Wolf with Benefits (35 page)

R
icky led Toni and Vic Barinov down the hallway to his hotel room. “A quick shower and change of clothes and we can head over to the Sports Center.”

“Or I can just go by myself and meet you two there lat—”

“No,” both men said.

Ricky opened his door and walked in, holding it open for Toni and Barinov.

“Until we find out why someone broke into your house,” he told her, “you might as well get used to both of us tailing you around.”

“I don’t need protection. My siblings do.”

“And they have it.”

Toni faced him. She’d been a little short with him since he’d told her he might, possibly, just be getting kind of serious. Whew. It was a real good thing he hadn’t told her he was definitely serious about her. She would have really been pissed then.

“Look, I don’t know these people watching my brothers and sisters. I don’t know what kind of job they do, if they’re the right fit for the particular sibling they’ve been placed with—”

“The right fit? They’re bodyguards.”

“I found that lion male crying.”

Ricky cringed, but Vic said, “It’s not his fault.” He shook his head. “It was those weird little twin girls.”

Toni glared. “Those weird little twin girls are my sisters.”

“Well, their Russian is excellent, but using it to convince that lion they are speaking in tongues and the End of Days are upon us does seem cruel.”

Toni rubbed her forehead. “I’ll talk to them and tell Kyle
not
to keep showing them
The Omen
!”

Ricky threw his bag aside before asking, “The original or the remake?”

“The original,” she replied, walking around his couch and dropping back onto it. “The remake just didn’t work for me. Although my favorite Gregory Peck movie will always be
Boys from Brazil
.”

“I never saw that movie,” Ricky said as he wondered why Vic kept silently motioning to the other bedroom in Ricky’s two-bedroom suite.

Toni gasped. “Seriously?”

Vic made an hourglass motion with his hands, and Ricky realized that the hybrid was telling him there was a woman in his other bedroom. He immediately thought of Laura Jane and began quickly moving toward the room so he could get her out. Now.

“It’s such a great movie,” Toni went on. “You’ve gotta see it.”

Ricky was only a few feet from the bedroom when a voice from inside said, “It
is
a good movie.”

Ricky stopped, froze really, and stepped back. “Momma?”

 

Toni stood as the She-wolf walked out of the bedroom. She was tall, powerfully built just like her son with a face that would be pretty if she smiled more. Something told Toni this woman didn’t bother to smile. The question was why. Was she miserable for a reason? Or did she just like being miserable? Toni wasn’t quite sure . . . yet.

“Momma, what are you doing here?” Ricky asked her.

“Can’t a mother come to see her son?” She looked Ricky Lee over. “Especially when he’s busy having tiny hybrids beat up his ex-girlfriend.”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me, boy. I saw that girl’s face. Now, I don’t like Laura Jane and never did, but having some other girl slap her around—”

“Momma, I did no such thing. I haven’t even been here.”

She grunted and that’s when her gaze locked on Toni. “And who’s this?” she asked, motioning to Toni with a sweep of her hand. “Is this that tiny hybrid?”

“I’m not a hybrid,” Toni replied. “I’m a jackal.”

“The devil’s pet.”

“Momma,”
Ricky glanced at Toni. “This is Antonella Jean-Louis Parker.”

“Toni for short.” Toni came forward and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reed.”

“It’s
Miss
Evans, Miss Tala Evans. I’m a wolf, why the holy heck would I bother gettin’ married?” She walked past Toni without shaking her hand. “And why is Laura Jane’s momma calling me and telling me that my son is lashing out at her idiot child?”

“Because Laura Jane is a crazy liar.”

“I thought we agreed on narcissist,” Toni reminded him, but when Ricky’s mother stared at Toni, she added, “You know, it’s all about her?”

“So were you the one who beat up Laura Jane?”

“Me? Fighting She-wolves?” Toni shook her head. “No, ma’am. I like my face just as it is. Attached to my skull.”

“Momma, I’ve been in Russia. I’ve seen Laura Jane once since she’s been in town. I’ve been busy with other things.”

