Wolf With Benefits

  Shocked, Toni immediately looked at Coop. He was no help, though, laughing and turning away from her.

  “How dare you!” Oriana snarled. “How dare you leave us alone with that . . . that . . .”

  “Neanderthal!” Troy filled in.

  “He got you guys a workable schedule, didn’t he?” Toni asked, awkwardly patting the backs of Oriana and Troy while Kyle hugged her waist.

  “That’s not the point!” Troy argued.

  But Toni knew what the point was. While Bo could organize anything, he wouldn’t be nice about it. He wouldn’t take sensitivities into account the way Toni would. Of course, she’d known that when Ricky had suggested him . . . and that was the main reason she’d eventually agreed. Because someone nice would only get run over by the Jean-Louis Parker Family Train.

  As Toni’s dad always said, “When dealing with ancient Romans, you really need a Hannibal the Great to kick their ass.”

  Her father was a bit of a Roman history buff.

  “You all seemed to survive,” she reminded her siblings.

  “Barely,” Troy muttered.

  Toni watched her own Hannibal the Great stomp down the stairs of her family’s rental house with his duffel bag. Behind him was . . . somebody.

  “You’re back,” Bo said when he stood in front of her.

  “I am. Do you want an update on what hap—”

  “Later. I need ice time.”

  “Well, thank you for—”

  “Whatever. I need ice time.”

  “Okay.”

  The hybrid stared down at her and Toni stared back, not sure what he wanted.

  “I need ice time,” he repeated.

  “Yes. I know.”

  “But you’re in my way.”

  “Oh. Right.” Toni quickly stepped out of the way of the door, pulling her siblings with her. But while she wrangled her sisters and brothers, she’d abandoned Ricky and Vic Barinov, whom she couldn’t seem to shake since they’d landed in the States.

  “Hi, Toni!” said the somebody with Bo.

  “Oh. Hi. Um . . .”

  The somebody’s face fell. “Blayne.”

  “Right! Right.” Toni nodded. “Hi.”

  “Are you gonna move?” Bo asked Ricky.

  “Sure. What do you want to see? The Cabbage Patch?” And then the crazed wolf began to do the goddamn Cabbage Patch. Right there. In her hallway, with her family watching, and at Bo Novikov.

  Pushing Oriana and Kyle behind her, Toni reached over and grabbed Ricky Lee’s forearm, using all her strength to yank him to her side.

  Which left Bo Novikov staring down Vic Barinov.

  And it was intense. Like something out of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom intense. Two bear males squaring off over a deer carcass intense.

  Lips pulled back over fangs that extended out of gums, saliva pouring onto the floor as forehead rammed against forehead, and then there was the roaring. Good God! The roaring! It was so instantaneous and rage-filled that Toni was sure they knew each other.

  Toni immediately looked to her parents, but they were already moving, the twins in her father’s arms—both girls fighting their father because they wanted to see the bloodshed—her mother holding the hands of Freddy and Dennis. They disappeared down the hallway, knowing Toni would take care of the older kids. Yet even though Toni was willing to put herself between danger and the others, she knew she wouldn’t have to. Kyle and Oriana would never risk any harm that could stop them from doing what they loved. Cherise was already easing away. Coop was pretty fast when he wanted to be and he’d take care of Troy. Delilah wasn’t even there and Toni never worried about her anyway.

  Contingency plans, however, were unnecessary once Dee-Ann Smith ambled down the hallway. To Toni’s eternal surprise, Livy was right behind her. Surprise because Toni really thought Livy would have ditched her family by now. Not permanently or anything, Livy just wasn’t for staying in one place for very long.

  Of course the fact that she had stayed said the break-in was probably more serious than Ricky had let on. So, without letting anyone know what she was doing, Toni opened up her senses to everything around her while still managing to focus on the male idiocy going on right in front of her face.

