Matthew Lennox looked up at his twin brother with a wry smile. His mother knew them so well.
“C’mon, dude,” Jason urged, grabbing him by the elbow. “It’s mom and dad’s retirement party.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. Matthew stood up, pasted a smile on his face and faced the audience, waving his hand.
“That’s my boy,” Riva said. “Now, to everyone here, and I’m sure I speak for my husband as well, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It has been a pleasure, being your President and CEO for almost three decades. Many of you credit me for turning Lennox Corp into what it is today. But, I have to humbly disagree, as I could not have done it without all of you.”
Matthew locked eyes with his father. Hank Lennox gave him a wink and then turned back to the stage, his eyes transfixed on his mate. Riva was perhaps being too modest, as she did deserve most of the credit for turning what had been a a dying family-run company into a large, multinational corporation. His mother was a brilliant businesswoman, and not only ensured Lennox Corporation thrived, but also expanded it. Though their main product was still blackstone, the hardest substance on earth, his mother had broadened their company into construction, transportation, and real estate . Despite her accomplishments, she still somehow managed to get home in time for dinner almost every night, plus never missed an important recital, school play, or sports game in her children’s lives.
A lesser man might have been intimidated, taking over for such a person. But, perhaps as his father had told him many times, Matthew was just as driven and business-minded as his mother. Some of his happiest memories were of playing under her desk at the Lennox Corp headquarters or visiting the Blackstone mine with his father. He graduated top of his class in college and went to a direct-track MBA program in one of the most prestigious schools in the country, all the while working part time at a stock-trading company. He’d been officially working at Lennox for four years, but he’d lived and breathed the company his whole life. When Riva announced that she was retiring at the end of the year, it was no surprise that she appointed Matthew as her successor.
Riva finished off her speech, and then went down from the stage. Hank stood up, gathered her in his arms for a long, sensuous kiss.
“Eww, mom, dad, get a room!” Sybil, their youngest and only sister joked. Beside her, their adopted brother, Luke, merely shrugged.
“Did you slip her the tongue?” Jason asked. “Way to go Dad! Someone’s gonna get lucky…”
“You do realize that’s your mother you’re talking about,” Hank said when he pulled away. Riva’s face with flush and she looked around her sheepishly.
Still, no one was surprised. His parents were not just husband and wife, but also mates. Though most shifters believed dragons rarely found mates, his father had somehow lucked out. They’d been together for almost thirty years, and it seemed their bond and their love for each other only grew stronger each year.
“So, Mom, Dad, you guys ready for your ‘round-the-world trip?” Jason asked.
“I think after all these years, we deserve it,” Hank said.
“And we’re leaving everything in capable hands,” Riva said, her eyes twinkling.
“Finally, the old generation can have some fun while you young ones can do all the hard work,” Hank added. He himself had retired from running the Lennox Foundation just six months before, handing over the reins to Jason. While some may say Matthew was the more serious and driven twin, Jason was not without his talents. His good nature and the fact that he was approachable and friendly made him a good match for the job. People naturally gravitated to his more affable twin.
“We’ll miss you, Daddy,” Sybil said, wrapping her arms around Hank. “But, you guys will have fun, I’m sure.”
“Aunt Riva, Uncle Hank, congratulations,” Ben Walker, their cousin, held his arms out as he walked toward their table. He engulfed Riva in a big hug and clapped hands with Hank. “I’m sure Mom and Dad will be thrilled you’ll be joining them.”
Ben’s parents had retired six months ago, and were now on their own trip, traveling around the country in an RV with another couple, Clark and Martha Caldwell. The three couples were the best of friends and it only made sense they wanted to spend their twilight years together, seeing as all their children were grown.
“They’re in Los Angeles, just waiting for us,” Hank said. “First stop on our trip is Tokyo.”
As more people came to their table to congratulate them, Matthew quietly slipped away from the ballroom of the Blackstone Hotel, where the party was taking place. He headed to the double doors leading out into the balcony, enjoying the fresh mountain air. From out here in the valley, he could see the Blackstone Mountains. His home.
“Yo, bro, what are you doing out here alone?” Jason said as he walked up behind him. “Shouldn’t you be celebrating out there with us?”
