Bear Meets Girl
Page 12

The pair fought their way back to Gentrys office and MacDermot stopped by his side. Dont mind Cella. That was the one on your lap. Dee-Ann was the one with the accent.
MacDermot, I dont care.
Whatever. Im out tomorrow, so well start working together on Monday. She started to walk off but stopped. And are you really going to keep going with that biker look?
Excuse me?
Youre not working vice anymore, Crushek. You have to look a little less ... terrifying. You dont have to wear a suit or anything but ... She picked up a handful of his hair, running it through her fingers. At least get this mess cut.
When Crush growled, she held her hands up, palms out. Not a buzz cut or anything. Just look a little less threatening.
I dont want to cut my hair.
Were not in a rock band, chico, she snapped. Cut your hair.
Yeah, hed completely forgotten what a ball-busting female MacDermot could be when you had to work with her.
She walked off and Crush stared at his desk. He was so miserable at the moment, his cock easily settled back down. A haircut, he muttered, making the detective sitting at the desk near him chuckle.
Crush locked his eyes on the leopard. Whats so fucking funny? he demanded.
The leopard pointed behind him. That.
Looking over his shoulder at Gentrys office, he saw the feline standing by the big glass windowstaring at him. She breathed on the glass and drew a heart in the condensation, then placed a kiss inside the heart. She winked at him, scrunched up her nose, and mouthed later before turning away.
Gritting his teeth, Crush faced forward again.
Dude the leopard began.
I wont discuss it!
Cella sat down on the other side of Gentrys desk and laughed so hard she had to rest her head against it.
Dont pick on Crushek, Gentry told her.
Lifting her head and wiping the tears, Cella explained, Im not picking on him. Im trying to get him to loosen up. Hes so damn uptight.
Hes alsoshould it work outMacDermots new partner, so give him respect.
Yet another partner, eh, MacDermot? Cella teased.
Dont blame me. Its you two. You guys get involved and my partners cant run from me fast enough. MacDermot pointed at Cella. And youre doing it again!
It was your Jell-O shots, lady!
No one told you or Crushek to suck down a vat of them! And who gets naked and crawls into bed with some guy she doesnt evenknow?
Smith raised her hand, only lowering it when they all gawked at her. Well, I dont do it anymore.
Wow, talk about a coyote ugly morning for some poor guy, Cella laughed, but no one else joined in, so she stopped.
Mighta been funny, Smith muttered, if Id been an actual coyote.
Like theres a difference.
Can we discuss why youre all here? Gentry snapped.
Why are we all here? Cella asked, pulling out a pack of gum from her sweatshirt pocket.
Smith took a piece of paper from her back pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to Cella.
Cella looked at the one-page ad, MacDermot leaning over to see as well.
Finally, Cella had to know, Wouldnt cremation be a better idea? I mean would your mate want you stuffed and just standing around his house when you die?
Its not for me, the She-wolf snarled.
The Group thinks, Gentry cut in, and I think I agree, that this taxidermist is stuffing our kind and turning us into trophies after weve been hunted down. Although the real problem is, of course, that hes completely aware that hes stuffing shifters.
Oh. Okay. Cella took hold of MacDermots arm and turned it so she could see the giant Breitling mans wristwatch the woman always wore. It was a real one, too. She could tell, because as a great-aunt once told Cella, Gotta know the real ones if youre going to sell the fake.
She checked the hour and said, Ive got time tonight. I can take him out.
Or, Gentry suggested, rather than you killing anyone you just dont like, you could let me finish.
See, Cella shot back, thats a ridiculous thing to say because I dont even know this guy or whether I like him or not. I was just going to kill him.
When the women all stared at her, Cella pointed an accusing finger at Smith. I was just going to kill him because of her. Its the dogs fault!
Gentry leaned back in her chair, fingers to her temples.
Am I causing one of your headaches again? Cella asked.
Yes.
Why are we having this meeting? MacDermot asked. As much as I love to see you guys, I have to kind of agree with Cella here. Other than just taking this guy out, I dont know what we need to discuss. And Im off tomorrow, so that better not be changing, she also felt the need to add.
When I found out about this place, Smith said, I was just going to go on in there, cut the guys throat, and leave