The Mane Squeeze
Page 75
Gwens eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, and he knew he was in trouble. How much stuff have you given her?
A few things, he hedged.
And you havent charged her for any of it?
Her voice was even and controlled, but he could still hear the outrage in it. No. I havent charged her.
And I dont plan to start now.
As always when annoyed, Gwen placed her hands on her hips, those Philly girl nails of hers tapping against her cargo pants. What is your deal with her? Before he could answer, she held up her hand and went on. What if she asks? Then will you tell her?
She wont ask.
But if she does?
She wont.
Her eyes flashed wide in warning. But. If. She. Does?
Breaking one simple sentence into several sentences wont change the fact that she wont ask. She never asks and, like most dogs, Jess is a creature of habit.
Gwen suddenly relaxed, which made Lock tense up instead.
How about a bet then? she asked.
I dont gamble.
Because once you start you can never stop or because you have moral issues with it?
Because I hate to lose.
She smiled. Thats valid.
Your other two options werent valid?
Valid but a little more depressing.
Not sure where she was going with this, Lock rested his arms against the back of the chair. Okay. So what bet?
We take your chair over to Jesss and if she asks where you got it fromyou tell her.
No.
Again with the no?
Gwen, I saw you clean out my uncles. Youre what we in the high-stakes military game refer to as tricky. She laughed and Lock smiled but was honest. I know you, Gwen. Youre going to slip her a note or spell out my name in semaphore.
She frowned. I dont even know what semaphore is. And I swear not to say a word about you making the chair.
Yeah, right.
Seriously. No looks, notes, sema-whatevers, or smoke signals to imply you had anything to do with its creation. I wont say, write, or mouth one word about who made this chair or any of the other furniture youve stupidly given rich dogs for no pay.
He couldnt believe she wasnt letting that go. I like giving Jess stuff. Shes a good friend.
Yeah, she said, turning away. A good friend with big perky tits and a round, wild dog ass, but Im sure that has nothing to do with it.
Waitwhat?
Nothing. She headed toward the door. Lets go.
Wait. She stopped and faced him. The bet?
What about it?
Arent you supposed to have stakes for a bet?
According to the bookie I had in tenth gradeyeah.
No wonder shed beaten his uncles at cards. You had a bookie in the tenth
Well keep it simple. If she asks about the chair, I win and you give me that dining table free of charge.
I was going to
If they say nothing and you win She shrugged. Ill fix your plumbing for free.
Lock frowned. What makes you think I have plumbing problems?
Gwen silently walked across the large room to the one and only bathroom, far off in the corner. She disappeared inside and flushed the toilet. Lock cringed when the pipes shook and shuddered throughout the entire building.
She walked back to him and stared.
All right! he yelled over the shuddering pipes, flinching when the noise abruptly stopped and his voice ended up echoing around the room. Its a bet.
The front door opened and Gwen could see through the metal-and-glass security door the eyes of wild dog pups. They didnt notice her, howevertoo busy staring up at Lock.
Hi, he said, keeping his voice low and even. Your moms home?
The cutest little girl with big blond curls turned and yelled, Mommmmmmm!
Bearrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Theres a welcome, Gwen teased Lock.
And it only gets better.
Sabina, the Russian wild dog that even Blayne called prickly, came to the door and unlocked it, pushing it open with one hand. Why are you here?
To see Jess.
Will you be long? We are going to eat soon and I dont want us all starving like peasants while we wait for you.
The woman, with her thick Russian accent, did simply reek of warmth and hospitality, didnt she? Gwen knew gang members who were nicer to crackheads who owed them money.
No. We wont be long. I just want to give something to Jess.
Then come. Sabina started to turn away than turned back, her left forefinger raised. We will not feed you, bear. We dont have enough food. You and the cat must starve.
Gwen hissed and Lock urged Gwen forward with his hand against her back. Thats fine.
