Bear Meets Girl
Page 38
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They give Malone a hard time?
Not always, but one in particular ... Cellas tried, very hard, to find her own way in life. But her Aunt Deirdre fears her effect on Meghan.
But Meghan is Malones daughter.
Exactly. Of course, Meghans kind of my daughter, too. And my daughter, Josie, is kind of Cellas.
And so you always have Malones back?
Always. If you want, you can think of it this way: You do this and youre helping me out. Because if Cella gets into it with her aunt, shell come to me to complain, and Ill be up all night listening to her rant. And then what if Im not a hundred percent with my job? On the day that the Marauder is playing? Gasp!
Thats extortion, Dr. Davis. Crush laughed.
Her smile ... gorgeous. Youre absolutely right. But think about it. Youll be helping out your favorite team, keeping them safe.
Low, Dr. Davis. Thats very low.
Due to my smaller size, I have to be able to fight a little dirtier than the bigger cats.
Dirtier and a lot smarter.
We have no choice when the Pride lions are running around calling us house cats.
Crush blew out a breath. Something tells me this might be the stupidest thing Ill ever agree to do.
Really, Detective Crushek? Because something tells me ... this will be the best thing thats happened to you in a very long time.
Cella sat in the SUV, waiting for Jai to come out. That big, bastard bear was probably asking her out. All that class and education compared to Cellas complete lack of both.
She briefly wondered if she could get away with just lying to her aunts until after the wedding. It would probably work with all of her aunts but Deirdre.
A knock at the drivers window made Cella jump a little, but finding Crush standing outside her car door just confused her. She rolled down the window. Hi.
Hi. When he stood there, not speaking, she tentatively asked, Is there something you need?
A promise. Two, actually.
Pretend we never met?
He smiled and she had to admithe had a really handsome smile. No. I just need to know that when were done with your crazy scheme, the world will think you broke up with me.
To protect my fine reputation?
You mean your reputation as a brawler and homicidal maniac? Yeah ... not really my concern.
Oh.
But I dont want Nice Guy Malone thinking I broke his daughters heart. Can you promise me that?
I can definitely promise you that. And the second?
That if you ever see me reaching for a Jell-O shot again, youll take me out like you did that goalie inlast months game against the Utah Sinners.
Laughing and cringing at the same timeshe really took that goalie outCella nodded. If it gets you to help me ... youve got it.
Then Im in.
Unable to help herself, Cella asked, So youll be my pretend boyfriend?
Yes.
Will we have pretend sex? What about pretend children? She pressed her hands to her chest and happily sighed, How about a pretend dog?
Leave Lola out of this and dont freak me out. He stood tallreally, really tall. So when do we start this?
Cella grimaced and admitted, Tonight.
Tonight?
The passenger door opened up and Jai slipped into the seat as Cella explained to Crush, Kids birthday dinner. Please?
He looked off, blew out a breath, then finally nodded. Yeah, all right. Ill follow you. Just let me take Lola to my next-door neighbors and then Ill be ready to go. Oh, unless I need to dress up?
The only parties Malones dress up for are wakes and weddings.
I dont think Id consider a wake an actual party.
It depends on who died.
He shook his head, refusing to respond to that. Let me take care of Lola before I change my mind about all this.
You can bring Lola if you want, Cella offered, feeling pretty impressed with herself for doing so.
Crushek stopped, looked at her. You want me to bring my fifty-pound dog
Thought it was a foster?
to a predator-only birthday party?
Cella blinked. Well, when you put it like that ...
With another sigh, the bear headed back to his house and dog.
He had a point about bringing the dog, Jai murmured, finally closing her door.
Cella shrugged. Yeah, I kind of realized that once I said it. But by then the words were already out of my mouth... .
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cella and Jai had returned to the house with the bear following behind in his own truck. As soon as theyd walked in, her aunts descended on him. But theyd barely gotten out their prying, annoying questions before Nice Guy came to the rescue, pulling Crush away and out back to meet with the rest of the uncles, male cousins, and her fathers old hockey buddies.
And that had been four hours ago. She hadnt been able to speak to him except to ask if he needed salt for his steak and did he want more potato salad. He seemed to be doing okay, although it was really hard to tell. The man so rarely smiled and around her dad he just looked sort of ... terrified. Terrified hed end up making a fool of himself in front of his hero players. Poor thing.
