by Lisa Oliver
“You’re leaving town?” Karl’s heartrate increased.
“It would make things easier for both of us, I reckon.” Tanner had such a deep soothing voice, even if the words were anything but. “I can’t live around here knowing you don’t want me, and you can’t live with me. I have read about you. I do understand, we’re from two totally different worlds. Surely you can see, my leaving town is best for both of us.”
“Yes. No. NO!” Karl was floundering, and he knew it. “Seeing you that night was a huge shock. You have to understand. I’d just come from a meeting with my uncle, breaking ties with my family and my home pack. I’d been working all the hours the gods sent me for months towards that launch and then I was just trying to get myself together and I scented you. I didn’t think. I didn’t expect...” He waved his hands helplessly in Tanner’s direction, unable to think of anything he could say that wouldn’t be an insult.
“You were expecting small and cute with no facial hair, perhaps?”
“And boobs. You forgot the boobs,” Karl said, his voice low. “The thing is, because of what I am, and because of what you are, don’t you see, even if we can’t be together in the way the Fates intended, it’s still my responsibility to look out for you, to help you, to look after you.”
Tanner straightened and his voice was even deeper if that was possible. “I’ve been looking after myself for over fifty years, Mr. Jacobs. I think I’ve got the hang of it now. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got people waiting.”
“No wait. Please.” Karl could see his opportunity slipping away, and while he wasn’t sure he even understood what the opportunity was, he knew with every part of his wolf’s soul he could not let this be their last meeting. “Please, I seem to be putting my foot in my mouth repeatedly and I know this isn’t the time or place. But perhaps we could talk. Lunch,” he said desperately. “Friday. At my office. I’ll get something brought in and we can have some privacy there.”
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out one of his business cards, and a pen, scribbling his private cell number on the back. Returning his pen to his pocket, Karl held out the card. “Text me so I have your number, please. I can’t let you leave town… I can’t let this be the last time I see you. Not until we’ve had a chance to talk.”
“You sure know how to drag things out. I’m not going to grow boobs by Friday.” Tanner reached over and took the card, the briefest brush of their fingers sending shockwaves up Karl’s arm. “I’ll text you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
Glancing at the grave one last time, Tanner turned and walked away, his back ramrod straight. Karl felt as though the omega had taken all the air with him. It was all he could do to stay on his feet. Hunched over, his hands on his thighs, he struggled with his wolf who was desperate to follow.
Friday. Friday. Friday. Friday. Karl kept up the chant until well after Tanner was out of sight and he could get his feet to move. We’ll see him Friday. And maybe by Friday he might know what to do about the tsunami of feelings being near the omega caused in him.
Chapter Ten
Friday morning and Tanner was pacing in front of Karl’s company building, checking his watch every thirty seconds. He shouldn’t have come. He had an appointment with the realtor to see about selling his aunt’s house in two hours, and anything Karl might say in that time was only going to batter his bruised heart and make it difficult for him to think straight afterwards. There were times Tanner cursed being an omega and this was one of them. He didn’t have it in him, to refuse the invitation for lunch.
Two minutes before their agreed time to meet, twelve thirty, Tanner pushed open the wide double glass doors, and went to the reception desk. “Excuse me, ma’am,” he said politely. “Can you direct me to Mr. Jacob’s office? He’s expecting me at twelve thirty.”
“You’ll need to speak to Allan, Mr. Jacob’s personal assistant.” The woman who’s name tag said “Bridget” said brightly. “He handles all Mr. Jacob’s appointments. If you take the elevator to the fifth floor, you’ll find him there.”
“Thank you and have a nice day.” Tapping his fingers lightly on the polished desk, Tanner strode to where the elevators were located. There wasn’t much happening on the ground floor, although Tanner could see through into one large open office space where a crowd of people were sat around a desk, one of them laughing as they were checking over something on a computer. The building itself had a friendly vibe, which wasn’t something Tanner expected from an alpha run company. It said a lot about the man who owned it.
