Bear Meets Girl
Page 113
Cella held up her hand. Other offers?
Van Holtz rolled his eyes. From the Philly team, the Boston team, the San Francisco team. I think theres a couple more. As soon as they heard you were out as a player, they began salivating. He placed his hand against his upper chest. But youre my friend. You wouldnt betray me, would you?
You about to threaten me with your mate?
If I have to.
Well
Just think about it before you turn me down.
I was just going to
Think about your situation. Your daughters staying in New York to go to school. So youll be near her. And Crusheks here. He, for some unknown reason considering how much the rest of us like him, also gets along with Novikov. Maybe all his experience working with sociopathic drug dealers or something.
Novikov is not that bad! Hes just ... myopic.
Like a fighting dog? When Cella rolled her eyes, Hey, he was the one who threw bleachers at Reed and the other guys.
I know, I know. I already talked to him about that. Told him it wasnt good for the team or morale.
Van Holtz smirked at her, one eyebrow up.
All right, all right. How about I give you a tentative yes?
Will you sign something?
No. I gotta talk to my own agent and my kid and my dad.
And Crushek?
Maybe.
Because hes part of your life now?
What are you, Van Holtz? A girl?
According to Dee-Anns father? Yes, I am.
Crush watched Cella skating around the rink. She was alone. Just her, the ice, her stick, and the puck. While she moved, he could hear her singing the traditional Irish song, Im a Man You Dont Meet Every Day, her voice sweeter than he ever thought it could be.
Shes in a good mood.
Crush shook his head and asked, Didnt anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on bears?
Dee-Ann Smith rested her arms on the low part of the training rinks wall and watched Cella skate.
Yall call it sneakin. I dont call it sneakin.
What do you call it?
Amblin.
Crush chuckled. Good to know.
New coach of the Carnivores, huh?
Thats what your mate tells me.
What do you think?
I told him it was about time.
He could see Smith look at him a few times before she said, What about KZS?
What about it?
You going to talk her out of working for them now? So she can devote herself to all things hockey.
Crush laughed. A lot. So much so that Smith finally asked, Whats so funny?
That you think I can talk that woman out of anything she wants to do. He patted her back. Youre a funny little She-wolf.
Smith grinned. Youll have to forgive me, son. I didnt realize you were one of those evolved males.
I dont need to evolve. Im a bear. He shrugged. Bears are already perfect. Its the rest of you that need to catch up.
Cella turned and skated over to them. When she stopped, she looked past Crush and Smith.
So I walked up to Crushek, Dez said from behind him, and started telling him how Baissier took out the taxidermist not too long ago.
Wondering what she was talking about since MacDermot hadnt told him anything like that since the last time hed seen her, Crush turned around and immediately snarled at the sight of his brothers.
When, Dez continued, another Crushek walked up to me and said to the first one, Whos the babe? to which the other one replied, Dont know, but nice tits.
It was a compliment, Gray stupidly stated, which got him the punch to the balls from Dez that he so richly deserved.
Why are you here? Crush demanded of Chazz since Gray was currently on his knees, hands between his legs.
Word is youre looking for that full-human ... Whitlan.
What? Are you here to warn us off for Baissier?
No. Were here to warn you that shes almost got him.
Crush glanced back at Cella. Thats why she took out the taxidermist. She knows where Whitlan is. Looking back at his brothers, he asked, But why are you telling me?
Because of what she did, Chazz replied, his face solemn.
What she did to me?
Now Chazz looked disgusted. You? Who gives a shit about you? Im talking about what she did to ... to ... Bare Knuckles.
Crushs eyes crossed and Smith quickly ducked her head, her shoulders shaking.
That was her going too far? Crush snarled. That?
You dont mess with the home team. Youre a complete idiot, but even you know that.
Crush took a step toward his brother, but Dez got between them. How does she know where Whitlan is? she asked Chazz.
He shrugged. I heard she got it out of some girl.
