“And what does one have to do to be one of your gentlemen callers?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Just makes sense. If we start going out, I can’t actually be taking advantage of you.”

Blayne straightened up. “Going out? You mean like on a date?”

“Whatever you call your time out with gentlemen callers. Date works.”

“You want to go out on a date with me?”

Bo shrugged. “Might as well.”

Might as well? Was that the best the man could do? Might as well?

Before Blayne could show him exactly what she thought about his level of enthusiasm—or lack thereof—Bo continued, “I’ve already got lions coming after me and that idiot Van Holtz getting in my face.”

“Ric knows? Already? Who the hell told him?”

“Got me. But I got the feeling he knew I’d spent the night at your apartment last night.”

“Of course he knows,” she said, relaxing. “He probably heard about it from Dee-Ann.”

“And she’d know because . . .”

“I’m pretty sure he hired her to follow me.”

Now Bo stood straight. “What do you mean he’s following you?”

“Ric’s not following me. Dee-Ann is. I’m just sure Ric hired her.”

“Blayne,” he said, oh-so-calmly, “it’s not normal for a man to follow or have you followed. It’s called stalking and you need a restraining order.”

“Ric Van Holtz is not stalking me,” she said, unable to envision her favorite wolf stalking anyone, much less her. “Besides, he’s in love with Dee-Ann.”

“Which one is Dee-Ann?”

“The She-wolf I screamed at in the club the other night.”

“Still have no clue.”

“It doesn’t matter. Ric thinks he’s protecting me.”

“From what?”

“Pit fights.”

“I have to say it’s never boring talking to you.”

“You’ve heard about what’s going on with hybrids, haven’t you?” When he shrugged, she said, “They’re snatching hybrids off the streets and using us like pit bulls and rotties. They’ve been finding bodies all over the city and Jersey.”

“We’re not even worth hunting now?”

“Nope. They’re still going to the pure breeds for that.”

“Great. Something else I have to worry about.”

“I’m guessing it wouldn’t be easy to take you down.”

“Since only hockey players have ever tried, I have no answer for you. Then again, you did pretty well for yourself.”

“True, but that’s from Daddy-given skills. Few have those.”

Bo looked at his watch.“It’s late. I’ll take you home.”

Blayne snorted. “What for?”

“You tell me there’s someone out to get you and you ask me that?”

“I didn’t tell you that. What I said was that Ric was trying to protect me and that hybrids were being grabbed. That does not translate into Blayne has a bounty on her head. Ric’s just being ‘overprotective but I have lots of money so I can be’ guy. Trust me, if I were in any danger, someone would have told me by now.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I don’t care.” She grabbed his arm and looked at his watch. “Okay. I’ve gotta get back to practice.”

“Yeah, but—”

“See ya!”

And she heard the frustration in his voice when he yelled after her, “And I can’t believe you’re still wearing that useless goddamn watch!”

CHAPTER 14

Waiting in the diner across from the sports center, Lock watched his best friend not eat. Instead he gazed out the window.

“This isn’t about Novikov, is it?”

Ric frowned. “Novikov?”

“And Blayne? The reason you were hanging thirty or so feet from the ground?”

“Oh! Right.” Ric picked up a fry. “What about them now?”

“What is going on with you?” Lock demanded. God, he hoped Ric wasn’t still mooning over Dee. That She-wolf was so out of reach for Ric, she could be on Mars.

“Nothing. Why?”

“Why? Because you’re getting into fights with guys four times your size. When did you turn into your brother?”

“I don’t want him taking advantage of Blayne.”

“Blayne can handle herself.”

Ric shrugged and again gazed out the window. “I guess.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else bothering you? You seem kind of . . . anxious.”

Ric looked at Lock again. “What now?”

Blayne dragged her backpack onto her shoulders. She was feeling really good right now. She was doing better. Everyone was saying so. The training from Bo was definitely paying off. Now, if she could manage to keep him off her back and out of her social calendar until the championships, she’d be golden.

“Night, guys!” she said, waving.

“Night, Blayne!”

Gwen met her at the door. “You sure you don’t want to come to the diner with me?”

“Nah. It’s been a long day. I’m exhausted.”

“The fight with Mitch took a lot out of you?”

Blayne growled and pushed the locker room door open. “He’s lucky I didn’t yank his nuts off.” Blayne froze right outside the hallway. “What are you doing here?”