Wolf with Benefits
Page 108

Contingency plans, however, were unnecessary once Dee-Ann Smith ambled down the hallway. To Tonis eternal surprise, Livy was right behind her. Surprise because Toni really thought Livy would have ditched her family by now. Not permanently or anything, Livy just wasnt for staying in one place for very long.
Of course the fact that she had stayed said the break-in was probably more serious than Ricky had let on. So, without letting anyone know what she was doing, Toni opened up her senses to everything around her while still managing to focus on the male idiocy going on right in front of her face.
Dee-Ann stopped about ten feet from the two unbelievably large hybrid males and, after studying them for a long moment, went for that bowie knife of hers that she always had tacked to the back of her jeans or strapped to her thigh. Shed just pulled it free from its sheath when, uhBlank? Was that her name?jumped in front of Dee-Ann.
You cant! Blank yelled. You just cant!
Thats when Livys eyes crossed and she walked past all of them and right between the two males. Compared to seven-four Bo Novikov and seven-foot-one Vic Barinov, Livy was like a mite on some wolfs fur. Yet, as always, she never let size stop her from doing whatever she needed to do.
She pushed her way between the two males and rammed her hands against their chests. Then she shoved, forcing both males back a step. Maybe even two steps.
Cut it the fuck out, she ordered, not even angry. Novikov. You were leaving.
Yeah. Im leaving. He stormed around Livy and Barinov and walked out. Blank stopped long enough to wave at everyone, then pointed at Cherise and Livy. See you gals tonight! she cheered.
Toni, unsure what that meant, waved at Bos fiance. Bye, Blank!
She stopped, spun around, and snapped, Its Blayne.
Right. Blayne. Sorry.
Shrugging, Toni closed the front door and faced Barinov. Tell me you at least knew Novikov.
That was Novikov? When everyone merely stared at him, he added, Im not really a hockey fan. I like football.
Sighing, realizing how exhausted she was, Toni asked, Youre not going to continue to hang around, are you?
Thats up to her, he said, pointing at Dee-Ann. She hired me.
Knowing there was no point in discussing this any further with Dee-Ann, Toni pushed past Barinov and caught the back of Cherises T-shirt before she could escape into another room.
Once she had her sister facing her, she asked, Why did Bland say see you tonight? Why are you involving yourself with Bland?
Cherise tried the evasive maneuver, which never worked on Toni. Ithink her name is Blayne.
I dont care.
Are you sure youre not just saying her name wrong because you dont like perky people?
I like my assistant. Shes perky. And dont try to distract me. What did she mean?
Cherise and I, Livy said from behind Toni, were asked to join the local derby team and we have a practice tonight. With Bland.
Toni rubbed her temples and finally asked the universe, Really?
They sat in the backyard at a long marble picnic table with matching benches. Cherise brought out coffee and freshly purchased muffins from the bakery down the street. Coop brought out a big pitcher of orange juice.
Once hed placed the pitcher in the middle of the table, Coop went to sit down by Toni, but before he could, the wolf sat down first. He straddled the bench so that he was facing Toni, his knees touching some part of her.
Unable to help himself, Coop glanced at Cherise and Livy.
To stop from giggling, Cherise desperately shoved a muffin into her mouth. An entire, giant muffin. But Livy, not well acquainted with the wolf and naturally distrusting, merely locked narrowed black eyes on the interloper.
Cherise began to choke on her muffin and Toni quickly poured her a glass of OJ while Coop patted his sisters back until she waved him off.
All right, Toni said to them once theyd gotten settled. Talk to me.
Cherise wiped her mouth and began. Im just going to play one bout. Just to see if I like it.
Coop saw his eldest sister gaze at Cherise. Toni was clearly exhausted. He saw it in her face, in her body. This wasnt just jet lag, either. Then again, she hadnt been on vacation. Shed been negotiating with bears in a foreign country.
Cherise, I dont care, Toni told their sister.
Cherises bottom lip jutted out a bit into a sad little pout. You dont care at all?
The wolf squinted at Coop, but he just shook his head. It was the way of his family, wasnt it?
Of course I care, Cherise, but you have to make that decision for yourself. I will suggest, Toni went on, unable to help herself, that you dont play a week to two weeks before your concerts. That way if you hurt your arms, wrists, or fingers during a game, youll have time to heal. Okay?
Cherise smiled. Okay.
Where are we at? Toni asked Livy.
I went to Ricky Lees brother Reece. Had him pull in your companys team, Ricky.
I would have done the same thing, Ricky said.
Hes been great. Jackie loves him.