The Mane Attraction

  Although Sissy had known this was going to be a big wedding, she hadn’t realized the kind of people who would be attending. On one side of the floor were some of the biggest names in the oh-so-boring universe of software and computer ... stuff. Sissy only knew that because Brendon mentioned them, and he seemed pretty awed. Being a lion, he wasn’t easy to awe. Surrounding that unwitting group of full-humans were more Packs and Prides and unattached cats than Sissy had ever seen in a room together. Some of them she recognized from her work in New York City. Others she’d never seen before, but she’d heard about them. They came from all over the States, as far away as the West Coast.

  Then there were the wild dog Packs. Asian wild dogs, dingoes from Australia, and more African wild dogs than you could shake your fist at. And since they never shut up—Lord, those dogs could talk and talk—Sissy would love to shake her fist at them, all right.

  The rest were Smiths. Either blood relations or related by mating. They’d come from all over, including North and South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Texas. The only area feebly represented was her own damn home, Smithtown.

  Now Sissy had known right off Sammy couldn’t make it to the wedding. He had ten pups and a diner that he and his wife ran in the heart of Smithtown. Vacations for them were pretty much nonexistent. But Sammy had contacted both Sissy and Bobby Ray to let them know and offer his apologies. Because that was the way it was supposed to be done.

  That, however, did not explain the absence of Travis, Donnie, or Jackie. How her own kin could treat their brother like this was beyond Sissy. You simply didn’t do that, no matter what you felt about a person. Blood was blood, in Sissy’s mind, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her kin no matter how much she hated them and wanted to smash their faces in when given the first opportunity.

  She’d deal with that on another day, though. But she’d damn well let Travis know how she felt about this. She wouldn’t even bother with Jackie and Donnie. They only did what Travis told them to, anyway.

  Mitch leaned back in his seat, one long leg stretched out, his arm resting on the back of her chair.

  The man did look good in a tux. Of course, she preferred men in jeans and a T-shirt to a stuffy suit or tux. Well, actually, she preferred them naked, but society frowned on that sort of thing.

  His gold eyes scanned the room, and she knew he was thinking what she’d been thinking.

  “So much shit to start,” she murmured next to his ear, “so little time?”

  He grinned. “It’s too easy. Like lambs to the slaughter.”

  Sissy leaned in closer, enjoying the big cat’s scent. “This is almost over now, right?”

  “Not even close, sweet cheeks.”

  He was right, of course. But Sissy still figured the worst of it was over.

  Until the music started ...

  Mitch loved it. The wild dogs were the absolute best. They’d heard less than six bars from George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” before they all “whooped!” as one and rushed the dance floor. Even the bride left her new husband and got on that dance floor bow-wowing with the rest of them.

  The rich geeks joined in, completely oblivious. The rest of the breeds, though, appeared thoroughly horrified. The cats were astonished since they were used to the wolves, who were more predator than goofy canine. The wolves were embarrassed by the goofy canine behavior. The bears were typically bored.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  Mitch laughed at Sissy’s question. “Come on! How cool was that? It was like that Dog Whisperer guy came in and rallied them all to the floor!”

  The lions and Dez laughed. The wolves ... not so much.

  “Don’t walk away mad,” he said as they did. “You’re completely missing the humor in this.”

  Sissy gripped her brother’s hand and pulled him into the kitchen, smiling and waving when everyone called her name.

  “How do you know these people?”

  “You were never a people person, Bobby Ray.”

  “These people” were the kind of people who helped Sissy when she needed it most. These were the people she always made sure she took care of when they performed a service or gave her a little non-job-related assistance.

  Sissy led Bobby Ray to the room she’d been sitting in with her father and closed the door behind them. “I wanted to give you something.”

  Her brother crossed his arms over his big chest. “Another lecture about the perils of hybrid children?”

  “Why bother? You’ll just have to learn it for yourself, I guess.” She picked up the wrapped package she’d left on the table and handed it to him. She had known the staff would leave the gift there. The chef adored her.

