Laid Bear by Marina Maddix Page A

and cornered her at the fridge. “You know, we haven’t had much of a chance to talk over the last few days, and I have to tell you I’m a little worried. First the concern over being able to have babies with Max, then an out-of-the-blue phone call asking to stay with me, then a cryptic message that everything had worked out and to nevermind. What the hell, B? You know I try to keep my nose out of things that aren’t my business but I think I deserve some kind of explanation.”
    Bethany nodded, feeling ashamed that she hadn’t filled Char in. “I know, I’m sorry. I should have called, but things have been kind of a whirlwind.”
    “Well, I’m here now.”
    “Yeah, I know. You’re sweet to worry. Okay, so after you left, Chet dropped by and he told me that there was no way Max and I could have babies. Plus his family and friends would ostracize him for being with someone…outside their community.” She still wasn’t sure how much of Max’s reality she should reveal and felt safer being vague.
    “So what happened?”
    “He offered to pay for me to move. I was tired because I didn’t sleep all that night because I kept thinking about our conversation. I didn’t really think I’d be faced with having to make a choice between Max and a family so soon, but that’s how it played out. Like I said, I was exhausted and Chet’s offer seemed like a good idea at the time. That’s when I called you.”
    “Yeah, you sounded pretty out of it.”
    “Totally. Then Max came home and talked some sense into me and here we are.” Glossing over the whole Ursula attack seemed wise.
    “What about Chet? Wasn’t he pissed?”
    “Oh, like a wild animal. When we told him that I would be moving into Max’s place, he went ballistic. Yelling, screaming, cursing.” Bethany shrugged, also leaving out that she was sure Chet was crying when he stormed out of Max’s apartment. “There’s nothing we can do to change his mind, and hopefully he comes around soon. He’s actually a good guy beneath that gruff exterior and Max really loves him.”
    “And this problem with fertility? You can’t give up on your dreams of a big family, hon. You just can’t.”
    Bethany smiled at her friend. “Don’t worry, sweetie. It’s not a problem. Chet got it wrong.”
    “You sure?”
    Her smile faltered a tiny bit, but she nodded to cover up any concern she might have. “I mean, there’s always a risk, right? But I’m sure things will work out fine.”
    “Hey, where’s my beer?” shouted Paul from the living room. Char rolled her eyes as Bethany grabbed a six-pack from the fridge.

    ~ * ~ * ~

    Bethany lay cuddled in Max’s arms after a relaxed lovemaking session. They both were exhausted from unpacking everything Chet’s movers had packed up, but not touching, holding, savoring one another wasn’t an option. She was just nodding off into slumber when he kissed the top of her head.
    “I was thinking,” he started, sounding a little nervous.
    “Hmmm?” she moaned sleepily.
    “What would you think about joining forces.”
    She laughed softly. “I thought we just did that.”
    His arms tightened a little at her joke. “No, I mean, would you be interested in becoming my business partner?”
    Shifting in his arms, she looked up at him. It was a little embarrassing but she wasn’t entirely sure what he did exactly, and told him just that.  
    “I’m sort of a…promise not to laugh?”
    She nodded somberly.
    “I’m kind of a, um, matchmaker.”
    Bethany brayed with laughter, remembering how he’d previously described his job as ‘international relations’.  
    “Hey, you said you wouldn’t laugh!”
    “I know, I’m sorry. You just made it sound so…classy before.” Another fit of giggles consumed her and him tickling her ribs as punishment didn’t help. Finally she calmed down and got serious. “What would my part of this operation be?”
    “Well, up till now, we’ve focused on werebear matches but there’s a