“Yes. But I take care of those by myself. I have a very handy vibrator.”

Van laughed. He’d never met a woman who openly admitted, in general conversation, she liked to get herself off.

“Look, I’m a feminist, Van Holtz. I feel there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a woman physically taking care of herself.”

“I see.”

She glanced at her bandaged side. “I can feel so many stitches. You know, I saw an open-heart surgery once and let me tell you—”

“Irene,” he cut in, before she could run off on some tangent, “I’m still back on the detesting-sex conversation.”

“Oh. All right.”

“Is this conversation bothering you?”

“No.”

“Okay.” Van got comfortable next to Irene Conridge. Normally, a woman told him she had no interest in sex and he had no interest in her. And although his sexual interest in Irene had gone far, far away, he still found talking to her kind of . . . well . . . to quote her, “fascinating.”

“Do you ever miss sex?”

“No.”

“Do you ever miss being around people?”

“I am around people. I live with Jackie.”

“True, but I mean, someone in your bed. Holding you. Or do you and Jackie . . . uh . . .”

She stared at him blankly and he realized that he could get rid of those kinky fantasies, too. Apparently Dr. Conridge didn’t like “sexual intercourse” with anyone. Male or female.

“If you mean lesbianism, then no. I have no interest in women either. But you shouldn’t feel bad for me,” she calmly insisted. “I’m not frigid in the clinical sense and I like the way my life is. Except for being mauled, it’s relatively simple and calm. And that’s just how I like it.”

“Then that’s all that matters, doc.”

“That’s how I feel.” She gazed up at him. “What you did tonight . . . I do really appreciate it. I know enough of shifter politics to know you didn’t make any fans this evening.”

“I’ll handle them. You just get better. And any chance you’ll tell me why you were out there in the first place?”

“No. And you know I don’t have to stay if I’ll be in the way.”

“Yes. You do have to stay, Irene. I’ve got to work something out with the Löwes and the Duprises to ensure they don’t come after you. Until I have that, you can’t leave.”

“Jackie—”

“Is completely safe. She’s spending the night here and she’s more than welcome. She just went to bed about an hour ago after watching every move our doctor made.”

Without thinking, he carefully tucked the sheet around her body.“I’ll make sure you’re safe, doc. I promise.”

“I’m sorry,” she said after several moments.

“For what?”

Irene shrugged, then grimaced, probably regretting the move, considering the pain it most likely caused. “For always thinking you were an asshole.”

Van grinned. “I am an asshole. And you’re a cold bitch. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, doc.”

“Friends?” She nodded. “I don’t mind being friends. I have so few of them.”

“Really? With your natural charm?”

“Ha, ha, Van Holtz.” And she gave what almost looked to be a smile.

Van slipped out of bed and headed toward the door. “I’ll send one of the She-wolves in to get you to the bathroom and I’ll make you some breakfast.”

“You? Make me breakfast?”

“Of course. Just wait until you taste my waffles, doc. You’ll see God.”

“Considering my personal belief system, I somehow doubt that.”

Van stepped into the hallway and closed the door. As he made his way past his family’s rooms, he caught sight of one of the She-wolves and motioned for her to take care of Conridge. The look on the girl’s face was how he’d imagine she’d look if he’d ordered her to stand in front of a firing squad. As he walked down the stairs, he saw his sister sitting on the bottom step reading the newspaper. He sat next to her and shook his head in disbelief.

“You’re right.”

“I’m right about what?”

“About Conridge. I don’t think anything will be happening between us anytime soon.”

Carrie patted his shoulder. “Shut you down, did she?”

“You could say that.”

“She reminds me of the computer from Alien.”

“Huh?”

“You know, ‘This ship detonates in T-minus five minutes and counting.’ That’s her.”

Van chuckled. “She’s not that bad. She’s just different. I like her. We’ll probably be friends. Which means I’ll never have sex with her.”

“You’re pathetic.”

“Yeah. Yeah,” he said, standing up to head to the kitchen to make breakfast for the entire Pack and Irene. “I love you too, sis.”

“Oh, and Dad’s looking for you.”

Van stopped but immediately shook his head. “I’ll talk to him later. I can’t deal with him right now.” He again headed toward the kitchen, his sister following right behind him. “And get on the phone. I want that meeting with the Löwes and the Duprises set up as soon as possible.”