Beast Behaving Badly
Page 109

She snatched his jersey off the floor and pulled it on before storming out of the room. Deciding he wasnt done with this fight, Bo went after her. She was already walking out the front door, morning light flooding the hallway by the time he turned the corner.
Youre not even wearing shoes, he called after her, relieved to see that at least the storm had blown over.
Thanks, Mom! Ill keep that in mind.
Grabbing a set of boots shed left lying on the floor, he followed her out the door.
Do you want to lose your toes? Do you think thatll be attractive? She stood at the top of the porch, so he crouched beside her, placing her feet in the boots. Dont make me mental, Blayne.
Uh . . . Bo?
We can argue. You can walk away.
Bo.
He tied her boots. But dont walk away into volcanoes or tsunamis or into the freezing Ursus County cold because youre being a drama queen.
Bo!
What?
Blayne cleared her throat and said, Uh . . . Bold Novikov, Id like you to meet my father. Ezra Louis Thorpe.
Praying she was kiddingbut already knowing she wasnthe looked down the porch stairs. Unsmiling, black, powerfully built, in his fifties, and still wearing a buzz cut that was mere millimeters from bald, Bo knew this was Blaynes father.
Sir, Bo said before raising his gaze to Blaynes. I am so naked, he whispered. What kind of first impression could he be making right now?
Im almost positive he noticed that, she whispered back. Although if you go inside and get some pants . . . I dont think hell mind.
Bo nodded. Good plan. Then, with as much dignity as he could muster, he stood and walked into his uncles house.
Blayne waited until Bo had disappeared into the house before she marched down the stairs to her father.
Why are you here? she asked, seriously confused.
I thought you wouldnt come home unless I came here myself to get you.
Yeah, but . . . I didnt expect you to actually come here. Although a phone call making sure I was okay would have been nice.
Her father flicked her on the forehead, something shed always hated. Yeah. I can tell youve been hiding under the couch, waiting to be rescued for days now. It took a lot not to cringe when her father reached over and tugged down the collar of her jersey just enough to see where Bo had marked her.
Huh, he said. He laid the collar back down, sighed. I dont want to worry you, but youre still oozing.
Gee . . . thanks, Dad.
What do you want me tosay?
You see that your daughter is marked, and thats the best you can come up with?
What would you like to hear then? Hope your kids arent freaks?
Oh, my God! she exploded. Youre a such a
A big hand wrapped around her face, cutting off the rest of the sentence that would send father and daughter into one of their screaming matches. Lets get you dressed, Bo said, shoving her toward the house. So we can head home.
He pushed her up the porch, down the hallway, and into the bedroom theyd been sharing. He closed the door. You need to calm down, he told her.
He called our future children freaks! she accused.
Were having children now? Because before he showed up you couldnt handle living under my brutal regime.
I never said that.
Really? he asked, grabbing the clean clothes hed placed on the bed for her and handing them over. Because it sounded like you did.
I dont hate you, you idiot. Im in love with you. Thats why Im panicking! She marched to the door and yelled, And our children will not be freaks!
Except their mother already is, her father yelled back.
Deciding that the old bastards untimely death was in order, Blayne yanked the door open, but Bo quickly slammed it shut again. He leaned against it and gazed down into her face. You love me?
Do you think Id put up with your obsessive nature for five seconds if I didnt love you?
And Im sure the multimillion-dollar hockey career has nothing to do with it, her father said through the door.
When we get home, old man. You are so going to the old folks kennel!
Yeah, yeah, her father said. I look forward to it. Until then, think you can shift that shiftless ass into gear so we can get out of here before those Van Holtz idiots start whining about your goddamn safetyagain?
They walked into the chief s office, and Blayne squealed, Lock! She tore across the room, throwing herself into the grizzlys arms.
Bos eyes narrowed, and his mane dropped to his shoulders.
Oh, no, her father said next to him with a level of sarcasm even Bo was finding hard to take. Your kids wont be freaks at all.
I love your daughter, sir, Bo said low for Mr. Thorpes benefit only. But dont think for a second I wont snap your neck like a twig if you get on my nerves. The wolf looked up at him, brows raised, and Bo added, No, really.