Page 123 of Ice Devil

I found the directory, taking several deep breaths as I went over my limited presentation one more time. With my mate hovering around, I’d had very little time to put any numbers together. I only hoped I wasn’t completely off the mark. If so, well…

Nope. I certainly wasn’t the kind of woman to accept defeat. I’d push on until the idea was down their throats.

Maybe I should have been a serial killer all along.

As I walked in through the double doors, I could tell the girl behind the desk had been expecting me.

“Ms. Winters?”

“Yes.”

“Right this way. They’re expecting you.”

This should be interesting. At least even as my mate, he couldn’t read my mind.

Or could he?

* * *

I could always feel Beck’s presence behind me. Always. At first, me being me, a girl who’d lived alone since she was eighteen, I’d been annoyed. I’d pushed him away, learning to lock the bathroom door.

We’d gotten into more bickering matches in the last two days than before when we’d actively hated each other. Yet we’d always ended every argument with a little hot nookie.

Usually with me being pushed up against a wall.

As always, my skin prickled from both heat and an abundance of electricity. It was as if I had my index finger permanently stuck in an electric socket.

However, this Friday afternoon was a bit different. We were going to his parents’ house for a little barbecue with people from their neighborhood. Not all of them shifters either.

Maybe all along I’d been one of those people who’d believed something deep in the darkest recesses of my mind shifters weren’t normal people. That they didn’t enjoy typical human activities like having a few people over for cocktails and raw meat.

Oops. Barbecued meat.

I often amused myself.

The article was to appear on the front page of the Portland Herald on Sunday. Sunday was one day a huge number of people still purchased actual newspapers. I’d worked very closely with James to push the article on hyper overdrive.

I had hopes that the timing would work out, especially since the meeting I’d had after seeing James again for the first time hadn’t necessarily gone as planned.

I’d been sick about it ever since.

The only thing that could save Beck and Ford’s career was the article. There was pressure being placed on the Hellions by the board of governors for the NHL. Including threats of placing them on suspension. I didn’t believe that would fly in court, but the damage done in the world of sports would still be tremendous. That much I’d learned through the grapevine.

“You can’t touch the merchandise,” I told him when he closed the distance.

“And why not?” He did so anyway, placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch brought a wave of heat.

“Because we’re due at your parents’ house in twenty minutes.”

“Where do you think all the little pups running around came from? Do I need to have a conversation with you about the birds and the bees?”

I spun around to face him. “So Georgia is having twins?”

He seemed surprised. “Yes, why?”

“So is James’ wife.”

His eyes narrowed. “I think it’s a little premature to worry about how many pups we’ll have.”