Page 93 of Hot & Heavy

"I'm pleased to meet you," the man said to her.

Once they were all sitting in the living room, Cage acting as if Odin himself had come to visit, the man gave her an all-over scrutiny. And smiled. "You'll do."

"For what?"

"Ian's wife."

"I'm not really Ian's wife."

"Oh?"

"It's just a temporary arrangement, as you well know," Madrene snapped. All this false niceness was wearing thin with her. "And frankly, I am glad you have come to visit. There are a few things I would like to say to you. How dare you treat Ian the way you do?"

"I beg your pardon."

"You should beg Ian's pardon."

Ian's father looked as if he was either choking on his tongue or choking back laughter.

"A father should love his children above all else."

"I do."

"Hah! Not according to Ian. Nothing he does is good enough for you. Push, push, push, that is what you do. Well, someday you may push so hard you lose a son. You may have already."

"You are a brassy miss."

"Yea, I am, and do not forget it. Do not look down your nose at me. I carry the blood of Norse kings in my body."

"Okay, young lady, why don't you tell me what you think I have done."

Madrene did just that. It was a long and nagging lecture, even for her. When she stopped to take a breath, she noticed that both the admiral and Cage were gaping at her. Her lectures often had that effect on people… mostly men. "Well, it's the truth," she concluded.

Ian's father threw his head back then, slapped his knees and burst out laughing. So hard that tears filled his eyes, and he had to wipe them with a spotless linen he pulled from his pocket. "You'll do, missy."

Now that she'd spoken her mind, she asked, "Would you care for a beverage?"

"Actually, yes. Any beer in the house?"

"There is always mead here. Seals suck it up like air."

The old man grinned at her. Then he stood and held out his hand to pull her up. When he did, he tugged her into a hard hug and said, "Yes, you will do."

Madrene looked at Cage over the admiral's shoulder, pleading for help. He just grinned and said, "I'll go get the… mead."

When did his life become such a mess?…

Ian was in the SEAL headquarters catching up on some paperwork. His cell phone rang. He looked at the caller i.d. and groaned.

"Hi," Cage said in sort of a whisper.

"Hi yourself. Do not dare ask me if I know what my wife is doing now."

There was a long silence.

"Are you there?"

"Yep. I'm in the head. Don't wanna be overheard." He was still talking in a whisper.