The Wolf and the Bobcat: by E A Price Read Free Book Online Page A

befuddled head.
    But no, she was chickenshit. Too worried that he meant more to her than she did to him, and too worried that if she did invite him into her busy life, he wouldn’t be able to measure up. He was better off left where he was, starring in some very erotic fantasies.
    Her phone chirruped, and without looking she answered, letting out a labored hello.
    “Deanna, pumpkin!”
    She froze in surprise as her bobcat let out a wail. It was the last person she expected to hear from. Well, second to last, the last was her mystery wolf – no, she couldn’t think about him now. She had bigger things to worry about, a phone call from her mom for one thing…
    “Mom?”
    “Hey, pumpkin! Have you missed me?”
    Missed her? Missed her? Was she freaking kidding?
    Deanna breathed in and out, trying to control her spiraling temper. “Where the heck are you, Mom?”
    “I’m in Vegas. It’s fabulous out here pumpkin; you should get out here one day.”
    Gee, she’d love to, except she had a few responsibilities, like her job and taking care of her siblings. “What are you doing in Vegas, Mom?”
    Her mom’s laughter tinkled down the phone. “I’ve been working as a blackjack dealer; I’ve been having a great time.”
    “Well, I’m really happy for you,” she ground out.
    “Thanks, pumpkin.” Her mom tended to ignore sarcasm . “So, how are you? How is everyone?”
    “We’re fine, Mom, but I…”
    “Good, I knew you’d look after everyone, you’re such a good girl, you always have been, ever since you were little. I remember how you used to be so protective of Dennis when we were living by the beach.”
    Deanna winced and tried to forget how hard things had been back then. Like the time her mom couldn’t cope anymore, and had to put them in emergency care. She got them out again, when she found out she was pregnant with Danny.
    Her mother continued, undeterred by Deanna’s less than welcoming tone. “You always looked out for all of us, I swear you were born middle-aged, pumpkin.”
    Deanna ignored the jibe. ‘Why haven’t you called? Dinah’s been asking for you. She’s only 4; she misses you.”
    Dinah cried every night after their mother left six months ago, after a while she did calm down a little, and things got easier when Darcy joined their ranks. Dinah adores Darcy .
    “I’m sorry, pumpkin, really I am. I would have, but I didn’t want to confuse things. I knew Dinah and Drake would just get upset on the phone and want to know when I was going to visit; I didn’t want to rile them up, I thought it would just make the situation harder for you.”
    Deanna’s bobcat growled as she squeezed her phone in her hand. That was her mom, always thinking of others. “You should have called,” she said, quietly.
    “I know, pumpkin, I know.”
    “Why have you stayed away so long?” What the hell were you doing that was so much more important than your five children?!
    “It wasn’t my fault…”
    Deanna rolled her eyes; no, it never was.
    “But Gary wasn’t allowed to leave Vegas, just while the court case was being heard…”
    “Whoa, hold on. Who’s Gary?”
    Her mom squealed in excitement. “Oh! Didn’t I tell you? He’s my fiancée; we’re getting married.”
    “Since when?!” yelled Deanna.
    Her mom clucked her tongue. “There’s no need to get upset, pumpkin. We only decided to get married a couple of days ago, before that, we were just living together.”
    “Oh.” Another fiancée, to be added to the other illustrious men her mom found herself engaged to over the years. So far, that was a list of six. Her mom was yet to make it down the aisle .
    “Well?”
    “Well, what?” Deanna was on autopilot; she was too busy trying to tamp down her misgivings about her mom’s news.
    Her mom huffed. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
    Ugh. “Congratulations.”
    “You could sound a little more happy, you know,” said her mom, peevishly.
    “Whoopee!” sneered