These Boots Were Made for Stomping (27 page)

But just as she was about to give up the ghost, something happened. She suddenly felt energized, power ripping through her.
Her teeth elongated, cutting into her lower lip. A tail burst from her butt, writhing with strength. Her fingernails elongated
to sharp claws, and muscles burst from her skinny arms. Karma Kitty had just gotten a makeover!

She glanced around. Was Thomas somehow drawing? What great timing!

She jumped to her feet, clawing at the ninjas. She whirled around, smacking them with her tail. As one lunged at her, she
bit him on the arm, digging her fangs into his flesh. (Pretty gross, but desperate times and all that!) He fell back, squealing
in pain.

She bit, scratched, and tail-swatted her way through the line. A few minutes later, there wasn’t a single ninja standing.

She leaned forward, hands on her knees, sucking in a breath. She’d done it: She’d beaten them all. Thanks to Super Karma Kitty.
Thanks to . . .

Collin stepped into view, a pad of paper in his hands. He held it up and smiled weakly. “I uh, gave you an upgrade,” he said,
sounding a bit sheepish. “I guess it worked?”

She stared at him, hardly believing her ears. Collin had given her the new powers? Collin had saved her life?

She ran to him, throwing herself in his arms, careful not to scratch him with her claws. He stumbled backward. “Whoa!” he
cried. “Take it easy on us mere mortals. I gave you a hell of a lot of strength there, kitty cat.”

“You berieved me!” she cried, covering his face with kisses. “You rearry berieved me.”

He nuzzled her back, avoiding her fangs, which she had trouble speaking around. “Yes,” he whispered. “And thank God I did.
I’m so sorry, Hails. I’ve been such a fool. And, um, you should retract those fangs. You’re getting ninja blood all over me.”

She giggled and complied. “Come on,” she said, realizing that time for cuddling could come later. “We’ve got to rescue Thomas.
I think he’s behind a locked door down here. With my new strength I should be able to break it down.”

They ran to the back of the office and stopped at the door. With a well-placed kick, Hailey burst it in. A moment later, Thomas
stumbled out.

“I knew you’d save me, Karma Kitty!” he cried, giving her a big hug. “You wouldn’t let those big bad ninjas take me out.”

“Actually, it was Collin who saved both of us,” Hailey said, looking over at Collin, who was at this point blushing bright
red. “He gave Karma Kitty a little upgrade.” She handed him the drawing.

“Dude, that rocks. I’m so jealous. You’re a wicked talented artist.”

Collin’s face got even redder. “Thanks,” he said. “It’s been a while, but . . .”

“But you did it! And you saved us all. And now we can live happily ever after!” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss Collin on
the mouth. His lips were hot and hungry and she couldn’t wait to get him alone. This time without ninjas to interrupt them.

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Can we get out of the lair of danger before you two go all PDA on me, please, please?”

“Oh yeah, sure. Sorry.”

They headed out into the lobby, where the secretary was helping Redkin to his feet. The two glared. “Where do you think you’re
going?” Redkin demanded.

“Home,” Hailey said. “And sorry, but Thomas won’t be signing with your agency after all,” she apologized. “We will, however,
be calling the police on your little operation.”

Redkin lunged at her, but Collin was ready for him, stepping in smoothly and clocking him upside the head. Redkin bellowed
as he went down for the count. The secretary took one look at them and turned tail.

“Nice,” Hailey said with a grin once she was gone. “And here I thought I was going to have to go all Karma Kitty on them.”

“Nah,” Collin said, grinning sheepishly. “I may not be able to take on a congregation of ninjas, but I can handle one measly
executive.”

Hailey kissed him. “Very brave of you,” she whispered. “My hero.”

Collin kissed her back, “My heroine.”

“Oh, god! Please get me to a cab!” Thomas moaned. “I’d rather face more ninjas than be witness to this disgusting public display
of affection.’

