Bear Meets Girl
Page 50
No, were not. You were hit by a She-bear.
And youre full-human.
So?
Look, look at this. Malone pulled her cell phone out of her sweatpants pocket.
Dont show her that, Smith nearly begged, her gaze moving up to the ceiling.
Look what happened to this guy who had a run-in with a not-high, black bear sow ... which is way smaller than a grizzly, and the grizzly who did this to you was startled.
MacDermot took one look at the picture, squealed, and quickly slapped the phone out of Malones hand. What the fuck are you showing me that for?
Crush was kind of wondering the same thing.
He also wondered if all that bear talk had conjured up its own set of problems when the perky fox admin said from the front desk, Mr. Van Holtz? There are two grizzlies outside. Theyre asking me to buzz them in.
Theyre not ours?
No, sir.
MacDermot walked around to the other side of the admins desk and looked at the foxs computer screen. With her one open eye, MacDermot studied whoever was at the front door. Nope. Theyre not ours.
Van Holtz nodded. Let them in, Charlene.
Yes, sir.
He pointed at Malone and Smith. And you two, dont start anything.
Even if they deserve it?
Dee-Ann ...
The two grizzlies walked through the door, the taller one smiling at Van Holtz.
Mr. Van Holtz?
Yes.
Hello. Im ... The grizzly caught sight of Crush, his words trailing off. Their gazes locked and clashed, and the grizzlys lip curled. He recognized Crush and not merely as a fellow bear.
Cella didnt know what she expected, but it wasnt for Crushek to suddenly stand up, place Cella on her feet, and then snarl at the grizzlies, What? You got something to say?
Suddenly all those proper bear manners went out the window and the grizzlies were moving toward the polar, and Crush was moving around Van Holtz, going head-to-head with these two assholes. But before any of that could happen, Smith stepped between them all, facing the grizzlies, one side of her mouth lifting into a slight and rather scary smile.
The grizzlies stopped, refusing to go any closer, not surprising considering Smiths past history with BPC.
Why dont you gentlemen sit, Charlene, the admin, said, running over and offering chairs near the door, her smile wide. Mr. Van Holtz has a meeting scheduled right now, but hell be back as soon as hes done. Okay? Without waiting for an answer, she offered, Would you gentlemen like something to drink? Coffee, tea, or somehoney?
Smith sucked her tongue against her teeth. That Charlene, she teasingly complained about the admin, always ruinin my fun.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
They all headed toward Van Holtzs office, the BPC grizzlies left behind to seethe. As they came around the corner, Cella realized that Crush wasnt with them. She stopped and retraced her steps, finding the bear standing outside the game room where many of the Groups rescued hybrid teens hung out. He stood there, staring in and she stood next to him.
You okay? she asked when he didnt say anything. What was the deal with those bears?
That was nothing. Crush pointed at the window and quickly changed the subject, which made her think whatever had happened between him and the grizzlies was not nothing.
Why are there kids here? he asked.
It was his tone that made her concerned, but she still didnt know if that tone was due strictly to the BPC reps or not.
Smith found them on the streets, Cella explained. She brought them in.
Why didnt she turn them over to CPS?
Child Services had most of them and lost them. All these kids are runners. Dee-Annshe kind of hoped using the She-wolfs first name would loosen him up a bitwas just trying to help out by bringing them in.
Helping them or helping the Group? Are you people training them as agents?
He sounded so accusatory, Cella felt her hackles go up.
Im not training them to do anything. At all. This is Dees deal, not mine. Im not even in the Group.
The bear faced her. What do you mean youre not in the Group?
I mean Im not in the Group.
Then what the hell are you doing here?
Cant I just come to see you? When his expression grew impossibly darker, she quickly said, Im kidding. I swear Im kidding. Im just here to represent KZS as per Van Holtzs request. So dont worry, Im not stalking you if thats
Wait, he cut in. Youre KZS?
Yeah. I didnt tell you that? I could have sworn I told you that.
No. You never told me that.
Oh. She shrugged. Oops.
Oops? Thats all you can say?
What do you want me to say?
Nothing. He walked around her and headed off down the hall.
Cella followed Crush, catching up to him as he stood in the hallway trying to figure out the way to Van Holtzs office.
