Remy frowned when he saw that there was a message from Sven’s PA.She probably wants me to pass on a message for him, he thought, opening the email and quickly reading the brief message.
At first, the words made little sense, but Remy felt his heart slowly splinter as he read the words again.
…has been unavoidably detained… plane had to be rerouted…
The last line was the kicker.Mr. Booker will endeavor to see you at a later date, dependent on his busy schedule… apologies for any inconvenience.
“Damn him all to fucking hell!” Remy could barely see the screen for the tears that filled his eyes. He quickly reached over and shut off his computer, not even caring that he hadn’t gone through the power-down process. Then he undid his tie because everybody hates those things anyway, and then went around and picked up his platter of beautifully prepared savories and slices, holding them high in the air.
It was so tempting to drop the lot on the floor. No, not drop it, actually smash it, mash it, crumble everything into the floor. And then walk out, leaving the mess behind.
Come on, Remy, you’re smarter than that. Reframe the perspective. Think about the situation positively.
Remy appreciated his animal side’s support, even though he knew his animal side was keen on seeing Sven, too.I’ll try.
“This is disappointing.” He frowned. “These things happen.”
Yeah, Remy wasn’t in an understanding mindset, and just saying the words felt fake. Although… “Why waste all these pastries and savories when I paid for them with my money?”
Remy stalked around his desk, shoving the keyboard aside and putting the platter down. Then he went and made himself a coffee as well—the goodstuff—because why the hell not.
He flipped the telephone to answer and leaned back in his chair, putting his feet on the desk. Hey, his shoes were clean. He’d even polished them.I’m gonna make a pig of myself, and then tonight I am gonna go out and get drunk,he decided.
Tasha would be up for something like that. “And then in the morning I’m gonna come back in here, and I’m going to be the most professional and respectful employee that Mr. fucking Booker has ever fricking seen. No more lusting for me. I’ll stick to cakes instead.” He took a huge bite of a cream puff pastry and ignored the crumbs on his freshly pressed shirt.
Chapter One
Rick
“Have you ever thought about getting yourself a mate? You know, somebody small perhaps who can cuddle up to you on those cold winter nights and who can look after you and cook for you when you’ve worked hard during the day?”
“That isn’t the sort of question I’m usually asked when I’m just making a coffee.” Rick smiled at his best friend’s mate, Toby, as he added milk to his brew. “I’m barely awake.”
Ernest was definitely happy now he had Toby in his life, but Rick wasn’t the type to go for the sort of man Toby was describing, like Toby’s friend Niall, for example. “I’m a little bit suspicious about your question, to be honest,” he added with a chuckle. “For one thing, you already know I’m perfectly capable of cooking for myself. I sense this might be another one of your attempts to get me to take your friend Niall out on a date. The one time I met him, he didn’t seem the dating type.”
“This isn’t about Niall,” Toby said quickly, although his cheeks were flaming. “I was simply thinking that a decent guy like yourself,should have a cute someone making coffee for you. You’re a good worker, you help anyone who asks, and I’m sure there’s a big heart under all that gruff.”
You’re such a sweetheart.“I have thought about it,” Rick contemplated. “I think most paranormals do at one point or another. For me, seeing how you make my friend happy has made me think about it more often than normal, I guess. Except…” he shot Toby a glare over the edge of his coffee mug, “don’t go thinking you can sign me up for one of those Bucket List Buddies events, either. That is not my cup of tea. I’m not the type to be looking for some cute little omega, or some sweet little twink to brighten my den. That’s not where my interests lie at all. So no, thank you.”
“Ooh,” Toby said, his eyes widening as he grinned. “So you’re more an alpha-on-alpha type? Well, surely then, it would be a really great idea to join up for one of those Bucket List Buddies events. Those events are swarming with alphas. They probably outnumber the omegas, or the little ones you prefer to ignore, by at least two to one.”
“I can see where it’d be a good way of meeting new people,” Rick agreed, leaning his butt against the counter, intrigued despite himself. “However, the alphas who go to those events are looking for people like you and your friend Niall. If you’ve got money to waste on a ticket for the next event, then I suggest that you use it on Niall, not me. That would help boost the omega numbers, and there’d be plenty of alphas there for Niall to get to know. What do you say to that?”
“I just think it must be quite lonely going home to an empty house at night,” Toby said as he mirrored Rick’s pose. “If an alpha is what you’re looking for, then it stands to reason there’s going to be somebody like you at the Bucket List Buddies event. Morty was saying yesterday that apparently the next event ison one of those dude ranches or whatever they’re called, where you get to play cowboy for a day.”
Rick snorted. “Do I look like a cowboy to you?” He knew well enough that he looked more like a Sherman tank. He was big and broad everywhere and definitely reflected his animal side. Yes, Toby was right in that he could be a softy at times, but those times were rare. “The only reason I would go to anything like that would be for the laughs. Watching people trip over their pristine cowboy boots, tangling themselves up in ropes, and likely running for the nearest fence if a bull shook its horns in their direction. I could see where that could be funny, but that’s not a good reason to go.”
“Yes it is, you just said it yourself.” Toby was giggling, and Rick knew he was thinking about someone tripping over their boots. “Why don’t you give it a go? These events are on the weekend, it’s only a one-day event, and you can share all the fun things you’ve seen with us on Monday morning. I mean, now the fields have been resown, I know you get your weekends off.”
“You’re quite persistent, aren’t you?” Rick gave his new friend a grin. “Are you sure this isn’t one of your misguided efforts to pair me up with Niall?”
“Niall won’t go.” Toby made a face and shook his head. “I already asked him. He said he absolutely would not be caught dead on a ranch. So there’s no way he’s going to be there. Another incentive for you. You’d be Niall free, and who knows? Maybe some hunky alpha cowboy will catch your eye.”
“I’m quite happy the way I am, you know,” he persisted. “I might live in my den alone, but at least no one else is around to nick my blankets. However,” he added when Toby opened his mouth, likely ready to argue his point, “I suppose at least some people going would be the outdoors type, which wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
“There you go.” Toby did a bit of a butt wiggle. “You’re coming around to my way of thinking.”
“Coming around to your way of thinking for what, precious?” Ernest strode into the kitchen. He’d clearly just got out of the shower. He went straight to Toby, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss on Toby’s hair. “Are you trying to interfere in my friend’s dating life again?”
