The Beast in Him
Page 22
So what the hell had worried his little Jessie Ann?
As soon as Jess stepped off the elevator, her friends made a run for it. They got away except the one she wanted to catch anyway.
Jess! Be reasonable! She dragged Phil into her office by his collar and slammed the door. She had about ten minutes before the others would sneak back in. She had to make this fast.
Phil, however, was busy defending his actions of deserting her with a crazy hillbilly wolf. We figured we all didnt need to go to the hospital with you.
Shut up about that. Ive got a question for you.
What?
Do you remember Walt Wilson?
Phil thought for a second. The name sounds familiar...
Kristans biological father. And the man whod unceremoniously dumped an eighteen-year-old Maylin because That thing inside you aint mine.
Oh. Him, Phil sneered. What about him?
I think I saw him.
In New York?
No, in space.
Okay. Sarcasm a little unwarranted.
Jess paced to the big window behind her desk. She rarely looked out it. She rarely had time.
You sure it was him?
No, but I think it was. I saw his picture once in Mays photo album. She kept only one picture of him so Kristan would know what he looked like. She frowned. Hes lost a lot of hair for a wolf. Got a giant receding forehead.
I dont think foreheads can recede.
Youre gonna argue this with me?
Whoa. Is all this tenseness about Walt Wilson? Phil grinned. Or about that big ol country wolf?
When Jess pretended to lunge for him across her desk, Phil wrapped his arms around his chest. Not the nipples!
Track Wilson down, Jess told him. If hes in town, I wanna know.
Okay.
I find the timing of his appearance a little suspect, Phil.
I was thinking that.
And I wont have Kristan hurt. Not by this asshole. But keep your mouth shut until we know something.
Phil walked around the desk and stood beside her, mimicking her stance. What else is wrong?
Wilson is a bigger problem than any of you realize. She let out a breath. Hes a Smith. Distant cousin or something. Im not sure of the bloodline, but its there.
Great. Just great.
Yeah, you know how the Smiths are about family. And if they think were crossing him
Lets not go there yet. Ill see what I can find outand Ill be discreet.
Good.
Besides, I wouldnt worry. Phil grinned. Weve got the Smitty hookup now.
Im not asking him to go against his family, you bonehead.
Awww. Youre protecting him. Is love in the air? I bet you just need a little help from me to get this thing moving. Just trust the love doctor toand dont throw anything at my head!
Jess put the five-inch pewter dragon statue back on her desk. Dont irritate me, Phil.
Yes, maam. But you know Wilson may just be here to see the kid. Phil shrugged. Maybe he already has.
I thought about that. Jess sat back on her desk. But shes either with KeithSabina and Phils oldest boy or her sisters.
You dont think theyd cover for her?
No way. No ones stupid enough to cover for Kristans crazy ass.
Johnny moved his book to the side so the waitress could put down his burger and fries. Hed never been big on the fantasy stuff. He liked westerns and murder mysteries. But Jess went on and on about Tolkiens work, and to shut her up, he grabbed one of the many copies from the many bookshelves all over the Pack house. Johnny had to give it to her, though, the book was really good. Hed enjoyed the movies, but Tolkiens written word spoke to him on another level entirely.
Hello? Calling bonehead. Annoyed, Johnny pulled his gaze away from the book and into the pretty face of Kristan Jade Putowsky.
What?
I need you to do me a favor.
Not on your life.
He returned his focus to the book, but Kristans hand slapped down over it, covering the page. Please?
What?
I need you to cover for me.
Cover for you?
Yeah, you gotta go rehearse or practice or whatever, right?
Every weeknight, Johnny spent three to four hours practicing on his violin. Jess had actually rented him rehearsal space at a nearby music studio.
Yeah. So?
If they ask later, just say I was with you. You usually get home around nine, right? Ill meet you out front at nine.
Forget it.
Come on, Johnny. Please?
No.
Id cover for you. Ill owe you one. I promise.
Why?
Why what?
Why do you need a cover?
