Big Bad Beast
Page 64
Go find rooms, she told them all. Anything that doesnt already have someones bags in it. I dont want to hear any damn arguing over it either.
The kids took off, running up the stairs, someone yelling, But did you look at the chart? from somewhere in the house. Dee didnt know who and she didnt care.
You want to play tennis with me? Blayne asked.
Good Lord, the woman had so much energy. Dee had seen her taking a run around the property, disappearing for several hours. Shed probably run ten, maybe even twenty miles, and now, standing in Van Holtzs marble hallway, sweat pouring from every pore onto the mans floor, she didnt want to shower and pass out like the cats. She wanted to play tennis. Freak.
Nope, Dee told her, turning away. Dont want to play tennis. Blayne cut in front of her. How about a swim? Or basketball? Theres a basketball court, too. Dee caught hold of Blaynes nose between the knuckles of two of her fingers. What is it I just said?
You said no. You said no! Ow! Let me go, you Amazon!
Twisting the nose she held a little more, Dee pushed Blayne down the hallway until they reached the kitchen. Using Blaynes body, Dee shoved open the large swinging door and stalked in.
The wild dogs sitting around the kitchen table, eating more chocolate than was probably good for them, looked up at her, eyes wide.
What did I tell you people when you arrived? What did I say to you? My exact words?
Keep the wolfdog away from me, they all repeated back to her. All except Jessie Ann, who was too busy giggling around a mouthful of dark chocolate brownies. At least Dee guessed the brownies were dark chocolate. Bobby Rays woman had a real thing for dark chocolate. It couldnt be normal.
And yet what is she doing?
Annoying you? one of the wild dogs asked.
Yes. Annoying me. She shoved Teacup away from her. Dont annoy me!
But I just wanted to show you how much we love and care and Ric appeared beside Blayne and shoved a piece of chocolate cake into her mouth. Isnt that delicious, Blayne? Enjoy. He grabbed Dees wrist and dragged her toward the back of the house, stopping long enough to glare at a busy Stein, whod stopped butchering something to wipe his forehead.
What?
Get to work.
I was just
Dont argue! Ric pulled her out of the kitchen, through the mud room, and out the back door.
Why do you keep torturing that poor boy?
Ric stopped and faced her. You ask me that after you had Blaynes nose in a Dee-lock?
Shes annoying. Stein is working his ass off.
And hell continue to do so. Theres no easy way back into the Van Holtz Pack. And if Im going to make a good case to get him back in, hell need to prove to me that he deserves it. Dee smirked. Look at you, Van Holtz. Trying to sweet talk me. MacRyrie walked out of the house, carrying a baseball bat.
Is that for Novikov? Ric asked, sounding way too hopeful.
No. Wanted to see if anyone was up for a little softball game. Dee folded her arms over her chest. You? Playing softball? This isnt your idea, is it, MacRyrie? Because MacRyrie was a lousy liar, he looked past Dee and asked, Why would you ask me that?
Dee glanced over at the kitchen window and saw Blayne and the wild dogs duck for cover.
Snarling, Dee snapped, Teacup!
Oh, come on, Dee, Ric argued teasingly. How bad could a little game of softball between friends be?
CHAPTER 23
Idont see what the problem is! Blayne yelled at Mitch Shaw while they stood on the pitchers mound. Youre playing for the Smiths!
Im mated to a Smith, in case you hadnt noticed. You, however, are not mated to anyone in the Kuznetsov Pack. You are, point of fact, Pack-less.
Oh, Lord, Ric heard Dee-Ann sigh next to him. And here we go. And, sure enough, Rics beloved but sensitive Sally Blayne burst into tears, the entire Kuznetsov Pack rushing the field to give her a big hug while yelling at Mitch.
Oh, come on! Mitch yelled, arms thrown out dramatically. Youre not buying this, are you?
Does he mean Blaynes performance, Ric quietly asked Dee, or his own?
Probably both.
Jess stormed onto the field after shoving her daughter into a laughing Smittys arms, and slammed her finger into Mitchs chest.
Ill have you know, Mitchell Shaw, that Blayne and Ric are part of the Kuznetsov Pack. As is Gwenie and Lachlan MacRyrie of the Clan MacRyrie. So if they want to play on our team, they can!
Youre kidding, right? Mitch felt the need to argue, as always refusing to accept that hed never win this fight. Not against a female predator. Not without backupand Mitchs brother Brendon Shaw didnt appear ready to be anyones backup. At least Blayne is half wolf. But Gwenie? Hello?
Feline. MacRyrie? Bear. And Van Holtz has his own Pack!