The elevator was swish, quiet, and efficient, and ten seconds later Tanner found himself on the fifth floor. There was only one desk visible, although that desk was placed strategically in front of another set of double doors, wooden this time, and as one of those doors had the nameplate “Karl Jacobs” on it, Tanner guessed he’d come to the right place.
But the area smelled of wolf, and not just Karl. The owner of the newer scent was wrinkling his nose and glowering at him from his seat behind the big desk. A younger, lesser ranked wolf if Tanner wasn’t mistaken, but one who clearly thought he ranked higher than an omega.
“Trades are on the ground floor,” the wolf said dismissively. “This is a private area. Please leave, or I’ll call security.”
“Trades? When I wore a suit?” Tanner looked down at his smartly pressed clothing and polished shoes. “I think you need your eyes testing. Would you let Mr. Jacobs know his twelve thirty appointment is here? That is your job, I take it?”
“You don’t get to tell me what my job is, omega.” The wolf, presumably Allan, jumped out of his chair, and ran around his desk. He barely came up to Tanner’s sternum, but he did a good job of trying to be intimidating. “Mr. Jacobs doesn’t have an appointment at twelve thirty. I schedule his diary. I would know about it.”
Crossing his arms, Tanner stood firm. Years of dealing with drug dealers left him with some skills. “And yet, your boss told me to be here. And I’m here. And I’m staying right here, until your boss tells me to go. Perhaps you should save us both a lot of unnecessary hassle and just tell him?”
“Don’t think I won’t call security because I will,” Allan yelled, apparently losing the plot when he realized he couldn’t move Tanner physically or intimidate him enough to send him scurrying for the door. “Trash like you doesn’t belong on any floor in this company. I bet you stole those clothes you’re wearing and now you think you can swan in here and demand to see the big boss? What do you think you were going to do if you saw him? Drop your stolen pants and present your ass in the hopes of an alpha fuck? Are you hoping the rich alpha, who’s been in all the papers, will be your sugar daddy and look after you? Karl’s not interested in scumbags like you. He’s straight, and even if he…”
“ALLAN!” The one word, whipped around the office space like fury, accompanied by a cloud of alpha power. Tanner didn’t find himself affected, but Allan definitely did. He glanced over to see the alpha himself standing in his office doorway, visibly vibrating.
“I was handling it, boss.” Allan hunched over himself and Tanner could almost see the flattened ears and curled under tail. “I don’t know how this man got in here, but…”
“He’s here on my invitation. Tanner, I’m so glad you could make it. I was wondering if you’d gotten held up and I see that you have, by my soon-to-be-unemployed assistant.” Dressed in a charcoal gray suit, Karl crossed the floor, coming to stand by his side, his hand resting protectively on Tanner’s lower back as he glowered at Allan.
“Allan, you have two choices. You can get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness from my lunch companion for treating him so rudely, or you can clear out your desk and collect your final pay. Now.”
“Boss?” Allan peered up, never meeting Karl’s eyes. “But he’s an…”
“I don’t care who or what a person is, Allan.” Karl’s clipped voice was playing havoc with Tanner’s libido. “The main part of your job is to greet every single person who co
mes into this office with respect, courtesy, and the offer of refreshments if I’m delayed.”
“But boss, he doesn’t have an appointment,” Allan whimpered, his shoulder’s hunched.
“He definitely does. Check your tablet. Detective Tanner Corban. I believe I blocked out the afternoon for him.”
“He’s a Detective?” Allan gulped. “But he’s an…”
“Apologize or clear out your desk!” The pressure on Tanner’s lower back increased and Tanner knew that Karl was fighting his urge to shift, something that wouldn’t go down well in the plush office. The carpet wasn’t nearly dark enough to hide the mess.
