“A wolf, huh?Come over here and let me have a look at you.”
Lucian flicked an uncertain gaze at me before approaching my dad’s cushioned chair.
My father stared up at him and laughed.“Are you messin’ with me?He can’t be in a pack.That boy’s a Chitah.”
I stood behind my father and gripped his shoulder as a warning to be nice to our guest.While he got along well with most people, he had a sense of humor not everyone appreciated.“Lucian, this is Afram Thompson, my father.”
My dad looked up at me and lowered his voice.“What’s he doing here?”
“He was returning my shoes.”
“Your shoes?”
“Lucian’s going to install a security system.That way you can live upstairs again.Won’t that be nice?”A cool breeze blew by, making me thankful for these early days of spring.“I’m going to make lunch soon.Do you want to come back inside or eat out here?”
He picked up his tea glass.“I’m going to live out here is what I’m going to do.”
“If you get hot, come inside.”
“Hot?”He chuckled.“This is nothing.You forget where I’m from.”
I jerked my head toward the house, motioning Lucian to follow.
Once inside, I returned to the kitchen to put away the groceries.
“Your first mistake is you didn’t hear my car pull up,” Lucian blurted while holding the refrigerator door open.“If you don’t want cameras, I can install motion-sensor alarms that let you know when someone’s crossed your property line.Cameras are essential if you want to identify trespassers.”He turned his gaze up to the window.“I didn’t see any motion-sensor lights outside.What’s your budget?”
I put the mayonnaise in the side door.“Not a million dollars.I want good security but not cheap.I’ve got money to spend, within reason.Can you come up with a few proposals and send them to me?”
“Whatever you desire, female.”
I studied his expression.
Is he being facetious?And why do I like the way that sounds rolling off his tongue?Get it together, girl.
He shut the fridge door and leaned against it like a magnet.“I’ll need to walk around your property and have a look before I leave.”
“No problem.I’ll send you the map that shows my property line in case you need that.”I put the canned food in the pantry and then assembled the apples, bananas, and oranges in a wooden bowl.
“How long have you lived with your father?”
“About five years now.”I stood across from Lucian and leaned my butt against the cabinet.“I’m his caretaker.His health was deteriorating, so Milly’s giving him supplements and an exercise routine to keep him mobile.I’d love to be home and make sure he actually sticks to it, but my hands are tied with work.He’s healthier than when he first moved in, but not enough to take care of himself.So I guess this is the new normal.”
“You don’t have any siblings who can take him?”
“He’s not a stray cat.That man loved and raised me.The least I can do is give him a safe place to live.And that hasn’t been easy.So help me… if anyone ever puts a finger on that man, an army of demons couldn’t hold me back.”
He nodded.
Boy, was it satisfying unloading my troubles on someone besides my coworkers.While the other Councilmen knew about my struggles, they didn’t pry, which made me less comfortable sharing my innermost concerns.
“That’s why I was on a date the other night,” I added.“My father wishes me to find a mate, preferably a Shifter who meets his standards.”
“Why?”
“Because his opinion is everything.”
Lucian’s eyebrows drew together.“But that prick you were dating was a Mage.”
