The Mane Attraction
Page 4

Jess, who hadnt participatedthis timein the game of tug, sat down next to Mitch. She wore a satin robe and not much else.
How you doing, beautiful?
Fine. Glad that part is over.
He glanced at her flat belly and asked his daily question since finding out she was pregnant with Smittys love child, And hows Mitch Junior?
Jess shook her head. You have got to stop calling her that. Smitty will have your head.
But I love watching how red his face gets. He looked at the clock on the wall. You better get dressed. Theres still more to your day.
She rolled her eyes. From what Mitch could tell, Jess hadnt had much to do with arranging this wedding other than to insist on the Karaoke Room and no real flowers at the ceremony or the reception since she was violently allergic. From the flowers on the tables to the brides bouquet, all were fake flowers but so artfully done, he wouldnt have known if someone hadnt said something about it.
I havent seen the other dress. Put it on, and Ill see if I can give it the Mitch seal of approval.
Okay. She glanced longingly at the rope and the She-dogs still attached to it.
No, Jess. You cant play tug.
She gave a cute little growl before storming off. My day my ass!
I knew youd be back here. Hidin.
Sissy smiled up at her daddy. She wasnt surprised hed found her in the back of the kitchen, hiding in the room the staff used to take breaks. He knew his daughter better than most people realized. But theyd always been close. Youre one of the few who dont piss me off, Shug, he used to tell her when she was only five. Bubba Ray Smith was a unique good ol boy, but Sissy loved her father and would destroy anyone who messed with him.
Im not hiding. Im taking a much needed break. She stood and hugged her father. Hey, Daddy.
Hey, Shug. He always called her that when they were alone. It was his pet name for her. He started off calling her Sugar, but when shed turned four or so, hed gotten lazy and shortened it to Shug. How are you holding up?
Im trying, Daddy. I really am. But shes pushing me. Like always.
You gotta stop letting her get to you. Her father pulled out the chair for her, and Sissy sat down, her father in the chair next to hers. She pushes you because she wants you to be the best.
The best at what? Matricide?
That aint funny, and you know it.
It was kind of funny.
Youre grown now, Shug. You cant let her get to youanymore. Youve got your own Pack, and you dont even live at home anymore. Although Id never stop you from moving back if ya want. And she heard the hope in his voice. It broke her heart and made her feel very loved.
You know I cant come back, Daddy. Not to live. She smiled. But at least Im in the States now.
Yeah. Thats true. And here I know my little girls safe.
Yeah, her father still saw her that way. His baby girl. Sweet, delicate, his princess. Of course, everyone else knew better. And most women would be annoyed, wondering why their fathers didnt see them as adults who could manage their own lives. That wasnt her father, though. Sissy never felt like he thought less of her. Hed trusted her to handle most things when everyone else still treated her like a kid. So no matter where she went or how far away she was, she was Bubba Smiths baby girl, and she always would be. It didnt bother her because she didnt doubt herself as a woman or a She-wolf. You couldnt when you were Alpha. You couldnt afford to.
I was real worried youd stay over there in Asia, and then I didnt know what Id do without my baby girl.
Because God forbid the man would actually leave the country.
Whats outside of America thats all that interesting? hed grumble. The fact he was taking an actual vacation starting tomorrow still amazed her. Her mother must have had to work some major Lewis Mojo to make that happen.
Do your old man a favor, Shug, he said, taking her hand.
Anything, Daddy.
Dont get into it with your momma today. Promise me.
But
Promise me, Sissy Mae. Okay. Hed pulled out the full name. Not Shug or darlin girl or any of his other nicknames. So he was serious.
To Sissys surpriseand especially to her brothers surprisethis wedding meant a lot to Daddy, and she wouldnt ruin it for him. Shed simply avoid the heifer. Hell, shed been doing it since grade school, what was one more day?
I promise, Daddy.
He leaned in close and kissed her forehead. Thats my Shug.
Your tits will fall out.
Jess blinked big, brown dog eyes at him. What are you talking about? She looked down at the sleeveless ivory dress she had on. Her ceremony dress had cost a small fortune. This one, specifically for the reception, cost a lot less. Like a mini fortune.
Ive seen you dance, Jess. Your tits are going to fall out.
Jess took a step back and stretched her arms out. Nipple check.