by Lola Kidd
Potter rolled her eyes at him. "I go in your office all the time."
"Yes, but you aren't new." He fixed Lenni in his gaze. "You won't mess anything up."
Lenni waved her hands. "I'm right here. I can hear you. It's fine. I can knock if I ever need you. What else is there?"
They went through the living room. The formal living room that he had almost no use for. The chef's kitchen that was only there because the builder insisted upon it "for resale value." They went up to the grand staircase to the second floor. Potter showed her the servants' bedrooms, the laundry room, and finally his room.
"You're going to have to help him pack for the event." Potter opened the bedroom that doubled as his closet. He hovered a few feet away, still on the staircase. He wasn't a part of the tour exactly, but he didn't want to let this random person wander his house and look at all his possessions. She hadn't even signed the NDA yet for goodness sake. This was typical Potter. She forgot all his rules when she was excited about something.
"This is all his?" Lenni stepped into the room and spun around. "There's so much. How do you have time to wear it all?"
She picked up the sleeve of a suit that was still in plastic from moving. She grabbed three different pairs of shoes and checked the bottoms.
"Beckett likes to have a large selection to pick from," Potter explained.
"These haven't even been worn. None of them." Lenni turned and showed him the shoes. "Why even have them if you don't wear them?"
"I do wear them." He crossed his arms over his chest and walked into his closet. "I just haven't gotten the chance yet. And the shoes won't be scuffed after one wearing anyway. I don't walk miles in them. I walk to the limo and around a party maybe. Not much wear and tear."
"I didn't realize." She put down the shoes. "Will I get a list to pack from?"
Potter looked at Beckett. "I don't know if he's picked all his outfits yet. I don't think there will be much though. Many of the looks will be tuxedos or formal suits."
"I don't like to put together my outfits," Beckett told her. "That's why I hire people to take care of that stuff for me. I don't care what you pick really, as long as it looks good in pictures."
If it were up to him, he would go naked most of the time. That's why he loved living alone up here. Potter had seen him naked since the day he was born, and Patrick was used to it as a shifter himself. It only became a problem when they brought in outsiders like Lenni. Even if she was more beautiful in person than in her picture, he didn't appreciate that he was going to have to start covering up in his own home.
"I get to pick what you're going to wear?" Lenni clapped her hands together and started sifting through his suits. "It's going to be like having my own Ken doll."
Beckett's mouth twisted into a smirk.
She blushed a deep red. "I mean...not that you're...I just really like..."
"I've made many a woman before you speechless," Beckett joked. Not that he minded. He knew the effect he could have on women, especially human women. It didn't bother him one bit that she was sexually attracted to him. But from the dirty look Potter was shooting him, he was going to have to keep that to himself. He had only just gotten back on her good side. He didn't want to mess it up by sleeping with her new protege.
"I just like to pick clothes," Lenni said finally, back to her normal color. "I don't often get to choose a man's look for him."
Beckett snorted. "Good to know that you don't pick your father's clothes."
Lenni cracked a smile. "Well yeah, I could never come up with something that creative."
"Creative?" Beckett tilted his head. "I guess that's one interpretation."
Potter looked between them. "I feel like I'm in the middle of a joke that's going over my head."
"You must remember how Professor Belle dressed?" Beckett told her. "The crazy layers of non-matching shirts? The women's leggings? The hats that only make sense on a nineteenth-century pirate?"
Lenni bent over and held her stomach. "Stop! I have to remember that pirate one. I have been telling him to get rid of that hat for decades. Decades!"
"Did he dress strange?" Potter put her finger next to her mouth and looked toward the ceiling. "I don't remember that at all. I just remember the poor man being desperate, bless his heart."
"Desperate for a new look," Lenni snorted and then started laughing again.
The corner of Beckett's mouth twitched. She was adorable. Her laughter consumed her entire body. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her hand was covering her full lips. Her hand grasped at the sides of her small waist and her breasts jiggled lightly. He could watch her laugh for hours just trying to map all the small movements of her body.
"He must not have a wife." Potter concluded. "No woman would let a man leave the house looking like a crazy man."
Lenni shook her head. "No wife. But Beckett doesn't have a wife and he manages to dress just fine."
There was a feeling inside of him. He couldn't quite articulate it. He liked what she said, but didn't know if it was meant to be a compliment or just stating a fact.
"That's because you're seeing him in his inside clothes," Potter warned. "He cleans up nice but only when I pick out his clothes."
"Just a minute," he snapped. "I'm a grown man. I pick my own clothes."
"So then why am I packing for you?" Lenni asked.
Beckett glowered. He saw what she did. She didn't want to pick out his outfits. He understood. It did sound ridiculous when he said it like that, but it was a time saver.
"Almost anything you pick will be fine," he explained. "I already have nice clothes and a simple color palette. You can't really mess it up. And it saves me time not having to decide on such frivolous matters."
Lenni raised an eyebrow. "Frivolous? All right then. I'll try not to mess up doing something so beneath you. It's only how you present yourself to the world."
