Read Laid Bear for Free Online Page B

what the fuck is going on here?”
    Max blinked in surprise and reddened at Chet’s words. “Um, Chet, I was just…”
    “Yeah, I know what you were doing, Maxy-boy. And you shouldn’t be doing it with this…” He looked Bethany up and down, and snorted with disgust, “…girl.”
    Bethany’s blood boiled. Who was this asshole?! He’d never been anything but hostile toward her since he bought the duplex, and she could think of no good reason for it. She was finally feeling good about herself and she wasn’t going to let this fat slob ruin it all. On top of all that, she knew exactly how it felt to have have your older protector berate you unjustly, and she wasn’t about to let Chet treat Max like that.
    “What shouldn’t he be doing, Chet? Huh? What exactly do you see going on here? Neighbors barbecuing? Shocking!” She gasped in mock outrage, slapping her hands to her cheeks. Chet was stunned, no doubt because she’d never said boo to him. Well, by golly, now was that time.
    “You sneak back here and interrupt a perfectly wonderful evening because you think Max has some nefarious plan for me? Well, would it surprise you to discover that maybe it was me who has the nefarious plan? And please do tell me why it’s any of your business in the first place, Chet. Huh?”
    He just stared at her, a look of horror on his face. Knowing she had the advantage for the moment, she shot up out of her seat, startling Chet into taking a step back. “Well, Chet? What do you have to say for yourself?”
    She advanced slowly toward him, her hand planted on her hips in defiance. He edged back toward the gate, nervously glancing between her and Max, who’d sat back in his chair, his arms crossed against his chest. Bethany could see out of the corner of her eye that he was grinning.  
    “Why are you looking at him, Chet? Look at me! I didn’t invite you here and it’s none of your concern who I have dinner with. And this may come as a surprise to you, but Max is a grown man who can also have dinner with whomever he chooses, regardless of whether you approve.”
    She’d advanced on him as he did his best to stand his ground. She was thiiiis close to poking him in the chest hard, but she sensed that would be a bad idea. His eyes were shifting around, looking for escape, and a low rumbling was coming from him. She could smell his anxiety, which was probably just the sheen of sweat that had broken out on his face.
    “Chet, I appreciate that you’re Max’s uncle and my landlord, but if you enter my private living space uninvited again, I’ll call the cops so fast you won’t know what hit you…besides the frying pan. Now go!”
    Her arm shot out pointing in the direction Chet could go to take his flying leap. He blinked at her a couple of times before sniffing and sulking off around the corner of the house.  
    Her body started shaking as she lowered her arm. She was exhilarated and relieved at the same time. It had been a long time since she’d stood up for herself, and after months of taking truckloads of crap from Chet, she felt like a new woman. But there was an undercurrent of something else she was having trouble identifying. Like she’d just faced down a great foe, or something.
    Off to her left, Max started clapping. She blushed and glanced over at him. He was giving her a standing ovation. “Brava, maestra!”
    Waving off his silliness, she returned to the picnic table. Before she could sit, Max collected her in his arms. A thrill went through her, his scent making her head spin and her core heat up. Sliding her hands up his biceps and around his neck was like skimming rock — warm, smooth, silken rock.
    “You were brilliant, Bethany. Just brilliant.” His voice was as husky as she knew hers would be right now. “You’re trembling. Are you cold?”  
    “Uh uh,” she said, shaking her head. “Quite the opposite actually.”
    He nuzzled her ear, her nipples responding in a most obvious way. She wanted him