The She-wolf eyed Toni. “Have you now?” She abruptly faced her son. “You know, I’m not really surprised that Laura Jane is playing these games. That’s what the little bitch does. Just like her momma, that one. But what really surprised me, Ricky Lee Reed, was how defensive your brother got when I mentioned it to him.”

“Rory?” Ricky Lee shrugged. “You know how he is.”

“Not Rory. Rory doesn’t even know I’m here yet.” She glanced at Toni. “I think sometimes I make my oldest boy a little tense.”

“
Reece
defended me?”

“He called that little gal all sorts of things that I thought I taught him better about. But he was adamant. Not only that you had nothing to do with it, but he said it was some dark-haired little photographer that just didn’t like the look of Laura Jane’s face. Not that I blame her.”

Ricky briefly closed his eyes, but Toni outright laughed.

“Something I’m missing?” Miss Tala asked.

“It’s nothing, Momma.”

“And what were you doing in Russia?”

“Protecting me.” Toni sat on the couch. “From bears. And now, since I apparently can’t take care of myself at all, he’s going to follow me to my day job, too.”

The She-wolf looked right at Toni. Locked on her. “Is that right?”

“Uh-huh. I’m just waiting for him to shower and change clothes so we can go.” Toni tapped the watch on her wrist. “Which . . . if you don’t mind.”

“Well . . .” Ricky glanced back and forth between Toni and his mother. He clearly didn’t want to leave them alone.

Which was probably why the She-wolf smiled and motioned her son away. “You go on, Ricky Lee. I can keep your pretty little jackal company until you get back.”

“Yeah, but—”

“I said,” his mother low-growled, “go on.”

“I’ll be
right
back.” Ricky, with an apologetic look at Toni, rushed into his bedroom.

The She-wolf sat at the other end of the couch. She grinned and they both looked over at Barinov. The hybrid looked from one woman to the other, pointed at the door, and said, “Why don’t I . . . protect the hallway.”

Once he bolted for freedom, Toni turned back to Ricky Lee’s mother. She studied the older woman and finished sizing her up.

“You know, Miss Tala, I’m so sorry you had to come out here for this.”

“Are you?”

“Of course! To have to travel all the way here because you’re hearing bad things about your son? Things that aren’t true. He was definitely in Russia with me. We just got back yesterday morning and he was at my parents’ rental home until today. I’m so sorry someone is involving you in some ridiculous vendetta.” Toni leaned in, made sure her face looked appropriately concerned. “Would you like some tea? Or, even better, let’s get room service. I bet an iced tea and some scones would be perfect for such a hot summer day.”

“You sure are friendly.”

“I have to be,” Toni admitted. “It’s my job to protect all my siblings. And do you think they appreciate it? No. They treat me like a nanny. Like they hired me for the job.”

“Well, how many siblings do you have?”

“Ten.”

“Good Lord.”

“Exactly. And . . . they’re
all
prodigies.”

“Prodigies? Do you mean—”

“Geniuses. A scientist, a mathematician, several artists, a future prima ballerina. All of them prodigies. All except me.”

“I’m sure you have some talent you can be proud of.”

“I did just get back from negotiating with honey-loving Russian bears.”

“That’s impressive. I hear Russians are tough negotiators.”

“It was over a hockey game.”

“Oh.” They stayed silent for a moment until the She-wolf patted Toni’s knee. “Why don’t we order that room service, darlin’? Seems like you could use some sweet tea and scones more than I could.”

 

Ricky knew he hadn’t been in his room that long. He’d showered, shaved, and changed clothes as quickly as possible. But when he came out, he found his mother and Toni . . . eating scones?

And no Vic! Damn feline-bear hybrids were not to be trusted!

“Everything all right out here?” he asked, easing up to the pair.

“Yes.” Toni held up the plate of scones. “Would you like one?”

“Sure.” Ricky took a blueberry pastry while he kept his eyes on both women. “Guess we better get you to work, Toni.”

“Yeah.” Toni blew out a breath.

“What’s wrong, darlin’?” his mother asked, shocking Ricky with the concern he heard in her voice.

