Page 78 of Cross To Bear

“Shut up,” I ground out in a low voice, my eyes darting around me, but the office was mostly empty because I’d gotten to work hella early, trying to avoid just this kind of scene.

“Oh, did the big bad bears give you a goddamn hickey?” Her expression of glee was exactly what I was trying to avoid. “How high school, so show me.” And before I could say another thing, she dragged me into my office and slammed the door behind me. “So…”

I brushed aside her intrusive fingers, figuring she was the safest person to show this too. Mal always had my back, so maybe she could deflect attention away from my sudden change in attire. I pulled the fabric away from the bite sight, only for her eyes to go wide.

“Damn, is that—?”

“A mating mark?” I nodded. “And you’ll never believe how I got it.”

I’d thought about ringing Mal over the weekend, but our friendship was mainly contained to work, so it felt weird to be calling her to gossip.

“Oh my god, deets, bitch. Spill ’em. Which one was it? Was it Bjorn? I swear he looks at you like I do a nice tall vodka lime and soda on a Friday evening.”

“Razor,” I croaked out, feeling my cheeks begin to burn.

“Damn, he looks like he knows all the cool kinky things to do to a girl. Were you tied up and unable to resist? Or was it on the back of his bike, going at top speed down the highway?”

“I don’t even know how that’d be possible.” I shook my head. “No, I—”

A sharp knock at the door stopped us in our tracks, Annie, the receptionist, sticking her head in when we told her to enter.

“Mal, your eight o’clock is here, and Maddie, there’s a new client who’s asked if you could squeeze her in? I said I’d ask, but made no promises.”

“Jesus, god save me from early clients,” Mal hissed. “Fine, fine, just send mine down to my office, Annie. The sooner I get that shit fight sorted, the sooner I can get out of here.” She pointed a finger at me. “Drinks, after work. No excuses.”

“I can’t. I’m due around Mum and Dad’s after work.”

“Ugh… pencil me in for a lunch meeting then. Block out an hour. Make it a compliance issue or something so the higher ups aren’t likely to interrupt. Send the invite through or I will,” Mal ordered as she got to her feet.

“You got it, boss,” I said with a fake salute, watching her walk out before turning to Annie. “So who’s the new client?”

“She didn’t want to leave a name,” Annie said. “When she said she was referred over by the guys at Bearclaw, I assumed she was worth talking to at least. I can send her to someone else…”

“She asked for me personally?” I wondered who it might be. Maybe Cress or her girlfriend? Only way I’d find out was to meet with the woman. “Send her through. I’ll work out if she’s a good fit for us.”

I made sure the scarf was back in place, then sat down at my computer, booting it up in the time it took for Annie to bring the prospective client down to my office. I’d opened up a new client form right as Nelly walked in through the door.

My fingers froze mid-way between the keyboard and my chest as I just stared.

“Can I get anyone a drink?” Annie asked as she ushered my ex-mother-in-law— No, my soon to be mother-in-law into the room. I just stared as Nelly shook her head then came and sat down in the chair in front of my desk. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

Even Annie had sensed that something wasn’t right. Probably because just about anyone would’ve caught the rapid increase in tension. Nelly crossed one leg, her foot bouncing as she regarded me.

“Nelly,” I said, leaning forward and putting on my best client wrangling voice, “what can I do for you?”

“You can tell me what you’re playing at for starters.”

Her strident tone felt like it echoed through the room, potentially seeping out into my nice, neat office. I couldn’t have that, so I got up and closed my office door.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Stringing Jesse along for one. You were the longest girlfriend he’s ever had, Madeline.” Madeline? She was using my government name now? “He thought you were going to get married, have his children.”

I blinked, unsure how she could see that future and be somehow pissed it didn’t eventuate.

“And how do you think that would’ve gone?” I’d never in my life spoken to an older woman in this tone before, one filled with fury and exasperation. “You yourself recognise that Jesse’s not capable of making potato salad unaided. How the hell do you think he’d go as a father?”

She had to know. She had to have seen what I saw. Playing with his cousin Kara until he was bored with that, then turning his back on her. It wouldn’t just be a member of his extended family that was disappointed. It’d be his own son or daughter.

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