Wolf with Benefits

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Toni had just rolled onto her back, her entire body taking a long, luxurious stretch when there was a knock at Ricky’s door and it opened. Without warning.

She yelped and pulled herself into a ball. Ricky immediately stretched his body over hers, blocking her from Vic Barinov’s sight.

“Oh. Sorry. Was I interrupting?”

“Yes!” Ricky yelped. “You were.”

“Sorry. But you guys do have to get ready if we’re going to get to your meeting with the—”

“Meeting?” Toni scoffed.

Now, after a night of free-running through the beautiful Siberian wilderness and getting wonderfully tossed around the bedroom by Ricky Lee Reed, Toni’s sense of panic was no longer clouding her mind. Instead, she just felt annoyance at the bears wasting her damn time.

“They’re not going to meet with me. They have no intention of negotiating with me. We might as well just head the hell home rather than waste another damn day on this bullshit.”

Barinov shrugged. “Of course. I’ll get the car ready and let the hotel know we’re checking out.”

Ricky grabbed the sheet and pulled it up so it covered Toni all the way to her neck. Then he sat up, his body still blocking her, and said, “Wait.”

His hand on the doorknob, Barinov looked back at them.

“Do you know what’s going on with these bears?” he asked.

Toni didn’t know why Ricky was asking Barinov about anything. Other than ensure they arrived on time and that Toni was safe, he didn’t seem too involved in any of this drama.

“You know”—Barinov began—“I really shouldn’t get involved.”

See?

Ricky reached down and grabbed his jeans from the floor. He pulled out his cell phone and speed-dialed a number. He put on the speaker and for a few seconds they sat around silently listening to the phone ring.

“Yep?” a voice answered from the other end, and Barinov immediately rolled his eyes, momentarily reminding her of Kyle after he’d been caught tormenting Oriana about her non-existent weight problem.

“Hey, Dee,” Ricky said into the phone. “How ya doin’?”

“Fine.” There was a pause, then Dee asked, “You back in New York?”

“Nope. These Russian bears are being real difficult.”

“Mhmm. Never liked them Russian bears.”

“We haven’t mentioned you,” Ricky told her. “I don’t think they would have fond memories of you or your daddy.”

“Heh.”

“Anyway,” Ricky went on, “I’m not sure what to do. Any suggestions?”

“Isn’t Barinov there?”

Ricky looked up at the hybrid. “Yeah. He’s standing right here. But he said he shouldn’t get involved.”

There was a long sigh from the other end of that phone. “Take me off speaker,” Dee ordered, “and hand Barinov the damn phone.”

Ricky did just that and after baring a rather long fang, Barinov put the phone to his ear. “Hey, Dee—Well . . . yeah, I . . . no need to get nasty, Smith. Yeah. Fine. Whatever.” Barinov disconnected the call and tossed the phone back to Ricky.

“You’re a prick,” the hybrid snarled.

“I’m a Reed. We were never taught to play nice with others.”

Barinov stepped away from the door and looked over Ricky’s shoulder to focus on Toni. “You were negotiating with the bears as soon as you stepped out of the car the first day,” he abruptly told her.

Startled by that response, Toni sat a little taller, holding the sheet to her chest. “Wait a minute . . . what?”

“You didn’t know?”

“Did I look like I knew?”

“It was hard to tell with the whole separation anxiety thing.” Then Barinov focused on Ricky and smirked.

“Oh, my God,” Ricky muttered, placing his phone on the end table. “He’s never going to let that go.”

“Let me ask you”—Barinov stepped closer to the bed—“did you research negotiation techniques before you came here, Toni?”

“Of course.”

“Did you research negotiating with Russians?”

“No. But I’ve negotiated with Russians before.”

“About your family?”

“Yes.”

“The powerful music family that everyone kind of loves?”

“As long as you don’t know ’em personally,” Ricky tossed in.

Toni shoved Ricky’s shoulder and answered Barinov at the same time, “Yes.”

