“This isn’t Oakland’s choice, it’s theirs.” Ethan’s teeth gnashed on ‘theirs’, wearing a mutinous scowl.
Okay, touchy subject.
Monty scratched his jaw, weighing his words. “If the omegas want to do something beyond here, then I’d say they’ve considered it seriously, so we need to do the same. They hadtheir freedom taken from them,”—he swept his arm around the room to make his point—“aren’t we showing them they have gotten it back?”
“Yeah… you’re right,” Ethan muttered more to himself than them. Monty was positive of it with how he looked to be staring off into space.
“If Oakland can assess risk like he did here, I think it could be good for them,” Monty added. “But I can sound them out this afternoon, if you like. We are helping Cassidy.”
Monty got a buzz of excitement recalling what was happening later. The afternoon's visit was the grand reveal of Eric’s chicken outfits. It might not be fashion week in Milan, something he was missing out on, but it was to the omegas, judging by how they’d been bubbling with enthusiasm at the coming reveal. Monty needed to check his phone had enough charge so he could video it and share it with the others.
“That would be helpful,” Ethan finally answered. “They like Cassidy.”
He didn’t sound impressed, but Monty couldn’t say why. Everyone loved Cassidy. “They do, but it’s the chicks they love.”
“Really?” Ethan sounded genuinely surprised, which meant none of the omegas had spoken about what they were up to. Why was that?
Monty shook off the feeling of sorrow that wanted to blanket his earlier excitement at all the reasons they hadn’t shared, with an alpha they appeared to trust, what they were up to.
“Yep. If you maybe slip by the coops this afternoon, you’ll see.” He didn’t think it was a bad thing to encourage Ethan. He hoped the omegas saw it that way when he nodded in agreement.
“Can we now get back to business?” Rue asked, brows raised, the laptop no longer his focus.
Monty gave him a cheeky grin, one he’d never have considered giving back in Hazardville. “Of course, Mr. Starling.”
Ethan chuckled and gave them a small salute, heading out of Silas’s office.
“You wouldn’t be giving me cheek, would you, Mr. Gibson?” Rue aimed for stern and managed it for a whole two seconds before he allowed a smile to slip free.
Monty glided over the carpet and shimmed in between the desk and Rue, the rolling office chair moving back with Rue’s help. Seeing the invite, Monty straddled Rue’s lap and waggled his eyebrows.
“Now how to answer?” He slipped his arms around Rue’s neck, inching closer until their lips were close enough that he could smell the coffee Rue had recently drunk. “If I said yes, you might considerpunishing mefor insubordination.”
The gray of Rue’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I could.” A smile that could melt ice formed. “Or I could just let Kendrick know how naughty you’re being and let him decide on how topunish you.”
Monty grew light-headed at the threat, but not because he was worried. The blood from his head had descended south in a sure-fire hurry. He ground down and kissed Rue with a hunger very much not appropriate for the office.
Through the pounding blood in his ears, a distant sound came from behind him. Releasing Rue to drag in a breath, he heard a smothered cough-laugh and his eyes widened. Just as Rue’s cheeks suddenly filled with color, Monty got a sinking feeling, squirming as he twisted his head to look over his shoulder.
Why now?
Why did it have to be them?
Derick and Lane stood in the open doorway. It took two seconds to figure out who had made the noise, when Derick’s expression didn’t give Monty any clue as to what he thought about their current predicament. Lane looked highly amused, so that was something.
Only Rue wasn’t the only one blushing with embarrassment. The dose of reality that they were supposed to be working and the two men—though retired—were still probably paying Monty’s wages hit him hard. That was enough to cool his ardour and get him sliding off Rue’s lap.
“Mr. Starling—”
Lane raised a hand, chuckling as he came into the room. “When have I ever been Mr. Starling? And I do believe we are way past that when you were sitting on my son's lap, about to—”
“Popi,” Rue said in warning.
Derick sniggered and looked almost relaxed as he strolled in. Monty then noticed how casually dressed he was. He wore clothes more suited to a cowboy. Monty had seen him in slacks and a polo shirt in his home the one time he’d gotten invited to talk about Emmy, but this was something else. Although Monty wasn’t into men so much older than him, he totally got why guys would be. Derick exuded power wearing a suit. Dressed as he was, he most certainly continued to exude that, but there was also a sexiness Monty hadn’t noticed before. Thigh hugging jeans, cowboy boots and a rugged shirt… they really worked for him.
When it struck that he was enjoying the view a little more than was decent when he was dating Derick’s son, Monty shoved his hands in his pocket and shifted his attention to Rue who hadn’t moved from behind the desk, like he didn’t know how to act.
Monty gave him a ‘get up and help me’ look.