Not always, but one in particular ... Cellas tried, very hard, to find her own way in life. But her Aunt Deirdre fears her effect on Meghan.
But Meghan is Malones daughter.
Exactly. Of course, Meghans kind of my daughter, too. And my daughter, Josie, is kind of Cellas.
And so you always have Malones back?
Always. If you want, you can think of it this way: You do this and youre helping me out. Because if Cella gets into it with her aunt, shell come to me to complain, and Ill be up all night listening to her rant. And then what if Im not a hundred percent with my job? On the day that the Marauder is playing? Gasp!
Thats extortion, Dr. Davis. Crush laughed.
Her smile ... gorgeous. Youre absolutely right. But think about it. Youll be helping out your favorite team, keeping them safe.
Low, Dr. Davis. Thats very low.
Due to my smaller size, I have to be able to fight a little dirtier than the bigger cats.
Dirtier and a lot smarter.
We have no choice when the Pride lions are running around calling us house cats.
Crush blew out a breath. Something tells me this might be the stupidest thing Ill ever agree to do.
Really, Detective Crushek? Because something tells me ... this will be the best thing thats happened to you in a very long time.
Cella sat in the SUV, waiting for Jai to come out. That big, bastard bear was probably asking her out. All that class and education compared to Cellas complete lack of both.
She briefly wondered if she could get away with just lying to her aunts until after the wedding. It would probably work with all of her aunts but Deirdre.
A knock at the drivers window made Cella jump a little, but finding Crush standing outside her car door just confused her. She rolled down the window. Hi.
Hi. When he stood there, not speaking, she tentatively asked, Is there something you need?
A promise. Two, actually.
Pretend we never met?
He smiled and she had to admithe had a really handsome smile. No. I just need to know that when were done with your crazy scheme, the world will think you broke up with me.
To protect my fine reputation?
You mean your reputation as a brawler and homicidal maniac? Yeah ... not really my concern.
Oh.
But I dont want Nice Guy Malone thinking I broke his daughters heart. Can you promise me that?
I can definitely promise you that. And the second?
That if you ever see me reaching for a Jell-O shot again, youll take me out like you did that goalie inlast months game against the Utah Sinners.
Laughing and cringing at the same timeshe really took that goalie outCella nodded. If it gets you to help me ... youve got it.
Then Im in.
Unable to help herself, Cella asked, So youll be my pretend boyfriend?
Yes.
Will we have pretend sex? What about pretend children? She pressed her hands to her chest and happily sighed, How about a pretend dog?
Leave Lola out of this and dont freak me out. He stood tallreally, really tall. So when do we start this?
Cella grimaced and admitted, Tonight.
Tonight?
The passenger door opened up and Jai slipped into the seat as Cella explained to Crush, Kids birthday dinner. Please?
He looked off, blew out a breath, then finally nodded. Yeah, all right. Ill follow you. Just let me take Lola to my next-door neighbors and then Ill be ready to go. Oh, unless I need to dress up?
The only parties Malones dress up for are wakes and weddings.
I dont think Id consider a wake an actual party.
It depends on who died.
He shook his head, refusing to respond to that. Let me take care of Lola before I change my mind about all this.
You can bring Lola if you want, Cella offered, feeling pretty impressed with herself for doing so.
Crushek stopped, looked at her. You want me to bring my fifty-pound dog
Thought it was a foster?
to a predator-only birthday party?
Cella blinked. Well, when you put it like that ...
With another sigh, the bear headed back to his house and dog.
He had a point about bringing the dog, Jai murmured, finally closing her door.
Cella shrugged. Yeah, I kind of realized that once I said it. But by then the words were already out of my mouth... .
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cella and Jai had returned to the house with the bear following behind in his own truck. As soon as theyd walked in, her aunts descended on him. But theyd barely gotten out their prying, annoying questions before Nice Guy came to the rescue, pulling Crush away and out back to meet with the rest of the uncles, male cousins, and her fathers old hockey buddies.
And that had been four hours ago. She hadnt been able to speak to him except to ask if he needed salt for his steak and did he want more potato salad. He seemed to be doing okay, although it was really hard to tell. The man so rarely smiled and around her dad he just looked sort of ... terrified. Terrified hed end up making a fool of himself in front of his hero players. Poor thing.