“Then that is completely different from negotiating a business deal about hockey.”

“Why is that different?”

“Your family is a bunch of American artists that the Russians—who love music like they love air—are going to treat differently during negotiations. Especially if they’re dealing with a family member. But hockey is a much-beloved sport and a very important Russian business. Especially to the Siberian bears.”

“So the delay . . . that’s all a—”

“Negotiation tactic.” Barinov shrugged. “I really thought you knew.”

“No. That’s what was making me crazy. I didn’t understand why they weren’t meeting with me. When I’ve helped negotiate deals for my brother and sister, I was always treated wonderfully. I guess I expected the same thing this time.”

“You could have said something, Vic,” Ricky told him.

“People don’t hire me for my opinion, Reed. You know that.”

“I’m not people,” Toni said. “I’m desperate. I need your opinion. I have to get home before my entire family is decimated by their insanity. And I have to point out . . . that’s a real short trip for them.”

“You gonna help us, hoss?” Ricky asked.

“I’m not used to getting involved.”

Toni moved close behind Ricky, laid her chin on his shoulder, smiled sweetly. “Please?” she begged. “For me?”

“You don’t even like me,” Barinov accused.

“I could learn to like you . . . if you help me.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. All right.”

Toni gave a happy yip, but Barinov barked back and said, “Do not make that noise around me. It makes me want to go outside and tear the bark off trees.”

“So what’s the first thing we should do?” Ricky asked.

“First . . . we cancel today.”

“Cancel?”

“If they want to play hardball . . . so will you. Besides, we have to meet someone.”

“Someone who can also help?” Toni asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

“Yep. Someone who can also help.”

She yipped again and now both males barked, “Toni!”

“Sorry. Sorry. Habit.”

It was late when Livy worked her way through an open window in the kitchen.

Yes. She had keys. Toni always gave her keys to whatever home or hotel suite she and her family were staying at when Livy was around. And if Toni didn’t give the keys to her, because they were having one of their ridiculous arguments, then Toni’s parents gave Livy the keys. Paul and Jackie loved Livy. She didn’t know why, though. Most shifters, without even knowing what Livy was, didn’t like her, but especially jackals. In the wild, full-blood jackals and her kind went at it like dogs and cats.

Then again, nothing stopped their kind from fighting anyone off. That’s what they did. That’s what Livy’s ancestors, mostly witches and healers, liked about the animal. How vicious and fearless it was. So while a lot of others were learning to shift into giant, apex predators, her people were becoming small and deadly.

When Livy was a little girl, she didn’t understand how come she wouldn’t be shifting into a cool animal like the other shifter kids her parents knew. But now that she was an adult . . . she loved what she was. Adored it. Just like she adored her best friend.

Toni was an unusual girl. She didn’t think she was. She saw herself as average. And, compared to the rest of the Jean-Louis Parker brood, it wasn’t surprising she felt that way. Yet Toni was definitely unique. Naturally maternal. Naturally kind. And constantly on Livy’s ass.

That’s when Livy realized that she’d been accepted as family by Toni when the woman—a girl at the time—began to manage Livy’s career. Or, at the very least, manage Livy’s agent, while attempting to get her to live a certain way. It drove Toni nuts that Livy could and often did live anywhere she had to. She had no problem taking over someone’s house for a couple of days when she saw them leave with some luggage. She made sure not to destroy anything and to replace anything she may have used. True, Livy could afford her own place and she had one in Washington, but she really liked living in other people’s space. It was always so fascinating. You never knew what you’d learn from complete strangers.

Livy opened the refrigerator and reached for a bottle of orange juice.

“Hi!”

Livy spun and hissed, baring her mouthful of fangs.

The wolfdog jumped back, her hands raised to protect her face. “Sorry! Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you!”

Actually . . . she hadn’t startled Livy. But the wolfdog was just so damn perky. It was irritating. Really, really irritating.

“Still here?” Livy asked, being bitchy.