“Perhaps your personal assistant could take the rest of the day off, to consider his options,” he suggested quietly. “It’s not easy for people like us, when the class structures so rigidly enforced in a pack situation have no bearing in the human world. Your PA has obviously been raised to believe that male omegas are nothing more than the scum of the earth, or sluts beholden to a heat like cats. I would beg to differ, but then I would because I’ve clearly achieved more in society than I might have done in a pack. Your PA, not so much.”
The scowl Allan sent his way didn’t go unnoticed. “I agree, in part,” Karl still had a bite to his tone, “but I have very strong expectations among my staff here, expectations Allan is fully aware of. If he’s not able to control his discriminatory attitudes in the workplace, then he has no place in my company. However, you are here at my request and are my guest, so I’ll take your suggestion under advisement. Allan, I don’t want to see or hear from you until Monday morning and unless you have a handwritten apology for the detective here on my desk by then, you will be fired immediately, with no reference. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Allan slunk away, hopefully to change his pants.
“You have my apologies, for what they are worth.” Karl waved with his free hand towards his open office door. “Shall we have lunch?”
“Do you have any air freshener?” Tanner waved his hand under his nose. “It’s rather smelly in here.”
“I seem to have that effect on some people on rare occasions. You won’t be able to smell any of this in my office. I have air conditioning.” Karl chuckled as Tanner found himself led into the office in question.
/~/~/~/~/
That breathless feeling was back again, but this time accompanied by a giddy feeling Karl had never experienced before. It was like he wanted to run, or jump, dance and wave his hands around, with his wolf urging him on. He was furious Allan had taken an instant dislike to Tanner, but he’d put the wolf in his place. Yeah – protecting my omega. Now all he wanted to do was lean out a window and yell to the totally disinterested neighborhood that Tanner actually turned up for lunch – with him – Karl hadn’t been sure until that moment that he would.
The dancing and yelling really wouldn’t have been suitable alpha behavior, but after making sure Allan knew his place, now it was as though all Karl wanted was to gain Tanner’s approval.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted for lunch, so I ordered more of a buffet style meal,” he said, closing the office door and surreptitiously turning the lock. Karl did not want anyone else coming in and ruining his glow. Allan had done a good enough job of that as it was. “There’re a whole range of foods you can pick from.”
“That was thoughtful. Thank you. You have a nice office.” Tanner wandered over to the huge plate glass window, looking down at the scene below. “It’s not often I get to see these sorts of views in my line of work.”
Karl was moving instinctively, following Tanner to stand close to him again. He couldn’t work out why, but he couldn’t stop himself either. “It’s not the best part of town, but when I was starting out, this building was all I could afford. Once the company grew, I didn’t see the point in moving when this place is set up the way we need it to be.”
“That makes sound business sense.” Tanner glanced over and smiled, before looking back at the view. “How long have you been here, in San Diego?”
“About four years. I started the company decades before but when I came here, I set myself up here as my son and made out I’d taken over the company from my father. This was a new team, so no one knew me from before.”
“Except your PA?”
Karl felt a chill run up his spine although there was no judgement in Tanner’s tone. “He was pack, yes, although I left the Blue Moon pack before he was born. My uncle, who runs the pack, saw on social media I was looking for a new PA and called me to recommend Allan. Until today, I didn’t have a reason to be upset with him. I was shocked by his outburst to you, and furious with him,” he added quickly so there was no suggestion that he agreed with Allan’s slurs.
“You haven’t been around a pack recently, have you? Unfortunately for people like me, many packs still adhere to the old ways where might is right and anyone else is a slut or a child bearer.” Tanner was still wearing his smile. “If you’ve decided you’re not going to kill me, shall we share some of this lovely food I can smell? I hate to mention this, but I do have a meeting with an agent at my aunt’s house at two thirty, to discuss details about putting it on the market. I didn’t want to rush our luncheon, but I do need to get my aunt’s affairs in order.”
