Do-rag laughed. "I'm going to tie you bitches up, make a nice surprise for Enright." Something crashed into a wall. "You budge," he said, "And I put a bullet into your boss."
"I won't move." Promised a woman. "Just don't hurt her," she pleaded.
"Up." Something fell over. There was the noise of flesh contacting flesh and someone stumbling. Maddie was propelled out of the office and fell to the floor. But once down she rolled away from the corridor door and lay curled on her back. Her feet were aimed at the doorway where her captor was emerging. Do-rag's legs buckled as she kicked hard at the side of his knee with both heels.
Doug's bullet took him in the back of the head. Len stepped out of the supply cupboard across from Maddie's office and put the safety back on his gun.
"You know," he said happily, "These here doors would be just the thing to hide a fridge behind. Can't even tell they're doors."
"Jesus," Alexander said looking down at Blake's corpse. "You got any idea how much paperwork this is going to create, Enright?"
* * *
"Well now we know how Eric found Flamethrower," Doug said with satisfaction. "That was always a puzzle.
"Cops found that Eric had been a frequent visitor to Flamethrower's website. Contacted him several times. Last time the day he was offed. Blake knew Flamethrower, but rather than introduce his pals to each other, he just told Eric about Flamethrower's website."
"But why not introduce them to each other?" asked Madeline as she set the dinner plates on the kitchen table.
"Blake didn't want any of his gang knowing he was gay," Len explained. "Guess he thought they wouldn't approve."
"I never knew Eric danced at both ends of the ballroom," Maddie said.
"Guy was a liar," said Doug as if that ended the matter. "For me the big question is what was Len doing at Glorious She today since we didn't know about Blake?"
"Had a feeling," said Len. "Besides, Gayle was going to introduce me to one of your instructors. She thinks Caitlyn is just the gal for me."
"Gayle is matchmaking?" Maddie shook her head. "My instructors' private lives are none of my concern. But don't you upset Caitlyn, she'd be hard to replace." She turned to Doug. "I guess since you're eating with us, you aren't going to be charged with Blake's death."
"Self-defense," said Doug righteously. "Prosecutor declined to press charges. Blake had a gun in his hand and we had Alexander and you and Leeann to confirm that he was threatening you.
"Narcotics would have liked to question the SOB but they had their chance. They could have picked him up any time after I put that bug on his van. Instead they wasted their time following him around." He stabbed a potato savagely and put it in his mouth.
"All's well that ends well," said Len. "You guys can come down off high alert." He turned to Maddie. "You ready for the shindig in Hanover next month?"
"I haven't been asked," Maddie said.
Doug scowled at Len. He was not ready for this. "My parents are expecting you to come," he said. "We'll stay at my place. They're buying beds for the other three bedrooms. Apparently we are putting up some of the folks from Wesheno."
Maddie looked at her bear. He sat tall and upright across from her, working his way through his dinner as if he was perfectly calm. But he was worried as hell about her response.
"Wouldn't miss it," she said. "Lindsey wants me to bring you to her wedding next Saturday. She seems to feel that a highly decorated officer will add cachet to the event. Of course, you'll have to sit with her aunts, I'll be at the head table with the other bridesmaids.
"Where will we stay?" Doug asked calmly.
"Here. Wedding's in Portland. Groom is from Idaho, Lindsey is from Portland, so they are having it here because LA is too far for the Midwesterners to go." She grinned cheekily at Doug. "You should plan on having all of next weekend taken up with the festivities. I'm going to put you in charge of Laurel."
"This would be your friend with the drinking problem?" he asked politely.
"Hmm."
"I'll look forward to pumping her for the secrets of your youth."
Len laughed. He stood up and grabbed his empty plate. "My turn to do the dishes tonight. You two go work out the logistics in the living room."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"He's giving us an opportunity to make up," Maddie said as she snuggled closer to Doug on the sofa.
""Or make out," Doug agreed, putting both arms around his mate and squeezing lightly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I was mean and horrible and ungrateful last night. I don't even know why I blew up. But I'm sorry. Len tore a strip off me this morning."
"Lenny?" Doug sounded surprised. "He's usually the most easy going guy in the world."
"He was worried about you."
"About me?" Doug sounded utterly flabbergasted.
"Uh huh. Said something about not going to bed mad."
"I'm all for that." Doug scooped her up in his arms and stood.
"So you forgive me?" Maddie asked.
"If you forgive me. Takes two to argue."
"Not if one of them is afraid to speak his mind. When you shut down, I got madder. But you just didn't want to defend yourself. And really, like Len said, how did I want you to save my life?"
Doug tossed her onto her bed and followed her down. "Got an answer to that little conundrum?"
"No." She kissed his mouth. "I guess I was just revved up and it came out as anger. I’m sorry."
“I forgive you,” Doug kissed her and let his tongue taste the secret recesses of her mouth.
