Wolf with Benefits
Page 38
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Jackie took her twin daughters out of Tonis arms. Im going to put these two to bed. She leaned in and kissed Tonis cheek. Im very proud of you, baby.
Thanks, Mom.
Jackie headed out of the room. Come on, Cherise. Ill show you how to manage these two and protect your hands.
Cherise followed. I was thinking falconers gloves.
Those are good. You also may want to look into chainmail gloves.
Standing behind Toni, Coop rested his head on her shoulder. Chainmail gloves?
It worked in the Middle Ages.
CHAPTER NINE
Toni walked into the kitchen the next morning and looked over her family seated at the big wooden table, eating their breakfast.
Anyone seen the dog?
Kyle dropped his fork onto his plate. You get this fancy job and now you dont even remember our names?
I dont mean you. Im talking about the actual dog. I should walk him since Im sure none of you will.
We have a dog now?
You all played with her last night.
Her family gazed at her. Even her mother . . . whod actually gotten the dog.
Wheres Dad? Toni asked, needing to speak to someone with actual sense, but they all pointed in random directions, which didnt really help her. Useless, she muttered. All of you . . . brilliant but useless.
But we are brilliant, Troy said, grinning. And isnt thats whats important?
No.
Toni walked out of the kitchen and down the hall. As she neared the front door, it opened and her father walked in with the dog on what was probably the little crap leash that came with her from the pound.
Shes nice, he said, pointing at the dog. Ill pick her up a real leash and collar this afternoon.
Thanks for walking her and not just putting her outside.
Of course. Besides, I think the kids should have a dog.
They should?
The more interaction they have with something other than
Their own ego?
Paul chuckled and kissed his daughters forehead. Good luck today.
Thanks, Daddy. She stepped back. How do I look?
Her father looked her over. Like you run a banking empire.
Toni glanced down at the suit shed borrowed from her mother. I can shop for something new this weekend.
You hate clothes shopping.
I know. She sighed.
Looking up at her father, Toni hopefully asked, Walk with me tothe subway?
No, he said simply, surprising her. Youll be fine on your own. Then he sort of shoved her out the door, briefly stopping to grab her backpack and shoving it into her arms. You have a good first day, baby. He winked and closed the door in her face.
Shockedher father loved to go walking with herToni turned to head down the steps and into her new life.
Mornin.
Toni stopped and stared. Ricky Reed sat on the stone handrail eating nuts. Almonds, it looked like.
Morning. What are you doing here?
You left me hanging.
Hanging? About what?
Whether you took the job or not.
Youre here at seven in the morning because you wanted to know if I took the job with the Carnivores?
Yep.
Youre a strange wolf.
Some might say.
Not sure where this conversation was going, Toni said, Look, I have to go.
Need some company?
Company?
Ricky slid off the handrail, tossed the rest of the almonds in his mouth, and gently took her arm. He moved down the rest of the stairs, and Toni was forced to walk with him.
Nervous? he asked.
I guess. Hard not to be.
Youll be fine.
Toni stopped on the street and the wolf stopped with her. What if Im not?
What if youre not what?
Fine. What if Im not fine? What if instead of fine, I just suck.
I watched you yesterday, Toni. You were made for this job.
Youre right. She nodded, desperate to believe him. Youre right. This is probably not as big of a deal as Im making it.
Right.
Ulrich is like my cousin. Hes family. This is probably just a cute title with some cash to make me feel better.
Well, I didnt say
Im sure this isnt ashe made air quotes real job. Right?
He shrugged. Okay.
Feeling better, understanding that this wasnt a real job, just something to keep her busy over the summer, Toni started off again toward the subway. When she and the wolf reached the corner, a limo cut in front of them. The drivers side door opened and the mountain lion from yesterday stepped out of the car.
Toni threw up her hands. Mr. Van Holtz, she snapped, already told you hed pay for your goddamn limo!
I know. This is it.
Thanks, Mom.
Jackie headed out of the room. Come on, Cherise. Ill show you how to manage these two and protect your hands.
Cherise followed. I was thinking falconers gloves.
Those are good. You also may want to look into chainmail gloves.
Standing behind Toni, Coop rested his head on her shoulder. Chainmail gloves?
It worked in the Middle Ages.
CHAPTER NINE
Toni walked into the kitchen the next morning and looked over her family seated at the big wooden table, eating their breakfast.
Anyone seen the dog?
Kyle dropped his fork onto his plate. You get this fancy job and now you dont even remember our names?
I dont mean you. Im talking about the actual dog. I should walk him since Im sure none of you will.
We have a dog now?
You all played with her last night.
Her family gazed at her. Even her mother . . . whod actually gotten the dog.
Wheres Dad? Toni asked, needing to speak to someone with actual sense, but they all pointed in random directions, which didnt really help her. Useless, she muttered. All of you . . . brilliant but useless.
But we are brilliant, Troy said, grinning. And isnt thats whats important?
No.
Toni walked out of the kitchen and down the hall. As she neared the front door, it opened and her father walked in with the dog on what was probably the little crap leash that came with her from the pound.
Shes nice, he said, pointing at the dog. Ill pick her up a real leash and collar this afternoon.
Thanks for walking her and not just putting her outside.
Of course. Besides, I think the kids should have a dog.
They should?
The more interaction they have with something other than
Their own ego?
Paul chuckled and kissed his daughters forehead. Good luck today.
Thanks, Daddy. She stepped back. How do I look?
Her father looked her over. Like you run a banking empire.
Toni glanced down at the suit shed borrowed from her mother. I can shop for something new this weekend.
You hate clothes shopping.
I know. She sighed.
Looking up at her father, Toni hopefully asked, Walk with me tothe subway?
No, he said simply, surprising her. Youll be fine on your own. Then he sort of shoved her out the door, briefly stopping to grab her backpack and shoving it into her arms. You have a good first day, baby. He winked and closed the door in her face.
Shockedher father loved to go walking with herToni turned to head down the steps and into her new life.
Mornin.
Toni stopped and stared. Ricky Reed sat on the stone handrail eating nuts. Almonds, it looked like.
Morning. What are you doing here?
You left me hanging.
Hanging? About what?
Whether you took the job or not.
Youre here at seven in the morning because you wanted to know if I took the job with the Carnivores?
Yep.
Youre a strange wolf.
Some might say.
Not sure where this conversation was going, Toni said, Look, I have to go.
Need some company?
Company?
Ricky slid off the handrail, tossed the rest of the almonds in his mouth, and gently took her arm. He moved down the rest of the stairs, and Toni was forced to walk with him.
Nervous? he asked.
I guess. Hard not to be.
Youll be fine.
Toni stopped on the street and the wolf stopped with her. What if Im not?
What if youre not what?
Fine. What if Im not fine? What if instead of fine, I just suck.
I watched you yesterday, Toni. You were made for this job.
Youre right. She nodded, desperate to believe him. Youre right. This is probably not as big of a deal as Im making it.
Right.
Ulrich is like my cousin. Hes family. This is probably just a cute title with some cash to make me feel better.
Well, I didnt say
Im sure this isnt ashe made air quotes real job. Right?
He shrugged. Okay.
Feeling better, understanding that this wasnt a real job, just something to keep her busy over the summer, Toni started off again toward the subway. When she and the wolf reached the corner, a limo cut in front of them. The drivers side door opened and the mountain lion from yesterday stepped out of the car.
Toni threw up her hands. Mr. Van Holtz, she snapped, already told you hed pay for your goddamn limo!
I know. This is it.
