When He Was Bad
Page 31
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Van grinned, feeling his heart squeezed from both sides by this incredibly odd woman. Hed fallen hard for her, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it except go along for the ride.
What about grades? one of them asked Irene.
Its more about potential.
She had the most adorable expression on her face. Like hed trapped her in a room with rabid chipmunks. He could tell she wouldnt be able to keep the nice thing going for much longer, so Van decided to give her a reprieve from hero worship.
He didnt have to do much, just stand up. The boys stopped speaking and stared at him in mute horror while he towered over them.
Its time to go, he stated simply, staring at the young men to make it clear that meant go away. They did, but only after shaking Irenes hand more times than seemed necessary.
You okay? he asked when theyd finally walked away.
Im exhausted and now Im starving.
Then lets get you fed. Oh. Wait. I got you this. He reached into one of the bags and pulled out a T-shirt hed picked up at a fun novelty shop a few doors down while shed handled her fans.
Irene opened the shirt and read the words out loud, I DOS, therefore I am.
I thought that sounded appropriately nerd-like. He grinned, but Irene had such a strange expression on her face he became worried hed made some sort of geek faux pas. Whats wrong? You dont like it?
Irene swallowed and shook her head. No. I . . . She took a deep breath. I love it. Thank you.
You sure? I can take it back.
She held the shirt to her chest like hed tried to rip it from her. I said I love it, she practically snarled. His mother had sounded like that once when she thought a hyena came a little too close to her pups. Back off, Van Holtz.
He lifted his hands up, palms showing. Okay. Okay. Calm down.
Im hungry, she said while keeping a tight grip on her shirt.
Now, Dr. Conridge, dont you think a proper thank-you is in order for my lovely gift?
She stared at him for a moment before glancing around the mall, her face turning red. Here?
He closed his eyes and forced himself not to laugh. Not that, doc. Thats for later. When were alone or we find a bathroom. A kiss will do.
Oh! Her face turned redder. Oh. She went up on her toes and kissed him on the lips. Thank you, she whispered. I really do love it.
Good. Now lets feed.
Van grabbed the shopping bags and tried to lead her off, but she stared behind him. What? he asked.
Um . . . She nodded to a spot over hisshoulder.
He turned around expecting to see some kind of trouble, but all he saw was the shocked and very red face of Farica Bader. Oh. See ya, Farica. Tell your mom I said hi.
Van took Irenes hand and headed off to a restaurant he thought she might like. Of course, the fact that the woman mostly ate peanut butter and crackers suggested she wouldnt be too finicky about her meal.
Irene didnt know what shocked her more. The gift Van Holtz gave herthe most thoughtful gift shed ever received from a man . . . any man? Or the way he ignored long-legged, man-eater Farica Bader? Hard to decide, since both were so exceptionally amazing.
Van Holtz took her to a restaurant inside the mall and they were quickly seated by a window. Lovely, more mall visuals.
You know Farica Bader isnt going to be happy that you dismissed her so easily.
He glanced up from the menu. Who?
Farica Bader. You were just talking to her two seconds ago.
Oh. Her. Yeah. Shell get over it, Im sure.
Irene stared at the lemonade put in front of her by the waiter. She seems to like you.
She likes the Van Holtz name more. The Baders are a small Pack. Theyd love to be connected to us so they wouldnt have to lose any more territory to the Magnus or Smith Packs. Now what are you thinking about getting to eat?
Irene realized she still had her wonderful T-shirt gripped in her hands, so she made herself put it down on the seat beside her. Then she worried shed forget it, so she laid it on top of her leg, folding half of it under her thigh.
What are you doing?
Her head snapped up. Nothing. I was thinking burger, she spit out in a rush.
A burger works. But dont eat too much. Im cooking us dinner tonight.
Van Holtz, you dont have to
Why dont you call me Van like everybody else?
You want me to call you of?
Van Holtz blinked. What?
Van is Dutch for of. So youre asking me to call you of, which I have issues with. Although Holtz means timber or wood. So your name, literally translated, is of wood. She covered her mouth when she suddenly giggled, shocking them both. Sorry. She coughed to stop the laughter. Just, after last night, I find that name quite fitting.
You know, Irene, youre the only person I know who can insult me and praise me all at the same time.