“Today, I was so afraid you wouldn't work out my text. Blake wanted me to lure you and since he was looking over my shoulder, I had to be obscure.
“I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear you and Len tapping back and forth. But I thought Blake would hear too." Maddie shuddered.
"Your text was a little cryptic. Smokey was obviously Lenny. But those two little girls? Had to assume you meant that there was another female involved. But I sort of thought maybe Len was a hostage too." Doug kissed her gently.
“Maddie, that joker was going to kill you, and Leeann, and me, and probably have taken me out, and Alexander, and anyone else standing in his way. He might very well have turned his gun on himself afterward. He wasn’t afraid to die and there’s not much reasoning with a guy like that.
“But you know something, sweetheart? Today for the first time in a very long time, I was afraid to die.”
Maddie responded with an indistinct murmur.
“Do you know why I was afraid to die?” Doug asked.
“Why?”
“Because, you give my life meaning,” he said simply. “And that gives me a reason to live. I need you, Maddie, like I need breath.” He kissed her again and the primal passion that always lay between them spiraled the kiss into a fierce duel for completion.
Doug’s big hands roamed over her abundant curves squeezing and caressing until she writhed beneath him and their two hearts beat together in time to the pulsing of their flesh. Things were just getting interesting when he reared back and said, “Sorry, I forgot about shaving.”
Maddie had had enough. She grabbed Doug’s massive shoulders and attempted to shake him. “Whoa, buddy,” she said. “There are two people on this bed, and I was enjoying myself.”
“But I’ll scratch you to pieces with my stubble,” Doug protested, still trying to pull away.
“Doug, listen to yourself. Have you noticed that I am still wearing my work clothes? And that I haven’t showered since I came home? Or combed my hair?”
“Well, sure, but you’ve been busy.”
“And you haven’t?”
“I like the way you smell,” Doug rumbled. “Showered or unshowered. I’m sort of a primitive brute like that. I expect it’s my bear.”
Maddie gurgled. “I wouldn’t worry about that. It’s a turn on to be desired whether or not I’m all gussied up, Doug.” She audibly sniffed. “Yeah, you’re a little ripe yourself.”
&
nbsp; “I can shower too,” he assured her, trying to get up again.
“Douglas Enright, will you please listen? I don’t want you to shower or to shave or to groom in any way. Not tonight. I just want you to hold me and make me forget that some creep tried to whack us today.”
“He’s dead.” Doug’s voice was hard, flat and final. “He’ll never come after you again. And Flamethrower is going down for capital murder. You’re safe, sweetheart.” His big arms pulled her close and he rolled sideways so he could hold her closer.
“You killed a man today to save my life. Heroes don’t have to shave every minute. Besides,” she paused. Time to be brave. “I love you. Every hirsute inch of you.” She opened his shirt so she could dig her hands into the thick pelt on his chest.
“You love me?” Doug asked. He was aiming for dispassionate, but to Maddie’s ear he sounded anxious.
“I do.”
"Are you going to marry me?"
Madeline thought. It was hardly the world's most romantic proposal. But Doug didn't do romantic or sophisticated. He did straight-from-the heart, plain speaking. And his whole body was tense with worry about her answer.
"I am." She kissed his five o'clock shadow. "But I think you forgot something."
He pulled back a little. "I forgot to shave. Can’t be rootling in your lady parts with sandpaper.”
"This is true. And Lindsey might be upset if I turn up next Friday with a rash." She followed him off the bed into the bathroom. Rootling sounded like fun.
"I just thought," Doug said jubilantly, turning to her with his face half scraped. "If we're engaged, that means you have to let me buy you new windows and doors." He plied his razor whistling happily.
This was a declaration of love?
"What? What did I say?" Doug was worried again.
"That’s it?"
“Hell, no. If we’re getting married, you’re getting a new electrical panel.” Doug resumed his shaving.
“I meant, do you love me?”
"If you're in doubt, I'll have do better." Doug looked a little wary.
“ I believe you.” Maddie gave up on romantic. Sincerity had its virtues. “ I love you too.”
He rinsed his smooth cheeks, did his thing with the sponge, and picked her up in his big arms.
Maddie snuggled close. "Going to show me how much you love me?'
"As often as I have to. Until I get it right." The words were a vow.
Well, okay. Bear love. Forever.
<<<<>>>><<<<>>>>
Bear Infinities
Bear Fursuits
Book 4
by
Isadora Montrose
CHAPTER ONE
Four years earlier...
“Oh, Hannah that is the best news,” said Gabriella Malcom as she spun her clan sister Hannah Metcalfe in a dizzying circle. She ended their mad twirl to examine the enormous ring on Hannah’s left hand.
“That is a beautiful ring,” Gabby told her sincerely.
“It’s to keep men away from my alluring self,” Hannah told her demurely.
“Jack. Did. Not. Say. That.”
Hannah nodded. Her long dark curls rippled merrily. “Oh, yeah.”
“That guy is such a bear!” Gabby laughed happily.
