I still felt like I needed cleansing after the gore of the day before. 
I lathered my hair and considered my wardrobe.  Nothing I had was suitable.  When accompanying Scott to really swanky events, one had to dress the part of the significant other of the Assistant District Attorney, rising star and up-and-comer.  Unfortunately, being outfitted with enough sparkle to reflect the shine of a rising star was expensive.   
I bit the bullet and decided that after I stopped by the office I’d head on over to a nearby upscale boutique that provided the upper crust with many of their socially acceptable ensembles.  It was called Priss—you do the math. 
I had slipped on my robe and was winding a towel around my head when the doorbell rang.  Déjà vu.  I tiptoed to the door and peeked through the peep hole.  Looking wall-eyed as he leaned in toward the little spy hole was the familiar face of my handsome brother.
I unlocked the door, thunder and lightning crackling in my little cloud as that sense of dread deepened.  My limbs felt leaden.  My brother only showed up when he was in trouble.  And when he was in trouble, he was really in trouble .
I flung the door open.  As I stood looking at him, I could feel the tightness of a disapproving frown pinch at my eyebrows. 
Carter’s brown hair was short and kempt.  His hazel-green eyes, so like my own, were clear and alert.  He smiled, an action that turned him from handsome to devastating, making me immediately suspicious. 
“Look at you,” Carter said, a comment I found strange, but didn’t spend too much time dwelling on.
“Hey.  What’re you doing here so early?”  Eight thirty wasn’t so early for most people, but for Carter it was basically still night time.  Luckily, Curly’s, the body shop where Carter worked, had long hours and Carter worked second shift.  Perfect for those who were allergic to