The Mane Squeeze
Page 53

Smittyis it okay if I call you Smitty?
As you like.
Excellent. Smitty, were trying to achieve something here with two incredibly difficult yet loving people, and the assistance of our friends would be greatly appreciated.
I aint your friend.
Blayne stormed back over to the table and the wolf held up one finger, stopping her in her unhappy and ranting-ready tracks.
Understood. But Lock is friend and family to almost everyone in this roomespecially your wife.
Theyve been so close for years. Im sure she told you about that. And they both knew she hadnt. MacRyrie had been at their wedding, but so had three hundred other people. If the grizzly had a special connection with Jessie Ann, neither had mentioned it. She was there for him during his hardest time. Fresh out of the military, really not adapting to civilian life after all those years in the Unit. The back of Smittys neck tightened with tension. The bear they were talking about had been in the Unit? The same Unit his cousin Dee-Ann had been in? Even Smittys shifter-only SEALs team stayed away from Unit members. The job requirements for the Unit made them moretroublesome than others.
More than once, Smittys team had been called in to put down a Unit member who had snapped his bolt. It was always one of their worst assignments. Not only because it was one of their own but because the Unit team members were the hardest to track and kill. And God forbid they ever came up behind you. God forbid they ever caught you unaware.
And leave it to Jessie Ann Ward to go waltzing up to one of em and say, How do ya do? Come on over to my wedding, which is chock-full of defenseless people!
Damn, but that woman was going to drive him into an early grave!
Ill admit, Id hoped that something would develop between Lock and Jess, butwellit didnt work out that way, now did it? Although I think Lock was open to it. Of course, shes with you now, and Im sure her heart is forever yours, but wouldnt it make us all feel a little better if we could get Lock settled with a girl of his own?
Smitty sized the wolf up. Typical Van Holtz. Not much brawn but wily.
You smooth-talkin mother
Problem! Adelle yelped as she ran into the room. Mary was throwing out the trash and she said she saw Lock and a female who sounds like Gwen heading this way!
The dogs scattered in seconds. Like the cats, they were good at that. But one wild dog wasnt going until she got Smitty to moveand he wasnt in the mood to move.
Smitty, please! she begged, holding on to his leather jacket and trying to pull him out of the chair.
Not sure Im inthe mood to go. You promised me steak and Im still waitin.
He has to get out of here, Van Holtz practically snarled.
Im trying, Jessie said. But hes in a mood.
Yall do know Im still in the room?
The older bears cleared their throats. Uhand were a little too old and big-boned to scatter, the She-bear kindly explained.
Okay, okay. Van Holtz took a moment. Lets do this. Adelle, please take Doctors MacRyrie through the side exit. Adelle nodded and showed the older couple the way out while Van Holtz focused on him. And what do you want, Smith?
World peace?
Bobby Ray!
He didnt even look at Jessie, too focused on the conniving wolf in front of him.
How about information? Van Holtz offered.
What information can you give me?
The wolf leaned in and what he whispered in his ear had Smittys body tensing as he scowled at him.
Youre lyin.
I dont have to.
Smitty stood and stormed out of the dining room, Jessie behind him, desperately trying to keep up.
Gwen stared around the restaurant and again looked down at her clothes.
We are so out of here, she whispered.
Why?
OneIm still in my work clothes. And two, theres no reason for you to pay so much for a lousy steak dinner.
There are no lousy steak dinners at the Van Holtz. Gwen blinked in surprise as the wolf she met from the night before appeared beside her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Hello again, Gwen.
Uhhi.
Gwen couldnt help but eye him. He was wearing a chefs coat and a dark-green bandana around his forehead. Last she heard, only Van Holtzs cooked in Van Holtz restaurants.
Dinner? he asked Lock.
Is that a problem?
Not at all.
Grabbing two menus from the hostess, he motioned them past the extremely long line of those waiting to be seated, through the packed dining room, and into the back. She knew she was dressed badly, but were they going to have to eat in the alley?
It seemed, however, that the Van Holtz flagship restaurant was more than a dining room and a kitchen. It also had a huge reception hall, and several private dining rooms in the back.
As they passed one of the bigger dining rooms, Lock abruptly stopped, his head lifting, his nose casting for a scent. Were my parents here?
Ric stared at him for a long moment before finally answering, Yes. Earlier. For dinner.