  Dee-Ann stopped about ten feet from the two unbelievably large hybrid males and, after studying them for a long moment, went for that bowie knife of hers that she always had tacked to the back of her jeans or strapped to her thigh. She’d just pulled it free from its sheath when, uh—Blank? Was that her name?—jumped in front of Dee-Ann.

  “You can’t!” Blank yelled. “You just can’t!”

  That’s when Livy’s eyes crossed and she walked past all of them and right between the two males. Compared to seven-four Bo Novikov and seven-foot-one Vic Barinov, Livy was like a mite on some wolf’s fur. Yet, as always, she never let size stop her from doing whatever she needed to do.

  She pushed her way between the two males and rammed her hands against their chests. Then she shoved, forcing both males back a step. Maybe even two steps.

  “Cut it the fuck out,” she ordered, not even angry. “Novikov. You were leaving.”

  “Yeah. I’m leaving.” He stormed around Livy and Barinov and walked out. Blank stopped long enough to wave at everyone, then pointed at Cherise and Livy. “See you gals tonight!” she cheered.

  Toni, unsure what that meant, waved at Bo’s fiancée. “Bye, Blank!”

  She stopped, spun around, and snapped, “It’s Blayne.”

  “Right. Blayne. Sorry.”

  Shrugging, Toni closed the front door and faced Barinov. “Tell me you at least knew Novikov.”

  “That was Novikov?” When everyone merely stared at him, he added, “I’m not really a hockey fan. I like football.”

  Sighing, realizing how exhausted she was, Toni asked, “You’re not going to continue to hang around, are you?”

  “That’s up to her,” he said, pointing at Dee-Ann. “She hired me.”

  Knowing there was no point in discussing this any further with Dee-Ann, Toni pushed past Barinov and caught the back of Cherise’s T-shirt before she could escape into another room.

  Once she had her sister facing her, she asked, “Why did Bland say ‘see you tonight’? Why are you involving yourself with Bland?”

  Cherise tried the evasive maneuver, which never worked on Toni. “I think her name is Blayne.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Are you sure you’re not just saying her name wrong because you don’t like perky people?”

  “I like my assistant. She’s perky. And don’t try to distract me. What did she mean?”

  “Cherise and I,” Livy said from behind Toni, “were asked to join the local derby team and we have a practice tonight. With Bland.”

  Toni rubbed her temples and finally asked the universe, “Really?”

  They sat in the backyard at a long marble picnic table with matching benches. Cherise brought out coffee and freshly purchased muffins from the bakery down the street. Coop brought out a big pitcher of orange juice.

  Once he’d placed the pitcher in the middle of the table, Coop went to sit down by Toni, but before he could, the wolf sat down first. He straddled the bench so that he was facing Toni, his knees touching some part of her.

  Unable to help himself, Coop glanced at Cherise and Livy.

  To stop from giggling, Cherise desperately shoved a muffin into her mouth. An entire, giant muffin. But Livy, not well acquainted with the wolf and naturally distrusting, merely locked narrowed black eyes on the interloper.

  Cherise began to choke on her muffin and Toni quickly poured her a glass of OJ while Coop patted his sister’s back until she waved him off.

  “All right,” Toni said to them once they’d gotten settled. “Talk to me.”

  Cherise wiped her mouth and began. “I’m just going to play one bout. Just to see if I like it.”

  Coop saw his eldest sister gaze at Cherise. Toni was clearly exhausted. He saw i
t in her face, in her body. This wasn’t just jet lag, either. Then again, she hadn’t been on vacation. She’d been negotiating with bears in a foreign country.

  “Cherise, I don’t care,” Toni told their sister.

  Cherise’s bottom lip jutted out a bit into a sad little pout. “You don’t care at all?”

  The wolf squinted at Coop, but he just shook his head. It was the way of his family, wasn’t it?

  “Of course I care, Cherise, but you have to make that decision for yourself. I will suggest,” Toni went on, unable to help herself, “that you don’t play a week to two weeks before your concerts. That way if you hurt your arms, wrists, or fingers during a game, you’ll have time to heal. Okay?”

