* * *
An hour later,Quintus opened the back door to his house and walked over to the fridge, getting two bottles of water. He threw one to Donald, who caught it without missing a beat.
“Are you staying for breakfast?” Quintus asked after he guzzled down his entire bottle of water.
“You’re going to make someone a good mate. You’re so attentive and caring.”
“Shut up and answer the damn question.” He threw his empty bottle into the recycling bin and walked over to the sink to wash his hands.
“No, not today. I’m meeting Chance for breakfast.”
“Does Gray know you’re trying to move in on his man?” Quintus asked jokingly.
“A good mate, you’ll be. A comedian, you’re not,” Donald said.
“So that’s a ‘no’ on Gray knowing.”
“One, Chance is not my type. I’m not into alpha males. And two, my feelings for Grayson are nothing more than friendship. I respect his mating with Chance. Hell, I get jealous about how devoted he is and wonder if I’ll ever have a mate who would be just as committed to me.”
“I think anyone who wants to find their mate hopes for the same thing,” Quintus told him. “So why are you meeting with him?”
“Promise me you won’t laugh when I tell you why?” He went to answer, but Donald stopped him. “Please, this is important to me.” Quintus turned and folded his arms across his chest, then nodded. “I’m going to tell him I want to be the deputy mayor. I know I haven’t been in Vale Valley long, and I don’t have many friends—besides you and Grayson. But since coming here, I’ve fallen in love with the place. There’s so much good I can do here. I have the resources and money burning a hole in my bank account, and I don’t want to spend it on frivolous things. I want to invest it in this town.”
Quintus was silent for a few minutes as he studied his friend. He wasn’t sure who the man was before he showed up in Vale Valley, but he liked the man who was in front of him. He listened when Quintus rambled on about everything and nothing at all. He was the one who was more level headed the night they’d found Chance’s body in the woods when he’d been attacked by the former deputy mayor. Quintus could tell the man was a leader and did not mind being in the spotlight. But would also step back and give others their light to shine.
“Your money isn’t going to impress Chance. In fact, don’t mention how much you’re worth.”
Donald nodded and rested his hands on his hips. “What else?”
“Be up front, don’t beat around the bush or try to be coy. He hates that shit. Well, except when Grayson does it. And for what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a good deputy mayor. And if I know Nana Rose, she already knows what you might want to talk to Chance about and gave him a heads up. I’ve suspected for years she has seer abilities or knows someone who does.”
“She seems to be one step ahead of everyone else,” he said with a smile. “If I hadn’t been turned into a werewolf, I would have thought you were crazy—talking about seers.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“Do you think Chance will agree to work with me?”
“He’s agreed to meet with you, so that means he’s willing to at least listen.”
“All right,” he said walking over to the door. “Let me get home and shower. I don’t want to be late for my meeting.”
“Hey,” Quintus said, stopping him before he walked out of the kitchen. “I meant what I said, it wasn’t lip service. I can tell you will fit in well as the deputy mayor.”
“Thanks, man, that means a lot. I’ll see you later tonight.”
Quintus watched Donald get in his car and drive off. He looked around and realized he didn’t want to have breakfast alone. Usually, after their morning run, they’d have breakfast before going their separate ways.
Walking out of the kitchen, he took the stairs two at a time and started stripping off his clothes the second he got to the bedroom. Once he was ready for work, he planned on making a stop at his mom’s diner. He knew she’d make him a big breakfast.
Maybe I’ll get the guys a pie or two to have with their lunch.
Chapter Two
Scottland Shelton, Scott to his friends and family, walked into his office and stopped by his assistant’s desk wondering where the hell he was.
It wasn’t often he’d show up to work and Marlow wasn’t at his desk. Scott couldn’t forget the day he had hired Marlow—he’d been in dire need of help.
When he’d opened his practice five years ago, he hadn’t counted on it being busy. Scott figured he’d only see one or two patients on his busiest day, so hiring an assistant hadn’t been something he’d originally considered.