Sabina went back into the house and Gwen asked, Is it only fear that keeps you from tearing her head off that puny dog body?
A few things, he hedged.
And you havent charged her for any of it?
Her voice was even and controlled, but he could still hear the outrage in it. No. I havent charged her.
And I dont plan to start now.
As always when annoyed, Gwen placed her hands on her hips, those Philly girl nails of hers tapping against her cargo pants. What is your deal with her? Before he could answer, she held up her hand and went on. What if she asks? Then will you tell her?
She wont ask.
But if she does?
She wont.
Her eyes flashed wide in warning. But. If. She. Does?
Breaking one simple sentence into several sentences wont change the fact that she wont ask. She never asks and, like most dogs, Jess is a creature of habit.
Gwen suddenly relaxed, which made Lock tense up instead.
How about a bet then? she asked.
I dont gamble.
Because once you start you can never stop or because you have moral issues with it?
Because I hate to lose.
She smiled. Thats valid.
Your other two options werent valid?
Valid but a little more depressing.
Not sure where she was going with this, Lock rested his arms against the back of the chair. Okay. So what bet?
We take your chair over to Jesss and if she asks where you got it fromyou tell her.
No.
Again with the no?
Gwen, I saw you clean out my uncles. Youre what we in the high-stakes military game refer to as tricky. She laughed and Lock smiled but was honest. I know you, Gwen. Youre going to slip her a note or spell out my name in semaphore.
She frowned. I dont even know what semaphore is. And I swear not to say a word about you making the chair.
Yeah, right.
Seriously. No looks, notes, sema-whatevers, or smoke signals to imply you had anything to do with its creation. I wont say, write, or mouth one word about who made this chair or any of the other furniture youve stupidly given rich dogs for no pay.
He couldnt believe she wasnt letting that go. I like giving Jess stuff. Shes a good friend.
Yeah, she said, turning away. A good friend with big perky tits and a round, wild dog ass, but Im sure that has nothing to do with it.
Waitwhat?
Nothing. She headed toward the door. Lets go.
Wait. She stopped and faced him. The bet?
What about it?
Arent you supposed to have stakes for a bet?
According to the bookie I had in tenth gradeyeah.
No wonder shed beaten his uncles at cards. You had a bookie in the tenth
Well keep it simple. If she asks about the chair, I win and you give me that dining table free of charge.
I was going to
If they say nothing and you win She shrugged. Ill fix your plumbing for free.
Lock frowned. What makes you think I have plumbing problems?
Gwen silently walked across the large room to the one and only bathroom, far off in the corner. She disappeared inside and flushed the toilet. Lock cringed when the pipes shook and shuddered throughout the entire building.
She walked back to him and stared.
All right! he yelled over the shuddering pipes, flinching when the noise abruptly stopped and his voice ended up echoing around the room. Its a bet.
The front door opened and Gwen could see through the metal-and-glass security door the eyes of wild dog pups. They didnt notice her, howevertoo busy staring up at Lock.
Hi, he said, keeping his voice low and even. Your moms home?
The cutest little girl with big blond curls turned and yelled, Mommmmmmm!
Bearrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Theres a welcome, Gwen teased Lock.
And it only gets better.
Sabina, the Russian wild dog that even Blayne called prickly, came to the door and unlocked it, pushing it open with one hand. Why are you here?
To see Jess.
Will you be long? We are going to eat soon and I dont want us all starving like peasants while we wait for you.
The woman, with her thick Russian accent, did simply reek of warmth and hospitality, didnt she? Gwen knew gang members who were nicer to crackheads who owed them money.
No. We wont be long. I just want to give something to Jess.
Then come. Sabina started to turn away than turned back, her left forefinger raised. We will not feed you, bear. We dont have enough food. You and the cat must starve.
Gwen hissed and Lock urged Gwen forward with his hand against her back. Thats fine.
Sabina went back into the house and Gwen asked, Is it only fear that keeps you from tearing her head off that puny dog body?
