Beast Behaving Badly
Page 24
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Reed nodded. Thats what I thought. Looks like its time for some new blood. He skated onto the rink to warm up with the rest of the team.
Bert shook his head. That was just mean, canine.
In answer, Ric smiled.
Running late for her dinner date, Blayne rushed into the hockey rink, stepping aside as the medical team took out a battered Reece Reed on a stretcher.
Hey, Reece.
She cringed when he managed to wave and give her a smile that could only be called blood filled. Blayne looked back at Gwen, but she didnt seem to notice or care as she made the medical team move around her.
I told you we werent late, Gwen said.
Were late, but their practice is running long.
Thats the same thing.
No its not. And how come when Im late, its the end of the world, but when youre late everyone just has to wait for you?
Why do you think? Gwen walked to the end of the entrance to the rink. Theyd both dressed up for the night since they were having dinner out and then going to the Kuznetsov Packs new downtown club. Blayne couldnt wait. There was gaming to be had at the club. She wasnt very good at gaming, but she loved playing with the Kuznetsov Pack because they didnt care she wasnt very good.
The team headed in, and Blayne and Gwen stepped aside to let them through. Lock skated over first, grinning down at his fiance. You look gorgeous.
I know.
Lock stepped off the rink and into Gwen, and she quickly stepped back. Stop. Youll get sweat and blood all over me.
And?
She laughed and dodged behind Blayne.
Why am I in the middle of this? Blayne demanded.
My human shield.
Ric came up behind Lock. Good evening. He took Blaynes hand and kissed the back of it. You look wonderful.
Thank you. And Ric didnt look half bad himself. She didnt know how it was fair a man as handsome as Ulrich Van Holtz would look even better sweaty and in a battered goalie uniform, but he did.
We wont be long getting ready. He tapped Locks shoulder and motioned to the locker room. I dont know about the rest of you, but Im starving.
While they all discussed dinner plans, Blayne stood outside the rink and watched Bo Novikov skate alone. His team may be done for the night, but clearly he wasnt. Yet she couldnt help but feel bad for him. Out there. All alone.
Blayne turned and said to Ric and Lock, We should invite Novikov out with us.
The two men gaped at her before adamantly answering, No.
Surprised, she asked,Why not?
We want to have a nice time.
Whos to say we wont? When they only gaped at her more, she added, Its a nice thing to do.
Now they looked confused.
For christsake, Gwen snapped. She walked around Blayne. Well invite him to meet us at the club. Does that work for everybody?
Yes!
No.
Blayne glared at the two men. Youre being mean!
Ignoring them all, Gwen stepped on the ice and brought her fingers to her mouth. She whistled and, looking more annoyed than usual, Novikov stopped skating and scowled in her direction. Again, Gwen didnt seem to notice or care. She motioned him over with a wave of her hand.
Once she had the hybrid next to her, she said something to him. With that same expression he wore every moment of every day, he looked up and right at Blayne. She wanted to run but instead smiled and gave a small wave. It wasnt easy, especially when it only seemed to make him scowl more.
Okay? she heard Gwen ask.
Yeah.
He skated off and Gwen walked back over.
How did you manage the ice in those heels? Blayne asked.
Why arent you getting ready? Gwen demanded of the men.
Lock planted his hockey stick against the floor. I wasnt leaving you alone with him.
Im getting cranky from hunger. Gwen pointed toward the locker rooms. Go.
They did, but they grumbled as they went.
When they were gone, Gwen put her arm through Blaynes and together they walked out of the training rink.
What happened? Blayne asked.
Nothing. I simply suggested to Bo Novikov that he may want to meet us at the club tonight.
And why would he want to do that?
Because otherwise you were going to stay out too late with Ric and be late for your training session tomorrow. Personally, I think it was the Ric mention that upset him the most.
Blayne snorted. And Id bet cash that it was the thought of me being late.
CHAPTER 8
Bo walked around his truck and looked up at the club buried behind a few buildings. To a full-human it probably looked like some crackhouse, complete with scary drug-dealer protection out front. But Bo could feel the music vibrating through the ground and into his feet, could smell the different breeds housed inside the building, and could see the shifters easing out of a side door and disappearing into the surrounding darkness. Plus the fact that the scary protection guys out front had eyes that reflected in the darkness pretty much screamed not-quite-human gathering inside.