And youre full-human.
So?
Look, look at this. Malone pulled her cell phone out of her sweatpants pocket.
Dont show her that, Smith nearly begged, her gaze moving up to the ceiling.
Look what happened to this guy who had a run-in with a not-high, black bear sow ... which is way smaller than a grizzly, and the grizzly who did this to you was startled.
MacDermot took one look at the picture, squealed, and quickly slapped the phone out of Malones hand. What the fuck are you showing me that for?
Crush was kind of wondering the same thing.
He also wondered if all that bear talk had conjured up its own set of problems when the perky fox admin said from the front desk, Mr. Van Holtz? There are two grizzlies outside. Theyre asking me to buzz them in.
Theyre not ours?
No, sir.
MacDermot walked around to the other side of the admins desk and looked at the foxs computer screen. With her one open eye, MacDermot studied whoever was at the front door. Nope. Theyre not ours.
Van Holtz nodded. Let them in, Charlene.
Yes, sir.
He pointed at Malone and Smith. And you two, dont start anything.
Even if they deserve it?
Dee-Ann ...
The two grizzlies walked through the door, the taller one smiling at Van Holtz.
Mr. Van Holtz?
Yes.
Hello. Im ... The grizzly caught sight of Crush, his words trailing off. Their gazes locked and clashed, and the grizzlys lip curled. He recognized Crush and not merely as a fellow bear.
Cella didnt know what she expected, but it wasnt for Crushek to suddenly stand up, place Cella on her feet, and then snarl at the grizzlies, What? You got something to say?
Suddenly all those proper bear manners went out the window and the grizzlies were moving toward the polar, and Crush was moving around Van Holtz, going head-to-head with these two assholes. But before any of that could happen, Smith stepped between them all, facing the grizzlies, one side of her mouth lifting into a slight and rather scary smile.
The grizzlies stopped, refusing to go any closer, not surprising considering Smiths past history with BPC.
Why dont you gentlemen sit, Charlene, the admin, said, running over and offering chairs near the door, her smile wide. Mr. Van Holtz has a meeting scheduled right now, but hell be back as soon as hes done. Okay? Without waiting for an answer, she offered, Would you gentlemen like something to drink? Coffee, tea, or somehoney?
Smith sucked her tongue against her teeth. That Charlene, she teasingly complained about the admin, always ruinin my fun.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
They all headed toward Van Holtzs office, the BPC grizzlies left behind to seethe. As they came around the corner, Cella realized that Crush wasnt with them. She stopped and retraced her steps, finding the bear standing outside the game room where many of the Groups rescued hybrid teens hung out. He stood there, staring in and she stood next to him.
You okay? she asked when he didnt say anything. What was the deal with those bears?
That was nothing. Crush pointed at the window and quickly changed the subject, which made her think whatever had happened between him and the grizzlies was not nothing.
Why are there kids here? he asked.
It was his tone that made her concerned, but she still didnt know if that tone was due strictly to the BPC reps or not.
Smith found them on the streets, Cella explained. She brought them in.
Why didnt she turn them over to CPS?
Child Services had most of them and lost them. All these kids are runners. Dee-Annshe kind of hoped using the She-wolfs first name would loosen him up a bitwas just trying to help out by bringing them in.
Helping them or helping the Group? Are you people training them as agents?
He sounded so accusatory, Cella felt her hackles go up.
Im not training them to do anything. At all. This is Dees deal, not mine. Im not even in the Group.
The bear faced her. What do you mean youre not in the Group?
I mean Im not in the Group.
Then what the hell are you doing here?
Cant I just come to see you? When his expression grew impossibly darker, she quickly said, Im kidding. I swear Im kidding. Im just here to represent KZS as per Van Holtzs request. So dont worry, Im not stalking you if thats
Wait, he cut in. Youre KZS?
Yeah. I didnt tell you that? I could have sworn I told you that.
No. You never told me that.
Oh. She shrugged. Oops.
Oops? Thats all you can say?
What do you want me to say?
Nothing. He walked around her and headed off down the hall.
Cella followed Crush, catching up to him as he stood in the hallway trying to figure out the way to Van Holtzs office.