“I’ll come with you,” Karl said, going over to the table he’d had set up and removing the steel covers. “Not that I want to intrude.” Shit, what is wrong with me. “It’s just I have the afternoon off anyway so…”
“Your business knowledge would be appreciated,” Tanner said smoothly. “I don’t have much experience with buying and selling property. I preferred the nomadic life before I settled here.”
There was a million questions Karl wanted to ask, not least, how Tanner ended up alone and packless. From what he said back at the cemetery, Tanner was used to relying on himself. And that idea caused an ache in Karl’s heart. He busied himself, serving the meal and for a while the two men ate in silence. A companionable one, Karl realized, finding it rather relaxing. Normally, the only time he truly relaxed was when he ate alone, but with Tanner he felt he could let his natural guard down. Unfortunately, the questions he wanted answers to wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Why did you become a detective?” He asked when Tanner put down his fork and pushed his plate to one side. “What happened to your pack? Were you even born in a pack? What about your parents? Are they still alive? Why did you live a wandering lifestyle, before coming here? Haven’t you ever wanted to settle down?”
“You’d be good in law enforcement. I’ve seen many a man crumble after being hammered with rapid fire questions like yours,” Tanner said drily, picking up his glass of water and taking a sip. “Is hearing my life story going to make any difference to your rejection of me?”
“Can we please forget my intolerable behavior two weeks ago and start over?” Karl was ready to beg if necessary and he was well aware of how out of character that was. “I really regret the way I behaved although I believed it was justified at the time. I’ve never looked at a guy and thought, yes, I want to tap that ass. I’ve barely even noticed a man’s looks. In seventy-four years of life, I’ve definitely never considered a future with another male, before now. I’m asking you, as the one the Fates intended for me, to please give me a break for my earlier behavior and let me come to terms with this in my own way.”
“The Fates intended for you to be it for me too, you know.” Karl could see how Tanner would be a good detective. His face was completely devoid of emotion although his scent was speaking volumes. “At least let me know honestly if you intend on trying to come to terms with this.” He flicked his hand between the two of them. “Or did you learn the same things from your pack about omegas as your PA did?”
“I don’t know where Allan got his ideas,” Karl muttered, moving his own plate to the side of the table. “My father wouldn’t have allowed that sort of talk about anyone when he was alive.” He looked up, determined to be as fair as he could be. “As for this thing
between us. This is me being completely honest with you. I find myself thinking about you every waking moment. The thought you might move away without giving us a chance breaks my heart and sends me into a panic. You make my dick hard. I want to be close to you the moment I catch a whiff of your scent. Waiting for lunchtime to come around today has felt like torture. That might not have been the declaration you wanted but it’s the honest truth the way it stands right now.”
Tanner leaned his elbows on the table, glanced at his watch, and then sighed. “Do you have any coffee? I’ll give you the condensed answers to your questions for now.”
Chapter Eleven
Remember those times when Tanner hated being an omega? This was another one. His wolf didn’t think it was appropriate behavior to slap an alpha wolf around the head, although Tanner was tempted. Karl’s hang-ups were human concerns – Tanner’s wolf just wanted to belly up and snuggle up to the muddled businessman like he was a blankie. Something Tanner didn’t need, but he had hoped for a bit more of an endorsement from the man the Fates thought perfect for him.
Although Tanner appreciated the honesty, and Karl’s scent didn’t lie. The man was genuinely confused by their pairing, but he wasn’t dismissing it completely. There was nothing wrong with the alpha’s protective instincts, and while Tanner expected Allan would still have his job on Monday, and there wouldn’t be any further talk of an apology, he respected Karl’s response at the time.
“My mom died giving birth to me,” Tanner said quietly, cradling the cup of coffee Karl got him with both hands. “I was a big baby and grew into an even bigger child. My father remarried and had more offspring and life was as good as it could get in a pack situation. In my teenage years, I kept growing, and my father started boasting I would present as an alpha – he didn’t even have beta status and as our pack alpha only had girls, a lot was made of who I would become. The alpha even promised to have me trained as an enforcer once I’d gone through my first shift.”
