The Mane Squeeze
Page 77
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Sabina looked at the chair and back at Lock. I do not understand.
But Jessica did. You made this, Lock?
He shrugged, livid with Gwen. Could he wring her neck and get away with itlegally? Yeah. I made this. He cleared his throat. But if you dont like it, I can definitely
Locks words abruptly halted as Jess burst into tears, his gaze quickly swinging to Gwens in panic, but all she could do was shrug helplessly.
Jess, he began, desperate, if you really dont like it, I can make you something else.
Jess took a step toward him, still sobbing, and raised her arms.
Lock briefly closed his eyes. Jess, come on.
She slammed her foot down, her arms still raised. Lock glanced at Gwen again before he reached down and picked Jess up.
Gwens eyes narrowed as Jess buried her face in his shoulder, her arms around his neck, and continued to sob.
Chewing her lip, May slowly moved around the chair and was about to sit down in it, when Jesss head snapped up.
Your ass hits that chair and its the last thing itll ever do!
Oh, come on, Jess! May begged. Just let me sit in it.
No! Its mine! Jess rested her head against Locks shoulder. All mine. My throne of power. By this chair I rule.
I cant believe youre being so selfish!
Mine! Jess screamed.
Sabina slapped Locks arm and pointed at the chair. Make me one but with Russian words I will give you.
Hey! May snarled. Thats not fair.
What is not fair?
Why should you get a chair first? Im the one pregnant again. So if hes making another chair, its gonna be for me!
You spawn like the salmon this bear eats, Sabina accused. Why should you get something special for something you seem to do constantly?
Why? Because Im creating the future leaders of the United States of America. You, however, are breeding thugs! May smiled at Lock. Im sure Lock wouldnt mind making my chair first.
He make your chair first in hell.
Back off, Putin!
I pay, Sabina offered Lock, gripping his arm. Three thousand for chair.
Ill give him five thousand.
Ten, hillbilly.
Fifteen, Chekhov.
With Jess still in his arms, Lock stepped between them. Stop it. Both of you. I can make you both chairs forowwww! He glared down at Gwen while a spot on his thigh throbbed from where the little psychopath had pinched him. What the hell was thatfor?
Ill handle this, she said, grabbing hold of an arm from each wild dog and pulling them out of the living room. You show Jess her newuhthrone.
Lock glanced at the woman in his arms. She was no longer sobbing, but was now smiling and giving her best Queen Elizabeth wave to her nonexistent people.
I, she somberly intoned, not to Lock but her invisible people, as your ruler and sovereign, do thank you for this lovely throne.
She motioned to the chair. You may now place me in my throne.
You have got to be kidding me, Jessica.
Place me!
All right. All right. Lock placed her in the chair and Jess leaned back, sighing and smiling. I love it, Lock, she said. After she rocked back and forth a few times, she stopped and looked up at him again. The other stuff youve given me. The desk, the dining tablewhere did you get those from?
Lock let out a breath and wondered how Gwen could manage to cause so much trouble without really trying.
CHAPTER 21
Arent you a little interested in finding out how much
No.
Lock got out of the SUV and slammed the door shut behind him. Gwen followed after him, trying to keep up as his long legs quickly took him across the parking garage interior.
I didnt break my promise, ya know?
I know.
He slammed his hand against the elevator button and Gwen flinched, certain he was going to shove the entire wall back.
Then I dont see why youre so ticked off.
I dont like being embarrassed. Okay?
Then you shouldnt be hanging around me. Gwen blinked. Wait. That came out wrong.
Im bettin it didnt.
Gwens mouth dropped open, shocked at the insult. And a little hurt.
Fine, she finally said as the elevator doors creaked open. Ill go back to the hotel then. I dont need this shit. She turned away from him, figuring she could take the stairs back to the street. But Lock caught hold of her denim jacket and hauled her into the elevator. It wasnt even a struggle for him. He simply caught hold of her and yanked her in like she was a bag of dirty laundry.
Christ! What was she thinking getting involved with a guy this strong? He seemed nice enough, but what if he wasnt? What if the whole shy, sweet bear thing was a sham and he was a dangerously unstable man-eater? Then what would she do?
The doors opened on the first floor and Gwen tried to walk out, but he put that Thors Hammer he called an arm in front of her and pushed her back.
