Page 112 of Bears Behaving Badly
“Are you asking me, or Oz?” Pat jerked a thumb behind him, and Annette saw Oz peek around her roommate and wave.
“Hiya!”
“Good God.”
“I’ve been here about three seconds,” Pat continued. “I’ve got no idea how long Oz has been here.” Her roommate pushed his way past the kids.
“My goodness, Pat. A rare foray into the wider world, congratulations. And I simply adore the purple mascara. It sets off your suit to superb effect.”
“Thanks, Nadia. Also, go to hell. I leave the house all the time.”
Silence.
“I do, dammit! I went to the farmers market just a little while ago.”
“That was the Woodbury farmers market,” Annette said helpfully. “Which closed two years ago.”
“I rest my case. And I’m glad you’re awake. You look like shit, but not as shitty as I was expecting, so that’s something.”
“I’m happy to surprise you yet again. Also, the moment I’m out of this bed I’m smacking you around for an hour or so. Pat, what were you thinking, bringing the cubs to that warehouse? Oh, and Oz, I see you hovering in the doorway. You I’ll be smacking around for no reason at all. Come closer.” He obliged, shuffling forward, and she squinted up at him. A few scratches, but his earlier wounds from car vs. werewolf had cleared up. “You weren’t hurt.”
“Nope. That SAS guard never saw me coming. For a group that loves to insist they’re the master race of all master races, they sure go down easy.”
“Good God. And you, Pat. Again, what were you—”
“‘Holy shit, Annette’s gonna maybe die if we don’t do something,’” Pat said. “That’s what I was thinking.”
“Wait. How did you even know about that w…” Annette’s gaze settled on Caro, still hanging back. “Oh. My God. That took such courage, Caro, and if no one has told you, you’re wonderful. Pat, Oz, you’re still in for a thrashing. Give me that.”
“What?” he teased.
“Thebag, Pat. The one you’re hiding behind your back for some reason.”
“No, this is my bag.”
“Why are you behaving like you think I won’t get up out of this bed and take it from you?”
“I get off on living dangerously?” He held it out.
Annette snatched it. She knew what was in the black to-go box, but it was still lovely to behold a small pile of salmon sashimi. There were even chopsticks, which was hilarious.
“The chopsticks came with it,” Pat explained. “I didn’t bother explaining that you’d be double-fisting salmon into your gaping maw and small wooden sticks would only slow you down and infuriate you.”
“Wise,” she replied with her mouth full.
Caro chose that moment to come forward, smiling a little to see Annette’s cheeks bulging with fish. The sight of her reminded Annette that there was still much to put right, that paperwork (as always) beckoned, there was more work ahead, and this wasn’t a neat-and-tidy ending, because real life hardly ever worked that way. But her charges were safe, evil had been punished, and David…well. She’d have to think about that for a bit.
Caro held out her hand. “Hello. We haven’t been properly introduced. My name is Caro Daniels. And it’s lovely to meet you.”
Chapter 36
“Are you sure you don’t need a hand?”
“David, step away from the bathroom door.”
“I’m not sure you should be in there by yourself, is all.”
“If we hadn’t already slept together, I would be mortified that you’re seeing me like this. Well, hearing me like this. And smelling me like this. Through a closed door. Which I’ll soon have to open, so back up.”