Its a teacher thing. Her hand automatically reached for her T-shirt, stroking it lightly with her fingertips. How about I call you Holtz? Id much rather call you wood than of.
What about grades? one of them asked Irene.
Its more about potential.
She had the most adorable expression on her face. Like hed trapped her in a room with rabid chipmunks. He could tell she wouldnt be able to keep the nice thing going for much longer, so Van decided to give her a reprieve from hero worship.
He didnt have to do much, just stand up. The boys stopped speaking and stared at him in mute horror while he towered over them.
Its time to go, he stated simply, staring at the young men to make it clear that meant go away. They did, but only after shaking Irenes hand more times than seemed necessary.
You okay? he asked when theyd finally walked away.
Im exhausted and now Im starving.
Then lets get you fed. Oh. Wait. I got you this. He reached into one of the bags and pulled out a T-shirt hed picked up at a fun novelty shop a few doors down while shed handled her fans.
Irene opened the shirt and read the words out loud, I DOS, therefore I am.
I thought that sounded appropriately nerd-like. He grinned, but Irene had such a strange expression on her face he became worried hed made some sort of geek faux pas. Whats wrong? You dont like it?
Irene swallowed and shook her head. No. I . . . She took a deep breath. I love it. Thank you.
You sure? I can take it back.
She held the shirt to her chest like hed tried to rip it from her. I said I love it, she practically snarled. His mother had sounded like that once when she thought a hyena came a little too close to her pups. Back off, Van Holtz.
He lifted his hands up, palms showing. Okay. Okay. Calm down.
Im hungry, she said while keeping a tight grip on her shirt.
Now, Dr. Conridge, dont you think a proper thank-you is in order for my lovely gift?
She stared at him for a moment before glancing around the mall, her face turning red. Here?
He closed his eyes and forced himself not to laugh. Not that, doc. Thats for later. When were alone or we find a bathroom. A kiss will do.
Oh! Her face turned redder. Oh. She went up on her toes and kissed him on the lips. Thank you, she whispered. I really do love it.
Good. Now lets feed.
Van grabbed the shopping bags and tried to lead her off, but she stared behind him. What? he asked.
Um . . . She nodded to a spot over hisshoulder.
He turned around expecting to see some kind of trouble, but all he saw was the shocked and very red face of Farica Bader. Oh. See ya, Farica. Tell your mom I said hi.
Van took Irenes hand and headed off to a restaurant he thought she might like. Of course, the fact that the woman mostly ate peanut butter and crackers suggested she wouldnt be too finicky about her meal.
Irene didnt know what shocked her more. The gift Van Holtz gave herthe most thoughtful gift shed ever received from a man . . . any man? Or the way he ignored long-legged, man-eater Farica Bader? Hard to decide, since both were so exceptionally amazing.
Van Holtz took her to a restaurant inside the mall and they were quickly seated by a window. Lovely, more mall visuals.
You know Farica Bader isnt going to be happy that you dismissed her so easily.
He glanced up from the menu. Who?
Farica Bader. You were just talking to her two seconds ago.
Oh. Her. Yeah. Shell get over it, Im sure.
Irene stared at the lemonade put in front of her by the waiter. She seems to like you.
She likes the Van Holtz name more. The Baders are a small Pack. Theyd love to be connected to us so they wouldnt have to lose any more territory to the Magnus or Smith Packs. Now what are you thinking about getting to eat?
Irene realized she still had her wonderful T-shirt gripped in her hands, so she made herself put it down on the seat beside her. Then she worried shed forget it, so she laid it on top of her leg, folding half of it under her thigh.
What are you doing?
Her head snapped up. Nothing. I was thinking burger, she spit out in a rush.
A burger works. But dont eat too much. Im cooking us dinner tonight.
Van Holtz, you dont have to
Why dont you call me Van like everybody else?
You want me to call you of?
Van Holtz blinked. What?
Van is Dutch for of. So youre asking me to call you of, which I have issues with. Although Holtz means timber or wood. So your name, literally translated, is of wood. She covered her mouth when she suddenly giggled, shocking them both. Sorry. She coughed to stop the laughter. Just, after last night, I find that name quite fitting.
You know, Irene, youre the only person I know who can insult me and praise me all at the same time.
Its a teacher thing. Her hand automatically reached for her T-shirt, stroking it lightly with her fingertips. How about I call you Holtz? Id much rather call you wood than of.
