Here Kitty, Kitty!

Chapter Seven

Nik took the snifter of brandy Ban handed him and crashed down on his couch. Ban joined him and Alek, and the three men dropped their big feet on Nik’s fifteen thousand dollar coffee table. Cut from a solid piece of wood, Nik bought it because he liked it. Yet he always knew that any furniture he brought into his home had to be sturdy enough to withstand the abuse of his entire family. Like most cats, they enjoyed being comfortable.

Alek glanced at his watch. “It’s seven-o-five. Where are they?”

“What is your thing with time?”

“I don’t like to be late, is all.”

Ban glanced at Nik. “Kind of uptight, ain’t he?”

“Shut up, Ban.”

Nik shook his head as he sipped his brandy. He hadn’t seen her all day. She’d been holed up in her room with his sisters for hours and, to his growing horror, he realized he’d begun to miss her. But that was her fault. Sitting out by his pool, wearing those damn shorts, and looking like she truly belonged in his home—more than any woman had a right. Without meaning to, he swallowed his brandy with one gulp.

Physical. There was nothing more to this than physical. Angie Santiago was one hot piece of ass and all he wanted was to find out if her legs would look any better resting on his shoulders.

The study door opened and Reena swept in. She twirled once in the extremely tiny mini-dress she wore, then looked at her cousins. “Well?”

“Dang, girl,” Ban offered. “You clean up nice.”

“What does that mean?”

Nik punched his brother in the head. “He means you look nice.”

“Well say that, then. Can’t believe no woman’s killed you yet.” She glanced back at the partially opened door. “Kisa’s coming. Now say somethin’ nice,” she whispered fiercely.

Reena stepped back from the door as Kisa stepped in. He’d never seen his sister so elegant before in a full-length gown that swept the floor as she moved. “Aw, darlin’,” Nik said with utter pride. “Look at you.”

“Do I look okay?” Kisa unnecessarily smoothed the dress down in front. “I feel kinda silly.”

Nik stood up. “You look amazin’. Both of you do.”

The two women smiled in delight and the five of them stared at each other. For the first time in a long time, they weren’t yelling, mocking, or fighting each other. Just a nice, quiet, adult moment between relaxed shapeshifters.

“Well,” Angie strutted into the room, “let’s go people. It’s time to get this party started.”

“Now, sugar, I—” Nik stopped. Stopped and stared. How could he not? She wore her long hair swept up off her shoulders, curly tendrils teasingly touching her shoulders and neck. The dress, an expensive number he remembered rolling his eyes at when informed of the price, slid over her curves like someone designed it specifically for her delicious frame. Yup. Definitely the best fifteen hundred dollars he’d ever spent.

She walked over to him. Already a good five-ten, she still had the nerve to wear four-inch heels. He liked that. Her cool fingers brushed against his jaw. Gently, she closed his mouth. “Catching flies, sugar?”

They stared at each other, everyone silent until Reena cleared her throat. “Um…why don’t we wait out in the car for you.”

Reena grabbed Ban’s arm, yanking him out of the room. A firm hand in his back by Kisa, propelled Aleksei out the door as well.

Angie smiled. “Get that look off your face, hillbilly.”

“What look?”

“The one that says I’m suddenly Ned Beatty in Deliverance.” She took a step back. “And the food at this thing better be good. I’m starving. The cheese and crackers wore off.”

She effortlessly turned on those impossible heels and Nik almost dropped to his knees. The dress, completely backless, revealed her tattoo. A Celtic-Mayan design radiating power and protection magick that clearly showed a cat. A big one. His claws tearing across her flesh. The artist even added some red to show blood. One of the nicest pieces Nik had seen in a very long time, but on her…

Add in the way her hips moved, and he was seconds from coming in his pants like a thirteen-year-old.

“Well, come on, hillbilly. I don’t have all goddamn night.”

Of course, she really had to stop calling him hillbilly.

Angie leaned against the bar. Her eyes on her lemon martini, but her ears completely tuned to the older couple next to her. In their mid-fifties, they’d been arguing since they came up to the bar.

