Here Kitty, Kitty!
Page 28
Father and son looked at Angelina, then back at each other.
Now, how can we turn down an offer like that, Boris laughed. He took her hand from off his chest and kissed the back of it. You know, Miss Angie, I would love for you to sit with me at dinner tonight.
She grinned, Id love to.
Her hand still on Niks chest, she felt that growl long before she heard it. She stepped away, not even bothering to look at him. The dinner announcement rang out over the room and everyone slowly made their way into the main ballroom where all the tables had been set up.
Angie took Boris offered arm. You know, Boris, its such a pleasure to finally be around a gentleman.
Why, thank ya kindly maam.
She didnt even have to look back to know Nik still stood where she left himglaring.
***
Is that the girl your brothers stole?
Nik nodded. He couldnt believe his father had made him jealous. He knew there was no reason to be jealous. The man still loved Niks mother. Always had to hear him tell it.
Yesm.
Shes a pretty little thing. His mother, still so beautiful and reeking of class and old money, stepped in front of her son and straightened the collar of his jacket. And probably not good enough for one of my sons.
It doesnt matter one way or another if she is, Momma.
Oh? Are you trying to tell me youre not interested?
Im not interested.
She sighed as she took her sons offered arm. Ill never understand, son, why you insist on taking after me.
Well, mostly because you try not to embarrass the family.
***
Boris pulled out a chair for Angie. Sit, darlin.
Thank you. Boris sat down next to her and the pair smiled at each other. You know, you should have told me he was your son.
Now where would the fun be in that? He leaned into her, but she still didnt feel remotely threatened by his presence. Now tell me true, darlin. You aint got no man waitin for you back in Texas, do ya? Some cowboy with your name tattooed across his chest?
Angie chuckled, No. I dont.
Good.
Now, I thought Niks mom was your lady-love.
Oh, she is, darlin. But I aint thinkin about me.
Nik walked up to the table, pulling out chairs for his mother and sister. He looked up to find Angie and Boris staring at him. What?
Angie couldnt help it. She began giggling, Boris joining her.
***
The dinner was another Boris Vorislav success and one of the few events that onecould find an enormous group of tigers at together. Nik spent the majority of the evening chatting with his mother and aunts, ducking the advances of some of the females, and avoiding some of the more aggressive males since hed rather not kill someone at one of his fathers parties. Especially an important fundraiser like this.
He also spent a good portion of his evening making sure none of the males got too frisky with either his sister or his cousin. Their sudden transformation seemed to have gotten them a lot of male interest. He didnt worry about Reena. She could handle anything and already had two cubs from two different males. But Kisawell, he did worry about her. Of the entire family, she remained as the best hunter among them. But only when tiger. As human, though, her shyness became painful to watch. And hed be damned if hed let some overbearing prick push his baby sister around. But when he wasnt worrying about that, he spent the rest of his time keeping his eyes on Angelina. To his great annoyance, the woman got along with his father like they were old friends. She also had the attention of almost every male in the room. Every time she got up to go to the bathroom or stretch her legs, every male eye focused on her.
He didnt like it. Not one bit. And it bothered him that he didnt like it.
His father finally walked away from her, leaving her at the huge table, and made his way over to his son.
Boy, he barked in way of greeting.
Daddy.
This turned out well, dont ya think?
Nik shrugged. Sure. But it wont change a damn thing. They still dont think were good enough. And Nik blamed his fathers wolf-like-mating tendencies more than his past poverty.
Fierce gold eyes locked with his own. Theyre right. Were not. Were better. And dont you forget it.
Nik nodded, Yes, sir. He wasnt about to start another fight with the old man. He did still respect him. His father was the toughest man hed ever known. A door gunner in the war, those men had the shortest life expectancy. But still, his daddy survived to tell the tale. Put himself through school, made his own business, and was one of the wealthiest tigers on the East Coast. But he never forgot where he came from. And he refused to be ashamed. God forbid his children ever showed any.
The mans only weaknessNiks mother, Natalia. Theyd been playing their game for at least thirty-five years and never seemed to tire of it. Personally, he didnt like games. A person said what they felt and meant it. As soon as he thought a woman was trying to bullshit or manipulate him, he bailed.
Now, listen up. All three of ya. His brothers moved to stand beside him. I want you to keep that little lady safe.