Bert shook his head. That was just mean, canine.
In answer, Ric smiled.
Running late for her dinner date, Blayne rushed into the hockey rink, stepping aside as the medical team took out a battered Reece Reed on a stretcher.
Hey, Reece.
She cringed when he managed to wave and give her a smile that could only be called blood filled. Blayne looked back at Gwen, but she didnt seem to notice or care as she made the medical team move around her.
I told you we werent late, Gwen said.
Were late, but their practice is running long.
Thats the same thing.
No its not. And how come when Im late, its the end of the world, but when youre late everyone just has to wait for you?
Why do you think? Gwen walked to the end of the entrance to the rink. Theyd both dressed up for the night since they were having dinner out and then going to the Kuznetsov Packs new downtown club. Blayne couldnt wait. There was gaming to be had at the club. She wasnt very good at gaming, but she loved playing with the Kuznetsov Pack because they didnt care she wasnt very good.
The team headed in, and Blayne and Gwen stepped aside to let them through. Lock skated over first, grinning down at his fiance. You look gorgeous.
I know.
Lock stepped off the rink and into Gwen, and she quickly stepped back. Stop. Youll get sweat and blood all over me.
And?
She laughed and dodged behind Blayne.
Why am I in the middle of this? Blayne demanded.
My human shield.
Ric came up behind Lock. Good evening. He took Blaynes hand and kissed the back of it. You look wonderful.
Thank you. And Ric didnt look half bad himself. She didnt know how it was fair a man as handsome as Ulrich Van Holtz would look even better sweaty and in a battered goalie uniform, but he did.
We wont be long getting ready. He tapped Locks shoulder and motioned to the locker room. I dont know about the rest of you, but Im starving.
While they all discussed dinner plans, Blayne stood outside the rink and watched Bo Novikov skate alone. His team may be done for the night, but clearly he wasnt. Yet she couldnt help but feel bad for him. Out there. All alone.
Blayne turned and said to Ric and Lock, We should invite Novikov out with us.
The two men gaped at her before adamantly answering, No.
Surprised, she asked,Why not?
We want to have a nice time.
Whos to say we wont? When they only gaped at her more, she added, Its a nice thing to do.
Now they looked confused.
For christsake, Gwen snapped. She walked around Blayne. Well invite him to meet us at the club. Does that work for everybody?
Yes!
No.
Blayne glared at the two men. Youre being mean!
Ignoring them all, Gwen stepped on the ice and brought her fingers to her mouth. She whistled and, looking more annoyed than usual, Novikov stopped skating and scowled in her direction. Again, Gwen didnt seem to notice or care. She motioned him over with a wave of her hand.
Once she had the hybrid next to her, she said something to him. With that same expression he wore every moment of every day, he looked up and right at Blayne. She wanted to run but instead smiled and gave a small wave. It wasnt easy, especially when it only seemed to make him scowl more.
Okay? she heard Gwen ask.
Yeah.
He skated off and Gwen walked back over.
How did you manage the ice in those heels? Blayne asked.
Why arent you getting ready? Gwen demanded of the men.
Lock planted his hockey stick against the floor. I wasnt leaving you alone with him.
Im getting cranky from hunger. Gwen pointed toward the locker rooms. Go.
They did, but they grumbled as they went.
When they were gone, Gwen put her arm through Blaynes and together they walked out of the training rink.
What happened? Blayne asked.
Nothing. I simply suggested to Bo Novikov that he may want to meet us at the club tonight.
And why would he want to do that?
Because otherwise you were going to stay out too late with Ric and be late for your training session tomorrow. Personally, I think it was the Ric mention that upset him the most.
Blayne snorted. And Id bet cash that it was the thought of me being late.
CHAPTER 8
Bo walked around his truck and looked up at the club buried behind a few buildings. To a full-human it probably looked like some crackhouse, complete with scary drug-dealer protection out front. But Bo could feel the music vibrating through the ground and into his feet, could smell the different breeds housed inside the building, and could see the shifters easing out of a side door and disappearing into the surrounding darkness. Plus the fact that the scary protection guys out front had eyes that reflected in the darkness pretty much screamed not-quite-human gathering inside.