She felt bad for the man. The woman wasn’t giving him an inch. In a way, she reminded Angie of Miki. Blunt, brutal, and to the point.

“Go away,” the woman hissed again.

“Why? You know we look wonderful together.”

“We do not…” The woman took a breath. She towered over the man, her black hair streaked with grey, white, and red swept up off her shoulders and held by a platinum hair clip. “Stay away from me or I’ll make you regret that no one’s killed you yet.”

She turned to walk away and he slapped her on the ass. The tigress—and really what else could you call this particular female?—stopped, growled, then stomped off.

“She hates when I do that.”

Angie didn’t answer him, since she really wasn’t supposed to be listening.

“I know you’re listening.”

Damn. She glanced at him. “Sorry.”

He shook his head and moved closer to her. “Not a problem. We’re quite a fascinatin’ pair.”

Angie realized if she took off her shoes, they’d be the same height. Compared to all the men in the room, he was damn-near tiny.

He motioned to the bartender for another scotch. “You ain’t from around here.”

“And what gave that away?”

“That accent of yours.”

She blinked. Being the darkest one in the room, she simply assumed that would be his problem.

“Texas.”

“Good. I’d hate to think anybody brought a Yankee to my party.” Angie laughed and he returned her smile. “Damn, girl. That is the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen…next to hers, of course.”

She glanced at the woman he seemed completely lost to. “She doesn’t seem too interested.”

“She’s a stubborn woman. Won’t just admit she loves me. Always has.”

“I have a friend like that.”

“So what’s your name, darlin’?”

“Angelina.”

“That’s a gorgeous name. I’m Boris.”

“Boris, huh? That’s a very Russian name.” They shook hands. “Have you even been to Russia?”

“What for? It gets really cold there. Besides, I’m an American, darlin’. Born and bred. Just like my daddy and my granddaddy before him. Everything I need is right here in the U-S-of-A.”

He stood right next to her now, but not close enough to have her backing away. Good. He understood personal space. That seemed to be a problem the hillbilly hadn’t quite grasped yet.

“So, this is your party?”

“Yup. It’s the only way I can get money out of these rich snots.”

“Money for what?”

“Poor families from where I used to live. Up in the holler, not far from here.”

Dear God, I’m near a “holler”.

“You haven’t always had money?”

“Oh, heck no. Lived up in the holler until I turned seventeen. Then my daddy made me join the army.”

Based on his age now that meant only one thing. “Vietnam?”

“Yup. Worst nightmare of my life, too. But it made me a man. When I got back, I put myself through school and got into computers real early on.”

“And now you’re here.”

“Now I’m here.”

“I like that story, Boris. That’s a good story.”

He took a sip of his scotch. “So what exactly is a full-human doing here anyhow?”

“Got kidnapped by hillbillies.”

“Did ya now?”

“Yup. It’s a long sordid tale I’m not sure I’m in the mood to discuss right now.”

“You don’t need me to rescue you or nothing, do ya?”

Angie smiled and shook her head. “No. I can handle them fine.”

“Which ones are they?”

Angie glanced over her shoulder and nodded in Nik’s direction. He stood with his two brothers, a throng of gorgeous women surrounding them. Not that she blamed the females. All three men were gorgeous, but Nik outshone them all. He must have personal contacts with all the great designers. She didn’t know Armani, Gucci, and all the rest made clothes big enough to fit a man his size. And fit him they did. He didn’t wear a tux like some of the other males. Instead he wore black shoes, black slacks, and a black silk Tee. He threw a black leather mid-length jacket on over that and, if she were the drooling kind…

“Them.”

“Ah. I see.” Boris’s face suddenly went stern. “They are bein’ nice to you?”

“They bring me elk and deer.”

His big grin returned. He had to be the happiest man she’d ever met. “The woo-in’! They must like you.”

“So it would seem.”

“Not that I blame ’em. You’re a charmin’ girl.”

