5 Silly Questions with Benedict Arnold from THE GREEN EYED DOLL by @JerrieAlexander

Today's 5 Silly Questions is a real dog. Actually a fictional dog named Benedict Arnold from Jerrie Alexander's THE GREEN EYED DOLL. Considering The Green Eyed Doll is a dark romantic suspense, I chose the dog's point of view for my silly questions. The serial killer was unavailable.

My name is Benedict Arnold. It's an odd name, but I don't mind. After the gentle lady started coming around, my new master gave it to me. I was living in his barn when he moved in and found me. I don't trust men, but this one feeds me, and the lady likes him, so I stick around. Anything is better than the last place. That master beat, kicked, and called me Stupid. I got out of there the first chance I had. 

I sense big trouble. I don't understand. Don't know what to do or how to help. The lady stopped coming around and my master acts angry, but I think he's just sad.  

Thanks Benedict. Here's your first question.

1) If I wanted to do a B&E at Catherine's house, which would distract you more: a raw porterhouse or a dead raccoon?

A dead raccoon, for-sure-for-sure. The scent is intoxicating. Shoot, I'd throw myself down on top of him and wallow. You could come and go with me noticing!

My dog, Biscuit, feels similarly  Nothing like the fresh scent of road kill to get him to roll.

2) Catherine and Matt are held captive by another serial killer (as opposed to the Green Eyed Doll killer). You can see them tied up in a basement through the small, ground level window. You also smell blood. How do you save them?

For Catherine, I would crash through that window, chew through the rope, and rip out the throat of anyone who tried to stop me. Matt??? Meh...not so much. He does feed me, but we're still working on that trust thing. 

So if Jason shows up, I know to hide behind Matt.

3) Who would you rather face in a dark alley: the evil cat from Dogs v. Cats or rabid Lassie?

Bring on rabid Lassie. You've heard I'm too sexy for my shirt? Well, I'm too sexy for my fur. The ladies love me. I'd cure Lassie with my TLC. 

Didn't realize you'd take it that way. Moving on...

4) What do you look for in an owner?

Someone I can trust. My previous owner beat me, which is why I have trouble trusting men. You have to earn that from me, and it ain't easy!

5) Which trick would you best recommend for my Cairn Terrier, Biscuit? Mind you, he's pretty stubborn and not a quick learner.

I'll teach him to do the 'beggy' face. He'll sit on his haunches, tilt his head to the side, let his tongue loll out and give you the sad eyes look. It's a great trick, gets a treat every time.

Biscuit's pretty cute as is. Not sure if I want him to learn to beg. I was thinking more along the lines of the dog that fetches beer from the frige in that old Superbowl commercial. 

The Green-Eyed Doll

Catherine McCoy is running from her past. She’s been on the move for a year, hiding the secret and guilt in her heart. When she lands in small-town Texas and meets Sheriff Matt Ballard, he ignites a flame she thought lost forever.
Matt has scars of his own. He left the big city after an undercover operation went bad and his partner was killed. Now, as Matt hunts for a serial killer who paints his victims like porcelain dolls, Catherine becomes a safe haven for him. Two tortured souls finding comfort in each other’s arms—until he uncovers her secret, and their bond of trust is broken.
When Catherine disappears, Matt races to find her, fearing the murderer has found his next green-eyed doll. But the killer has a surprise coming. Catherine will fight to the death before she’ll be a victim. But will her determination be enough?

The Green Eyed Doll is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The Wild Rose Press.

Jerrie Alexander. A student of creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children. A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels.

The characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted she share their dark, sexy stories with others. She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. She likes to torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after.

Jerrie lives in Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines. She loves hearing from fans at http://www.jerriealexander.com.

And now an excerpt from THE GREEN EYED DOLL.

Catherine paced and argued with herself. Should she stay or go home? She’d told Matt he’d need a friend after the first woman went missing and now this. She couldn’t imagine the pressure he must be under. Her plan was to have a hot supper waiting for him. She’d basted and basted until the roast withered and fell apart. The once firm potatoes? Mush. The gravy was a light brown paste. 

Benedict Arnold stood and trotted to the back door before Catherine heard Matt’s pickup. The dog was glad to know Matt was home, too. She leaned back against the kitchen counter and waited.   

“Hey.” A lame greeting, but seeing him stunned her speechless.

 Dark circles and cold, weary, blue eyes marred his Michelangelo face. His black hair fell in disarray and looked like he’d raked his fingers through a number of times today. His chiseled jaw and chin were dark with a long day’s stubble. With a couple of long strides, he pinned her between him and the counter. He framed her face with his hands, closed his eyes, and lowered his forehead to hers. They stood in silence for a long time, unmoving, their bodies not touching. Fear for the missing woman radiated off him.

His anguish, more than she’d planned for, hit her hard. His dedication and concern, traits she admired, shook her conviction that no man could be trusted. His tenderness, something she’d never had, touched a long-neglected place in her soul. 

In that small space of time, where no one else in the world existed, Catherine’s heart found hope. Tears, she’d promised herself never to shed again, slid unchecked down her cheeks. But these tears weren’t because of her pain or grief. She cried because Matt suffered and grieved for the missing woman. She slid her arms around him, stroking his tense muscles. 

“Hey, yourself.” He leaned back and studied her face. The warmth behind his eyes returned as he wiped away her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “Were those for me?” 

She nodded and emotions swirled in her head. Catherine struggled to regain her perspective. “I have to remove no more tears from the Never list.”

“Why would you hold yourself to such a never?” 

“The only thing crying gets you are red eyes.”

“Okay, tough guy. Maybe someday you’ll trust me enough to explain. Why’d you break a rule for me?”

“The worry for Annie Travers in your eyes broke my heart. I’ve never known anyone with your compassion and dedication.” 

“Careful.” The corners of his mouth lifted. “You’ll be calling me John Wayne again.”

“Same soul.” She pushed a lock of black hair off his face. He caught her wrist in his hand.

“Stop, Catherine. I’m nobody’s hero. I failed miserably in that department.”

Questions for Jerrie or Benedict Arnold?