“I haven’t talked to anybody. I mean I e-mailed all the details about the deal to the team’s coach but . . . she’s hard to read. I think I annoy her.”

“What is she?”

“Tiger.”

Tala Lee Evans clicked her tongue against her teeth. Her typical sound of disgust.

“Momma,” Ricky warned.

“You know how I feel about those felines, Ricky Lee. Not to be trusted,” she told Toni. “But you don’t let some cat get you down. You walk in there with your head held high and tell her exactly how well you did for them. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” She stood and motioned them both toward the door. “Now y’all go on. And I’ll see you tonight at your parents’ place, Antonella.”

Ricky froze. “What?”

“Yes. I already texted my mom.” Toni grinned. “I’m dying to know what she’ll order in for dinner.”

Then the two females laughed while Tala Lee led them to the door. “Have a good day, you two. And Ricky Lee . . . ?”

Now in the hallway, Ricky faced his mother, his mouth slightly open because he was so confused. “Don’t you worry about Laura Jane anymore. I’ll handle her.”

“Wait, Momma—”

“Go on now. I’ll see you tonight.” She blew a kiss and closed the door in Ricky’s face.

Slowly, he faced Toni. She looked up at him, smiled.

That’s when he picked her up and dropped her onto his shoulder and carried her down the hallway to the elevator. The treacherous feline-bear followed behind them.

Once on the elevator, Ricky put Toni back on her feet and demanded, “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.”

“That was not my mother. My mother is an untrusting, fairly miserable She-wolf whose only friend is the scary Alpha Female of the Tennessee Smith Pack. The woman who just shooed us away is not that.”

“Well—”

“And what did she mean about coming over to your parents’ house tonight? Why is my momma coming over to your parents’ house?”

“Don’t yell at me.”

“This is not yelling. This is panicked loud talking!”

“Yeah.” Vic decided to chime in. “His yelling’s not usually this high-pitched.”

“Shut up, unhelpful!” Ricky shot back.

“Why would you be panicking? I like your mother.”

Ricky couldn’t help asking, “Why?”

Toni rolled her eyes and stepped out of the elevator now that the doors had opened on the main floor. “That is a ridiculous question.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It is. Your mother is perfectly fine and considering she successfully raised four children says a lot about her.”

“She had my daddy and an entire Pack behind that.”

“You don’t give her enough credit.”

“Look, I love my momma, but I have no delusions about her. And I like your parents. They are wonderful, good-natured people, and I really don’t think we should force them to spend time with my mother.”

Toni stopped and spun around to face Ricky. “Why don’t you admit, you just don’t want your mother spending time with my jackal parents?”

“Because that’s not true. I don’t want your jackal parents spending time with my mother.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Huge difference. It’s just like I don’t want your parents hanging around Reece.”

Toni shrugged. “Well, that I completely understand.”

 

Toni stepped off the elevator in the Sports Center and headed toward the team offices. Behind her were Ricky and Barinov. It seemed they really were going to follow her around all day.

As Toni walked, she caught sight of Cella heading toward the practice rink. She picked up her step, wanting to catch up with the feline but not look like she was running.

“Hi, Cella.”

Busy reading a newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee, Cella glanced back at her. “Oh. Toni. Hey. How’s it going, hon?”

“Good. Did you get all the deal particulars I e-mailed you?”

“Yeah. Yeah,” she said, still reading that paper. “The deal looks pretty good.”

“
Pretty
good?” Ricky asked, but Toni waved her hand at him to put a lid on it. So maybe she hadn’t impressed Cella Malone. Felines were notoriously hard to impress, but that didn’t mean Toni needed Ricky Lee to push the issue for her.

“Yeah. Like I said. Pretty good. Uh . . . nice job.”

Well, even Toni would have to admit that Cella didn’t sound like she meant that last part.

“I have something else for you to do,” Cella went on.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. A few things I need you to organize in my office.”

“Organize?”

“Yeah.” Cella stopped outside the practice rink doors. “You said you’d help out with my workload, right?”