“As are you.”

“Yes, I am a charming girl.”

Angie snorted and went back to her martini. She liked this hick. He made her laugh.

“So, you interested in any of ’em?” Boris asked lightly.

“No.”

“Why not? Is it ’cause you think they’re hillbillies?”

“They are hillbillies. And I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why are you women so difficult?”

“We’re not difficult. We just don’t take shit anymore.”

Boris looked at the current object of his lust. “She sure don’t. That’s one of the things I love about her. She’d rip your throat out as soon as look at ya.”

“That’s lovely, Boris. You should have that printed on a greeting card.”

She felt Nik behind her even before she saw his big hands brace against the bar on either side of her body. Why the hell did he insist on doing that?

“Back off, country.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not touchin’ ya.”

“No. But you’re invading my personal space.”

“Of course I am. It’s as big as Montana, so I really don’t have room to go anywhere else.”

She glared at him over her shoulder, but he was staring at Boris. The two men watched each other for several long seconds.

“What did you do,” Nik finally demanded.

Angie immediately jumped to Boris’ defense. “Hey, hey, hey! He didn’t do anything.” She turned in the circle of his arms, careful not to touch him. “He was being a perfect gentleman. So back the fuck off.”

“I’m not talkin’ about you.” He raised an eyebrow at Boris. “I mean what did you do to Momma?”

Boris shrugged. “Nothin’ I haven’t done a thousand times before.”

Nik glared and spit between gritted teeth, “You’re disgusting.”

Boris became deadly serious. “I’m also your father. So watch how you talk to me, boy.”

Angie ducked under Nik’s arms and stepped between the two men. She put her hand on Boris’s chest. “Calm down.”

“Sometimes my boy forgets his place.”

“My place?”

Oh, man. This was getting bad. She never argued with her parents. There had never been a point. Of course, that also meant when they left again, she’d find someone to physically harm. Usually at the playground or the local diner.

But she was having a wonderful time so far and didn’t want it ruined by Nik’s bullshit.

With one hand on Boris’s chest and one on Nik’s, she stood between the two men. “Gentlemen. The last thing you want to do is piss me the fuck off. So why doesn’t everybody settle the fuck down. And try and enjoy this goddamn evening.”

Father and son looked at Angelina, then back at each other.

“Now, how can we turn down an offer like that.” Boris laughed. He took her hand from off his chest and kissed the back of it. “You know, Miss Angie, I would love for you to sit with me at dinner tonight.”

She grinned. “I’d love to.”

Her hand still on Nik’s chest, she felt that growl long before she heard it. She stepped away, not even bothering to look at him. The dinner announcement rang out over the room and everyone slowly made their way into the main ballroom where all the tables had been set up.

Angie took Boris’s offered arm. “You know, Boris, it’s such a pleasure to finally be around a gentleman.”

“Why, thank ya kindly ma’am.”

She didn’t even have to look back to know Nik still stood where she left him…glaring.

“Is that the girl your brothers stole?”

Nik nodded. He couldn’t believe his father had made him jealous. He knew there was no reason to be jealous. The man still loved Nik’s mother. Always had, to hear him tell it.

“Yes’m.”

“She’s a pretty little thing.” His mother, still so beautiful and reeking of class and old money, stepped in front of her son and straightened the collar of his jacket. “And probably not good enough for one of my sons.”

“It doesn’t matter one way or another if she is, Momma.”

“Oh? Are you trying to tell me you’re not interested?”

“I’m not interested.”

She sighed as she took her son’s offered arm. “I’ll never understand, son, why you insist on taking after me.”

“Well, mostly because you try not to embarrass the family.”

Boris pulled out a chair for Angie. “Sit, darlin’.”

“Thank you.” Boris sat down next to her and the pair smiled at each other.

“You know,” Angie delicately chastised, “you should have told me he was your son.”

“Now where would the fun be in that?” Boris leaned into her, but she still didn’t feel remotely threatened by his presence. “Now tell me true, darlin’. You ain’t got no man waitin’ for you back in Texas, do ya? Some cowboy with your name tattooed across his chest?”