But Jessica did. You made this, Lock?
He shrugged, livid with Gwen. Could he wring her neck and get away with itlegally? Yeah. I made this. He cleared his throat. But if you dont like it, I can definitely
Locks words abruptly halted as Jess burst into tears, his gaze quickly swinging to Gwens in panic, but all she could do was shrug helplessly.
Jess, he began, desperate, if you really dont like it, I can make you something else.
Jess took a step toward him, still sobbing, and raised her arms.
Lock briefly closed his eyes. Jess, come on.
She slammed her foot down, her arms still raised. Lock glanced at Gwen again before he reached down and picked Jess up.
Gwens eyes narrowed as Jess buried her face in his shoulder, her arms around his neck, and continued to sob.
Chewing her lip, May slowly moved around the chair and was about to sit down in it, when Jesss head snapped up.
Your ass hits that chair and its the last thing itll ever do!
Oh, come on, Jess! May begged. Just let me sit in it.
No! Its mine! Jess rested her head against Locks shoulder. All mine. My throne of power. By this chair I rule.
I cant believe youre being so selfish!
Mine! Jess screamed.
Sabina slapped Locks arm and pointed at the chair. Make me one but with Russian words I will give you.
Hey! May snarled. Thats not fair.
What is not fair?
Why should you get a chair first? Im the one pregnant again. So if hes making another chair, its gonna be for me!
You spawn like the salmon this bear eats, Sabina accused. Why should you get something special for something you seem to do constantly?
Why? Because Im creating the future leaders of the United States of America. You, however, are breeding thugs! May smiled at Lock. Im sure Lock wouldnt mind making my chair first.
He make your chair first in hell.
Back off, Putin!
I pay, Sabina offered Lock, gripping his arm. Three thousand for chair.
Ill give him five thousand.
Ten, hillbilly.
Fifteen, Chekhov.
With Jess still in his arms, Lock stepped between them. Stop it. Both of you. I can make you both chairs forowwww! He glared down at Gwen while a spot on his thigh throbbed from where the little psychopath had pinched him. What the hell was thatfor?
Ill handle this, she said, grabbing hold of an arm from each wild dog and pulling them out of the living room. You show Jess her newuhthrone.
Lock glanced at the woman in his arms. She was no longer sobbing, but was now smiling and giving her best Queen Elizabeth wave to her nonexistent people.
I, she somberly intoned, not to Lock but her invisible people, as your ruler and sovereign, do thank you for this lovely throne.
She motioned to the chair. You may now place me in my throne.
You have got to be kidding me, Jessica.
Place me!
All right. All right. Lock placed her in the chair and Jess leaned back, sighing and smiling. I love it, Lock, she said. After she rocked back and forth a few times, she stopped and looked up at him again. The other stuff youve given me. The desk, the dining tablewhere did you get those from?
Lock let out a breath and wondered how Gwen could manage to cause so much trouble without really trying.
CHAPTER 21
Arent you a little interested in finding out how much
No.
Lock got out of the SUV and slammed the door shut behind him. Gwen followed after him, trying to keep up as his long legs quickly took him across the parking garage interior.
I didnt break my promise, ya know?
I know.
He slammed his hand against the elevator button and Gwen flinched, certain he was going to shove the entire wall back.
Then I dont see why youre so ticked off.
I dont like being embarrassed. Okay?
Then you shouldnt be hanging around me. Gwen blinked. Wait. That came out wrong.
Im bettin it didnt.
Gwens mouth dropped open, shocked at the insult. And a little hurt.
Fine, she finally said as the elevator doors creaked open. Ill go back to the hotel then. I dont need this shit. She turned away from him, figuring she could take the stairs back to the street. But Lock caught hold of her denim jacket and hauled her into the elevator. It wasnt even a struggle for him. He simply caught hold of her and yanked her in like she was a bag of dirty laundry.
Christ! What was she thinking getting involved with a guy this strong? He seemed nice enough, but what if he wasnt? What if the whole shy, sweet bear thing was a sham and he was a dangerously unstable man-eater? Then what would she do?
The doors opened on the first floor and Gwen tried to walk out, but he put that Thors Hammer he called an arm in front of her and pushed her back.
