Wolf with Benefits
Page 13

That woman is your best friend and of course she decided to stay here. How hard can it be to move your entire family of thirteen to Manhattan at the very last minute?
When you have money? Not hard at all. But why?
Because of Johnny DeSerio.
Is he a mobster?
Toni sighed. Aunt Irene, weve had this discussion. Not everyone who is Italian is a mobster
I know.
or on a Jersey-based reality TV show.
That Im still not sure about.
And hes that young violinist she met at one of her master classes last summer.
Oh, yes. I remember. Shes been going on about him for months now. Did she finally snag him?
Before I decide whether to be morally superior, Miki cut in, what are we talking about your mother wanting to do with this person? Have sex with him or just
No. Nope. Miki was not like Irene at all. She wants him as a student. Kind of like you and Irene. A mentor-mentee kind of thing.
Except Irene was my thesis adviser when I was going for my PhD. Are you talking about that?
No. But as an artist
Please. No. No as an artist discussions. Ive had them for two days now with your family. Im done.
Toni had to laugh. Over the years, shed learned to tune the as an artist discussions out. But those not used to it . . .
How hard can it be to entice this boy into your mothers tutelage? Irene demanded. Shes Jacqueline Jean-Louis, not some desperate wannabe who still dreams of having a music career.
I love how you manage to sound arrogant for other people. And I dont think the problem is the kid. Its his mother. Shes one of the Kuznetsov wild dog Pack and extremely protective of him. Word is she decked some teacher that tore into him after a competition. Her mate had to drag her off the guy. So Moms proceeding with caution.
Actually . . . that sounds like a solid plan.
Yeah. I thought so.
Holding his goddaughter on his lap, Ricky asked, Perhaps you can explain to me this obsession women have with talking things out? I mean, what is there to talk about?
You know how your sister is. She assumes youre still broken up over being dumped by Laura Jane.
I was eighteen. She was nineteen. And kind of a, he covered his goddaughters ears with his hands, whore.
Now, now. Thats my cousin, Ricky Lee. When Ricky just stared at him, Bobby shrugged. Who is kind of a whore.
Ricky dropped hishands. She was seeing at least two other guys when she was going out with me. At the time, it broke my heart . . . but also at the time, when my momma didnt make blueberry pancakes on Sunday mornings like she promised, that kind of broke my heart, too.
Not really a deep wolf, are ya, Ricky Lee?
Not if I can help it.
The worst part is that now Ive got to call your friend tomorrow, Aunt Irene, and tell him I cant take that job after all.
Irene frowned. My friend?
Mr. Weatherford. Who hired me to work in his office this summer.
Oh. Right. Irene dismissed that with a wave of her hand. I told him chances were extremely high you wouldnt take the job and he should have a ready backup because he would probably find out last minute.
Toni sat up straight. Wait. You knew Mom was going to stay here for the summer?
No. Not at all.
But then why
You always have to cancel your plans because of your family. Last summer it was because you went with Cooper and Cherise to Italy and then China for their concerts. The summer before that the entire family stayed in England because of Orianas scholarship with the Royal Ballet. And the summer before that
Okay. Okay.
You always take these jobs and you can never actually do themeven though you so clearly want tobecause of the loyalty you have to your family. She shrugged casually. When you think about it, youve given up your whole life for your family.
Isnt that why that idiot you were dating last year ended it? Miki asked. Because of your commitment to your family?
Toni gazed at the two women but didnt respond. It wasnt until Freddy put his hand on her knee and gazed up at her with those big brown eyes that Toni suddenly burst into tears.
Well, you can stay the night if ya like, Bobby Ray offered. Doubt theyll come looking for you here.
Why is that?
I tell Sissy that the Pack males hate staying here because the wild dogs get on their nerves.
But the wild dogs always have pie and brownies. And tons of action movies to watch. Why wouldnt we stay here?
Because if the She-wolves think yall hate it here, you might actually get some peace and quiet.
Then add in the fact the dogs never keep liquor around this place . . .
Bobby Ray grinned. Exactly.
Shes crying, Irene, Toni heard Miki say, panic in her voice. Shes crying!