  “This is for you.”

  Bobby Ray stared at the package in his hand. “For what?”

  “For your wedding.”

  “You said having a wedding was stupid and that marriage was stupider.”

  “That hasn’t changed. But since you went through with it, I wanted to get you something. Open it!” She bounced up on her toes while her brother pulled off the wrapping. He opened the box and blinked. Then he closed his eyes, and his smile was slow and warm.

  “Where did you find this?” he finally asked.

  “Going through your room looking for cigarettes. You’d only been gone to the Navy a month or so.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t throw it out.”

  “I never hated her, Bobby Ray. I wasn’t nice to her, but I never hated her. And based on that,” she pointed at the gift she’d given him, “I knew you loved her. Even then. I never mentioned it before because I thought I lost it. But I found it last time I was home, buried with my stash of old Playgirls.”

  Bobby Ray lifted the ID bracelet from the velvet-lined box. Inscribed on the front was Bobby Ray’s name, but it was the inscription on the back that at the time, told sixteen-year-old Sissy what she’d already suspected and had her feeling like a bully for the first time: “To my Jessie Ann.”

  “I figured you could give it to her now since you pussed out when you were eighteen.”

  “I didn’t puss out; I just didn’t think it was the right time. Judgmental heifer.”

  “Gelding.”

  Sissy wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him tight. “You have a happy life, Bobby Ray.”

  “Yeah. I’m fixin’ to.”

  And Sissy laughed.

  Mitch threw his arm around his older half-sister’s shoulders and smiled when she went tense and her hands clenched into fists.

  Marissa Shaw was Brendon’s twin and Mitch’s older half-sister. Thankfully, she was not his only sister. There was still Gwenie. Five years younger, sweet, innocent Gwen would never be so mean to Mitch. She worshipped him!

  Rissa, however, seemed convinced that Mitch was nothing more than a scumbag who wanted to steal their vast fortune from them. And he was so nice to her, too ...

  “Those shoes were an interesting choice. Were they out of the official clown shoes, and you had to go with the cheap imitations?”

  Marissa scowled at him. “Aren’t you needed somewhere? I’m sure Sissy wouldn’t mind you staring at her big ass some more.”

  “Don’t be jealous, sweetie. I’m sure someone wouldn’t mind staring at your big ass.”

  She abruptly pulled away from him. “Feel free to stay away from me today.”

  “I try and stay away from you every day.”

  “You don’t try hard enough.”

  Mitch watched her walk away. “Love you, Rissa.”

  “Shut up.”

  Laughing, Mitch pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket. But the laughter died when he recognized the number.

  Sissy saw her mother going up on her tiptoes, looking over the crowd for something. Probably her. Panicking, Sissy took several steps back, but those damn shoes went out from under her. Who the hell paid seven hundred and fifty dollars for shoes anyway? In what world was that okay? Give her a pair
of boots and a leather jacket, and Sissy was a happy gal for a lot less money.

  Figuring she’d hit the floor, Sissy shut her eyes and gritted her teeth. And although she hit something hard, it wasn’t the floor.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes and bit back her smile. “Oh. Hello, Brendon.”

  “Uh ... hi.” He looked so fabulously horrified sitting in that chair with his mate’s best friend on his lap that Sissy couldn’t stop herself. All the rules drummed into her by Bobby Ray over the last few weeks disappeared as she stared at Mitch’s big brother.

  “I guess this is a bit awkward, huh?”

  “Well ...”

  “But I couldn’t hide it anymore.” She put her arms around his neck, and his whole body tightened as his eyes looked around the room, practically begging someone to rescue him. “You and me ... perfect together, Brendon.”

  “What?” His gold eyes grew wide. “Uh ... Sissy ... wait a second—”

  “Seriously. I’ve seen your kids. We’d have beautiful babies.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Poor Brendon. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or scared to death when Ronnie Lee walked up to them.

