Jackie took her twin daughters out of Toni’s arms. “I’m going to put these two to bed.” She leaned in and kissed Toni’s cheek. “I’m very proud of you, baby.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Jackie headed out of the room. “Come on, Cherise. I’ll show you how to manage these two and protect your hands.”

Cherise followed. “I was thinking falconer’s gloves.”

“Those are good. You also may want to look into chainmail gloves.”

Standing behind Toni, Coop rested his head on her shoulder. “Chainmail gloves?”

“It worked in the Middle Ages.”

CHAPTER NINE

Toni walked into the kitchen the next morning and looked over her family seated at the big wooden table, eating their breakfast.

“Anyone seen the dog?”

Kyle dropped his fork onto his plate. “You get this fancy job and now you don’t even remember our names?”

“I don’t mean you. I’m talking about the actual dog. I should walk him since I’m sure none of you will.”

“We have a dog now?”

“You all played with her last night.”

Her family gazed at her. Even her mother . . . who’d actually gotten the dog.

“Where’s Dad?” Toni asked, needing to speak to someone with actual sense, but they all pointed in random directions, which didn’t really help her. “Useless,” she muttered. “All of you . . . brilliant but useless.”

“But we are brilliant,” Troy said, grinning. “And isn’t that’s what’s important?”

“No.”

Toni walked out of the kitchen and down the hall. As she neared the front door, it opened and her father walked in with the dog on what was probably the little crap leash that came with her from the pound.

“She’s nice,” he said, pointing at the dog. “I’ll pick her up a real leash and collar this afternoon.”

“Thanks for walking her and not just putting her outside.”

“Of course. Besides, I think the kids should have a dog.”

“They should?”

“The more interaction they have with something other than—”

“Their own ego?”

Paul chuckled and kissed his daughter’s forehead. “Good luck today.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” She stepped back. “How do I look?”

Her father looked her over. “Like you run a banking empire.”

Toni glanced down at the suit she’d borrowed from her mother. “I can shop for something new this weekend.”

“You hate clothes shopping.”

“I know.” She sighed.

Looking up at her father, Toni hopefully asked, “Walk with me tothe subway?”

“No,” he said simply, surprising her. “You’ll be fine on your own.” Then he sort of shoved her out the door, briefly stopping to grab her backpack and shoving it into her arms. “You have a good first day, baby.” He winked and closed the door in her face.

Shocked—her father loved to go walking with her—Toni turned to head down the steps and into her new life.

“Mornin’.”

Toni stopped and stared. Ricky Reed sat on the stone handrail eating nuts. Almonds, it looked like.

“Morning. What are you doing here?”

“You left me hanging.”

“Hanging? About what?”

“Whether you took the job or not.”

“You’re here at seven in the morning because you wanted to know if I took the job with the Carnivores?”

“Yep.”

“You’re a strange wolf.”

“Some might say.”

Not sure where this conversation was going, Toni said, “Look, I have to go.”

“Need some company?”

“Company?”

Ricky slid off the handrail, tossed the rest of the almonds in his mouth, and gently took her arm. He moved down the rest of the stairs, and Toni was forced to walk with him.

“Nervous?” he asked.

“I guess. Hard not to be.”

“You’ll be fine.”

Toni stopped on the street and the wolf stopped with her. “What if I’m not?”

“What if you’re not what?”

“Fine. What if I’m not fine? What if instead of fine, I just suck.”

“I watched you yesterday, Toni. You were made for this job.”

“You’re right.” She nodded, desperate to believe him. “You’re right. This is probably not as big of a deal as I’m making it.”

“Right.”

“Ulrich is like my cousin. He’s family. This is probably just a cute title with some cash to make me feel better.”

“Well, I didn’t say—”

“I’m sure this isn’t a”—she made air quotes—“ ‘real job.’ Right?”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

Feeling better, understanding that this wasn’t a real job, just something to keep her busy over the summer, Toni started off again toward the subway. When she and the wolf reached the corner, a limo cut in front of them. The driver’s side door opened and the mountain lion from yesterday stepped out of the car.

Toni threw up her hands. “Mr. Van Holtz,” she snapped, “already told you he’d pay for your goddamn limo!”

“I know. This is it.”