Beast Behaving Badly
Page 29
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Well, I cant take much more of her craziness.
I know. I know. Well discuss it at the next team meeting. Okay?
As ya like. But I guess I dont know why you dont just take her home with you. Make her yours and she falls under the protection of your kin. Nothing they can do about it.
The wolf gazed at her a long moment before he finally asked, Make Blayne mine? You mean . . . you mean mark Blayne?
Dee-Ann did what her daddy always did when asked a stupid question. Said nothing and waited until the person figured out on their own they asked a stupid question. And, sure enough, the wolf caught on quick, his whole body going kind of tense.
I cant mark Blayne. Shes like a sister to me.
Uh-huh.
I can assure you, Dee-Ann, my interest in Blayne is strictly friendship. I have . . . other interests.
Whatever that meant. Although Dee-Ann didnt care one way or the other. Her biggest concern right now was getting Blayne Thorpe off her radar for good. But until that happened, she had a way around being Blaynes daily watchdog. Normally, Dee-Ann would inform her commanding officers of changes shed made, but the Group wasnt the Marines and Ulrich Van Holtz wasnt her commanding officer. He was just a rich boy with a powerful uncle who liked him. So Dee would do what shed been doing for months . . . running the show her way without bothering to let Van Holtz know about it. Why bother? The boy was as useless as tits on a bull, but he still made sure she got paid on time, and she did like getting that money. It was more than shed thought and much more than she needed, even in this ridiculous city, but it was nice actually having a retirement fund. Especially since shed never had one before.
Understand? he asked.
Yeah. Sure. Whatever. She didnt understand males. He didnt seem to mind that Blayne was a hybrid and they made a cute couple. Besides, if he wasnt careful, that big buck of a hockey player would snatch little Blayne right out from under Mr. Society. One look and Dee-Ann could tell that Novikov didnt play by anyones rules but his own. And the way he watched that little gal . . . well, when Dees daddy thought no one was looking he still stared at her momma the same way Novikov was watching Blayne.
But in the long scheme of things, it wasnt Dees problem. If Van Holtz wanted to lose out on his chance with that idiot that was his problem.
Figuring the conversation was over, Dee walked out, ignoring the Where the hell did she go? that followed.
When the two boars stared at each other for way too long in Blaynes estimation, she grabbed Novikovs hand and pulled him away from the couch and Lock MacRyrie.
To her surprise, he followed her without complaint, and she led him up two floors until she got to theMood Room level. Mellow tech music and low lights for those who had no tolerance for the exact opposite, Blayne had a feeling this was the perfect place for Bo Novikov. He didnt seem remotely comfortable near the dance floor, and she doubted hed do much better on the gaming floor or in the karaoke room where she knew shed find the entire Kuznetsov Pack. It was clear Jess didnt come to the opening. If she had, shed be working every floor to make sure the event went off without the slightest hitch. But she was seriously pregnant and kind of miserable at the moment, so the opening of a Manhattan shifter club was not a good idea for her. She was much better off home and comfortable with her mate.
Thankfully, though, it looked as if the club was off to an excellent start, and giving shifters choices like the Mood Room was a very smart move.
Still holding Novikovs hand, Blayne went deep into the Mood Room, trying to find a table or booth. Everything was taken at the moment, and when she arrived at the last booth at the very end of the room, she stopped and glanced at the three male lions sitting in it. She was trying to guesstimate when they might be done and leave when the three males gazed past her and up. Blayne looked up at Novikov just as he tilted his head toward the exit. It was a slight move, barely noticeable if she hadnt been looking right at him, but holy shit did those lions move! Blayne stepped back as the felines took their drinks and escaped, their gazes now focused on the floor in front of them.
Blayne let out a sigh. That wasnt necessary.
I didnt want to stand here all night. He pressed his palm against her back, urging her to sit in the booth, but Blayne couldnt believe the size of that hand touching her through her knockoff designer dress. Like the size of a crater on the moon.
Okay. A bit of an exaggeration, but Blayne was known to exaggerate when it helped get her point across.
She sat in the booth and, again, thought hed sit on the other side, but no. He squeezed in next to her. But Blayne wasnt having it this time.
Over there! she yelped when he tried pushing her over when she wouldnt move out of his way. Over! There!
Her demand worked, because he sat down on the other side.
I need space, she blurted out, her arms going wide to help illustrate her point. Personal space! Im a wolfdog. Getting crowded into corners makes us mental! Space! Annoyed in general, she went on. And stop scaring people to get them to move out of your way. And dont try and stare down your teammates. Thats just rude! Youre on the same team. You should be working together, buddies to the end. She flopped back into the booth. I have so much work to do with you. When Novikov didnt say anything, she demanded, Well?