They laughed and exited the office. The cab was still there, the driver half-asleep and the meter running. He didn’t even
give Catwoman Hailey a second glance.

Thomas grabbed the door. “Get in, lovebirds. I’ll get the next one. Then you can suck face all you want and my eyes will be
able to stop bleeding,” he instructed.

Hailey snorted. “Thanks. I think.”

“Oh, and what was that shoe Web site again?” Thomas asked, almost too casually. “I need to buy myself a pair of magic slippers!”

“Hiheelia.com,” Hailey said as she got into the cab. “But behave yourself, Big Kitty. After all, we’ve got a big deadline
coming up and that takes precedence over saving the world.”

“Who said anything about saving the world?” Thomas scoffed. “I’m just looking for a tiny tomcat to call my own. Big Kitty
needs love too, you know. Or at least a romp in the litterbox.”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to know. I really don’t.”

Collin slid into the cab behind Hailey and instructed the driver to take them to his hotel. Then he turned to her. She was
sliding off her boots and her Karma Kitty features were fading to her regular beautiful self. He reached over and tucked a
strand of hair behind her ear. She looked over at him, her wide innocent eyes shining with love.

“You believed me,” she whispered, as if she couldn’t believe it herself. “You really believed me.”

“Yes,” he said, holding out his arm so she could cuddle into his shoulder. “I believe you. About everything. Even that damn
alien abduction. But there better not be a repeat of that. Because I want you to show up on our wedding day this time around.”

She smiled sleepily, wrapping an arm around his chest. She felt so good pressed against him. Vulnerable, sweet. Hard to believe
it was the girl who’d just kicked the asses of a pack of ninjas.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I doubt there will be a second season of that reality show. It was really pretty dumb.”

He cocked his head. “Reality show?” he asked.

“Yeah. I tried to tell you. They abducted me for an alien reality show:
Who Wants to Live with an Earthling?
”

He stared down at her. “
Who wants to
—?” He swallowed hard. “
Who Wants to Live With an Earthling?
Are you sure?”

She lifted her head. “Of course I’m sure. I spent weeks in that spaceship.”

He started to laugh. “Oh my God,” he said. “That wasn’t a spaceship! That was a soundstage. Some dumb-ass reality thing that
never made air because they didn’t get the proper waivers from guests when they kidnapped them.”

Hailey stared at him. “You mean, it wasn’t really aliens?”

“Nope. Just a bunch of underpaid actors dressed as cats.”

“Oh my God. And to think all this time I thought . . . Wow!”

“And to think I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Oh Hailey, I’m so sorry.” He cuddled closer to her. All that wasted time
because of a stupid misunderstanding. He couldn’t believe it.

She looked up at him. “But, um, if it really was aliens, you’d still believe me, right? From now on, no matter what the weirdness,
you’ll accept without question that I’m telling the truth? ’Cause I’m pretty sure there’s still a lot in my life that’s unexplainable.”

“Hailey Hills, if you agree to be my wife, I will believe you even if you say you saw Jim Morrison buying a door at Home Depot.”

“Good. Because see that guy over there? I think that might be . . .”

THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR
STOMPING

USA TODAY
BESTSELLER

JULIE KENNER

“Kenner [has a] flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations.”

—
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way—with unmistakable talent and a wonderful imagination.”

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JADE LEE

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Burning Tigress

EMMY AWARD WINNER

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“A sparkling debut…a nice twist on the modern girl’s search for prince charming.”

—
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A Connecticut Fashionista
in King Arthur’s Court

“Mancusi’s witty, tongue-in-cheek remarks and sprightly dialogue make for a joy ride of a read.”

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Copyright

LOVE SPELL®

April 2008

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

200 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10016

“A Step in the Right Direction” copyright © 2008 by Julie Kenner.

“Kung Fu Shoes!” copyright © 2008 by Katherine Grill.

“Karma Kitty Goes to Comic Con” copyright © 2008 by Marianne Mancusi.

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