The Beast in Him
Page 10
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But that was a very long time ago. She wasnt that battered little girl hiding from a bunch of ravening She-pups. She was Jessica Ann Ward, CEO of Kuznetsov Security Systems and Alpha Female of the Kuznetsov Pack. And yet, here she stood, getting lectured to by this giant-headed mangy wolf.
Sure, she could yell at him. Scream at him even. But that wouldnt register with Bobby Ray Smith. No, there was only one way to get under a Smiths skin. Especially this Smith.
Look, Bubba Ray
His eyes narrowed to glowing-amber slits. Its Bobby Ray, as you damn well know. My daddy is Bubba.
Bubba. Bobby. She gave a dismissive wave. Sweetie, does it really matter? For a brief second, she though he might hit her.
When he didnt, she patted his shoulder. Its really sweet of you to care. Really. But I actually have someone waiting for me and, she wrinkled up her nose and whispered, not to tell you your business, but shouldnt you be watching the front door? I wouldnt want you to get fired. When he stared at her with his mouth slightly open, she innocently asked, You are restaurant security, right? Frighteningly entertained, Jess rubbed his sweater-covered bicep a bit. Well, I do have to go. You take care now, Bobby Joe.
Jess walked to the door and pulled it open. As she stepped into the hallway, she heard him growl, Its Bobby Ray.
Smiling and feeling like shed won the lottery, Jess sauntered back to the table. Before she could sit down, her cell phone went off.
She flipped it open. This is Jessica?
Im calling to rescue you from a fate worse than death. Dessert with Sherman the Dull.
Oh, my God. Are you sure?
Yes, Im sure hes really dulljust like I warned you he would be, Phil went on smugly. You never listen to me.
Okay. Okay. I understand. Im leaving right now.
Jess closed her phone and gave Sherman her best pout. Im so sorry, Sherman. But I have to run. Trouble at the Pack house.
Of course, of course. He stood and she waved him back into his seat. My car is waiting outside. You have dessert and Ill talk to you later. She thought about kissing him on the cheek, but the thought made her wince, so she patted him on the shoulder instead. Thank you for a lovely dinner. Then she headed for the door. The matre d, whom she knew on a first-name basis, already had her coat on his arm. She snatched it from him, rolled her eyes at his grin, and charged out of the restaurant. Her driver already had the car door open and she practically leaped inside.
Home? her driver asked.
Nah, office. Ive gotta salvage this crappy eveningsomehow.
Although torturing Bobby Ray Smith would definitely go down as the highlight of her night... if not her year.
He didnt move until Adelle walked into the bathroom and tugged on his sweater. Are you all right, Bobby Ray?
She called me Bubba. She keeps thinking I was in the Marines. He finally looked down into Adelles concerned face. Has the universe gone insane?
He paced away from her. I mean, this is Jessie Ann, for Gods sake. Little Jessie Ann Ward. I used to have to coax her out from under the bleachers like a squirrel from a tree. She was insanely in love with me, and now shes calling me Bubba?
Uh, Bobby Ray, there are women waiting to use the bath
And for her to stand there and act like I was some sort of pest she was trying to wave off her food is just too much. She adored me!
Adelle shrugged. I guess she grew out of it.
But he hadnt grown out of it. How the hell could she?
Raising her hands at his glare, Adelle stepped back. Why dont I, uh, reroute the ladies outside to the mens room and you take your time... snarling. In here. And when youre ready, theres a forty-ounce cut of steak and a bottle of tequila waiting for you in the kitchen.
Then she turned and fled the room. Snarling, like Adelle said he could, Smitty stalked over to the bathroom sink. He stared at himself in the mirror. Fangs. His fangs were out! He let a woman get to him so much hed unleashed his fangs? The universe had gone insane!
This is so not over, he told his reflection. Not by a long shot.
There had to be a reason Jessie Ann Ward kept treating him like dog shit on her shoe, and hed sure as hell find out why.
Chapter 3
You called her Spot?
His sister looked up at him in surprise. Probably because he never yelled. At her or anyone else. But no wonder Jessie Ann had looked right through him the last two nights hed seen her. Who wanted to remember being called Spot?
Lassie had been done, darlin, his sister said as an explanation.
He didnt know how this particular event became a monthly one. Meeting with Mace, his sister, Sissy Mae, Ronnie Lee, Ronnie Lees mate Brendon Shaw, and Maces wife Dez for Sunday brunch at the Kingston Arms, Shaws hotel. This specific dining room was hidden away from full-humans and catered mostly to their kind. A neutral space for all breeds. And the best damn French toast a body could ever have.