Well, Jess said, stepping into Shaw, now he has two! And you, ungrateful kitty, will apologize to Blayne Thorpe right this second!
The kids took off, running up the stairs, someone yelling, But did you look at the chart? from somewhere in the house. Dee didnt know who and she didnt care.
You want to play tennis with me? Blayne asked.
Good Lord, the woman had so much energy. Dee had seen her taking a run around the property, disappearing for several hours. Shed probably run ten, maybe even twenty miles, and now, standing in Van Holtzs marble hallway, sweat pouring from every pore onto the mans floor, she didnt want to shower and pass out like the cats. She wanted to play tennis. Freak.
Nope, Dee told her, turning away. Dont want to play tennis. Blayne cut in front of her. How about a swim? Or basketball? Theres a basketball court, too. Dee caught hold of Blaynes nose between the knuckles of two of her fingers. What is it I just said?
You said no. You said no! Ow! Let me go, you Amazon!
Twisting the nose she held a little more, Dee pushed Blayne down the hallway until they reached the kitchen. Using Blaynes body, Dee shoved open the large swinging door and stalked in.
The wild dogs sitting around the kitchen table, eating more chocolate than was probably good for them, looked up at her, eyes wide.
What did I tell you people when you arrived? What did I say to you? My exact words?
Keep the wolfdog away from me, they all repeated back to her. All except Jessie Ann, who was too busy giggling around a mouthful of dark chocolate brownies. At least Dee guessed the brownies were dark chocolate. Bobby Rays woman had a real thing for dark chocolate. It couldnt be normal.
And yet what is she doing?
Annoying you? one of the wild dogs asked.
Yes. Annoying me. She shoved Teacup away from her. Dont annoy me!
But I just wanted to show you how much we love and care and Ric appeared beside Blayne and shoved a piece of chocolate cake into her mouth. Isnt that delicious, Blayne? Enjoy. He grabbed Dees wrist and dragged her toward the back of the house, stopping long enough to glare at a busy Stein, whod stopped butchering something to wipe his forehead.
What?
Get to work.
I was just
Dont argue! Ric pulled her out of the kitchen, through the mud room, and out the back door.
Why do you keep torturing that poor boy?
Ric stopped and faced her. You ask me that after you had Blaynes nose in a Dee-lock?
Shes annoying. Stein is working his ass off.
And hell continue to do so. Theres no easy way back into the Van Holtz Pack. And if Im going to make a good case to get him back in, hell need to prove to me that he deserves it. Dee smirked. Look at you, Van Holtz. Trying to sweet talk me. MacRyrie walked out of the house, carrying a baseball bat.
Is that for Novikov? Ric asked, sounding way too hopeful.
No. Wanted to see if anyone was up for a little softball game. Dee folded her arms over her chest. You? Playing softball? This isnt your idea, is it, MacRyrie? Because MacRyrie was a lousy liar, he looked past Dee and asked, Why would you ask me that?
Dee glanced over at the kitchen window and saw Blayne and the wild dogs duck for cover.
Snarling, Dee snapped, Teacup!
Oh, come on, Dee, Ric argued teasingly. How bad could a little game of softball between friends be?
CHAPTER 23
Idont see what the problem is! Blayne yelled at Mitch Shaw while they stood on the pitchers mound. Youre playing for the Smiths!
Im mated to a Smith, in case you hadnt noticed. You, however, are not mated to anyone in the Kuznetsov Pack. You are, point of fact, Pack-less.
Oh, Lord, Ric heard Dee-Ann sigh next to him. And here we go. And, sure enough, Rics beloved but sensitive Sally Blayne burst into tears, the entire Kuznetsov Pack rushing the field to give her a big hug while yelling at Mitch.
Oh, come on! Mitch yelled, arms thrown out dramatically. Youre not buying this, are you?
Does he mean Blaynes performance, Ric quietly asked Dee, or his own?
Probably both.
Jess stormed onto the field after shoving her daughter into a laughing Smittys arms, and slammed her finger into Mitchs chest.
Ill have you know, Mitchell Shaw, that Blayne and Ric are part of the Kuznetsov Pack. As is Gwenie and Lachlan MacRyrie of the Clan MacRyrie. So if they want to play on our team, they can!
Youre kidding, right? Mitch felt the need to argue, as always refusing to accept that hed never win this fight. Not against a female predator. Not without backupand Mitchs brother Brendon Shaw didnt appear ready to be anyones backup. At least Blayne is half wolf. But Gwenie? Hello?
Feline. MacRyrie? Bear. And Van Holtz has his own Pack!
Well, Jess said, stepping into Shaw, now he has two! And you, ungrateful kitty, will apologize to Blayne Thorpe right this second!
