Page 37 of A Reluctant Boy Toy
Where had I gotten those and more importantly why?
“Molly was just telling me how much you enjoy being behind the camera. Think you can take some pretty pictures of Morrigan for me?”
“I’d love to. Can I?” Bast picked up his camera and called her to a nice, still-sunny spot some distance away.
“I see what you did there.” Molly bit her lip. “Guess I’m not as subtle as I think.”
“If he’d really rather not act or model, why does he do it? He can say no, can’t he?”
“He’s been in the industry since he was born. That’s part of it.”
We both stopped to watch Bast get pictures of Morrigan dancing on her hind legs. A lot of people assumed they had to use force to win the trust of a dangerous dog her size.Be the alpha, some said. Force submission. But Morrigan was a highly intelligent, affectionate, and loyal dog. Anyone who tried to win her through a contest of wills didn’t understand what they were dealing with. It might work to subdue a dog her size, but it could never create the relationship I had with her. She needed a leader, not a boss.
I loved how gently Sebastian talked to her.
“Maybe he should be the animal handler.” I hoped he planned to send me some of those pictures.
Molly hid her smile. “He’d probably prefer it.”
“Are you saying he can’t extricate himself from his career now, even if he wants to? Why not? Is he in debt? I understand there must be contracts to fulfill—”
“What I’m trying to say is that Bast understands how genuinely lucky he was to get where he is. People would kill to be in his shoes, and he feels that deeply, even if”—she frowned—”it was never his choice to be there.”
“Are his parents actors?”
“His mother modeled.” Her expression cooled. “She’s where he gets those looks. His father is an attorney. I’m definitely talking out of turn here. You should ask him some of these questions.”
“I get the feeling he’d deflect.”
“Oh yeah. He’s the undisputed master of that game.”
She and I watched Morrigan’s antics for a little while longer. If they kept it up, Hades and Seph were going to start digging their way out of their kennels to join in the fun. I put down my wine, picked up the bag of fancy dog treats, and stood.
“Do you want to meet Hades and Persephone?”
“Very much. Yes!” She set her glass down and clapped her hands like a little girl. “Take me to your wolves.”
“They’re not wolves. They’re wolfdog hybrids. What did Sebastian tell you about them?”
“Only that they had to be cared for in a specific way on set to minimize the danger.”
“That’s right. We can’t afford to have a single mishap.”
“I understand. I’ll keep my hands…Oh.” She breathed out in awe when she saw them. Hades with his dark face and mad fluffy fur smelled the treat right away. I gave him the first and then turned to Persephone, whose light gray coat reflected the fading sunset in an interesting, prismatic way. “They’re gorgeous. Just look at those eyes. Oh, how I wish they could talk.”
“No, you don’t. They’d do nothing but complain about their accommodations and demand more food.”
“They’d rather have the run of the place, huh?” she asked. “Poor babies. So, are they half-wolf?”
“These two were rescues, so we have no idea about their lineage. But even if they came from a litter of a wolf and say, a German shepherd, genetics isn’t like mixing something chocolate and something orange and getting a chocolate orange. They could be all wolf, all dog, or an infinite combination of the two. They’re pretty well trained, and they look like wolves. That’s how they get jobs.”
“Genetics is hard math.” She wrinkled her nose. “We learned it all wrong in grade school.”
“Exactly. It’s a bit more complicated than wrinkled and round peas.”
“Oh my goodness, though.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “They’re so lovely. I see why people would want them. There’s something alluring about being so close to wild animals. I’m not saying that’s a good thing—it can become a compulsion. Are they smart? Do they obey on command?”
“Most times they will. Hades is a little shy with people, and Persephone loves to chase things. She was fascinated by your furry boots the night you and Sebastian arrived. Between the two, she’s my rapscallion.”