Cant you do this for me without asking a bunch of questions?
As soon as Jess stepped off the elevator, her friends made a run for it. They got away except the one she wanted to catch anyway.
Jess! Be reasonable! She dragged Phil into her office by his collar and slammed the door. She had about ten minutes before the others would sneak back in. She had to make this fast.
Phil, however, was busy defending his actions of deserting her with a crazy hillbilly wolf. We figured we all didnt need to go to the hospital with you.
Shut up about that. Ive got a question for you.
What?
Do you remember Walt Wilson?
Phil thought for a second. The name sounds familiar...
Kristans biological father. And the man whod unceremoniously dumped an eighteen-year-old Maylin because That thing inside you aint mine.
Oh. Him, Phil sneered. What about him?
I think I saw him.
In New York?
No, in space.
Okay. Sarcasm a little unwarranted.
Jess paced to the big window behind her desk. She rarely looked out it. She rarely had time.
You sure it was him?
No, but I think it was. I saw his picture once in Mays photo album. She kept only one picture of him so Kristan would know what he looked like. She frowned. Hes lost a lot of hair for a wolf. Got a giant receding forehead.
I dont think foreheads can recede.
Youre gonna argue this with me?
Whoa. Is all this tenseness about Walt Wilson? Phil grinned. Or about that big ol country wolf?
When Jess pretended to lunge for him across her desk, Phil wrapped his arms around his chest. Not the nipples!
Track Wilson down, Jess told him. If hes in town, I wanna know.
Okay.
I find the timing of his appearance a little suspect, Phil.
I was thinking that.
And I wont have Kristan hurt. Not by this asshole. But keep your mouth shut until we know something.
Phil walked around the desk and stood beside her, mimicking her stance. What else is wrong?
Wilson is a bigger problem than any of you realize. She let out a breath. Hes a Smith. Distant cousin or something. Im not sure of the bloodline, but its there.
Great. Just great.
Yeah, you know how the Smiths are about family. And if they think were crossing him
Lets not go there yet. Ill see what I can find outand Ill be discreet.
Good.
Besides, I wouldnt worry. Phil grinned. Weve got the Smitty hookup now.
Im not asking him to go against his family, you bonehead.
Awww. Youre protecting him. Is love in the air? I bet you just need a little help from me to get this thing moving. Just trust the love doctor toand dont throw anything at my head!
Jess put the five-inch pewter dragon statue back on her desk. Dont irritate me, Phil.
Yes, maam. But you know Wilson may just be here to see the kid. Phil shrugged. Maybe he already has.
I thought about that. Jess sat back on her desk. But shes either with KeithSabina and Phils oldest boy or her sisters.
You dont think theyd cover for her?
No way. No ones stupid enough to cover for Kristans crazy ass.
Johnny moved his book to the side so the waitress could put down his burger and fries. Hed never been big on the fantasy stuff. He liked westerns and murder mysteries. But Jess went on and on about Tolkiens work, and to shut her up, he grabbed one of the many copies from the many bookshelves all over the Pack house. Johnny had to give it to her, though, the book was really good. Hed enjoyed the movies, but Tolkiens written word spoke to him on another level entirely.
Hello? Calling bonehead. Annoyed, Johnny pulled his gaze away from the book and into the pretty face of Kristan Jade Putowsky.
What?
I need you to do me a favor.
Not on your life.
He returned his focus to the book, but Kristans hand slapped down over it, covering the page. Please?
What?
I need you to cover for me.
Cover for you?
Yeah, you gotta go rehearse or practice or whatever, right?
Every weeknight, Johnny spent three to four hours practicing on his violin. Jess had actually rented him rehearsal space at a nearby music studio.
Yeah. So?
If they ask later, just say I was with you. You usually get home around nine, right? Ill meet you out front at nine.
Forget it.
Come on, Johnny. Please?
No.
Id cover for you. Ill owe you one. I promise.
Why?
Why what?
Why do you need a cover?
Cant you do this for me without asking a bunch of questions?
