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“If I start, I might not stop,” Cat admitted with a shrug.
She remained at the entrance to t
he office, though she leaned against the door frame, one hand propped on her hip, the other relaxed at her side, rather than taking the other chair across from Khi.
“Yeah, I know that one,” Khi admitted as she flicked something from the knee of her pants, her gaze remaining on that area for long moments before she lifted her head again and flashed Cat another of her bright smiles. A smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Why are you here, Khi?” Tilting her head, a small frown pulled at her brow. “Does Graeme know you’re visiting?”
Khi gave a light laugh at the question. “I don’t ask Graeme Parker’s permission to go anywhere on the Reever property.” She gave a little roll of her eyes. “I don’t even extend that courtesy to Lobo.”
Cat lifted her brows at the statement. “Quite an accomplishment. I envy you,” she snorted. “I imagine Lobo’s arrogance more than matches Graeme’s. And he seems just as domineering.”
“Just as much an ass, you mean?” This time, Khi’s smile was a bit tight. “I imagine he can be. I try to stay out of the way of his arrogance and he avoids my bitchiness. It works for us.”
Interesting. At one time, Khi had been rumored to be quite close to her stepfather. Of course, that was before her mother tried to kill him.
Not many were aware of the fact that Jessica Reever had been one of the Genetics Council’s spies. Her first husband had died attempting to help liberate an Irish Council research lab. She’d even appeared to mourn him for several years.
Breathing slow and easy, Cat drew in the other girl’s scent, the subtle differences in it confusing. There was a hint of something that reminded her of Mating Heat, yet wasn’t, as well as the odd scents of a Wolf Breed and fierce anger. Whatever Khi Langer was bottling inside herself was building to an explosion. She wasn’t normally so mocking or caustic, Cat knew.
Cat didn’t know the other girl well. Raymond’s dislike of Lobo Reever, as well as his wealth, had ensured he did his best to make certain Cat’s path didn’t cross with Khi’s.
“So, why am I here?” Placing her hands on her upper leg, Khi leaned forward and flicked Cat a quick look. “Because it’s completely boring at the house: Lobo has the estate on lockdown, and everyone I really know from the area is in hiding, it appears.” She rose gracefully to her feet. “How about a drink? I’m sure it’s five o’clock somewhere.”
“Why don’t you return to the main house, and when Graeme asks you why you didn’t see your babysitting duties through, you can inform him I asked you to leave,” Cat suggested coolly.
It hadn’t really taken long to figure out why Khi was there. Graeme was due to leave soon for some meeting with Lobo that would last well into the night, she knew.
“I’ll do that.” Khi nodded. “But let’s have that drink first and give him time to leave for that meeting. You really don’t want him sending Lobo’s guards out instead. They’re really assholes. Come on.” As Khi brushed past her into the house, the scent of overwhelming weariness had Cat hiding an impatient sigh.
She had her own things to do.
“Tea?” she suggested rather than asking the other girl to leave now.
“Only the alcoholic kind,” Khi demanded. “If you want to do virgin, it’s your choice. Personally, virginity doesn’t really appeal to me. It’s been a hell of a morning.”
And it looked like Cat was in for a hell of an afternoon.
She was going to kill Graeme. A babysitter? Really? For what?
What did he think Khi could do but tell on her if she attempted to leave the house? Khi wasn’t protection, she was there as a tattletale and nothing more.
She had a few hours, Cat decided. If Khi wanted a drink, then she could have a drink. Come dusk, Cat thought, she’d just pretend to take a little nap. It wasn’t as though Keenan and his men came through the front door. Not that Khi would see them if they did.
She wanted one of those damned suits they wore so bad she couldn’t stand it. Unfortunately, Keenan was not all about sharing the technology. And not even the best nano-nit Cat had created had managed to get past the electronic firewalls built into the electronics either. Damned winged Breeds were like Graeme, too smart for their own damned good.
Following Khi through the office, Cat retrieved the e-pad to ensure she didn’t miss any messages sent by Keenan or his second in command, Teal. Keenan had given her the device to ensure all communications between them was untraceable. If only there was a program for the babysitters Graeme chose.
• • •
Graeme watched the monitor as Khi strode to the bar in the guesthouse and poured herself a drink.
She was drinking too much too often, he thought, concerned. He’d grown fond of her over the past year, respected her intelligence, the loyalty that went far too deep, as well as her determination, but that kid’s heart was torn into two raw chunks and she had no idea how to deal with it.
Mated to one brother and in love with the other, unable to give in to either of them. It was a hell of a position to be in and he didn’t envy her in the least. Still, he was going to have to discuss the drinking with her. They had a deal, and if he let her renege on her part, then she could slip down an emotional tunnel from which she might not return.
At the moment, Khi wasn’t the concern, though—Cat was. Claire’s warning and the knowledge that the protective spirit had roused again the night before as Cat slept had his instincts going haywire. There was something he was missing, he could feel it. Add that to his meeting with Orrin Martinez and Graeme was determined to find out what the hell was going on with Cat.
