The Mane Attraction
Page 16

So you and my boyuh She wiggled perfectly waxed eyebrows, and Sissy laughed harder.
God, no.
Now the lioness looked insulted. Why the hell not? Is my boy not good enough for you?
Miss ONeill
Roxy.
Roxy, trust me when I say that there are few Smiths who can accuse anyone of not being good enough for them. But were buddies. Friends.
Let me tell you something, baby-girl. My Mitchy
Mitchy?
I love him more than any woman can love her son. But me and his daddy, welllets just say that was more about obligation to the Pride than any great love affair. But my pretty little Gwenme and her daddy Then she purred. Seriously. Purred.
Lets just say Ive never gotten it like that before and not since. Gwenie is my love child. And thats what you want. Someone who makes you feel that way.
What happened with Gwens father? Sissy knew something must have happened because Roxy spoke of him in the past tense. And she had no idea how Mitch made her feel, and Sissy was okay with that. No use analyzing everything. That had never been her style.
Roxy shrugged shoulders that looked strong and powerful. Typical swamp cat and probably why Roxy didnt looked scared of anybody. Why would you be when youre built like a tank?
I screwed that up. He had obligations to his family in Hong Kong and I was too scared to leave my Pride or Philly. Gold eyes locked on her. You werent afraid to leave your Pack, though, huh? Mitch says youve been damn near everywhere.
Smithtown has too many Alphas and not enough territory.
Plus, you didnt want to have to take down your own mother so you could be in charge.
Like I could.
Oh, you could. And she knows it. Roxy moved a little closer. Take it from someone who does it to her own sisters, baby-girl. She does what she does to keep you off balance.
But Im not in Smithtown anymore.
But until you settle down, until you have a mate and your mate is some place other than Smithtown, shell always worry you might move back. For good. When you meet someone as strong as you, youve gotta find other ways to keep control.
She took another drag from her cigarette before carelessly tossing it. Sissys had already burned down, nearly singeing her fingers. So when you gonna tell her you dont want kids?
Sissy froze. Who says I dont want kids?
Look, when someone mentions having kids to someone who wants to have kids, you see all sorts of longing and shit in their eyes. Youknow what I saw in your eyes when your mother mentioned kids? Impatience.
Sissy laughed so hard she started coughing, and Roxy nodded her head. I thought so.
She patted Sissys knee and leaned in close, whispering, Just FYI, baby-girl, but Mitchy doesnt want kids either.
Stop. Sissy pushed Roxys granite shoulder with a chuckle. Please stop. And shouldnt you be trying to hook him up with a nice Pride female or a full-human? I thought most cats would rather see their cubs with a full-human than a canine.
I want my Mitchy to be happy, and he wont be happy in anyones Pride. And hes much too good natured to be around other cats. She took out another cigarette, her face getting serious. I worry about him, though. Hes not sleeping. Or eating enough. I can tell.
Its this upcoming trial and everything. And now theres the bounty on his head.
Legs crossed, eyes focused on the sky, Roxy pursed her lips. Hes had a bounty on his head. Thats why he came to New York, right? A few grand?
I think they raised it. Based on what I heard, its mighty.
How do you know this?
I was nosey and listened in to his conversation.
Roxy nodded approval. Good girl. What else did you hear?
Hes heading back to Philly on Monday.
And youre going to miss him.
Sissy answered honestly. Hes my best friend, Roxy. Next to Ronnie Lee. So of course Im gonna miss him.
I tried to talk him out of this, you know? Tried to convince him to keep his mouth shut and pretend he didnt see anything. Im from the neighborhood. I know what happens to snitches.
Hes not a snitch, Sissy snapped, automatically defending him. Hes a cop doing his job. And hes doing a good job. Putting his life at risk to take down scumbags like Petey OFarrell takes guts most of us dont have. Sissy took a breath to calm herself down. Youre his mother, and I respect that, she finished, but watch what you say. I dont want Mitch hurt because someones being careless.
That gold gaze watched Sissy for a long time, and when Roxy moved, Sissy braced herself, expecting to get punched. Instead, Roxy kissed her forehead. Almost on the same spot her father had. What was going on with everyone today? Was it the wedding? Did it affect people the way funerals did?
You are a darling, wonderful girl, and Im so glad youre Mitchsshe paused for a moment, but it said volumesfriend.