  “I finally told Bren that he was mine and we would be together forever.”

  Ronnie’s eyes turned toward the ceiling, and she brushed her hair away from her face. “I thought we were going to discuss this first.”

  Sissy felt Bren’s big lion body jerk, and she had to fight hard not to laugh.

  “I’m Alpha Female, darlin’. I don’t have to discuss a damn thing with you or anyone.”

  Ronnie nodded and cleared her throat. “She’s right. I’m sorry, Bren.” She sniffed back a nonexistent tear—Ronnie never could fake actual ones. “I hope you’ll remember me fondly.” Then she ran off into the crowd.

  Now Sissy frowned. How had Ronnie learned to run in those damn shoes?

  “Ronnie, wait!” Brendon stood and practically tossed Sissy off his lap. “I’m sorry but ... forget it.” He ran after Ronnie, and Sissy started to laugh until she caught her mother’s scent.

  She spun and ran out a set of big glass doors leading to the gardens. She debated not stopping, just running all the way back to the city, but Mitch’s scent caught her attention. She followed it and found him by one of the marble benches they had all over the property. Like most of the males in the wedding party, he’d lost the jacket, removed his tie, and undone the collar of his shirt. Mitch had also rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and Sissy could see the tattoo on his forearm. He was on the phone and pacing back and forth.

  He looked ... tense. And she didn’t know why. She should find out.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure,” Jen Chow snapped. “Do you think I’d call you about this if I weren’t sure?”

  “I don’t know why you’re getting so tense. It’s me with the bounty on my head.”

  “I really wish you’d take this seriously, Detective.”

  “I take everything seriously.” Especially what life he had. “But trust me. No one’s getting into this wedding who shouldn’t be here. I’m probably safer here than anywhere.”

  “Yes. You’re probably right. I want you back here by Monday, though. I’ll send—”

  “I’ll get there.”

  “Detective—”

  “I said I’ll get there.”

  “Fine,” she snapped again. ADA Chow had the shortest fuse on record. And after working together for so long, it amazed him that she still called him Detective.

  “Talk to you later, Jen.”

  “Monday, Detective. I’ll speak to you on Monday.”

  “Yep.” Mitch disconnected his phone and stretched his neck. It was a full moon out tonight, illuminating everything around him. Of course, he didn’t need any of that to see. Not with his eyesight.

  Now he knew what those lions in Africa felt like when they were being tracked down by great white hunters.

  Two million dollars would bring out the top-drawer hitters. Would he even last another week? Around his own kind, he felt safe, but once he went into the system, he had serious doubts. But hanging around wasn’t an option either. He wouldn’t be responsible for getting one of his family or friends hurt or killed. Everyone meant too much to him.

  Nope. He’d leave tomorrow. But tonight ...

  Mitch slipped his cell phone back into his pants pocket and turned around, ready to head back to the party. What he didn’t expect was to find Sissy Mae Smith stretched out on the marble bench watching him. Christ, she looked good with her legs crossed at the ankles and her body propped up by her arms, the palms flat against the bench.

  The dress she wore was made of the softest, lightest material Mitch had ever seen. The color a dark brown that contrasted brilliantly with her light brown eyes. He could say he’d never seen her look sexier, but that would be a lie. He’d seen this woman in shorts—absolutely nothing was sexier than that.

  “Hey.”

  Sissy gave him that little knowing smile. “Hey.”

  Mitch waited for her to ask him what was going on, but she didn’t.

  “I’ve been bad, Mitch,” she said instead.

  “Oh?” Mitch crouched beside her, his elbows resting on his knees. “Do tell.”

  “I was torturing Brendon again.”

  “Isn’t that a little too easy, sweet cheeks?”

  She smiled, blinking in surprise. “I hate that nickname.”

  “I know. And yet, somehow I don’t care.”

  “Keep it up, and it’s my windmill arms and legs of fury with wild hitting and kicking.”

