He hadn’t seen the young woman this animated in a long time. “I’m glad you took the job.” He meant it.
“Me, too.” She hopped up and then looked over her shoulder as if making sure the magazines on the lone table were stacked perfectly. “I’ve been looking for something to do, which you probably heard through the grapevine.”
He had, which was why he’d thought of her for the job. “Not a lot of secrets in Lost Lake,” he murmured. Except for the fact that his mate was pregnant, of course. That wouldn’t be a secret for long, though. He had to figure out a way for her to feel better. Perhaps when she reached the second trimester, she’d gain some strength.
Jenny’s husband emerged from the northern office. “Okay. I put that bookshelf where you wanted it, Jen. I have to get back to the mine. Oh, hi, Seth.” To help move, Greg wore a blue flannel and black cargo pants smudged with mining dust. He was so wide that he had to turn sideways to get out the door. Even for a wolf shifter, he had muscle.
“Hi. Thanks for helping out,” Seth said. While Greg was excellent at the mine, especially when dealing with new technology, his size and bulk were intimidating. Maybe he’d make a good bodyguard for Mia when Erik and Todd were elsewhere.
“Sure thing. We’d like to have you and Mia over for dinner later this week to celebrate Jenny’s new job. I’ll be in touch.” Greg pressed a kiss to Jenny’s head and then clomped out of the office and down the stairs.
Jenny brushed the dust off her nose. “I think we’re all organized. Thanks again for this job. Now that the kids are in school, while I still have a lot to do with sports and school activities and everything, I was looking for something just for me, you know?”
Seth nodded. “You’re already doing a phenomenal job, and you can definitely work around your schedule.”
“That’s good.” She smiled. “By the way, you have an appointment if you’re willing to take one.”
He had an appointment? Like a real office guy? “Who wants to see me?”
“Brother Jeremiah.” She clapped dust off her jeans. “He called the sheriff’s office several times, and they had to run up to give me the messages. Finally, I just gave him my number. Well, my new number, because I purchased a cell phone just for work. That’s okay, right?”
“Yeah,” Seth said. “That actually makes sense.” He looked at the dual offices. “Which one’s mine?”
She pointed at the one in the farthest corner that looked the largest. “That one. I figured you’d rather look at the mountains than Main Street. I kind of like watching the activity on Main Street.”
Seth turned and looked out the main window in the reception area to see absolutely nothing happening outside, not even a car going by. The wind did scatter a bunch of leaves end-over-end across the sidewalk, though. “Well, okay.” He moved toward his office to check it out. “Tell good old Jeremiah he can come up anytime.” Seth should probably christen his office by throwing somebody out the front window. Jeremiah was an excellent choice.
He walked into his office and glanced at his watch. Mia had been in the air for probably four hours now, so she should be an hour out of DC. He had quite enjoyed his brother’s text about how irritated she’d been when he’d parked next to the private plane. Seth could almost imagine steam coming out of her ears. While he was trying to be understanding, if she wanted to chase down killers, he would make sure she was as safe as possible while doing so.
He walked around the wide cedar desk and sat, noting the large drawers. This was much more his style than the one in his father’s office. “Hey, Jenny?” he called out.
“Yep,” she said, emerging in his doorway. “What’s up?”
“I’d like you to schedule a massive yard sale for everything in my father’s house. I’ll go through the place tomorrow with Mia and box up anything we want to keep. Other than that, I want everything gone. I want to burn it down and start over.”
Jenny swallowed. “Okay. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll save anything with sentimental value. But it’s just not my style, and it’s half-burned out anyway from the fire, so...”
“Okay.” She pulled a notebook out of her back pocket and started scribbling furiously on it. “If you’re serious, we can contact the local fire department. They can conduct a practice fire if you really want it burned down.”
“That’s a perfect idea. Thanks.”
She hustled off.
“Hello?” a deep voice called.
“Brother Jeremiah,” Jenny greeted. “Head on back to Seth’s office. It’s the one far back on the left.”
Why did people call him Brother Jeremiah? It was irritating. The man soon filled Seth’s doorway. “Why do people call youBrother?” Seth asked.
Jeremiah shrugged. “I don’t know. I lead the co-op, and somehow, I ended up with the name.”
Seth studied him. They’d been almost friends in high school, but he honestly didn’t know this man as an adult. “You’d think with your doctorate and the fact that you’re a psychologist, you’d want to be calledDr.Jeremiah.”
“I’m called Dr. Bankston at the asylum, and that’s good enough for me.” Jeremiah scratched his chin. “Though I was thinking about opening an office in town.”
“The town is closed,” Seth said. “Sorry.” Jeremiah was human; therefore, he didn’t belong in the town. Although Seth couldn’t do anything about the co-op property, he intended to make a generous offer that should inspire them to move, but his old buddy had always been stubborn. “You needed to see me?”