"I've already done the hard part for you." He went to his row of suits and blazers. He pulled two shirts and a blazer at random. "Either of these shirts look fine with this blazer. Everything here is like that. Once you know what I'm doing for the day all you need to do is find appropriate clothes. Potter will help if needed."
"It really is easy, dear," Potter said. "The real job is making sure he has what he needs each day at the wedding."
"That is when it really matters," Beckett said. "And why Potter wants you to stay here. So you can practice before the big moment."
She beamed. It hadn't occurred to him until that moment. Of course. He was going to have to let Lenni pick his clothes during the week leading up to the event. This was a big deal. He didn't want to throw her in without any training. It looked like they were going to be spending more time together than he'd anticipated.
Chapter Ten
Lenni did the math quickly on a sheet of paper. She had to check it twice to be sure. She was going to make much more money than she originally expected from this job. She leaned back on her pillow, smiling in the warm morning light. She stretched once and rolled over before her feet touched the soft carpet.
She was going to have to find some slippers soon because the hardwood floors and marble bathroom weren't that warm. She was so glad she had asked for a room with a carpet under the bed. For someone so wealthy, she was surprised how chilly Beckett kept his home.
She put on a kimono-style robe before hurrying to Beckett's closet. While walking down the hall, she checked the weather on her phone. It was going to be seventy-five and breezy. First, she pulled out a pair of gray sweatpants and set them near the door. Beckett always started the day in sweatpants. He was going to work out first, God knew why.
He had a typical shifter's body. There was no need for him to work out a day in his life. But still, every morning she'd been there during the week, he worked out in the personal gym in the basement or gone for a run in the woods out back.
While he worked out, she usually picked out his second outfit of the day and checked the weather for the next day to g
et ideas. Then, she had her breakfast while checking the news and after breakfast she would use the workout room herself. It was a nice routine. Patrick had been right; working for Beckett was ridiculously easy. She thought she'd had it nice at Pat's Pages, but that was a grueling job compared to this.
Today she decided his work clothes should be something colorful. His wardrobe had so many more options than she had first noticed. Hidden in the second row of shelves were shirts of every color in the rainbow.
She knew that he preferred everything in shades of grays, blacks, whites, and blues best but it was so dull. It was only going to be them in the house. She didn't see why he couldn't wear something more colorful. So far he hadn't said anything and he seemed to like her choices.
"Up early I see?"
Lenni blushed and kept her back to the door. Beckett was up before she expected. She knew he was naked and didn't want to see that again. The first time had been enough.
Not that she was complaining about what she'd seen. His body was a sight to behold. He was strong and thick in all the right places. But she didn't think she should be seeing her employer naked. Potter had explained on her third day that Beckett liked having a skeleton crew working at the house for this reason. Typical shifter, he liked being naked as often as possible and had no problem being in his birthday suit.
While she admired his confidence, it was a bit much for her. It would take her more than a few days to get comfortable seeing him naked all the time. Though she might never get used to it. His naked body was too beautiful to look at. She didn't know how anyone could ever get used to seeing him like that.
"I didn't know you'd be up so early," she told him. "I was sure it was going to be a few more hours."
"I wanted to get a longer workout today," Beckett said from behind her. "I was thinking I'd go for a long jog out back."
She heard him pull up his pants, but she wanted to be sure and so she counted another three beats in her head before turning. "Is it safe to go running in the woods?"
Beckett's eyes traveled down to her feet and back up her legs twice before returning to her eyes. "It will help me get used to running on uneven terrain. If I can run out there, I can run anywhere."
"Are you training for one of those obstacle course marathons?"
"Something of that sort." He grabbed a headband from his drawer and slipped it on. "It's a shifter run. You do your part of the marathon as your animal and part as a human. This one is for bears only, so it should be even more challenging."
"But the bears couldn't run that fast for that long right?" His eyes were wandering again. It took all of her nerve not to pull her kimono tighter. She knew he couldn't see anything from the way he looked at her. It was unnerving. Like he was undressing her with his eyes.
"We can't. But that doesn't make it any less fun. In fact that's part of the challenge. Knowing your animal and knowing when to use a burst of speed."
"When is the marathon?" Her hand strayed up to the tie at her waist and she wrapped it around her finger. She was not going to close her robe tighter. She didn't want him to see that he was getting to her.
"It's going to be in the fall." He eyed the finger at her waist and he met her eye and smirked. Was he reading her mind or was she that much of an open book? She usually had a great poker face, but it seemed like Beckett always knew what she was thinking.
"So you're not going to be hibernating this year I take it?" he joked. She knew that bear shifters didn't hibernate, but it was still a funny way to lighten the mood. "With the way you live, I don't think anyone would notice if you were gone for two or three months of the year."
His smirk changed to a smile. "I guess I won't be hibernating any more than usual this year then. Do you think my lifestyle is that eccentric?"
"It seems like you can live just fine without any contact with the outside world for months. That's a little strange."
