The Beast in Him
Page 29

As Jess stepped into the warmth of the museum, Smitty said in her ear, Ill pick you up tomorrow at your office. Around six. Smiths didnt do specific time. What did around six even mean? So make sure to add me to that little office list of yours.
She snatched off his jacket and threw it at his head.
Asshole! she raged before she stormed off to gather up her Pack and go home.
Smitty pulled his jacket back on.
Ha! Got her. Did she really think she could outmaneuver him? Hello? Military training. Smith training. Those two things alone made him the most wily and vicious of the predators.
Hed take her out to dinner and theyd have a nice long discussion about where shed been for the past sixteen years... and about how to properly dress for these sorts of events. Then hed find out what the hell she was hiding from him. Yup. That worked as a plan. Hed get his old friend back if he had to drag her kicking and screaming into his life.
To Smitty, this did not seem pathetic.
A strong hand landed on his shoulder as Marissa leaned on him for balance so she could slip on her pumps. She started to say something when Jessie Ann charged back into the hallway. She threw herself into Smitty, pressing her back into his chest. She wrapped his arms around her waist and snarled, Now look pretty.
Five seconds later, Sherman Landry appeared at the end of the hallway. His smile faded as soon as he saw Smitty. And he looked downright terrified of Marissa.
With a despondent sigh, he gave a half-hearted wave. Bye, Jessica.
Bye, Jess said with an over-the-top glee. When Sherman walked off, she spit out between her teeth, Asshole.
A good minute passed before Jess realized she still had Smittys arms around her. Slowly, her face lifted and she looked up at him. Unable to help himself, Smitty let that smile come in all its glory. His daddy had the same one and it had caused his mother to go after the old bastard with the ax they kept in the backyard more than once.
Thankfully, Jessie didnt have an ax on her.
Get off me! She pulled out of his arms. Bastard.
See ya tomorrow! he said with the same cheer shed told Landry good-bye.
She stormed off, spinning on those deadly heels to give him the finger with both hands, before disappearing altogether.
Marissa rested her chin on Smittys shoulder. I must say, Smitty, you do have an interesting way with women.
Self-taught, he said with pride, grinning when Marissa laughed.
Chapter 8
It took Jess the rest of the night and most of the day to remember the Buick. The Buick those two She-wolves outside the museum had driven away in. It struck her as strange when she saw it; now she remembered why. All those longdiscussions when shed just met a still-sobbing May about her boyfriends Buick and all the making out that went on in that backseat. Could the guy still be driving around in the same car? And if it was his car, who were the She-wolves? They worried Jess but didnt scare her. Not after living among the Smith wolves for two years.
Her big problem was whether to tell the rest of the Pack. When she had a few minutes, shed grabbed Phil, but that quickly degenerated into one of their arguments where they kept saying the same thing but continued to argue anyway.
Unfortunately, Jess and Phil didnt know Sabina stood in the doorway until she barked. And she had one of those annoying, high-pitched yelping barks too.
Jess and Phil cringed, knowing Sabina had busted them royally.
Watching them closely, she shrewdly sized them up like she did everyone else. What are you two so heatedly discussing?
Jess faced her friend and answered, Our torrid affair? That probably would have been more believable if she hadnt phrased it as a question.
Your torrid affair?
Yeah, me and Phil. For years now. Hot and heavy. Right, Phil?
He stared blindly at his wife and Jess had to hit him in the chest to prompt a response. Right. Sure. Hot and heavy.
Sabina folded her arms over her chest. You two are pathetic. Pathetic liars. Now tell me the truth. When they remained silent, she added, Tell me. Or I shift and so begins the peeing.
A female dog who lifted her hind leg on a whimthis was not an idle threat.
Jess held up her hands. Okay! Okay! Might as well just deal with it. Lets grab the others and get this over with.
Youve gotta tell her.
Why cant it wait? Until she gets home?
Kristan rolled her eyes. Honestly! Youd think I was dragging your dumb ass to the gas chamber. And she was dragging him because he refused to go on his own.
Pulling Johnny into the building, she smiled at the woman behind the front desk. Hiya, Paula. Are my parents and Jess upstairs?
They sure are. Go on up, hon.
Thanks. The big goofus started to slow up, but she yanked harder and pulled him all the way to the elevator doors. I swear! Youre being such a drama king about this.
She glanced at the man waiting for the elevators while keeping a firm grip on Johnnys arm. His scent reminded her of Johnnys, and based on his size, she realized they were the same breed. And, man, was he way cute!
The doors opened and the wolf stepped inside. She followed but had to keep dragging Johnny. The wolf pushed the top-floor button and the doors closed.