It wasnt just that, Sissy Mae, Ronnie reminded her. It was also her hair. All those colors in one head. It was tragic. It didnt look punk or anything. It just looked stupid.
Sure, she could yell at him. Scream at him even. But that wouldnt register with Bobby Ray Smith. No, there was only one way to get under a Smiths skin. Especially this Smith.
Look, Bubba Ray
His eyes narrowed to glowing-amber slits. Its Bobby Ray, as you damn well know. My daddy is Bubba.
Bubba. Bobby. She gave a dismissive wave. Sweetie, does it really matter? For a brief second, she though he might hit her.
When he didnt, she patted his shoulder. Its really sweet of you to care. Really. But I actually have someone waiting for me and, she wrinkled up her nose and whispered, not to tell you your business, but shouldnt you be watching the front door? I wouldnt want you to get fired. When he stared at her with his mouth slightly open, she innocently asked, You are restaurant security, right? Frighteningly entertained, Jess rubbed his sweater-covered bicep a bit. Well, I do have to go. You take care now, Bobby Joe.
Jess walked to the door and pulled it open. As she stepped into the hallway, she heard him growl, Its Bobby Ray.
Smiling and feeling like shed won the lottery, Jess sauntered back to the table. Before she could sit down, her cell phone went off.
She flipped it open. This is Jessica?
Im calling to rescue you from a fate worse than death. Dessert with Sherman the Dull.
Oh, my God. Are you sure?
Yes, Im sure hes really dulljust like I warned you he would be, Phil went on smugly. You never listen to me.
Okay. Okay. I understand. Im leaving right now.
Jess closed her phone and gave Sherman her best pout. Im so sorry, Sherman. But I have to run. Trouble at the Pack house.
Of course, of course. He stood and she waved him back into his seat. My car is waiting outside. You have dessert and Ill talk to you later. She thought about kissing him on the cheek, but the thought made her wince, so she patted him on the shoulder instead. Thank you for a lovely dinner. Then she headed for the door. The matre d, whom she knew on a first-name basis, already had her coat on his arm. She snatched it from him, rolled her eyes at his grin, and charged out of the restaurant. Her driver already had the car door open and she practically leaped inside.
Home? her driver asked.
Nah, office. Ive gotta salvage this crappy eveningsomehow.
Although torturing Bobby Ray Smith would definitely go down as the highlight of her night... if not her year.
He didnt move until Adelle walked into the bathroom and tugged on his sweater. Are you all right, Bobby Ray?
She called me Bubba. She keeps thinking I was in the Marines. He finally looked down into Adelles concerned face. Has the universe gone insane?
He paced away from her. I mean, this is Jessie Ann, for Gods sake. Little Jessie Ann Ward. I used to have to coax her out from under the bleachers like a squirrel from a tree. She was insanely in love with me, and now shes calling me Bubba?
Uh, Bobby Ray, there are women waiting to use the bath
And for her to stand there and act like I was some sort of pest she was trying to wave off her food is just too much. She adored me!
Adelle shrugged. I guess she grew out of it.
But he hadnt grown out of it. How the hell could she?
Raising her hands at his glare, Adelle stepped back. Why dont I, uh, reroute the ladies outside to the mens room and you take your time... snarling. In here. And when youre ready, theres a forty-ounce cut of steak and a bottle of tequila waiting for you in the kitchen.
Then she turned and fled the room. Snarling, like Adelle said he could, Smitty stalked over to the bathroom sink. He stared at himself in the mirror. Fangs. His fangs were out! He let a woman get to him so much hed unleashed his fangs? The universe had gone insane!
This is so not over, he told his reflection. Not by a long shot.
There had to be a reason Jessie Ann Ward kept treating him like dog shit on her shoe, and hed sure as hell find out why.
Chapter 3
You called her Spot?
His sister looked up at him in surprise. Probably because he never yelled. At her or anyone else. But no wonder Jessie Ann had looked right through him the last two nights hed seen her. Who wanted to remember being called Spot?
Lassie had been done, darlin, his sister said as an explanation.
He didnt know how this particular event became a monthly one. Meeting with Mace, his sister, Sissy Mae, Ronnie Lee, Ronnie Lees mate Brendon Shaw, and Maces wife Dez for Sunday brunch at the Kingston Arms, Shaws hotel. This specific dining room was hidden away from full-humans and catered mostly to their kind. A neutral space for all breeds. And the best damn French toast a body could ever have.
It wasnt just that, Sissy Mae, Ronnie reminded her. It was also her hair. All those colors in one head. It was tragic. It didnt look punk or anything. It just looked stupid.