Now, how can we turn down an offer like that, Boris laughed. He took her hand from off his chest and kissed the back of it. You know, Miss Angie, I would love for you to sit with me at dinner tonight.
She grinned, Id love to.
Her hand still on Niks chest, she felt that growl long before she heard it. She stepped away, not even bothering to look at him. The dinner announcement rang out over the room and everyone slowly made their way into the main ballroom where all the tables had been set up.
Angie took Boris offered arm. You know, Boris, its such a pleasure to finally be around a gentleman.
Why, thank ya kindly maam.
She didnt even have to look back to know Nik still stood where she left himglaring.
***
Is that the girl your brothers stole?
Nik nodded. He couldnt believe his father had made him jealous. He knew there was no reason to be jealous. The man still loved Niks mother. Always had to hear him tell it.
Yesm.
Shes a pretty little thing. His mother, still so beautiful and reeking of class and old money, stepped in front of her son and straightened the collar of his jacket. And probably not good enough for one of my sons.
It doesnt matter one way or another if she is, Momma.
Oh? Are you trying to tell me youre not interested?
Im not interested.
She sighed as she took her sons offered arm. Ill never understand, son, why you insist on taking after me.
Well, mostly because you try not to embarrass the family.
***
Boris pulled out a chair for Angie. Sit, darlin.
Thank you. Boris sat down next to her and the pair smiled at each other. You know, you should have told me he was your son.
Now where would the fun be in that? He leaned into her, but she still didnt feel remotely threatened by his presence. Now tell me true, darlin. You aint got no man waitin for you back in Texas, do ya? Some cowboy with your name tattooed across his chest?
Angie chuckled, No. I dont.
Good.
Now, I thought Niks mom was your lady-love.
Oh, she is, darlin. But I aint thinkin about me.
Nik walked up to the table, pulling out chairs for his mother and sister. He looked up to find Angie and Boris staring at him. What?
Angie couldnt help it. She began giggling, Boris joining her.
***
The dinner was another Boris Vorislav success and one of the few events that onecould find an enormous group of tigers at together. Nik spent the majority of the evening chatting with his mother and aunts, ducking the advances of some of the females, and avoiding some of the more aggressive males since hed rather not kill someone at one of his fathers parties. Especially an important fundraiser like this.
He also spent a good portion of his evening making sure none of the males got too frisky with either his sister or his cousin. Their sudden transformation seemed to have gotten them a lot of male interest. He didnt worry about Reena. She could handle anything and already had two cubs from two different males. But Kisawell, he did worry about her. Of the entire family, she remained as the best hunter among them. But only when tiger. As human, though, her shyness became painful to watch. And hed be damned if hed let some overbearing prick push his baby sister around. But when he wasnt worrying about that, he spent the rest of his time keeping his eyes on Angelina. To his great annoyance, the woman got along with his father like they were old friends. She also had the attention of almost every male in the room. Every time she got up to go to the bathroom or stretch her legs, every male eye focused on her.
He didnt like it. Not one bit. And it bothered him that he didnt like it.
His father finally walked away from her, leaving her at the huge table, and made his way over to his son.
Boy, he barked in way of greeting.
Daddy.
This turned out well, dont ya think?
Nik shrugged. Sure. But it wont change a damn thing. They still dont think were good enough. And Nik blamed his fathers wolf-like-mating tendencies more than his past poverty.
Fierce gold eyes locked with his own. Theyre right. Were not. Were better. And dont you forget it.
Nik nodded, Yes, sir. He wasnt about to start another fight with the old man. He did still respect him. His father was the toughest man hed ever known. A door gunner in the war, those men had the shortest life expectancy. But still, his daddy survived to tell the tale. Put himself through school, made his own business, and was one of the wealthiest tigers on the East Coast. But he never forgot where he came from. And he refused to be ashamed. God forbid his children ever showed any.
The mans only weaknessNiks mother, Natalia. Theyd been playing their game for at least thirty-five years and never seemed to tire of it. Personally, he didnt like games. A person said what they felt and meant it. As soon as he thought a woman was trying to bullshit or manipulate him, he bailed.
Now, listen up. All three of ya. His brothers moved to stand beside him. I want you to keep that little lady safe.