Angie chuckled. “No. I don’t.”

“Good.”

“I thought Nik’s mom was your lady-love.”

“Oh, she is, darlin’. But I ain’t thinkin’ about me.”

Nik walked up to the table, pulling out chairs for his mother and sister. He looked up to find Angie and Boris staring at him. “What?” he asked in confusion.

Angie couldn’t help it. She began giggling, Boris joining her.

The dinner was another Boris Vorislav success and one of the few events one could find an enormous group of tigers at together. Nik spent the majority of the evening chatting with his mother and aunts, ducking the advances of some of the females, and avoiding some of the more aggressive males since he’d rather not kill someone at one of his father’s parties. Especially an important fundraiser like this.

He also spent a good portion of his evening making sure none of the males got too frisky with either his sister or his cousin. Their sudden transformation seemed to have gotten them a lot of male interest. He didn’t worry about Reena. She could handle anything and already had two cubs from two different males. But Kisa…well, he did worry about her. Of the entire family, she remained the best hunter among them. But only when tiger. As human her shyness became painful to watch. And he’d be damned if he’d let some overbearing prick push his baby sister around. But when he wasn’t worrying about that, he spent the rest of his time keeping his eyes on Angelina. To his great annoyance, the woman got along with his father like they were old friends. She also had the attention of almost every male in the room. Every time she got up to go to the bathroom or stretch her legs, every male eye focused on her.

He didn’t like it. Not one bit. And it bothered him that he didn’t like it.

His father finally walked away from her, leaving her alone at the huge table, and made his way over to his son.

“Boy,” he barked in way of greeting.

“Daddy.”

“This turned out well, don’t ya think?”

Nik shrugged. “Sure. But it won’t change a damn thing. They still don’t think we’re good enough.” And Nik blamed his father’s wolf-like-mating tendencies more than his past poverty.

Fierce gold eyes locked with his own. “They’re right. We’re not. We’re better. And don’t you forget it.”

Nik nodded. “Yes, sir.” He wasn’t about to start another fight with the old man. He did still respect him. His father was the toughest man he’d ever known. A door gunner in the war, those men had the shortest life expectancy. Yet his daddy survived to tell the tale. Put himself through school, made his own business, and was one of the wealthiest tigers on the East Coast. At the same time Boris never forgot where he came from. And he refused to be ashamed. God forbid his children ever were.

The man’s only weakness—Nik’s mother, Natalia. They’d been playing their game for at least thirty-five years and never seemed to tire of it. Personally, Nik didn’t like games. A person said what they felt and meant it. As soon as he thought a woman was trying to bullshit or manipulate him, he bailed.

“Now, listen up. All three of ya.” His brothers moved to stand beside him at his father’s order. “I want you to keep that little lady safe.”

“Excuse me?” Nik growled.

“You heard me. She’s a lovely little thing, and I don’t want you gettin’ lazy.”

Nik growled again. Why his daddy insisted on pissing him the hell off, he would never know. Especially when he was trying so hard not to rip the old bastard’s throat out.

“Daddy, that’s not fair,” Ban cut in. “Nik’s takin’ great care of her.”

“And maybe you should mind your own business,” Alek added.

“This family and everything that happens in it, is my business.”

“What’s going on?” Nik’s mother stepped in front of her sons. As if they were still cubs, she continued to protect them.

Boris’s eyes dragged down Natalia’s body like he was checking out a stripper and not facing off against the mother of his children. What a horn dog!

“Just talkin’ to our boys, darlin’. Is there a problem with that? Somethin’ we should straighten out in private?” He wiggled his eyebrows and she snarled in annoyance.

“I hate you.”

Before his parents could really get out of control, Kisa rushed up to them, Reena behind her.

“We’ve got a problem. Szervác is making a move on Angie.”

The entire family looked at where Angie was sitting. Next to her, Szervác had moved in close. Too close, Nik knew.

