Page 11 of Claiming Xan
“No.” I bit out the word, glaring at him.
“You sure? I could wash, you could rinse?” he offered. “You might even get brownie points with Mom for helping with housework.”
“Bah!” Brownie points with that bitch? I snorted. “Fat chance. She hates me.”
He shrugged. “She’s worried about her pack. And about me.”
“About you?” I echoed, the growl deepening my voice. “I’m not a fucking serial killer. I don’t even know your name.”
He brightened, spinning to face me. “It’s Xan,” he said with a one-hundred watt smile that made his whole face light up.
I blinked. “Xan?”
“Yeah, short for Xander, but I’ll kick you in the nuts if you call me that.” He smirked. “Mom’s the only one with the right to call me that, and only when she’s pissed. I’ve been just Xan since I was a pup. What about you? Any nicknames I should be aware of?”
“No.”
“I could give you one?” he offered, an impish smile tipping at the corners of his lips. Full, pouty lips.
“No,” I repeated, but damn if it wasn’t as sharp as before.
“How about Brutus?” He was met with silence, but he wasn’t giving up. “Bruno? Bruiser? Beefcake?” That earned him a small snort, and Xan smiled. He had a nice smile… “Beefcake it is.”
“Shut up, Xander,” I retorted.
“Ouch, that almost?—”
The door swung open and we both froze. Gracie came striding in wearing baby blue scrubs, her dark hair scraped up into a tight bun. She stopped and glanced between us, staring daggers right into my heart before shooting an equally-sharp look at her son.
Xan just smiled that charming smile. “Morning, Mom. Want some pancakes? I made plenty.”
“Maybe later,” she said, her voice clipped. “I’ve got a busy schedule today.”
She turned her attention to me and my wolf bristled, the hairs on the nape of my neck prickling to attention. I clenched my jaw to keep from growling at the way she stared me down.
“River, I was hoping to talk to you.”
“Great,” I said dryly.
She frowned. “You made some good points the other day, about your situation these past few years. Since you’ll be staying with us, I wanted to offer you a job.”
“What?” The word popped out before I could stop it.
She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s nothing glamorous, but I’ll pay you well and you’ll be able to start saving, open a bank account, start having mail delivered to this address. The first steps to getting a valid driver’s license and, therefore, a better job.” She smiled. “What do you think? Doable?”
I looked at her for several long moments. None of us spoke; even Xan kept his silence, though the radio played on in the background. Part of me wanted to tell her to shove it up her assand go to hell, but… I reallydidneed the money, and I could use something to pass the time.
“What’s the job?” I asked finally.
“Cleaning and sanitizing kennels and veterinary equipment every night, and if you end up liking the environment, there’s always more I could train you on.”
She offered a tight smile, and I knew she was trying. She didn’t trust me, not by a long shot, but she was giving me the benefit of the doubt. I needed to suck it up and meet her halfway.
Slowly, I nodded. “When do I start?”
She relaxed. “Come with me.”
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