“Tristan went to fetch Bryce,” Tom said, keeping his tone neutral. “That’s your beta, right?”
Colby nodded.
Tom leaned back slightly in the chair, not too casual, not too intense. “Can I ask how many are in your pack? My briefing notes were a little sketchy.”
That was a lie. Not something Tom particularly liked doing, but right now it was justified because Colby Williams’ recent history had been entirely blank. He’d fallen off the grid after his discharge, with no indication of how he’d spent the past three years. That set off alarms, especially in someone with a military background.
Colby tensed at the question and reluctantly turned around to face Tom. His jaw worked for a second before he shook his head.
“Sorry,” he said, eyes not meeting Tom’s. “I’m—I haven’t been here long. You’d better ask Bryce. I’ll go find him for you,” he added, and slipped out the back door before Tom could remind him about the coffee still brewing.
Tom watched the door swing closed behind him. Big guy, broad-shouldered, muscular—and scared to talk to him. Not just cautious. Scared.
Something here wasn’t adding up.
Chapter Four
BRYCE
Bryce was walking back from the paddock when Tristan rushed over to him, out of breath and excited.
“He’s here,” he said eagerly. “Tom Barrington, Councilor Steadman’s aide.”
“My life is now complete,” Bryce muttered.
“Bryce.I know what you think about politicians, but Councilor Steadman’s different.”
“If you say so,” Bryce said, heading toward the house. “Is this guy another obnoxious twelve-year-old?”
Tristan smirked suddenly. “I’ll leave you to find that out for yourself,” he said, changing course across the yard to meet up with Colby. “If you want us to show Tom around later, we’ll be in the barn.”
“I already told you, no sex in front of the horses. I don’t want them traumatized,” Bryce called after him.
Tristan sighed loudly. “I’m teaching Colby toride,” he yelled back reprovingly. “Horses! I meant ridinghorses!” he added hurriedly, and Bryce grinned. Tristan was so easy to tease that some days it felt like he was still fourteen years old.
He pushed open the door to meet this Tom Barrington, prepared for another snot-nosed intern like Taylor Cufflinks. Someone barely out of college with more ambition than spine.
What he wasn’t expecting was… this. His wolf stirred, quiet but alert. Not like it did when it smelled a threat, but like it was trying to remember something.
The man at the counter pouring himself a coffee wasn’t a teenager playing dress-up. He gave the impression of control and awareness. His hair was dark and just a little wavy, his cheekbones were sharply defined beneath flawless skin, and there was the suspicion of a five-o’clock shadow on his jaw, emphasizing just how strong that jawline was.
His crisp white shirt clung to a lean, muscled frame that said he spent time doing more than typing. Soft, gray dress pants skimmed muscular thighs and a frankly spectacular ass, and when he turned and saw Bryce, he darted his tongue out to flick over his lower lip, lush and soft. Bryce’s brain flatlined. All he could think of was taking that lip between his teeth and tugging it until Tom Barrington whimpered.
He was still staring when Tom raised a coffee mug in greeting.
“Hope you don’t mind,” he said, then paused.
Bryce straightened instinctively under his assessing gaze. Those rich brown eyes were intelligent, calm and capable.
Tom’s gaze lingered just a little too long. When he finally looked away, biting that irresistible lower lip like he’d caught himself doing something he shouldn’t, it sent a quiet pulse of heat through Bryce’s stomach. As his gaze flicked back again, Bryce grinned, just to see what it did.
It worked. Tom flushed. Looked away again. But not without sending a quick, sideways glance back. Caught.
Okay, then. This security check just got a whole lot more interesting.
“Sorry to have kept you,” Bryce said, and sat at the table. “I figured you’d be another twelve-year-old.”
Tom stared at him, and then he grinned. It was areallygood look on him. “I forgot—you had Caddel visit, didn’t you?”