  Cherise smiled. “Okay.”

  “Where are we at?” Toni asked Livy.

  “I went to Ricky Lee’s brother Reece. Had him pull in your company’s team, Ricky.”

  “I would have done the same thing,” Ricky said.

  “He’s been great. Jackie loves him.”

  “He does have a way with the older ladies.”

  “What else?” Toni pushed her friend.

  “They’ve secured the house.”

  “No, Liv. I mean what aren’t you guys telling me?”

  Livy peered at Coop, raised her brows at him.

  “Tell her,” he urged, knowing his sister wouldn’t stop until they did.

  “Irene called in Dee-Ann.”

  Toni leaned back. “And why was that again?”

  “Honestly? I think Irene feels guilty.”

  “Did she do something?”

  “I don’t think so. But your mother won’t let her leave and I think Irene’s worried that if something happens to one of the kids, it’ll be because of her.”

  Toni sighed. “I guess that’s why I have that behemoth following me around.”

  “Who is he anyway?”

  “His name’s Vic Barinov. He was part of my protection detail in Russia along with Ricky.” She looked pointedly at Livy. “What do you think?”

  Livy shrugged. “Bringing in Dee-Ann is not my favorite idea.” She glanced at Ricky. “I don’t have anything personal against your friend, but—”

  “But you don’t usually call in Dee-Ann Smith unless you want someone to die,” Ricky finished for Livy. “Same thing with her daddy. But we also use Dee-Ann and her daddy when we want to prevent problems. If there’s one person who can get to the bottom of this, quickly and quietly, it’s Dee-Ann Smith.”

  Toni nodded. “Then leave it alone. If involving Dee-Ann makes Irene feel better, then let her do it. Besides, I want this done.”

  Livy agreed. “Then it’s done.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Nothing urgent,” Cooper said, worried about how tired his sister looked. He really hoped this job of hers was worth all she was going through.

  “Okay.” She stood up. “Tell Mom I’ll be back for breakfast in a few. Livy . . . come with.”

  She walked off and Livy followed her, the women walking into the house.

  Ricky moved around on the bench until he could face both Coop and Cherise.

  After a long minute of silence, Ricky said, “Your sister was amazing in Russia.”

  Coop was about to answer, “I know,” but Cherise spoke first.

  “My sister’s amazing all the time.” Cherise grabbed a muffin and squeezed it until it began to crumble in her hands. “And if you ever forget that and make her cry the way that worthless full-human did, I’m going to make you sorry you ever left Tennessee.” She got to her feet, started to turn away, but then stopped and added, “Which is a lovely state but that’s not the point!”

  Coop watched his younger sister march off, leaving a trail of muffin crumbs behind her.

  “I sure do like your family,” the wolf said. And Coop looked over at Ricky Lee, saw the smile that told him the man was being completely serious.

  “They are great, aren’t they?” Coop agreed.

  Toni sat on her bed, pulled off her boots. “Okay.” She looked right at her friend. “What haven’t you told me?”

  “I saw Delilah coming out of a church.”

  “Great. She’s stealing crosses now?”

  “Blayne said it was a cult. They took over the church when the original congregation had to move.”

  Toni suddenly laughed, surprising herself. “I wish I could say I was shocked, but . . .”

  “I know. I know.” Livy laughed, too. “But when you think about it, she’d fit right in there with the pantheon, wouldn’t she? Charles Manson. David Koresh. Jim Jones. She blends.”

  “Not quite. They were monsters, but they were all kind of mentally ill. According to Kyle there’s a difference between personality disorders and mental illness. Del isn’t crazy. She just doesn’t have a soul.”

  Livy braced her legs apart, crossed her arms over her chest. “I put security on each of the kids.”

  Toni studied her best friend. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. It just felt . . .” She searched for the right word. “Necessary.”

  “Then it’s necessary.” Livy didn’t do important things on a whim, so Toni didn’t question her decisions.

