Thomas was sweet.He cared about animals and put all of his love into his work.It was clear that he loved his family, even though he was keeping this secret from them.Rowan had a lot of fun with him when they weren’t dealing with animals at work, and even when they were sometimes.He also liked that Thomas was teaching him a lot.The man was incredibly competent, and Rowan hadn’t realized how much of a turn on that would be for him.
It didn’t matter that Thomas didn’t have his high school diploma.Having one wouldn’t change the person he was.
It wouldn’t change the person Rowan had a crush on.
Chapter Four
––––––––
ROWAN BUMPED HIS HIPagainst Thomas’s, gently pushing him aside as he reached for something on a shelf.It made Thomas laugh, and he bumped back into him.Rowan hooked a hand over Thomas’s hip, keeping him in place as he pressed against him and grabbed the can of cat food he’d been trying to get to.When he stepped away, turning to put it on the counter, he left Thomas a little bit breathless.
“You could’ve asked me to get that for you,” he pointed out.
Rowan shrugged.“I was right there.”
He didn’t stop moving, and Thomas found himself watching him.He wanted to reach out and touch Rowan, but he didn’t have the courage to do it.He didn’t know how Rowan would react, and he didn’t think he could deal with a rejection.
Thomas had never really had a crush before.He’d been young when he’d ended up on the street, barely thirteen, and he’d been focused on surviving after that.He might have had something of a crush on Dustin, but that was probably because the man was so much older and a dragon shifter.He’d protected Thomas, and Thomas had been awed, but in the end, they were family.
Rowan wasn’t.The crush Thomas was dealing with now was nothing like the one he’d had on Dustin, and he didn’t know what to do.Should he keep quiet?It would be for the best if he thought that Rowan wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure that was the case.Rowan hadn’t said anything, but sometimes, Thomas caught him watching him.He’d also noticed that Rowan was touching him a lot more than people usually touched coworkers.Of course, they were a little more than just coworkers, but still.Thomas was confused and scared, and he had no idea what to do with any of that.
The best would be for him to focus on his work and on getting his GED.Rowan wasn’t going anywhere, so he’d still be here once Thomas was done with that, and Thomas would be able to focus on him.At the same time, what if Rowan didn’t like Thomas that way?Was Thomas just psyching himself up to be rejected?He didn’t want that, either.He didn’t want to ruin the friendship that was growing between him and Rowan.
“Hey, is there anyone here?”a man’s voice called from the entrance.
Rowan shot Thomas a quick smile, but didn’t move, which meant that he expected Thomas to go to the front and help whoever was there.Thomas was fine with that.It was part of his job, and he had more experience than Rowan.There was also a high chance he might recognize whoever was there since he was a pack member.
Thomas left Rowan where he was and stepped into the entrance.He did recognize the man standing there, but not because he was a pack member.No, it was the man who’d brought in a wounded pigeon.
“What can I do for you?”Thomas asked, staying behind the counter.He’d had to deal with weirdos before, and he didn’t want to give this man any kind of opportunity to get to him.
The man smiled easily.“I was just wondering what happened to the pigeon I brought in the other day.”
“It’s been two weeks,” Thomas pointed out.
“Yeah, sure.So, how is it?Did you release it yet?”
“Again, it’s been two weeks.It’s a little too soon to release it.Its wing is still healing.”
“But it’s still alive, right?”
“It is, yes.Thank you for bringing it in.”
The man shrugged, smiling.He was a bit creepy, but Thomas told himself not to be unkind.After all, the man had been nice enough to bring a wounded pigeon to the sanctuary, something most people wouldn’t have done.Even more so, he’d come back to ask about the bird.Thomas wasn’t sure why the guy hadn’t called, but not everyone had common sense.
“I couldn’t leave it in the middle of the street.Someone could have hurt it.I mean, half of the people who live in this town can turn into animals.”
Thomas blinked.“Are you insinuating that one of the shifters who live here could’ve shifted and hurt the pigeon?”
“God, no.Or at least not on purpose.I’m just saying that someone or something could have hurt the pigeon more if I’d left it where I found it.Pack territory is quite big, isn’t it?”
Thomas tried to figure out what was going on.Why was this conversation jumping from the pigeon to shifters to pack territory?
“Well, as I said, the pigeon is fine.Once it’s healed, we’ll release it, so you don’t have to worry.Thank you again for bringing it in.”
“Jimmy.”
Thomas nodded.“Thank you, Jimmy.Is there anything else I can do for you?”
