The Beast in Him
Page 16

Smitty swallowed, probably wondering who could move fasterMaces money was on his woman and her ability to draw her weapon. Then the hospital door opened and Smitty took his chance.
Its not my fault. He pointed at the wild dog whod just walked into the room. Its hers.
Dez spun around, nailing Jessica Ward to the spot. But after a moment, the two women grinned, squealed, and ran into each others arms for a big hug.
Jess!
Dez! Oh, my God, girl. How are you?
Im fine. Fine. Dez pulled back. Look at you, Miss Too Rich to Remember Her Friends.
Oh, yeah, right. I was at the Christmas party at Morihartys. Where were you?
Dez smirked and nodded toward Mace. Id just bred his little demon seed.
Jess gasped in surprise. Youre a mother? That question was followed with another squeal that had both Smitty and Mace covering their ears in agony.
When Mace could hear again, the women were huddled over Dezs wallet and pictures of Marcusand her dumb dogs. He glanced at Smitty, who mouthed, Asshole. In response, Mace gave him the finger.
So what happened? Dez asked after the pair had gushed over how beautiful Marcus and those dumb dogs were.
Bobby Ray is right, Jess admitted. It was my fault. I forgot Mace was coming to the office, and Danny was doing his usual lunch thing by letting our dogs take him around the office on his skateboard. They love doing that. Anyway, with a lion suddenly appearing in the office, they got a little spooked.
Dez turned accusing eyes on Mace. You scared her dogs? she yelled.
Wait. How did this become my fault?
Jess stood around chatting with Dez until two more lions, mocking Llewellyn mercilessly, showed up. One of the big cats she knew: Brendon Shaw. Her company had done work for him on more than one occasion, shed seen him at a few social events over the years, and the Packs much-loved Long Island property butted right up against Marissa Shaws and the Stark hyena Clans territories.
With Shaw came his brother. Not as big but just as handsome. Shed never met him before, but he seemed pleasant enough.
The problem wasnt the brothers but the fact that Brendon brought flowers for Mace. As a joke sure, but Jess couldnt find it funny. Since her allergic reaction to flowers could be considered colossal. She had small zipped cases in her backpack and key strategic places she frequented that held her allergy pills, nasal spray, and even an inhaler for those worst-case scenarios. Unfortunately, she hadnt brought her backpack or coat with her. So she had no way of stopping one of her bouts unless she left the room in the next ninety seconds.
Not wasting any time, she whispered good-byeto Dez with promises to see her another time for lunch or dinner, before making her escape.
She pressed the button on the elevator and checked her e-mail from her phone. The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside. She pressed the ground floor button and went back to her phone. A rude reply from a rude client had her seeing blood red, and she immediately began typing a seriously vicious reply. Once she hit send it suddenly occurred to her the doors hadnt opened. She glanced up and realized the floor numbers didnt seem to be moving either.
Took you long enough.
Startled by the low voiceand damn him that sexy slow drawlJess snarled and slammed her back against the opposite elevator wall.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Dont sneak up on me like that, Bobby Ray!
Sorry, darlin. Didnt mean to startle you into blaspheming. Though Im never quite sure how you dont know when someones standing right next to you. Were supposed to have enhanced skills.
I was taking care of something.
So I could see. Man, those little fingers move fast.
Theyre not little.
He grabbed hold of her right forefinger and lifted her hand. Like a leprechauns hands.
Trying not to notice how good his rough fingers felt on hers, she snatched her hand back. After all these yearsand with her at a cool five feet nine inchesSmitty still called her small. Of course, compared to those linebackers he called She-wolves...
They are not like a leprechauns hands! Now, is there a reason you stopped the elevator?
I see you still have your allergy to flowers, he said, stunning her that he actually remembered after all these years. Is that why you left the room without talking to me?
Talk to you?
Yeah, remember? I told you I wanted to talk to you.
Okay. Resigned to her fate, Jess waited for him to say something. After a good three minutes of mutual staring, she realized that wouldnt be happening. And what would you like to talk about, Bobby Ray?
First off, feel free to call me Smitty. Everyone does now. And second, I wanted to talk about you.
What about me?
Id like to know what youve been doing all this time. Where you went. How you got here.
Truly perplexed, she asked, Why?
Cause Im interested.
Jess gave a short shake of her head. No.
No?
No.
She hit the elevator button and the doors opened on the same floor, but Bobby RaySmittyhit it again and the doors closed.