  Yawning, Toni said, “Tell me how much I owe you for all this security because Mom and Dad said they didn’t pay for any . . .” But Livy had already walked out of the room.

  “I will pay you back, honey lover!”

  “Shut up!”

  Toni chuckled as Ricky walked into the room.

  “Your mother said breakfast will be ready for us in a bit.”

  “Okay.”

  He came across the room and dived onto her bed, rolling around until he was on his back. He stopped, gazed at her, then started again.

  Toni laughed loud. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I’m glad to be home.” He turned onto his side, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. But I should go check on the kids.”

  “The kids are fine. Their parents have managed to take very good care of them.”

  “Not appreciating the Southern sarcasm.”

  “Come on, darlin’. Let’s cuddle like proper canines.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “That’s a great idea. It’s called relaxing. Taking a break. They’ll call us when breakfast is ready anyway.”

  “Well . . .”

  But Ricky Lee had already eased her down on the bed until she was cuddled up next to him and at that point she didn’t really feel like saying anything else. Besides, what could a five-minute break hurt anyway?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  “Breakfast, Toni.”

  Toni turned over at the sound of her baby brother’s voice; Freddy’s small hand was patting her shoulder.

  “It’s okay,” she told him. “I had breakfast on the plane.”

  The patting stopped and there was a long pause before Freddy said, “That was yesterday.”

  Toni shot up into a sitting position, her eyes trying to focus as she blinked. She searched for the alarm clock in her room. After a few seconds, she got her eyes to read the numbers.

  “It’s six thirty? A.M.?”

  Freddy nodded. “Uh-huh. Mommy made you waffles and bacon.” Freddy smiled. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

  Toni smiled at her brother. “Me, too.”

  He walked to the door, stopped, and said over his shoulder, “You’re invited, too, Mr. Reed.”

  “Just call me Ricky Lee.”

  “Okay, Ricky Lee.”

  Her brother walked out and Toni spun around, landing on her knees. “You were here the whole night?”

  Yawning and scratching his head, the big wolf rolled onto his back. “I guess so.”

  “What the hell were you thinking?”

  “That I was tired . . . that you were tired . . . that we were tired.”

  “But you were here all night. And in my bed. And Freddy saw us!”
r />   Resting on his elbows, Ricky raised himself up. “It’s not like we were naked.”

  “That’s not the point. Once Freddy knows, the world will know.”

  Ricky shrugged. “Don’t make me no never mind.”

  “Well it does to me.”

  “That ’cause you’re ashamed to be seen with me?”

  Surprised by the question, Toni immediately replied, “Of course not!”

  “You sure? I know most of your friends are important artists and musicians. I ain’t nothin’ but a good ol’ wolf from Tennessee.”

  “Your accent certainly does get thick when you’re trying to make me feel guilty.”

  “Is it working?” He reached over and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Laughing a little when she fell into him.

  Toni braced her hands against his chest but didn’t try too hard to pull away.

  “I swear,” he said, gazing at her mouth, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just thought we’d sleep for an hour or two. Not all day and night.”

  “I was more worried about us being up all night. You know, from the change in time.”

  “I think dealing with those bears just wore us out. It was the first time you could sleep without worrying.”

  Toni smiled. “But that doesn’t explain why you slept so long.”

  “That’s your fault.”

  “My fault?”

  “Snuggling up to you just makes me so dang comfortable. Why would I bother moving?” He suddenly kissed her neck before easing away from her. “Dang, those waffles smell good. Hope your momma made enough.”

  “How many do you need?”

  “A lot.” He got off the bed, headed toward the attached bathroom. “I’m gonna use your toothbrush.”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “No need for that tone,” he teased. “You can use my toothbrush anytime you have a need.”

  “Oh, well.” Toni flopped back on the bed. “When you put it like that . . .”

  They walked into the kitchen together and Ricky expected the treatment he’d get from his own kin and Pack, a lot of dramatic stopping and staring, making the pair feel uncomfortable. But the jackals seemed less than interested.