The Beast in Him
Page 56

Jess covered her mouth with her hand. Oh, God.
May rested her head on Jesss shoulder and kept her eyes down, but her entire body shook. Sabina simply stared... blindly.
When theyd first thrown Mitch up on the stage it was mostly to torture him. Dogs merely trying to embarrass the cat. Three power ballads later and Jess knew shed created a monster.
I dont think Ill ever listen to Bon Jovi the same way again.
Dead or Alive has taken on a whole new meaning to me, May got out between bouts of hysterical giggling.
And let us not forget Whitesnakes Here I Go Again.
Sabina snorted. I think that one made my ears bleed.
May wiped her eyes and sat up. We have to have him back next time we come. Its an absolute must.
I say we send him with the rest of the Pack next week. Kerri and the girls will love us forever. Because someone had to protect the pups at all times, the Pack rarely did these sorts of late-night events together. So this week it was the Original Five and about twenty other wild dogs. Next week, the rest of the Pack would go, and Jess and the others would stay home with the kids. It wasnt the best system, but it was the safest, and thats all that mattered.
And, Jess added, it does not hurt hes severely hot.
No, May and Sabina sighed together, it doesnt hurt at all.
Finally, probably because Phil shoved him, Mitch relinquished the stage. As he walked past the three of them, he gave them a big grin, a wink, and said Ladies with a smugness that rivaled Napoleon Bonapartes.
Under the table, they each grabbed hold of the others leg and dug their nails in so they wouldnt burst out laughing.
Mitch, they said together.
Oh, my God, May cleared her throat after Mitch walked by. This is the best Karaoke night ever.
Half an hour later and, as Kenshin Inu walked away from the table, Smitty realized hed somehow worked himself into a business deal... maybe. To be honest, he still wasnt sure if he could trust this guy, and he had no idea if this would turn out to be anything. He certainly wouldnt worry about it. He had more important things on his mind.
Like the hot little wild dog walking back over to him. But before she could get close, Kenshin grabbed her hand and dragged her on stage. And when he sang Love Me Tender to her while holding Jessie tight against him and the rest of the females squealed at his Elvis impersonation, Smitty did seriously consider killing the man. Killing him a lot.
Lighters in hand, arms waving, the dogs enjoyed Phils version of No Woman, No Cry. Not exactly Bob Marley,but close enough.
Laughing and trying not to burn her hand, Jess glanced over her shoulder to see if Smitty had finally bailedespecially after one of her Pack mangled Poisons Every Rose Has Its Thornsbut to her eternal surprise, he was still in the same spot shed left him. However, he wasnt alone.
Jesss eyes narrowed as she locked on to the four females from Kenshins Pack happily settled into Smittys booth with him and Mitch.
Disgusted, she turned back around and tried to force herself not to care. Didnt work, but she did try.
Whats wrong? May asked against her ear so only she could hear.
Nothing.
Liar. Tell me.
Jess gave a small motion with her head and May glanced around behind them. When her eyes narrowed like Jess was sure hers had, she knew May saw it too.
Bitches.
No. No. Theyre friends.
Bitch friends.
Sabina leaned over. Who?
May leaned over Jess and whispered, Over at Smittys table.
Surprisingly discreet, Sabina looked and her eyes narrowed. She gave a little sneer. Those bitches.
Now Jess could only laugh. Could this get more ridiculous?
She knew it could when Phil leaned over his wife and asked, Whos a bitch?
Thankfully, they spoke English. Smittys Japanese was rusty at best. And the words he could clearly remember would only get his face slapped. Besides, they seemed less than interested in him. Their focus locked right on Mitch. And Mitch lapped up every bit of it like the greedy, never-satisfied cat that he was.
Bored and wondering how much longer this would last, Smitty stared at his empty beer bottle. Nonalcoholic beer. Christ, could getting laid be worth all this?
Hey.
Jessie stood at the edge of their table and he couldnt quite understand her expression.
Hey.
Soshe motioned to the stagewhat are you going to sing for me?
Sing? Panic, cold and desperate, swept through his system. Im not singing.
Why not?
I dont sing, Jessica Ann. Not after that school recital when he was nine. No. Never, ever, ever again.
Oh. Jessie shrugged. Okay, then.
She walked over to the table with her Packmates and grabbed her coat. She was leaving. Because he wouldnt sing?
Jessie, wait He looked for a way around the lovely woman sitting next to him and he finally picked her up and handed her over to Mitch, who seemed more than happy to take her.