The only downside of mynew me, new lifemindset was that I seemed to be running into Myke Kravets every time I turned around.
Coming out of the grocery store after a quick stop for shredded cheese? There he was, trying to strike up a conversation with me about the challenges of lactose intolerance.
Grabbing a sandwich at the deli? Myke was behind me in line and for some reason determined to explain the history behind bologna. I definitely hadn’t ordered bologna.
He was even walking past the small brick building that housed Robby Travin’s real estate office the day I had my replacement appointment scheduled. Luckily, he just waved and continued on around to the parking lot, but I didn’t relax until the old sedan rattled around and down the road toward the highway.
In addition to selling houses and managing a couple of apartment buildings, Robby had an, ahem,unusualsideline. He was one of the handful of people in Colorado legally licensed to run a heat abatement clinic for Omegas who chosenaturalheat control methods, whether it was for medical or ideological reasons. Or, in plain speaking, he matched Omegas with clean, safe pre-screened Alphas to care for them during their heats and provided small private cottages, all for a small fee.
Even though I still had a few months before there was any risk of going into heat, I was determined to have everything set up with plenty of time to be sure I didn’t make any bad decisions in the, well,heatof the moment, as we say. Ha ha.
“Mr. Fraser?” The receptionist called my name and I stood so quickly that I had to steady myself. “Mr. Travin is ready for you, sir.”
I smiled and thanked her, walking through the open door she gestured to only to find two men in the office, not one. Robby was sitting behind the desk, obviously, but opposite him?
Myke Fucking Kravets.
“No. No, no, nope,” I chanted, my jaw dropping. “Not him.”
Myke was staring at me in confusion and Robby just looked stunned.
“I’m sorry?” Robby said slowly. “Not him what?”
“I am not interviewing him for..” I trailed off. “Just ..no.”
“I see.” Robby still seemed unsure. “Myke is my cousin. He dropped in to deliver a set of car keys I left at his house. He’s not here for your appointment.”
Oh, fuck.
“But I saw you leave!” I continued desperately. “Earlier. You waved.”
Myke shook his head. “No, I just came in the back door and up the stairs.” He stood and took a tentative step to the side, working his way around me in a wide circle. “I’ll, um, get out of your way, now, though.” He exchanged a meaningful glance with the Alpha on the other side of the desk and I bit back a groan.
There was no doubt I’d just made myself look emotional and more than a little unhinged and I couldn’t even blame hormones. Fucking nifty.
I stumbled my way through the interview once the office door closed behind Myke but knew I hadn’t made a good impression. At all. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Robby had simply tossed my application packet in the trash can under his desk after I left.
The final straw came later that afternoon when Sarah excitedly called back into the office to tell me we had a visitor.
“I’m free,” I called back. “Send them in.”
When Myke Kravets walked through the door, all swagger and toothy grin, I couldn’t take anymore.
“No!” I snapped. “Myke, would you leave me alone? I am not going to have sex with you!”
Over his shoulder, I saw Sarah’s eyes bulge in shock.
The smile slowly left Myke’s face and his jaw dropped, he took a step closer and thrust a packet of paperwork in my direction.
“I heard you had fainting goats available for adoption?”
Fuuuuuck.
Chapter Twenty
Dane
Grounded or not, the damn bear wasn’t giving up.