  “An effective fighting skill.”

  “I think so.”

  “And you torturing my brother ...”

  “I know. Too easy. And he falls for it every time. I need something else to fulfill my needs.”

  “A greater challenge?”

  “Exactly.”

  He stood and held his hand out for her to take. She did, her fingers warm against his, and he tugged her to her feet. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “We’ve got a castle filled with shifters, alcohol, and a barely contained predatory instinct.”

  “We promised Bobby Ray.”

  Leaning down, he rested his forehead against hers. “Come Monday, feel free to blame it all on me.”

  A small frown creased her brow, and she petted his cheek with her right hand. “Don’t think I won’t.”

  “But tonight, we’re gonna have a great time. Aren’t we, Sissy?”

  Both hands cupped his cheeks, and Sissy pulled back a bit, staring into his eyes. For the most amazing split second ever, he thought she was going to kiss him. It would have been perfect, too. In the beautiful garden, under the moonlight, just the two of them ...

  “Sissy. Mae. Smith!”

  They both jerked, and Sissy quickly stepped back, but she didn’t have anywhere to go except back on the bench. She sat down hard. But it couldn’t match the hardness in her eyes when she stared up at Mitch.

  “Yes?”

  Miss Janie stepped closer. “They’re giving toasts. Aren’t you supposed to be giving one?”

  “Yep.” Sissy stood and brushed off the back of her dress.

  “Think you can manage keeping it clean and respectful?”

  He didn’t know what Sissy was about to say, but Mitch had a feeling that silence at this moment was her best friend. Determined to keep the bloodshed nonexistent, he grabbed Sissy’s hand and yanked her back toward the ballroom. Her mother watched them go, and when Mitch looked at her over his shoulder, the smile she wore reminded him of Sissy.

  Although telling Sissy that would only get his skin torn off. And he’d really like to avoid that for as long as possible.

  Besides, kissing Sissy now or hell, doing anything with Sissy now was a mistake for both of them. And they both knew it.

  Chapter 2

  Ronnie patted Sissy on the back. “Great toast.”

  “T
hanks.”

  “Only one barely veiled insult toward Jessie Ann. I think she was impressed.”

  Sissy winced. “I actually wasn’t trying to insult her. Figured I should keep this one clean for Bobby Ray since it’s his wedding and all.”

  “You did the best you could manage.”

  “Gee. Thanks.”

  Ronnie put her arm around Sissy’s shoulders and pulled her friend in close. “What’s this I hear about you and Mitch out in the garden?”

  Sissy rubbed her forehead. “You’re telling me my own mother is spreading rumors about me?”

  “No. I heard it from Mitch. He said y’all got busted by her.”

  Sissy gave up. That idiot. “Nothing happened.”

  “Because y’all got busted. He thinks you’re in love with him. Want his babies ... and life insurance.”

  “It’s like he wants me to slap him around.”

  The friends were silent for a moment and then said together, “Although he might.”

  Sissy grabbed a glass of champagne off a passing tray, and that’s when she saw him staring at her. He was really cute, although a little short for her. Asian, dapper as hell ... and really cute. Had she mentioned that already?

  “I know you two,” he said. She could tell English wasn’t his first language, but his accent was flawless, and she detected a bit of British there. He snapped his fingers. “You took my Lotus!”

  Sissy choked on her champagne, and Ronnie started looking for the exits or law enforcement with arrest warrants.

  Lord, what is the statute of limitations again?

  Giving her a teasing smile, he said, “Some would say you won it fair and square, but I still doubt it.”

  Realizing she wasn’t being accused of thievery—that was a load off—she took a closer look at the man in front of her. He was Asian wild dog and really cute. Wait. She’d already thought that. “Now I remember. In the Philippines. Right?”

  “Right. Did you enjoy my car?”

  “Oh ... sure.” Until they’d sold it. That little baby financed their next six months in Asia.