The wolfdog glanced down at herself. “I think so . . . right?”

Letting out a sigh, Livy turned back to the refrigerator and took out the orange juice. She opened the bottle and was about to start drinking from it when the wolfdog held out a glass for her.

“What’s that?” Livy asked.

“Something for you to pour your juice into. So that you don’t have to drink right out of the bottle.”

Gazing at the wolfdog, Livy put the bottle to her lips and drank. For a real long time.

The wolfdog’s eyes narrowed and a little spot on her cheek twitched.

When Livy was done, she smacked her lips—loudly.

“That was good.” Livy sighed. Then she held the bottle out to the wolfdog. “Want some?”

“No, thank you.”

“You sure?” Livy pushed, shoving the offending bottle with her saliva all over the rim closer. “It’s really good. No pulp!”

“No. Really. I’m fine.”

Shrugging, Livy screwed the top back on and put the juice back in the refrigerator.

“You’re just going to leave it in there?”

Livy closed the refrigerator door. “Yes! It wouldn’t be right not to share, now would it?”

“But . . .”

Livy stepped close. “But . . . what?”

When the wolfdog didn’t say anything, Livy started off toward the swinging door.

“But you slobbered all over it!” the wolfdog yelled before Livy could make it through that door.

Slowly, Livy faced the canine. “You know what, Blayne?” Livy said mildly. “You’re absolutely right. I did.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “And it felt good.”

The wolfdog gasped, her mouth dropping open, but before she could say anything else, Livy walked out.

Halfway down the hall, she passed Coop. “Hey,” Livy said, grabbing his arm. “Do me a favor.”

“Sure.”

“If you’re going to the kitchen, make sure to drink out of the orange juice bottle that’s right in the front. The one with no pulp.”

“You’re the only one who drinks the one with no pulp. The rest of us like pulp.”

“I know. Just trust me on this.”

Coop shook his head. “You’re messing with Blayne again, aren’t you?”

“Well, your sister’s not here to do it, so I’m covering.” She squeezed his forearm. “That’s what friends do for each other, Coop.”

“Torment the innocent?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

They drove back to the territory that Ricky had taken Toni to the night before where they’d run for hours. Honestly, the land was even more beautiful in the day. So lush. And Ricky actually would love to come back in the dead of winter. To see all this covered in ice and snow. It must be amazing. Especially Lake Baikal itself.

Vic took them past the wooded area they’d run through and down a road until they reached a village. He pulled up in front of a small house with a pack of children running around.

“Where are we?”

“This is the home of Genka Kuznetsov.”

“Wait.” Ricky scratched his head. “Kuznetsov?”

“What’s wrong?”

Toni leaned forward. “Are they related to the Kuznetsov Pack in New York?”

“Do not mention the New York Kuznetsov Pack or your association with them,” Vic warned.

“Why not?”

“Sabina Kuznetsov is the daughter of Anton Kuznetsov. Her Pack of orphaned wild dogs took Sabina’s last name because they thought it sounded cooler than Jessica Ward’s last name, which in New York is true. Unfortunately, the reason Sabina ended up in New York was that her father was pushed out of the Pack by Genka who, to this day, loathes her brother with the fire of a thousand suns.”

“That’s a lot of heat,” Ricky noted.

“Exactly.”

“Then maybe we shouldn’t be here.”

“You need information. And that’s what the Kuznetsovs trade in. Information.”

“Okay.”

Vic looked between them. “You two ready?”

“Yep.”

They got out of the car, and adult wild dogs seemed to appear from everywhere. Surrounding the house and especially the kids, protecting them.

An older She-dog walked out of the house and stood on her small stoop. She had hair that was filled with a riot of colors like gold, brown, red, and white, but mostly blond. Lots of blond. “Why are you here, Victor Barinov?”

“I’ve brought friends for you, Genka. They need your help.”

The wild dog lifted her head, sniffed the air. “At least this time they’re canines. Unlike you.”

