The Mane Squeeze
Page 73
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For what?
So far its been hybrids. Male wolf mixes.
Hunted?
I dont think so.
You worried?
Dont know yet.
Why bring in Ric?
Its the kind of thing that gets him all up in arms. Hes a big believer in protecting all shifters, full-blood or mixed. He took her hand. That being said, I want you to be careful. At least until we know whats going on.
You and Blayne.
No worries there. Were always careful. We have no choice. Im an ONeill and shes the best friend of an ONeill. Now are we going inside to see what your uncles were talking about or are you hoping Ill completely forget and you can totally puss out?
Dropping her hand, Lock snarled, Fine. Get out.
Lock stepped from the SUV and slammed his door. He walked to the warehouse and unlocked the door, shutting off his alarm system and heading inside, assuming Gwen would follow.
Gwen stood in the doorway and gazed up at the high ceiling. The place was an old warehouse, but even in New Jersey it couldnt be cheap to own or rent a place like this, even for storage. Which she was sure it was with all the furniture lying around.
And nice furniture, too. Really nice.
Captivated by the first thing that caught her eye, Gwen wandered over to a sweet little side table. It was made entirely of wood, and she was amazed at the craftsmanship. Gwen crouched down in front of it and ran her hand over the smooth wood.
Well?
She heard tone from the bear behind her, but she chose to ignore it. Besides, the more she touched the end table, the more she wanted it. Where did you get this from? When he didnt answer right away, Gwen glanced over her shoulder and was surprised by how uptight he looked. Whats wrong? She stood, gently placing her hand on his forearm. Whats the problem?
Nothing. He shrugged and admitted, I made it.
Gwen looked down at the table and back at the bear. No, seriously.
I am serious. I made it. And I was drawing a front door for the house. Dads been wanting a new one.
Gwen reached into Locks back pocket and pulled out the racing form. Shed grown up looking at these and helping her own uncles with their winnings and losses. It surprised her that she and Lock had that much in common. It surprised her even more what was drawn on that racing form.
It wasnt simply a door, as the MacRyrie bears had put it. The design was intricate, beautiful. As someone who worked with carpenters and construction people most of her life, Gwen knew when she was looking at something amazing. But could he actually create this?
Gwen stepped closer to the end tableand examined it again. Straightening, she walked down to the next piece. A rolltop desk that looked like something out of the nineteenth century but had been kept in impeccable shape. She pushed the rolltop up and then down. She studied every inch carefully.
You did this? she pushed, really not sure she believed him, but he looked so nervous and embarrassed, she was beginning to realize he wasnt lying. And if he could do this, then she doubted the door would be much of a challenge for him.
Yeah. I did.
This is your hobby? The woodworking you like to do?
Yeah.
Momentarily speechless, she stepped to another piece. This one a long dining table that she knew her mother would kill for.
Hobby?
Why do you keep saying that?
She whirled on him. Because hobby means whittling. Or birdhouses. Remember the birdhouses?
You said birdhouses. I never said birdhouses.
It means, she went on, ignoring him, a badly put-together table that your friends only pull out of the garage when they know youre coming over. This she gestured around the room at all the amazing pieces surrounding her this isnt that.
Without waiting for him to say anything else, she ran her hand over the dining table. It looked similar to the table in his parents house. No wonder hed gotten so weird when shed asked about it. Hed made it! And although this table had a similar style, she could see a marked difference in skill level between the two. He was growing, getting better, becoming a true artisan at his craft.
Okay, so how much for the table?
Locks head tilted to the side. How much?
Yeah. Ma would love this and Christmas is coming up.
Uh
And dont try and out-haggle me. Ive learned from the best.
I dont haggle.
All right. How much then? She gestured to herself with her hands. Hit me with it. I can handle it.
Gwen he seemed so confused you can have it.
Have it? Gwen looked at the table that was slowly going from Christmas gift to her mother to Christmas gift to Gwenie.
Lock, I cant take this. I mean youll lose what? Four, five grand for it? Okay, its true, the sex is great and all but four or five grand? Thats a lot of money for the sex to live up to.
I dont mean He dropped his head but she saw the smile. He wasnt laughing at her, it was a surprised smile. A smile of pure pleasure. What I mean is I dont sell my work. At least not yet.
