The Mane Squeeze
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CHAPTER 16
Gwen walked around Lock, heading back to the house. Im going to Philly with Mitch, get some dinner, and let my family harass me into moving back.
She was only a few feet from the door when she went airborne. She gave a short squeal, her body preparing to be flung across the small backyard, but luckily, he didnt fling her anywhere, simply lifted her up until she could look him right in the eyewhich was still a hell of a drop if he decided to let her go.
Listen to me, Mr. Mittens. I have not, nor will I ever, fuck Judy I desperately need a sandwich
Bennington. I wasnt mean to her because shes friends with my sister and poor Iona never had many friends.
Its really hard to make them when youre twelve and smarter than most multidegreed scientists. So I put up with Judy being around, but I have no interest in her. None. And never will. Understand?
Not wanting to be dropped on her head, Gwen nodded.
Good. He lowered her to the ground. Gently. And before we go back inside, I want you to understand something. He released her arms and rubbed his hands against his thighs. I am really not complex. I eat, I sleep, I work. Thats it.
Dont forget the woodworking and playing with your toes.
He chuckled. Right. But thats it. When Im with someone, I dont screw around on them, whether weve started having sex or not. Im not one of those guys who can manage more than one woman at a time.
And to be really honest, Gwen, emotionally youre like three women. Theres a lot going on around you and I have to keep my focus at all times.
Gee, thanks.
Its true. Besides, youve come to mean way too much to me to screw it all up now.
She wanted to believe him and, to her surprise, she did. She wasnt using her head here, either, but her gut. Her gut was never wrong. Fine, but if theres anything else you need to tell me, now is the time. I dont want to find out later.
Lock let out a breath. Uhthere is something I havent told you that Ive been avoiding telling you.
Gwen nodded. Lets hear it.
Youre not going to like it.
Tell me anyway.
Lock licked his lips and admitted, My sisters a neurosurgeon.
Gwen didnt say anything, but the blank expression on her face said it all.
Shes not an organ thief, he argued.
Uh-huh.
This is why I didnt tell you before.
Because we both know shell try and kill me if she thinks I know too much? she asked flatly.
Youre insane.
Have you paid attention to the last twenty minutes with my family?
She did have a point. Butinstead of arguing with her about any of that, he did what hed wanted to do since he saw her standing on his parents porch.
Lock leaned in and kissed her. Instantly, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and she groaned into his mouth, the sound making his knees feel weak and his stomach clench. From only a kiss. Damn.
Lachlan, my dearest, Alla called from the back door. Sorry to interrupt, but dinners almost ready.
Lock pulled back and gazed into Gwens face while he answered. Okay, Mom. Well be right in. He brushed stray curls off her cheeks. What is it about you that makes me so crazy?
My incandescent charm?
Heh.
Youre not supposed to laugh.
Oh.
Youre supposed to agree.
Painting your nails with the team colors and logo of the Philadelphia Flyers does not mean you have incandescent charm. It just means youre kind of weird.
She held her nails up, making his skin itch to feel her hands on him. But tonight theyre playing against the Islanders. Its all about team loyalty.
With a wink, she slipped her hand into his, and together they walked into the wonderful-smelling kitchen.
The first day Abby Vega could shift, she knew two things: She wasnt crazyno matter what her foster mother saidand she needed to get out on her own. That was three years ago, and shed been living on the streets ever since. Of course, shed lived on the streets as a canine. Much easier than as a girl. This was one of her favorite spots, too. An alley that had a restaurant on one sideamazing the kind of stuff they threw out
and a bar on the other. That gave her a good sideshow while she was eating.
Tonight would be no different. The guy opening the doors of the white van owned this Staten Island bar.
Other than the liquor, she still wasnt sure what else he sold, all those deals happening in this alley, but she knew it wasnt anything legal. Shed seen him do all sorts of stuff in this alley, too, and not once, in all the time shed come here, had she ever seen him picked up by the cops. She had, however, seen him giving money to cops.
And thats who Abby thought she was at first. The woman crouched on top of the van, watching the deal go down. But she wasnt, was she? Too many scars, and her eyes
Abbys own eyes narrowed, trying to get a closer look.
There were three men now, haggling over whatever they had in that van, completely oblivious to the woman watching them. Was one of them setting up the others? Were there a bunch of cops around here? It didnt matter to Abby. If and when she bolted out, tail wagging, the cops would let her go. They always had before. Always patting her on the head, giving her a few treats. They never bothered calling Animal Control.