Beckett groaned. "Strange. Does that mean I'm getting to Howard Hughes territory or just fun rich guy with quirks?"
Lenni laughed. "I haven't seen any jars in your room, so I think you're still in the quirky territory. Plus, you're still pretty handsome. I think the women of the world would notice if you were gone for too long."
"Because I'm so handsome?" The smirk was back again. Jeez.
"I'm going to get dressed now. I'll get your second outfit ready while you're working out."
"I like the colors," Beckett said when she was almost out the door.
That stopped her in her tracks. She couldn't stop smiling. She was sure she was going to float away on a cloud after that stupid little comment. "Really? I was worried you hated it but weren't saying anything. I was waiting to have a sit-down with Potter about my crazy choices."
"I would never leave it to Potter to correct something for me," Beckett laughed. "I almost never reach for color myself. I had forgotten I have many of the shirts. Nice to see them again."
"I'll be sure to keep it up while we're here. But don't worry," Lenni put her hand up. "Scouts honor. I'm going to be sure to keep everything for the wedding neutral and very classic."
"You have something in mind already?"
Lenni went to one of the racks at the back of the closet. "This is what I have in mind right now. Mostly, it's a tux of course, black suits, and white shirts. You can mix and match black and whites. You'll look great and won't stand out in a crowd."
"I like it. But don't be afraid to bring a colorful shirt or two. I really am loving it."
"Good to know." She knew she was grinning like an idiot, but she couldn't help it. This was the first feedback she'd gotten from him about her picks and it was good.
"I'm headed off for a run now. Interested to see what you have when I get back." He winked at her before he left the closet.
She was doing well. And by the end of this, she was going to have more money than she had ever had in her lifetime. With the money she made from this job, she was going to be able to live for eight months.
That was eight months without any other job. She was nervous at first, but now she was so glad she had taken it. This was life-changing in a very good way. This was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She didn't know how she'd gotten so lucky. She was going to be thanking her stars every night. Working for Beckett was a dream come true.
Chapter Eleven
The warm air caressed Beckett's skin. He moved through the crisp leaves at a fast clip. There was nothing in his way and not another soul for miles. He loved his morning runs.
This was the eighth day of Lenni's employment. She seemed so happy the day before when he told her he liked her choices. And he wasn't lying. She had a keen eye. Even though he'd been wary of her early on, he was glad to have her along. Potter was much happier now that she had an assistant. Beckett could scarcely recognize the old woman she was smiling so much and singing all the time.
Patrick and Lenni had also become fast friends. They had lunch together, and Beckett could hear them laughing all the way in his office. Everyone seemed much happier now that they had a new edition to the servant family.
She breathed so much life into the castle it made Beckett question his living arrangements. He liked living alone with no distractions, but his staff seemed much happier having someone new come in.
Was he being cruel?
He paid them more than a fair salary, but the work-life balance wasn't so great. Neither Patrick nor Potter had families of their own, but that didn't mean they enjoyed living like he did. Maybe he would make a change in the way he did things. Living in this castle all year might not be the best thing for the people who worked for him.
He had homes all over the country. All over the world really. Maybe it would make more sense to travel and change houses every season. It would be nice living closer to Jasper now that the baby was born. He loved his godson and it would be nice to see the baby for three or four months of the year. Potter would also love being able to see the baby more. And Patrick would love being able
to live in a place closer to town with a vibrant choice of eateries.
If his people were happier, it would make him happier too. He depended on the two of them to make his life run smoothly. But it wasn't any good if he was making them miserable. He was going look into making the change after the wedding. Not before asking Potter and Patrick of course. There was a chance that they liked living in Hope Springs.
The wedding. He couldn't wait to be done with the whole thing. He was excited that his friends was getting married, but it was all so stressful for him. It was turning his life upside down. Most of it was good—like hiring Miss Belle—but some of it wasn't so nice. There were going to be a hoard of photographers surrounding the wedding. Jasper was doing everything he could to keep the event private. It sucked that they had to worry about it all weekend.
Luckily, the location and time of the bachelor party was a secret. He couldn't wait to see Jasper again. They weren't having a true party, but it was going to be fun. Just the two of them drinking, fishing, and swimming for two days. He would be flying out in just two days to head to the private resort before going to the wedding. Potter and Lenni would fly out on their own and meet him at his hotel.
Speaking of Potter, he felt the vibration in his pants pocket. There was only one person who would dare bother him while he was running. Coincidentally, she was also the only one who had the number to the phone he carried.
"What?" he asked, panting.
"You're going to want to get back here."
Beckett dropped the phone and let his bear free. He raced back toward the house at full tilt. His bear was tired and could scarcely take another step by the time they got back. Beckett shifted back and kept running in human form until he was back in the house. He snatched his spare shorts from their hook next to the back door.
"What's going on?" he yelled, struggling to get both legs into his pants. The sweat was drying on his body, but he didn't feel a chill. He was a million degrees and his bear was on high alert. His animal was tired, but it was ready to fight if need be.