“I’m not canine, nor am I empty handed.” He lifted both his arms. In one hand he held two bottles of very expensive vodka. In the other, he had a basket filled with good French and Italian cheeses and water crackers from England.

That’s when the wild dogs no longer looked suspicious but instead raised their own arms in greeting, calling out Vic’s name. Genka opened her front door. “Come friends, come. Let’s sit inside and enjoy this wonderful bounty our friend Barinov brings us!”

So, that’s what they did.

Toni had to admit, she was fascinated. And extremely annoyed. Not at the wild dogs. Once they got some gifts, they were in great spirits. But the bears were playing games. Games that annoyed her.

“I like Novikov,” Genka said plainly, her English heavily accented but easily understood. “He is strong like polar but mean like lion. He is hybrid like you, Victor Barinov, but with talent.”

Barinov snorted. “Thanks, Genka.”

“Welcome.” She lit a cigarette, took a long drag, then pointed the cigarette at Toni. “You know, problem is not that Novikov kicked Yuri Asanov’s ass.”

“And Novikov truly kicked Yuri Asanov’s ass,” Genka’s older sister commented as she walked into the room and dropped onto the couch across the small living room.

“The problem is that he made the entire team look bad. They look weak. Now they want to make him look weak.”

“I can’t help them do that,” Toni said, shaking her head.

“Of course not. You are canine like me. We are loyal. Not like cats.” Genka looked pointedly at Barinov.

The hybrid threw up his hands. “Are you just going to abuse me while I’m here, Genka Kuznetsov?”

“Yes,” both Genka and her sister said together.

Genka again focused on Toni, took another drag from her cigarette. Toni hated the cigarette smell, but she wasn’t about to say that. God knew, she’d put up with worse over the years for her family; she could do the same for the team paying her so much money.

“See, they don’t tell you truth, little American,” Genka said, reaching for the bottle of vodka on the table and pouring herself another shot. “First off, those bears can all speak English as well as me, no matter how stupid they may act around you. In Russia, we all learn English at some point in school. Also, you think you are waiting to meet with man in charge. But Yuri Asanov is not in charge.”

“He’s not?” Toni asked, surprised. “But he’s the team coach.”

“He is coach. And he is important. But he is not who you should be negotiating with. In shifter sports in Russia it is who pays the bills who controls the team.”

“And who pays the bills?”

Genka blew out a long plume of smoke, her dark brown eyes on Toni before she finally said, “Ivan Zubachev.”

“What? But we talked to him. He met us on the first day.”

“Right. And you didn’t know him. You didn’t greet him as the one in charge. So now he plays games. He’s very wealthy, so he has little else to do but fuck with the Americans.”

“The Zubachevs have run this territory and this team,” Barinov explained, “since Vadim Zubachev told Stalin to suck his dick.”

Toni thought a moment and finally asked. “Wait, I’m sorry, but . . . does the Russian full-human government know you exist here?”

“They’ve known for centuries at least,” Genka said.

“And they’ve never said anything? They’ve never come after you?”

“They tried.” She held up her forefinger. “Once. Sent an entire army to wipe us out for being different. For being who we are. The men never came back.” She smirked. “But we ate well that winter. Like kings.”

Ricky nodded. “All right then.”

“So it’s Zubachev I need to negotiate with?” Toni asked.

“It is. Like most bear, he is difficult. Stubborn. Like most Russians . . . he is difficult. Stubborn. He won’t make it easy on you.”

“So what can I do to make it easier on me?”

“Gifts always help. But, my little darling, your problem is, Ivan Zubachev and his entire family are rich. Like they-can-own-your-Manhattan rich. There is little you can offer him that he does not have or cannot buy, so you’ll have to come up with something unique. That only you can give.”

“Great.” Toni sighed.

“What does he like?” Ricky asked.

Genka shrugged. “Hockey. Women. Although,” she said, looking at Toni, “you’re not his type. Too small, like bird.”

“Hey.”