So far its been hybrids. Male wolf mixes.
Hunted?
I dont think so.
You worried?
Dont know yet.
Why bring in Ric?
Its the kind of thing that gets him all up in arms. Hes a big believer in protecting all shifters, full-blood or mixed. He took her hand. That being said, I want you to be careful. At least until we know whats going on.
You and Blayne.
No worries there. Were always careful. We have no choice. Im an ONeill and shes the best friend of an ONeill. Now are we going inside to see what your uncles were talking about or are you hoping Ill completely forget and you can totally puss out?
Dropping her hand, Lock snarled, Fine. Get out.
Lock stepped from the SUV and slammed his door. He walked to the warehouse and unlocked the door, shutting off his alarm system and heading inside, assuming Gwen would follow.
Gwen stood in the doorway and gazed up at the high ceiling. The place was an old warehouse, but even in New Jersey it couldnt be cheap to own or rent a place like this, even for storage. Which she was sure it was with all the furniture lying around.
And nice furniture, too. Really nice.
Captivated by the first thing that caught her eye, Gwen wandered over to a sweet little side table. It was made entirely of wood, and she was amazed at the craftsmanship. Gwen crouched down in front of it and ran her hand over the smooth wood.
Well?
She heard tone from the bear behind her, but she chose to ignore it. Besides, the more she touched the end table, the more she wanted it. Where did you get this from? When he didnt answer right away, Gwen glanced over her shoulder and was surprised by how uptight he looked. Whats wrong? She stood, gently placing her hand on his forearm. Whats the problem?
Nothing. He shrugged and admitted, I made it.
Gwen looked down at the table and back at the bear. No, seriously.
I am serious. I made it. And I was drawing a front door for the house. Dads been wanting a new one.
Gwen reached into Locks back pocket and pulled out the racing form. Shed grown up looking at these and helping her own uncles with their winnings and losses. It surprised her that she and Lock had that much in common. It surprised her even more what was drawn on that racing form.
It wasnt simply a door, as the MacRyrie bears had put it. The design was intricate, beautiful. As someone who worked with carpenters and construction people most of her life, Gwen knew when she was looking at something amazing. But could he actually create this?
Gwen stepped closer to the end tableand examined it again. Straightening, she walked down to the next piece. A rolltop desk that looked like something out of the nineteenth century but had been kept in impeccable shape. She pushed the rolltop up and then down. She studied every inch carefully.
You did this? she pushed, really not sure she believed him, but he looked so nervous and embarrassed, she was beginning to realize he wasnt lying. And if he could do this, then she doubted the door would be much of a challenge for him.
Yeah. I did.
This is your hobby? The woodworking you like to do?
Yeah.
Momentarily speechless, she stepped to another piece. This one a long dining table that she knew her mother would kill for.
Hobby?
Why do you keep saying that?
She whirled on him. Because hobby means whittling. Or birdhouses. Remember the birdhouses?
You said birdhouses. I never said birdhouses.
It means, she went on, ignoring him, a badly put-together table that your friends only pull out of the garage when they know youre coming over. This she gestured around the room at all the amazing pieces surrounding her this isnt that.
Without waiting for him to say anything else, she ran her hand over the dining table. It looked similar to the table in his parents house. No wonder hed gotten so weird when shed asked about it. Hed made it! And although this table had a similar style, she could see a marked difference in skill level between the two. He was growing, getting better, becoming a true artisan at his craft.
Okay, so how much for the table?
Locks head tilted to the side. How much?
Yeah. Ma would love this and Christmas is coming up.
Uh
And dont try and out-haggle me. Ive learned from the best.
I dont haggle.
All right. How much then? She gestured to herself with her hands. Hit me with it. I can handle it.
Gwen he seemed so confused you can have it.
Have it? Gwen looked at the table that was slowly going from Christmas gift to her mother to Christmas gift to Gwenie.
Lock, I cant take this. I mean youll lose what? Four, five grand for it? Okay, its true, the sex is great and all but four or five grand? Thats a lot of money for the sex to live up to.
I dont mean He dropped his head but she saw the smile. He wasnt laughing at her, it was a surprised smile. A smile of pure pleasure. What I mean is I dont sell my work. At least not yet.