“Let’s go kick his ass,” Ban sneered.

“No one move.” They all looked at Nik and he shrugged. “I wanna see what she does.”

His mother turned on him. “Nikolai Vorislav, you cannot be serious!”

“Fifty bucks says she takes him out.”

His mother glanced at Angie, then back at her son. “A hundred.”

Angie turned to look at the idiot invading her space. “I need you to back away.”

“Now, now, sweetheart. Don’t be so difficult.” He ran his index finger against the inside of her arm. “I can make it good.”

Angie shuddered in anger and disgust. It amazed her how much she hated non-requested physical contact. She knew she could call for Nik, but she’d grown up taking care of herself. True, she wished she had her bat, but she’d have to make do with what she had available.

She pulled her arm away from his touch, bent it, and slammed her elbow into the man’s face, breaking his nose.

Blood gushing, he let out a roar of pain.

Angie slid out of her folding chair, grasped it with both hands, turned, and swung. The metal slammed into the back of his head, knocking him into the table, which crashed into the floor.

Angie dropped the chair. Calmly, “Next time a woman tells you to get your hands off her, get your fuckin’ hands off her.”

She spun on her Ferragamos, but stopped when she found the entire Vorislav family staring at her like the freak she suddenly realized she was. She didn’t mean to embarrass them. Actually, she felt almost a physical pain knowing she probably ruined Boris’s important evening.

Christ, can this night get any worse?

She decided to face the nightmare head on. No point in ducking and running. Besides, where the hell would she go?

She moved swiftly away from her prone admirer before he could get back to his feet. As she approached the Vorislavs, she realized they were swapping money.

“Boris, I’m really—” she began.

Boris held up one finger, cutting her off. He glared down at Kisa. “I do not owe you a hundred.”

“You do, too, Daddy. I told you she’d find a way to use that chair.”

“It was fifty.”

“Hundred.”

“You’d take money from your own daddy?”

“In a heartbeat.” Kisa held her hand out. “Now give it over.”

Grumbling under his breath, Boris handed his daughter a crisp hundred from the wad of money he held in his beefy grip.

Angie turned to Nik. “You were betting on me?”

Nik nodded. “Yeah. The odds were too good to pass up.”

“Momma and Daddy underestimated you.” Ban counted his cash. He didn’t even look at her.

“But didn’t I embarrass you and ruin your evening?”

They stared at her, just before they burst out laughing.

“Oh, darlin’.” Nik’s mother put an arm around Angie’s shoulders, and Angie fought the desire to scramble away from her. The woman was being so nice, how could Angie tell her to get her cotton-pickin’ paws off her? “You’ve got to do much more to this family than that. Besides, Szervác only did that because you’re human. He’d never have the guts to try that move with one of us.”

“Well, thanks for being so…nice?”

“My pleasure.” She winked, and then glanced at Nik. “I think you need to take your houseguest home, son. Before things get difficult.”

Szervác’s family had picked him up off the ground, and were looking at the Vorislavs with a less-than-friendly glare.

“Good idea.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room.

Angie waved at Nik’s parents. “It was nice meeting you both!”

She let him hold on to her until they got outside and then she snatched her hand away. “You know, I can walk without your assistance.”

Nik moved on her so fast she stumbled back, slamming up against a limo. Again he braced both of his arms on either side of her and leaned in close, but not quite close enough to touch.

“So it’s okay for my father to touch you, but I can’t. Is that it?”

“He didn’t touch me. I touched him.”

Nik blinked. “What?”

“He held his arm out and I took it. Your father never touched me. Unlike you that man understands boundaries.”

“I see.” He moved away from her. But he wasn’t angry. Far from it based on the grin spreading across his handsome face.

“What are you smiling at?”

“Get your pretty ass in the car, sugar. Before Szervác’s family gets out here and starts somethin’ they can’t finish.”

Angie didn’t like this one bit, but she wouldn’t argue the point. Not now. Not here. But she had the feeling this was far from over.