“Hair too messy.”

“I like your hair,” Ricky reminded her.

“Not helping me.”

Ricky loved watching Toni’s face when she was forced to down a shot of vodka. It was considered rude in Russia not to drink during a toast. So she’d winced and cringed her way through it, but managed well enough. The woman was definitely determined. He liked that about her.

After a hearty lunch and a good-bye filled with hugs and a promise to the wild dogs that they’d get a private audience with Bo Novikov himself—“We have cousins in Mongolia who want to meet him, too. We bring them,” Genka had promised—they’d headed back to their vehicle.

Ricky had just pulled the back passenger door open to let Toni in when Barinov’s phone went off. He smirked at the caller ID and answered.

“Barinov.” After a moment, he walked around the car until he reached Toni. He handed her the phone. “It’s Ivan Zubachev, ma’am.”

Taking the phone, Toni answered. “Yes? Oh. Hello, Mr. Zubachev. Did I? I missed today’s appointment? Oh. I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened. So much going on, I guess. But don’t worry, I’ll be there tomorrow. Ready to negotiate away!”

Ricky and Vic chuckled at her tone.

“Yes. Of course. Tomorrow then.”

She disconnected the call. “He is pissed.”

“Russians hate lateness,” Vic explained. “And not showing up at all . . . considered very rude.”

“Then he shouldn’t play games with me. I deal with that every day with my family, but I love them so I put up with it.”

“Then tomorrow we’re on.” Vic grinned down at her. “You ready for that?”

“I can’t wait.” She got into the car and Ricky closed the door and faced Vic.

“Here.” Vic handed Ricky the keys to the car.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll walk back. Work off the vodka.” He pointed to a road that shot off from the main one they’d traveled. “Go that direction and it’ll take you to Lake Baikal. The shifter-only portion. It’s open to all breeds and species.”

“You don’t want to come?”

“Seen it.” Eyes like a cat’s glanced at Toni and back at Ricky. “You guys have a nice time. I’ll see you back at the hotel.”

Ricky snorted. “Seriously?”

“I know how you canines are, Reed. You say it’s nothing, but it’s everything. Just suck it up already.”

Laughing, the big hybrid walked off, and Ricky didn’t bother to argue with him. Instead, he opened Toni’s door.

“Out,” he told her. She immediately stepped out.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He closed the back door and opened the front passenger side. “Since we’ve got the rest of the day, we’re going to sightsee.”

Blinking, appearing surprised, Toni said, “Really?”

“Don’t you want to?”

“Yeah.” She thought a moment, and a bright smile bloomed across her face. “Yeah. I’d really like that.”

“Then get in, darlin’. Because I have no idea where we are going.”

“It’s called a GPS, Reed. It’s already built into the car.”

“Get in, smart ass.”

Giggling, she did as he said, for once not bothering to argue. For once.

Seven in the morning and Coop walked downstairs to get in some practice before the rush began. The grand piano he’d ordered had been placed in the main ballroom. The one everyone was fighting over. But when he walked in, the piano was gone and Kyle was over in the corner on a stepladder, chipping away at his marble while Oriana used the rest of the space to dance. A special flooring had been laid over the original—but damaged—wood so that she could use her pointe shoes without problems.

“Good,” Novikov said, coming to stand by Coop. “You’re here.” He handed a printed sheet of paper to him. “This is the schedule. Learn it. Know it. Live it.”

Coop didn’t even glance at it. Instead he stared up at the more than seven foot tall hybrid and said, “You made my piano go away. Did it insult you?”

Novikov stared at him. “You’re weird. Your sister’s less annoying.”

“Which one?”

“All of them.” He handed Coop another sheet of paper. “I moved your piano to the basement.”

“When?”

“An hour ago.”

“I didn’t hear a moving crew come in.”

“Moving crew?”

Coop leaned back a bit. “You moved my grand Steinway to the basement by yourself?”

“I needed to get things done. Your brother and sister needed to use this room by six thirty.”

