Beast Behaving Badly
Page 7
Are you going to answer that call or keep making really, really disturbing proclamations?
Oh, right.
She answered the phone and said, Uh-huh, and disconnected. Gotta go. Gwen, Ric, and Lock are waiting for me outside.
She walked toward him and he automatically backed up. He couldnt explain it, but he felt like if he didnt move, shed find a way to walk right through him.
Well, see ya, she said, heading down the hallway.
Wait, he finally called out to her when hed finally recovered from her complete disregard for the importance of accurate timekeeping.
She faced him but kept walking backward.
What about getting some coffee?
She snorted. God, no. With that, she turned back around and headed off.
God, no? Did she just say God, no to me? Normally hed assume the worst with a statement like that, but with her he really couldnt be sure.
But it wasnt until the wolfdog suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway and spun around to face him one more time that Bo realized he could never assume that the words coming out of Blaynes mouth and what she actually meant were one and the same when she suddenly admitted, Because I hate coffee! She laughed. I realized I hadnt actually finished my thought. I do that sometimes. Sorry. Anyway, hate the taste of coffee and caffeine is so not this wolfdogs friend. She gave him a smile so bright that it nearly seared his eyes in his sockets, winked, and headed off.
Leaving Bo completely confused, kind of insulted, kind of not, and weirdly turned on because she looked shockingly cute in those oversized cargo pants.
But he blamed the mane for the turned-on thing. He totally blamed the mane!
CHAPTER 3
So let me see if I understand this, Sami said, her small fingers steepled under her chin. All you know at this point is that her name is Blayne and that she thought
Not thought. She was convinced.
Convinced. She was convinced you were a serial killer?
Yes.
Sander sat down at the table, his plate piled with bacon, ham, and eggs. Bo had no idea where the pair had found all the food. He knew they didnt cook it, and when he went to bed last night, they werent even in the state. But he woke up this morning in his furnished Central Park Avenue apartment provided by his Carnivore contract, complete with its own Olympic-size swimming pool, and a full breakfast waiting for him. He probably should find out where the food came from, in case the cops showed up again. That was always so awkward.
Sander pointed a fork at him. Are you saying you gave up that seal farm for a wolfdog who thinks youre a serial killer?
I didntknow she had that perception at the time.
Sami sighed. This is what you get for not talking to us first before making these big decisions.
Talking to you about what?
About which offer to take. Weshe motioned between herself and Sanderare the most important things in your life.
You are? Because that was a kind of depressing thought.
Yes. And do you know why?
How would I know why when I didnt know you were?
Because were your foxes. All three of us are linked. Forever.
But youre never really around.
Because were young, she reminded him. Were traveling the world, trying to find ourselves. But when were older, ready to have a couple of kits, well be back. And youll need to be able to take care of us. Thats your job.
Which would be greatly helped by the seal farm, Sander said around a mouthful of ham and egg.
You do both remember Im only half polar bear, dont you? The lion part would have no problems slapping you both around and biting your little heads off.
Sami reached across the table and patted Bos hand. But its the polar half we both love.
Blayne took back her bacon and followed that up with a punch to Mitch Shaws shoulder. This was her monthly brunch with her wild dog Pack and the lion male had forced his way in, as was the way of male lions, and was now stealing her food! Rude!
Ow! the big cat whined.
Stop taking my food or Im going to start biting things off.
Stingy.
Greedy.
Here, cat. Sabina of the Kuznetsov Pack dropped a platter of bacon in front of him. I kill whole pig just so you can feed fat head.
I know somewhere in theres an insult, but it still sounds so sexy with that Russian accent that Im going to overlook it. Mitch switched his breakfast plate for the entire platter.
Blayne shook her head. How can you eat like that? People starving and you stuff your fat face.
Boo-hoo. My heart bleeds. Poor starving people.
Blayne knew Mitch only said that sort of thing to upset her, but what appalled her was that she fell for it every time. She slapped at his head, ignoring his laughter.
Not that we dont love having you here for our Sunday brunch, Mitch, Jess Ward-Smith said from her place at the head of the long Kuznetsov Pack dining table filled with adults, all the pups outside in the backyard playing or up in their rooms, but I am curious as to why youre here?