I know. I know. Well discuss it at the next team meeting. Okay?
As ya like. But I guess I dont know why you dont just take her home with you. Make her yours and she falls under the protection of your kin. Nothing they can do about it.
The wolf gazed at her a long moment before he finally asked, Make Blayne mine? You mean . . . you mean mark Blayne?
Dee-Ann did what her daddy always did when asked a stupid question. Said nothing and waited until the person figured out on their own they asked a stupid question. And, sure enough, the wolf caught on quick, his whole body going kind of tense.
I cant mark Blayne. Shes like a sister to me.
Uh-huh.
I can assure you, Dee-Ann, my interest in Blayne is strictly friendship. I have . . . other interests.
Whatever that meant. Although Dee-Ann didnt care one way or the other. Her biggest concern right now was getting Blayne Thorpe off her radar for good. But until that happened, she had a way around being Blaynes daily watchdog. Normally, Dee-Ann would inform her commanding officers of changes shed made, but the Group wasnt the Marines and Ulrich Van Holtz wasnt her commanding officer. He was just a rich boy with a powerful uncle who liked him. So Dee would do what shed been doing for months . . . running the show her way without bothering to let Van Holtz know about it. Why bother? The boy was as useless as tits on a bull, but he still made sure she got paid on time, and she did like getting that money. It was more than shed thought and much more than she needed, even in this ridiculous city, but it was nice actually having a retirement fund. Especially since shed never had one before.
Understand? he asked.
Yeah. Sure. Whatever. She didnt understand males. He didnt seem to mind that Blayne was a hybrid and they made a cute couple. Besides, if he wasnt careful, that big buck of a hockey player would snatch little Blayne right out from under Mr. Society. One look and Dee-Ann could tell that Novikov didnt play by anyones rules but his own. And the way he watched that little gal . . . well, when Dees daddy thought no one was looking he still stared at her momma the same way Novikov was watching Blayne.
But in the long scheme of things, it wasnt Dees problem. If Van Holtz wanted to lose out on his chance with that idiot that was his problem.
Figuring the conversation was over, Dee walked out, ignoring the Where the hell did she go? that followed.
When the two boars stared at each other for way too long in Blaynes estimation, she grabbed Novikovs hand and pulled him away from the couch and Lock MacRyrie.
To her surprise, he followed her without complaint, and she led him up two floors until she got to theMood Room level. Mellow tech music and low lights for those who had no tolerance for the exact opposite, Blayne had a feeling this was the perfect place for Bo Novikov. He didnt seem remotely comfortable near the dance floor, and she doubted hed do much better on the gaming floor or in the karaoke room where she knew shed find the entire Kuznetsov Pack. It was clear Jess didnt come to the opening. If she had, shed be working every floor to make sure the event went off without the slightest hitch. But she was seriously pregnant and kind of miserable at the moment, so the opening of a Manhattan shifter club was not a good idea for her. She was much better off home and comfortable with her mate.
Thankfully, though, it looked as if the club was off to an excellent start, and giving shifters choices like the Mood Room was a very smart move.
Still holding Novikovs hand, Blayne went deep into the Mood Room, trying to find a table or booth. Everything was taken at the moment, and when she arrived at the last booth at the very end of the room, she stopped and glanced at the three male lions sitting in it. She was trying to guesstimate when they might be done and leave when the three males gazed past her and up. Blayne looked up at Novikov just as he tilted his head toward the exit. It was a slight move, barely noticeable if she hadnt been looking right at him, but holy shit did those lions move! Blayne stepped back as the felines took their drinks and escaped, their gazes now focused on the floor in front of them.
Blayne let out a sigh. That wasnt necessary.
I didnt want to stand here all night. He pressed his palm against her back, urging her to sit in the booth, but Blayne couldnt believe the size of that hand touching her through her knockoff designer dress. Like the size of a crater on the moon.
Okay. A bit of an exaggeration, but Blayne was known to exaggerate when it helped get her point across.
She sat in the booth and, again, thought hed sit on the other side, but no. He squeezed in next to her. But Blayne wasnt having it this time.
Over there! she yelped when he tried pushing her over when she wouldnt move out of his way. Over! There!
Her demand worked, because he sat down on the other side.
I need space, she blurted out, her arms going wide to help illustrate her point. Personal space! Im a wolfdog. Getting crowded into corners makes us mental! Space! Annoyed in general, she went on. And stop scaring people to get them to move out of your way. And dont try and stare down your teammates. Thats just rude! Youre on the same team. You should be working together, buddies to the end. She flopped back into the booth. I have so much work to do with you. When Novikov didnt say anything, she demanded, Well?
