Bailey was an alpha like me, and she made sure all theT’swere crossed andI’sdotted, while I took care of the big picture. I trusted her implicitly. But this definitely was not one of those times I needed a lecture.
“Just make sure he’s not coming in today, okay? I have a few things I need to take care of.”
“I know you do, and I don’t see how one omega is—”
“Bailey,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. If she knew how much it took for me not to be there. To see him.
I sighed and pushed my hands through my hair. “Just do this for me. Please.”
She managed a put-upon sigh like I’d asked her to rob a bank. “Fine. I’ll call Rhys, but you know he’s going to bitch at me about you, right?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I know, I owe you. How about a trip to the spa?”
“Gabriel Hallbjorn, are you trying to bribe me? Because it’s working. Rebecca and I would love a trip to the spa, and if you really wanted to make it up to me, you’d watch your godson for the day.”
I chuckled. “But of course. How could I do any less?”
“This is why you’re the best boss and an even better friend; I won’t hold the fact that you’re being a bullheaded ass about the sweet new guy against you…this time. Because my wonderful wife would kick my ass if I mess up a spa and kid-free day for her, so this time, I will do your dirty work.”
I snorted, but the thought entered my head about my godson and our child—mine and Kian’s—playing together. Would they be best friends like Bailey and I were?
I sucked in a breath at the thought of my mate large with our child.
Gods! Staying away from him was killing me.
I’d managed to avoid my mate for three whole days, and my bear was none too pleased. Actually, he was pissed and sulking. Not that I was doing much better.
Just knowing Kian was my mate made everything better…Even though you’re too chickenshit to do anything about it.
Still, even without the mating bond, it was like I was attuned to him; I could always tell when he walked into the building, even without laying eyes on him. And I hated that I couldn’t…No one is stopping you.I ignored that voice. The asshole had no sense.
Every single part of my body took notice when Kian was close by. Some parts more than others.
But what the hell was I supposed to do, though? He was human. What if I scared him off? What if he lost his shit when he found out what we were?
Sure, there were a couple of human mates in the den, but that was from my grandparents’ generation. One from my parents’ generation, too, I believed. One thing was certain, though—no one in recent times had mated with a human. I wasn’t even sure what the rules were for it.
So why don’t you just ask?Clearly, it was allowed. And I knew I could ask my dad.So why haven’t you?The possibility of being told I couldn’t mate with my mate was slim.What’s holding you back?Right now, it was simply a case of meeting my mate officially, not some bogus rule about keeping away from humans.
Bullshit. You don’t believe there is one.
“Mates trumped everything else…” So why didn’t that helpful reminder have me rushing over to my brother’s house and meeting Kian officially for the first time?
Maybe introducing myself…asking him out on a date. Or was that too forward? Fuck, I didn’t even know where to start.
Did I blurt out what I was…what we were before even asking him out?
Pacing back and forth in your kitchen won’t give you any answers.
“Kian.” I wrapped my tongue around his name. It was a beautiful name.
Gods, I really wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to wrap him up in my arms and make sure that he knew everything would be okay. He’d just lost his papa. I found myself wishing I’d been with him as he’d gone through all that. That he’d known he didn’t have to go through it alone.
I sighed. None of this was doing me any good. And I really needed to get to work. Even though Kian had been given an office to work from in the main building, I was glad that he preferred working from home. So far, he’d only been at the office once to meet everyone. That was the day I’d suddenly had to go to the factory for a meeting.
Rhys was pissed at me. He said I wasn’t giving Kian a chance…if he only knew. But I really wasn’t in the mood to explain myself to anyone, least of all my baby brother. He wouldn’t get my caution. Like with most things, he’d expect me to dive in headfirst and hope for the best.
Which may be a good thing. It would mean you wouldn’t be drinking coffee by yourself this morning.Also, I wouldn’t have woken up alone… I just wouldn’t be alone anymore.