Good God! Where was Toni when he needed her? Because this shit was the highest level of comedy, and the only one who could truly appreciate it was Toni!

“Is the piano in one piece?”

“Of course it is. There’s not a scratch on it. Oh, and your nervous little sister . . .”

“Cherise.”

“Yeah. She says acoustics are great down there. She’ll be practicing in another room in the basement. So you’re both set.”

“Great. Excellent planning.”

“I know. Not done yet, but we’re almost there.”

“We’re not done yet?”

“No.”

As abruptly as he’d appeared, Novikov turned and walked away.

Shaking his head, Coop studied the pages he’d gotten. One was the schedule, as Novikov had said, and the other was a breakdown of who got what room and for how long per day. It was unbelievably organized.

A small hand tugged on Coop’s jeans. Freddy looked up at him with eyes just like his own.

“What’s wrong?” God, he hoped it wasn’t Delilah again. Toni would blow an artery.

“It’s handwritten,” Freddy whispered.

“What is?”

He pointed at the sheets of paper Coop held.

Glancing down, Coop shook his head. “No, buddy. This is from a printer. It’s been typed.”

“No. It hasn’t. Me, Denny, and the twins watched him do it for like an hour. He wrote out each one. By hand. We had to leave when Zoe began to cry. She was completely freaked out.” Freddy leaned in a little bit more and again whispered, “I think if she’d stayed any longer, she would have stabbed him to death. And I don’t think the rest of us would have tried to stop her.”

Coop crouched in front of his brother and put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s because you know OCD when you see it. You’re seeing Troy’s future. Fear that.”

“Oh,” Freddy said, eyes wide, “I do, Coop. I really do.”

They parked a bit away so they could walk to the lake.

Believed to be the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal was one of the most amazing places Toni had ever seen. The water was clean and clear, the land lush and green. Not remotely what she’d think of when someone mentioned Siberia.

Ricky Lee stood next to her, both of them silent for several long minutes. Both of them taking in the scenery and the lovely land they were lucky enough to have visited.

“This is beautiful,” Ricky finally said.

“Yes. It is.”

“But I can’t really enjoy it because all I can think about is getting you back to the hotel and naked.”

“Thank God!” Toni exploded. “I thought it was just me. I’ve been asking myself, ‘How can you not enjoy all this beautiful nature?’ ” She looked directly at him and admitted, “But, you look so damn good naked.”

He took her hand in his, stared deeply in her eyes, and said, “We both do. And how are we supposed to focus on anything else when we both look so dang good naked?”

Toni laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“No. My baby brother is ridiculous. I’m just a little goofy. A fine mix between Reece’s ridiculous behavior and Rory’s uptight lifestyle.” He tugged her hand and had the audacity—audacity!—to tip his head down and look up at her through his rather long eyelashes.

“Come on, darlin’,” he coaxed. “Let’s go back to the hotel, get naked, and be all awed about how good we look.”

“But we’re in Siberia,” Toni whined. “It’s not like we get out here every day. We should be exploring or something. Something touristy.”

Ricky didn’t say anything, but he tugged her closer and closer . . . until he could slip his arm around her waist. Then he slowly brought her up against his body and Toni’s skin went hot. She might be sweating.

He stared down at her mouth. Just stared at it. Without saying a word.

“But it’s not like Siberia is going anywhere.” Still feeling guilty about not taking full advantage of a rare opportunity, Toni briefly chewed her lip and Ricky growled in response. “Lake Baikal has been here for, like, a bazillion years or something. I’m sure it’ll be here next year . . . or the year after that.”

The hand holding her around the waist slipped lower, his fingers gripping her ass and pushing her pelvis closer to him until she felt nothing but his amazing erection pressing against her.

Toni let out a shaky breath, her eyes briefly closing. “Oh-kay, yeah. This lake is giant. It’ll be here forever. And don’t forget jet lag. I’m sure we’re still having jet lag. And that can only be dealt with in a . . . a bed.”

