Apollo stopped, right there in the street, turning around so he was facing Titus for the first time. “This boy barely ever spoke, but yesterday he sang with such a powerful voice. It was incredible. A couple of the other kids were inspired, they joined in with their instruments, and yet it was his voice filling the hall. He was making up a song on the spot – his pain, his hope, his determination – it all came out.
“I was so touched to be a part of that moment. It was truly special. It’s things like that which mean so much to me.Tell me honestly, Titus Haverland, is that something you can understand? Can you support something I can do in ripped jeans and an old T-shirt instead of this suit?”
Conscious that there were people all around them, always in a hurry, barely looking where they were going, Titus encouraged Apollo to turn back the way they were going and started them walking again. They’d already passed the coffee shop, but Titus instinctively knew they should keep walking.
“One of the biggest joys I have in my life,” he said softly, leaning slightly so Apollo could hear, “is when I’m in my wolf form. Running through the trees, picking up all the gossip through the scents left on the trails. I can see what the other animals are doing, and in that moment, I feel part of a community so much bigger than a pack.
“You know, there are times when I’ll sit and howl at the moon, not because I’m sad or lonely, but because I can. My form of song to the Moon Goddess, who always looks so beautiful in the night sky. Is my song any less relevant because I’m singing in my fur?”
“You know it’s not,” Apollo said quietly. “I imagine it’s beautiful, and I hope I hear it one day.”
Titus was determined that his mate would. Maybe they could sing together, although how that would work, he wasn’t sure. “I admit my human side gets more fun out of…” he hesitated. He hadn’t liked hearing a snippet of Apollo’s past, and he was sure his mate wouldn’t like being reminded of his. But Apollo surprised him.
“Pleasures of the flesh?” Apollo winked.
“Yes, something like that.”My gods, am I blushing?Titus’s cheeks definitely felt warm. “I do find joy in either form. I started my business because I wanted to make a living, and I enjoy thelife I can have with the money I make.” An idea started forming, and Titus decided to run with it.
“And now I’ve met you – someone to share that life and those joys with. I know we should probably find time to get to know each other, before we start sharing some of those pleasures of the flesh you mentioned” -which won’t take too long, I hope –“so I was thinking, would you fancy taking a road trip with me, in one of my trucks? Is that something you’ve ever done before?”
“I haven’t done that, no.” Apollo was grinning again. “So long as you don’t expect me to drive, it sounds like fun. How long would this road trip take?”
“As long as you want it to.” Titus spotted another café. The smells coming from it tempted his appetite, and the coffee didn’t smell burned. “Let’s have something to eat and drink while I message my manager, and he can have my truck ready for us by the time we’re done.” He glanced down at his suit, and then at Apollo’s. “We’ll probably need to change clothes before we leave. Will that be a problem?”
Chuckling, Apollo shook his head as he opened the café door. “I can change my clothes with a thought. Can you?”
“Saves on packing an overnight bag, I suppose,” Titus muttered as Apollo laughed.
Chapter Seven
“Perhaps not your kind of beauty, but this place means a lot to me.”
Apollo reminded himself that he needed to be more present as he heard Titus speaking. Titus wasn’t Artemis. They’d had an enjoyable time in the cafe. Apollo didn’t eat much, but he was happy to watch how efficiently and quickly Titus demolished a full breakfast and a large mug of coffee. There was something very grounding about such a mundane activity.
Titus was also efficient in his phone usage, texting someone, presumably Regis, his manager, but immediately putting the phone down when he was finished, not paying any attention to the numerous notifications that Apollo had noticed on the screen. He seemed intent on giving his attention to Apollo, and that was a heady feeling, especially coming from someone Apollo had been so determined to stay away from.
The dice have been rolled. Let’s see where they land.
For a god who preferred to keep to the background, Apollo realized the attention could be addictive.So pay attention – relationships are a two-way street.
Looking around, all Apollo saw was an extremely large parking lot with five trucks in it. The trucks had gleaming paintwork, shiny chrome, and some of the artwork done on the doors of the cabs looked colorful and made Apollo smile.
But Titus had been right. Beauty wasn’t the first word that came to Apollo’s mind. The place seemed more functional in its design. “This business is something you’ve worked for,” he said. “Your pride in this place is evident in your voice. That’s lovely to see.”
“This is a very small part of my fleet.” Titus had gotten out of the car, and Apollo quickly followed. Walking across the parking lot to a single-story building. “I run everything from here,” Titus explained. “It houses my office, the payroll office, Regis has his own space, and in the back, we have a break room with a separate bathroom in case drivers get in late and want to shower before they go home.”
“It sounds like you’ve thought of everything your staff might need.”
Titus chuckled. “Not exactly. My drivers would tell you they’d appreciate a spa room and a full-time chef, but they’re only teasing. I started my business with one truck,” he added. “Regis and I would take turns driving so we could keep our logbooks legit, working our butts off taking any runs we could get until we could afford a second truck, and then a third, and so on.”
“You must love driving.”
“My wolf loves to roam,” Titus murmured close to his ear. Straightening, he continued, “I’m proud of all my drivers. A lot of them have been with me for two years or more, and they all know that they have the backing of their company behind them.
“From organizing routes, planning delivery dates, and all the information that goes on behind the scenes, we make sure that the drivers can complete their trips in a comfortable time frame. It saves a lot on truck repair if they’re not speeding to meet a deadline or taking silly risks with the number of hours they’re on the road. That probably doesn’t mean much to you, does it?”
Shaking his head, Apollo grinned. “Nope. But I’m guessing that means a lot to your drivers.”
“It does.” Titus seemed pleased that Apollo got that much at least. “My drivers are loyal, and they work darn hard, but they are well-rewarded for it. Their rate of pay is higher thanstandard, they all have health benefits and ample vacation time a year, and I pay bonuses to all drivers who meet their delivery targets. It seems to work.”
