Kissing the Werewolf - An Izzy Cooper Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

and his father had come into Storm Cove to fuel up their old Ford truck at Al’s Quick Stop, the island’s only gas station at the time. These days there were a couple more, but back then the Quick Stop was the place to get your fuel, plus it doubled as a convenience store.
    Al’s Quick Stop is located just off the loop road, on Pacific Avenue, which also happened to be the road I took to get to Pine Bluff. That’s where Granny Stella lives.
    On days when I had a little extra money, I would stop in and buy a soda on my way home.
    On this particular Friday, I planned to pick up a soda, as well as a bag of corn chips and dill pickle dip. Annabelle was going to stay with Aunt Mandy all weekend, while Granny was taking care of some business on the mainland.
    I’d be alone, and I had it all planned out. I was going to veg out in front of the TV all weekend, and eat corn chips.
    All that changed when I saw Elias Moreland’s hard - naked chest. In fact, my entire outlook on life changed in that moment.
    When I walked by them, Mister Moreland was pumping fuel, while Elias was cleaning the windshield.
    I wasn’t exactly the coolest kid at Storm Cove High, and it showed when I stopped in my tracks to stare at a shirtless Elias. He had strange tattoos on his chest and back, as well as on his arms.
    But it wasn’t just his body that drew my attention. I was completely entranced by his perfect face, and the way his dark curls brushed up against his wide shoulders as he moved.
    He was awesome. Totally blowing away any of the guys I went to school with.
    Just as I was ready to force my eyes away, he glanced up and saw me.
    My face grew hot with embarrassment, but in that split second before I looked away, I saw the amusement in his eyes. He was completely aware that I’d been watching him.
    Forcing one foot in front of the other, I finally made it inside and got my drink. By the time I left, Elias was gone.
    After asking a few of my classmates some discreet questions, I learned that his name was Elias Moreland, and he lived in Roseland. He didn’t attend public school, which explained why I hadn’t seen him before.
    The Roseland people were home schooled. Apparently those Gypsies didn’t much like associating with the townspeople, and the feeling was mutual.
    I wasn’t about to let that stop me.
    Every chance I got; I wandered over to Roseland, though I wasn’t quite brave enough to actually go into their settlement. Instead, I hung around the trails, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
    I was pulled from that distant memory when I felt the SUV slowing. We were approaching Roseland.
    At least there was something to distract me. I didn’t want to think about that kiss. As long as I didn’t think about it, maybe I could keep that strange flutter out of my chest.
    Not much had changed since my last visit to Roseland, which had been just before high school graduation. I left for college that fall.
    Time and distance has a way of blurring the past. As the years went by, I’d thought about Elias less, but now that I’d seen him again, the memory was more vivid than it had been in a long time.
    I wasn’t sure I liked it.
    Roseland was one of those little towns that you would miss if you blinked.
    It had grown some, but not much. There was now a service station, and a little grocery store. There was even a small school, and a park, but not much else.
    The majority of Roseland’s residents worked, and did most of their business on the mainland, which was another reason the town was slow to grow.
    The people of Storm Cove had always been reclusive, preferring to keep their business on the island, when possible.
    After all, they had secrets.
    With so many of the homes in Roseland being those small, ranch style houses, it reminded me more of a subdivision than a town.
    Elias’s house was different.
    The Moreland’s massive log cabin was set apart from the rest of the town.
    I’d always admired its rustic beauty, but mostly what I