Toni nodded. “Then leave it alone. If involving Dee-Ann makes Irene feel better, then let her do it. Besides, I want this done.”
Livy agreed. “Then it’s done.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing urgent,” Cooper said, worried about how tired his sister looked. He really hoped this job of hers was worth all she was going through.
“Okay.” She stood up. “Tell Mom I’ll be back for breakfast in a few. Livy . . . come with.”
She walked off and Livy followed her, the women walking into the house.
Ricky moved around on the bench until he could face both Coop and Cherise.
After a long minute of silence, Ricky said, “Your sister was amazing in Russia.”
Coop was about to answer, “I know,” but Cherise spoke first.
“My sister’s amazing all the time.” Cherise grabbed a muffin and squeezed it until it began to crumble in her hands. “And if you ever forget that and make her cry the way that worthless full-human did, I’m going to make you sorry you ever left Tennessee.” She got to her feet, started to turn away, but then stopped and added, “Which is a lovely state but that’s not the point!”
Coop watched his younger sister march off, leaving a trail of muffin crumbs behind her.
“I sure do like your family,” the wolf said. And Coop looked over at Ricky Lee, saw the smile that told him the man was being completely serious.
“They are great, aren’t they?” Coop agreed.
Toni sat on her bed, pulled off her boots. “Okay.” She looked right at her friend. “What haven’t you told me?”
“I saw Delilah coming out of a church.”
“Great. She’s stealing crosses now?”
“Blayne said it was a cult. They took over the church when the original congregation had to move.”
Toni suddenly laughed, surprising herself. “I wish I could say I was shocked, but . . .”
“I know. I know.” Livy laughed, too. “But when you think about it, she’d fit right in there with the pantheon, wouldn’t she? Charles Manson. David Koresh. Jim Jones. She blends.”
“Not quite. They were monsters, but they were all kind of mentally ill. According to Kyle there’s a difference between personality disorders and mental illness. Del isn’t crazy. She just doesn’t have a soul.”
Livy braced her legs apart, crossed her arms over her chest. “I put security on each of the kids.”
Toni studied her best friend. “Why?”
“I don’t know. It just felt . . .” She searched for the right word. “Necessary.”
“Then it’s necessary.” Livy didn’t do important things on a whim, so Toni didn’t question her decisions.
Yawning, Toni said, “Tell me how much I owe you for all this security because Mom and Dad said they didn’t pay for any . . .” But Livy had already walked out of the room.
“I will pay you back, honey lover!”
“Shut up!”
Toni chuckled as Ricky walked into the room.
“Your mother said breakfast will be ready for us in a bit.”
“Okay.”
He came across the room and dived onto her bed, rolling around until he was on his back. He stopped, gazed at her, then started again.
Toni laughed loud. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m glad to be home.” He turned onto his side, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Aren’t you?”
“Yeah. But I should go check on the kids.”
“The kids are fine. Their parents have managed to take very good care of them.”
“Not appreciating the Southern sarcasm.”
“Come on, darlin’. Let’s cuddle like proper canines.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“That’s a great idea. It’s called relaxing. Taking a break. They’ll call us when breakfast is ready anyway.”
“Well . . .”
But Ricky Lee had already eased her down on the bed until she was cuddled up next to him and at that point she didn’t really feel like saying anything else. Besides, what could a five-minute break hurt anyway?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Breakfast, Toni.”
Toni turned over at the sound of her baby brother’s voice; Freddy’s small hand was patting her shoulder.
“It’s okay,” she told him. “I had breakfast on the plane.”
The patting stopped and there was a long pause before Freddy said, “That was yesterday.”
Toni shot up into a sitting position, her eyes trying to focus as she blinked. She searched for the alarm clock in her room. After a few seconds, she got her eyes to read the numbers.
“It’s six thirty? A.M.?”
Freddy nodded. “Uh-huh. Mommy made you waffles and bacon.” Freddy smiled. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
Toni smiled at her brother. “Me, too.”
He walked to the door, stopped, and said over his shoulder, “You’re invited, too, Mr. Reed.”
“Just call me Ricky Lee.”
“Okay, Ricky Lee.”
Her brother walked out and Toni spun around, landing on her knees. “You were here the whole night?”
Yawning and scratching his head, the big wolf rolled onto his back. “I guess so.”
“What the hell were you thinking?”
“That I was tired . . . that you were tired . . . that we were tired.”
“But you were here all night. And in my bed. And Freddy saw us!”
Resting on his elbows, Ricky raised himself up. “It’s not like we were naked.”
“That’s not the point. Once Freddy knows, the world will know.”
Ricky shrugged. “Don’t make me no never mind.”
“Well it does to me.”
“That ’cause you’re ashamed to be seen with me?”
Surprised by the question, Toni immediately replied, “Of course not!”
“You sure? I know most of your friends are important artists and musicians. I ain’t nothin’ but a good ol’ wolf from Tennessee.”
“Your accent certainly does get thick when you’re trying to make me feel guilty.”
“Is it working?” He reached over and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Laughing a little when she fell into him.
Toni braced her hands against his chest but didn’t try too hard to pull away.
“I swear,” he said, gazing at her mouth, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just thought we’d sleep for an hour or two. Not all day and night.”
“I was more worried about us being up all night. You know, from the change in time.”
“I think dealing with those bears just wore us out. It was the first time you could sleep without worrying.”
Toni smiled. “But that doesn’t explain why you slept so long.”
“That’s your fault.”
“My fault?”
“Snuggling up to you just makes me so dang comfortable. Why would I bother moving?” He suddenly kissed her neck before easing away from her. “Dang, those waffles smell good. Hope your momma made enough.”
“How many do you need?”
“A lot.” He got off the bed, headed toward the attached bathroom. “I’m gonna use your toothbrush.”
“Sure. Why not?”
“No need for that tone,” he teased. “You can use my toothbrush anytime you have a need.”
“Oh, well.” Toni flopped back on the bed. “When you put it like that . . .”
They walked into the kitchen together and Ricky expected the treatment he’d get from his own kin and Pack, a lot of dramatic stopping and staring, making the pair feel uncomfortable. But the jackals seemed less than interested.
“Good morning, you two,” Jackie greeted them. “Waffles and bacon for breakfast. How many do you want, Ricky? One or two?”