Gwen walked around Lock, heading back to the house. Im going to Philly with Mitch, get some dinner, and let my family harass me into moving back.
She was only a few feet from the door when she went airborne. She gave a short squeal, her body preparing to be flung across the small backyard, but luckily, he didnt fling her anywhere, simply lifted her up until she could look him right in the eyewhich was still a hell of a drop if he decided to let her go.
Listen to me, Mr. Mittens. I have not, nor will I ever, fuck Judy I desperately need a sandwich
Bennington. I wasnt mean to her because shes friends with my sister and poor Iona never had many friends.
Its really hard to make them when youre twelve and smarter than most multidegreed scientists. So I put up with Judy being around, but I have no interest in her. None. And never will. Understand?
Not wanting to be dropped on her head, Gwen nodded.
Good. He lowered her to the ground. Gently. And before we go back inside, I want you to understand something. He released her arms and rubbed his hands against his thighs. I am really not complex. I eat, I sleep, I work. Thats it.
Dont forget the woodworking and playing with your toes.
He chuckled. Right. But thats it. When Im with someone, I dont screw around on them, whether weve started having sex or not. Im not one of those guys who can manage more than one woman at a time.
And to be really honest, Gwen, emotionally youre like three women. Theres a lot going on around you and I have to keep my focus at all times.
Gee, thanks.
Its true. Besides, youve come to mean way too much to me to screw it all up now.
She wanted to believe him and, to her surprise, she did. She wasnt using her head here, either, but her gut. Her gut was never wrong. Fine, but if theres anything else you need to tell me, now is the time. I dont want to find out later.
Lock let out a breath. Uhthere is something I havent told you that Ive been avoiding telling you.
Gwen nodded. Lets hear it.
Youre not going to like it.
Tell me anyway.
Lock licked his lips and admitted, My sisters a neurosurgeon.
Gwen didnt say anything, but the blank expression on her face said it all.
Shes not an organ thief, he argued.
Uh-huh.
This is why I didnt tell you before.
Because we both know shell try and kill me if she thinks I know too much? she asked flatly.
Youre insane.
Have you paid attention to the last twenty minutes with my family?
She did have a point. Butinstead of arguing with her about any of that, he did what hed wanted to do since he saw her standing on his parents porch.
Lock leaned in and kissed her. Instantly, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and she groaned into his mouth, the sound making his knees feel weak and his stomach clench. From only a kiss. Damn.
Lachlan, my dearest, Alla called from the back door. Sorry to interrupt, but dinners almost ready.
Lock pulled back and gazed into Gwens face while he answered. Okay, Mom. Well be right in. He brushed stray curls off her cheeks. What is it about you that makes me so crazy?
My incandescent charm?
Heh.
Youre not supposed to laugh.
Oh.
Youre supposed to agree.
Painting your nails with the team colors and logo of the Philadelphia Flyers does not mean you have incandescent charm. It just means youre kind of weird.
She held her nails up, making his skin itch to feel her hands on him. But tonight theyre playing against the Islanders. Its all about team loyalty.
With a wink, she slipped her hand into his, and together they walked into the wonderful-smelling kitchen.
The first day Abby Vega could shift, she knew two things: She wasnt crazyno matter what her foster mother saidand she needed to get out on her own. That was three years ago, and shed been living on the streets ever since. Of course, shed lived on the streets as a canine. Much easier than as a girl. This was one of her favorite spots, too. An alley that had a restaurant on one sideamazing the kind of stuff they threw out
and a bar on the other. That gave her a good sideshow while she was eating.
Tonight would be no different. The guy opening the doors of the white van owned this Staten Island bar.
Other than the liquor, she still wasnt sure what else he sold, all those deals happening in this alley, but she knew it wasnt anything legal. Shed seen him do all sorts of stuff in this alley, too, and not once, in all the time shed come here, had she ever seen him picked up by the cops. She had, however, seen him giving money to cops.
And thats who Abby thought she was at first. The woman crouched on top of the van, watching the deal go down. But she wasnt, was she? Too many scars, and her eyes
Abbys own eyes narrowed, trying to get a closer look.
There were three men now, haggling over whatever they had in that van, completely oblivious to the woman watching them. Was one of them setting up the others? Were there a bunch of cops around here? It didnt matter to Abby. If and when she bolted out, tail wagging, the cops would let her go. They always had before. Always patting her on the head, giving her a few treats. They never bothered calling Animal Control.