Oh, right.
She answered the phone and said, Uh-huh, and disconnected. Gotta go. Gwen, Ric, and Lock are waiting for me outside.
She walked toward him and he automatically backed up. He couldnt explain it, but he felt like if he didnt move, shed find a way to walk right through him.
Well, see ya, she said, heading down the hallway.
Wait, he finally called out to her when hed finally recovered from her complete disregard for the importance of accurate timekeeping.
She faced him but kept walking backward.
What about getting some coffee?
She snorted. God, no. With that, she turned back around and headed off.
God, no? Did she just say God, no to me? Normally hed assume the worst with a statement like that, but with her he really couldnt be sure.
But it wasnt until the wolfdog suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway and spun around to face him one more time that Bo realized he could never assume that the words coming out of Blaynes mouth and what she actually meant were one and the same when she suddenly admitted, Because I hate coffee! She laughed. I realized I hadnt actually finished my thought. I do that sometimes. Sorry. Anyway, hate the taste of coffee and caffeine is so not this wolfdogs friend. She gave him a smile so bright that it nearly seared his eyes in his sockets, winked, and headed off.
Leaving Bo completely confused, kind of insulted, kind of not, and weirdly turned on because she looked shockingly cute in those oversized cargo pants.
But he blamed the mane for the turned-on thing. He totally blamed the mane!
CHAPTER 3
So let me see if I understand this, Sami said, her small fingers steepled under her chin. All you know at this point is that her name is Blayne and that she thought
Not thought. She was convinced.
Convinced. She was convinced you were a serial killer?
Yes.
Sander sat down at the table, his plate piled with bacon, ham, and eggs. Bo had no idea where the pair had found all the food. He knew they didnt cook it, and when he went to bed last night, they werent even in the state. But he woke up this morning in his furnished Central Park Avenue apartment provided by his Carnivore contract, complete with its own Olympic-size swimming pool, and a full breakfast waiting for him. He probably should find out where the food came from, in case the cops showed up again. That was always so awkward.
Sander pointed a fork at him. Are you saying you gave up that seal farm for a wolfdog who thinks youre a serial killer?
I didntknow she had that perception at the time.
Sami sighed. This is what you get for not talking to us first before making these big decisions.
Talking to you about what?
About which offer to take. Weshe motioned between herself and Sanderare the most important things in your life.
You are? Because that was a kind of depressing thought.
Yes. And do you know why?
How would I know why when I didnt know you were?
Because were your foxes. All three of us are linked. Forever.
But youre never really around.
Because were young, she reminded him. Were traveling the world, trying to find ourselves. But when were older, ready to have a couple of kits, well be back. And youll need to be able to take care of us. Thats your job.
Which would be greatly helped by the seal farm, Sander said around a mouthful of ham and egg.
You do both remember Im only half polar bear, dont you? The lion part would have no problems slapping you both around and biting your little heads off.
Sami reached across the table and patted Bos hand. But its the polar half we both love.
Blayne took back her bacon and followed that up with a punch to Mitch Shaws shoulder. This was her monthly brunch with her wild dog Pack and the lion male had forced his way in, as was the way of male lions, and was now stealing her food! Rude!
Ow! the big cat whined.
Stop taking my food or Im going to start biting things off.
Stingy.
Greedy.
Here, cat. Sabina of the Kuznetsov Pack dropped a platter of bacon in front of him. I kill whole pig just so you can feed fat head.
I know somewhere in theres an insult, but it still sounds so sexy with that Russian accent that Im going to overlook it. Mitch switched his breakfast plate for the entire platter.
Blayne shook her head. How can you eat like that? People starving and you stuff your fat face.
Boo-hoo. My heart bleeds. Poor starving people.
Blayne knew Mitch only said that sort of thing to upset her, but what appalled her was that she fell for it every time. She slapped at his head, ignoring his laughter.
Not that we dont love having you here for our Sunday brunch, Mitch, Jess Ward-Smith said from her place at the head of the long Kuznetsov Pack dining table filled with adults, all the pups outside in the backyard playing or up in their rooms, but I am curious as to why youre here?