Grinning, Ricky Lee stepped back, took hold of her hand again, and began to walk back to the car.

Blayne sat at the kitchen table in the Jackal House—as she liked to call it—and watched as one of the Horde of Offspring—as Bo liked to call them—carefully cut an apple into equally sized slices.

Because he was making sure that all the sizes were exactly the same size, he was taking a rather long time.

“Would you like me to make you something to eat, Troy?”

“No.” He blew out a breath and sat back in his chair, shook his head, and offered, “Do you want these?”

“Your apple slices?”

“Yes.” He handed the paper plate to her, took another paper plate from the pile in the middle of the table and another apple from the bowl beside it. Then he began again.

Honestly, when Bo Novikov says, “That kid is seriously obsessive,” you really have a problem.

Concerned, Blayne leaned in and began, “Honey—”

“I’m already in therapy for this sort of thing, so just let it go.”

“All right then.”

Blayne ate the apple slices and watched the kid go through two more apples before he was happy with what he did. That was around the time when Oriana came into the room, sweating and smiling in a black leotard and pink stockings, her toe shoes still on her feet, white leg warmers on her legs, and a towel around her neck. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet and went into the refrigerator. When the girl pulled out the bottle of pulp-free juice, Blayne squealed and jumped up.

“Not that one!” she yelped, leaping across the room to pull the offending bottle out of Oriana’s hand.

“Is there something wrong, Blayne?”

Blayne’s eyes narrowed when she saw the girl smirk. “Have you been talking to Livy?”

“Don’t know what you mean.”

Blayne put the bottle back in the refrigerator and took out an unopened one. It had pulp but Oriana would just have to deal with that. Once she handed it off, she turned in time to see one of the older siblings walking past her.

“Hi, Cherise!”

Cherise froze. It was like she thought she could blend into the backsplash behind the sink.

Not looking at her, Cherise nodded. “Hi, uh, Blayne.”

“Are you ever leaving?” Oriana asked Blayne. “Or are you and the Incredible Hulk moving in for the summer?”

“Stop calling him that, and we’re just here until Bo is convinced this whole schedule thing is running perfectly. He doesn’t want to disappoint your sister.”

“Why not? We disappoint her all the time.”

“That’s . . . adorable.” She turned back to Cherise but she’d almost sneaked out the back kitchen door. Blayne rushed up to her. “Hey, Cherise?”

Cherise jumped and spun around. “Yes?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to come out with me tonight.”

“Why?”

“It’ll be fun!”

“You don’t know me.”

“No. But that’s how one learns about someone, by hanging out with them. You’ll get to meet my best friend, Gwen. You’ll like her. Maybe. She is feline and you’re canine. But I’m canine and she’s still feline and we get along great.”

Oriana put her arm around Blayne’s shoulders and looked at her sister. “Oh, Cherise, you have to go. Because that sounds like so much fun for you.”

Blayne nodded. She couldn’t agree with Oriana more! And how nice of her to say it!

“Come on! It’ll be a blast!”

Cherise shrugged and finally admitted, “I don’t really like to go outside.”

“Then you have to go outside! And you’ll start liking it.”

“It’s that easy!” Oriana cheered. “You just have to go!”

Cherise smiled—although it looked a little pained—and nodded. “Okay then.”

“Great!”

And, excited for her sister, Oriana lifted her arms in the air and cheered, “Great!”

Blayne started back to her apple slices when she heard Oriana yelp, “Ow!”

Blayne turned and found the girl holding her foot and hopping up and down.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s my fault,” Cherise confessed. “I stumbled and stepped right on her instep. Too bad I didn’t hit the tip of her shoes instead. That wouldn’t have hurt at all, huh, Oriana?” She kissed her sister’s cheek and again headed toward the back door. “So sorry, sweetie.”

Shrugging, Blayne picked up an apple slice and popped it into her mouth. Such a lovely family! she happily thought to herself.