Smith looked up. What girl?
Van Holtz rolled his eyes. From the Philly team, the Boston team, the San Francisco team. I think theres a couple more. As soon as they heard you were out as a player, they began salivating. He placed his hand against his upper chest. But youre my friend. You wouldnt betray me, would you?
You about to threaten me with your mate?
If I have to.
Well
Just think about it before you turn me down.
I was just going to
Think about your situation. Your daughters staying in New York to go to school. So youll be near her. And Crusheks here. He, for some unknown reason considering how much the rest of us like him, also gets along with Novikov. Maybe all his experience working with sociopathic drug dealers or something.
Novikov is not that bad! Hes just ... myopic.
Like a fighting dog? When Cella rolled her eyes, Hey, he was the one who threw bleachers at Reed and the other guys.
I know, I know. I already talked to him about that. Told him it wasnt good for the team or morale.
Van Holtz smirked at her, one eyebrow up.
All right, all right. How about I give you a tentative yes?
Will you sign something?
No. I gotta talk to my own agent and my kid and my dad.
And Crushek?
Maybe.
Because hes part of your life now?
What are you, Van Holtz? A girl?
According to Dee-Anns father? Yes, I am.
Crush watched Cella skating around the rink. She was alone. Just her, the ice, her stick, and the puck. While she moved, he could hear her singing the traditional Irish song, Im a Man You Dont Meet Every Day, her voice sweeter than he ever thought it could be.
Shes in a good mood.
Crush shook his head and asked, Didnt anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on bears?
Dee-Ann Smith rested her arms on the low part of the training rinks wall and watched Cella skate.
Yall call it sneakin. I dont call it sneakin.
What do you call it?
Amblin.
Crush chuckled. Good to know.
New coach of the Carnivores, huh?
Thats what your mate tells me.
What do you think?
I told him it was about time.
He could see Smith look at him a few times before she said, What about KZS?
What about it?
You going to talk her out of working for them now? So she can devote herself to all things hockey.
Crush laughed. A lot. So much so that Smith finally asked, Whats so funny?
That you think I can talk that woman out of anything she wants to do. He patted her back. Youre a funny little She-wolf.
Smith grinned. Youll have to forgive me, son. I didnt realize you were one of those evolved males.
I dont need to evolve. Im a bear. He shrugged. Bears are already perfect. Its the rest of you that need to catch up.
Cella turned and skated over to them. When she stopped, she looked past Crush and Smith.
So I walked up to Crushek, Dez said from behind him, and started telling him how Baissier took out the taxidermist not too long ago.
Wondering what she was talking about since MacDermot hadnt told him anything like that since the last time hed seen her, Crush turned around and immediately snarled at the sight of his brothers.
When, Dez continued, another Crushek walked up to me and said to the first one, Whos the babe? to which the other one replied, Dont know, but nice tits.
It was a compliment, Gray stupidly stated, which got him the punch to the balls from Dez that he so richly deserved.
Why are you here? Crush demanded of Chazz since Gray was currently on his knees, hands between his legs.
Word is youre looking for that full-human ... Whitlan.
What? Are you here to warn us off for Baissier?
No. Were here to warn you that shes almost got him.
Crush glanced back at Cella. Thats why she took out the taxidermist. She knows where Whitlan is. Looking back at his brothers, he asked, But why are you telling me?
Because of what she did, Chazz replied, his face solemn.
What she did to me?
Now Chazz looked disgusted. You? Who gives a shit about you? Im talking about what she did to ... to ... Bare Knuckles.
Crushs eyes crossed and Smith quickly ducked her head, her shoulders shaking.
That was her going too far? Crush snarled. That?
You dont mess with the home team. Youre a complete idiot, but even you know that.
Crush took a step toward his brother, but Dez got between them. How does she know where Whitlan is? she asked Chazz.
He shrugged. I heard she got it out of some girl.
Smith looked up. What girl?