“What can I say? It’s so true.”
Hannah turned to the other people in the room. “Jack’s mom has decided Martha and I should have two double weddings. One in Wesheno to accommodate our side of the family, and then what Jack and Will are calling the Ukrainian Extravaganza in Hanover.
“We’re getting married next month in Wesheno. Probably a big, old party—but nothing too fancy. I want you guys to stand up with me and Jack when we do it all over in his home town.”
“What? All of us?” boomed Gabriella’s mother Winnie Malcom.
“I Gabby and Gwen to be my bridesmaids, and you and Jools to give me away in Hanover.” Jools and Winnie Malcom were life partners and between them the mothers of five kids.
“Awesome,” squealed Gwen before she remembered that at fifteen she was way cool to want to wear a mint green dress and talk to grown-ups.
“I’d be honored,” Gabriella told Hannah affectionately. “I can’t wait to meet Jack.” Her pretty chocolate brown eyes twinkled. “Can I tell you how relieved I am that he turned out to be a patriotic hero instead of a jerk liar?”
Hannah beamed. “I’m rather happy about that too.”
Winnie grinned widely, her big blunt features were permanently set in laugh lines. “We’ll have twice the fun. Katrina Enright is my kind of gal.”
“Do we get two dresses for two weddings?” asked Gwen hopefully.
Gabby knew Hannah was ecstatic to have a real family of her own, but she could see it a new set of siblings, plus in-laws was going to complicate her life big time. Two weddings. She gulped. “You know I’ll help out all I can,” she assured Hannah, hiding her dismay.
Hannah laughed. She loved having sisters, and even though she had her birth sister Martha in her life now, Gabriella and Gwen would always be her little sisters. And Winnie and Jools her Mama Bears.
“No you do not get two dresses,” Hannah informed Gwen chuckling. “You get one dress that you will wear twice before you hang it in your closet as a souvenir—and tell everyone how your crazy sister made you wear the ugliest dress in America.” Hannah’s voice hummed with joy.
Gabriella gurgled at this by-play. “When are the weddings?”
“Soon. One in July and the other in August. We have to get cracking if we are to get dresses.”
“You won’t get real dresses,” Jools put in, “Not with that timeline. I’ve seen those wedding dress shows. You need at least six months.” Everyone stared at her. Jools’ fashion sense, like that of her life partner Winnie, ran to chinos and button-front shirts dressing up. A taste for wedding shows was unexpected and out of character.
“What?” Jools said. “I gotta TV like everyone else.”
“I’m going to make Gwen and Gabby’s dresses. And probably the one for Martha’s bridesmaid too,” Hannah explained, “No ordering involved.”
Gabriella felt an instant sense of relief. She had kept to herself her first selfish thought that she was going to look like a fright in front of two sets of strangers. Like any other twenty-one-year-old, Gabby liked to look good, but it was hard for a tall woman with generous curves to find an ordinary dress off the rack, let alone a special occasion dress. Bridesmaid dresses weren’t typically designed for big, sturdy women and they didn’t scale up or cut down well.
But if Hannah was going to make their dresses, for sure they would get enough fabric to showcase rather than reveal their bosoms, and a style that would make them look voluptuous instead of skanky. Gwen might only be fifteen, but she had already filled out into quite a lovely young woman.
In tee-shirt and jeans Gwennie still looked as much like a tomboy as Gabriella had at that age. She was a total innocent, but in some strapless gown, she could look a decade older and more experienced than she was. Not a good plan.
But Hannah had the same ripe curves as her adoptive sisters. She knew how to flatter her own tall, athletic frame. Plus she was a wizard with a sewing machine. Gabby and Gwennie could count on looking elegant, whatever nonsense Hannah talked about the ugliest dresses in America.
“It’s not the dresses, honey, it’s the organization,” said Winnie doubtfully. Even her no nonsense grey hair looked overwhelmed.
“Not our outlook. Momma Enright is handling the Hanover wedding arrangements, and the Menominee elders are organizing the Wesheno ceremony and reception. All you have to do is come. Robert is going to give Martha and me away in Wesheno. But I would like my Mama Bears to give me away in Hanover.”
Gwen pumped a fist in the air, as Jools and Winnie exchanged pleased looks. “You sure you don’t want Art?” Jools checked. “More traditional.”
Gabriella bent double laughing. Her whole body shook with mirth. “Traditional,” she whooped.
<
br /> “Us? We’re the least traditional family ever. Two moms, set of twins, set of trips. Oh, and did I mention that we’re all bears? Traditional!” She smacked her knees rapturously at the thought of her twin in a tux. “Besides Hannah doesn’t want her baby brother giving her away.”
Hannah smiled a little mistily. “It had been my idea to ask the moms to give me away both times, but then Martha started burbling on about how excited Robert was to have two sisters. I didn’t have the heart to take his pleasure away. But he’ll have to settle for giving me away in Wesheno.”
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