“It’s not my party,” he shrugged.
Jason stood next to him on the balcony then turned to face him. Matthew was used to this, looking at another person and seeing his own face. Same, yet to different, his mother would often say.
“Well, maybe we’ll have to plan a welcome party for you.” Jason must have seen the distaste on his face because he laughed. “Or not. You know, the only other person who hates people more than you is Luke.”
Matthew had to admit there was some truth to that. Their brother was a solitary creature, in more ways than one. “I don’t hate people,” Matthew said. “I just don’t like them as much as you do.”
“Now that, I won’t deny,” Jason chuckled. “C’mon, I think mom and dad are ready to head to the airport.”
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
As the balcony doors closed, Matthew thought about his brother’s words. He didn’t hate people, exactly. His father said he was an old soul, even when he was young. While Jason preferred to play outdoors (and later, go out to bars and cause trouble with his best friend, Nate), Matthew wanted nothing more than to stay home and read or study. He felt most comfortable surrounded by his books and computers, looking at stock prices or balance sheets. Not that he didn’t go out. He was up for a beer with his friends every now and then and he was never short of female company. But, lately, especially since his mother had announced she was going to retire, he felt the enormous pressure of preserving their family legacy.
It wasn’t that his parents put that pressure on him. No, Riva and Hank would have just been as happy to hand over the reigns to someone else and support him in whatever he pursued. He put the pressure on himself, to not fuck up and to make Lennox Corp even bigger and better.
Matthew took one last look at the mountains and headed inside. There was already a small crowd of well-wishers by the lobby front door and he jogged over to make sure he didn’t miss saying goodbye to his folks.
“There you are,” Riva said when her eyes landed on him. She pulled him close for a hug. “Take care of everything, my sweet boy.”
“I’ll take care of the company, Mom,” he promised.
“No, I mean take care of yourself,” she reprimanded. “And try to get out more, please? No woman is going to want a workaholic for a husband.”
“Mom…”
“Aww, c’mon, is it too early to be asking for grandchildren?” she asked.
“Maybe Jason’s got a few floating around we don’t know about,” Sybil quipped.
“Hey,” his brother protested. “I’m pretty sure we’d know if I did!”
“I just want the best for you,” Riva said, her eyes darting to Luke. “All of you.”
“Riva, we’ll be late,” Hank reminded her.
She took a deep breath. “Well, we’re off! We’ll call everyday.”
“Mom, just update your Facebook so we know you’re alive,” Sybil said, rolling her eyes. “Or text. No one calls these days. Unless you want to Facetime.”
“Fine,” Riva said, and put her arms around her daughter. “Stay safe, all of you.”
“You do kno
w all your children are shifters, right?” Jason joked and wrapped his mother in a hug and lifted her off her feet. “Bye Mom, Dad, have a great trip.”
“You deserve all of this, mom,” Matthew said when it was his turn to hug her.
When Matthew let go, she turned to Luke. “You take care of yourself, Luke,” she said, looking up at him. She put her arms around him in an awkward hug.
“I will, Riva.” He nodded.
Matthew noticed his mother’s expression falter for a second, then turn back into a bright smile, but said nothing. It didn’t escape Jason’s attention either, and his brother clenched his fist and grit his teeth. He put a hand on his twin’s shoulder and sent him a warning look. What happened was in the past, and Riva never had any hard feelings. Luke would always be her son, she said to them. Nothing would change that.
Hank tugged on Riva’s hand and she gave them one last smile as they climbed into the limo. All the well-wishers waved at them as they drove away.
“Well, this was fun, but I have to get home,” Sybil said. “Early meeting tomorrow. See you tomorrow!”
“Drive carefully,” Matthew warned. “And let us know when you’re safe at home.”
“I will, mom,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Bye!” She waved at them and then headed to the elevators.
“So, now that the parents are gone, what do you say we go out and head out to The Den,” Jason said.
“We’re not fifteen, you know,” Matthew pointed out. “You can go to the bar anytime.”
Jason put his arm around his shoulders. “I said ‘we’. You’re coming with us.”
Matthew shook his head. “No, I have too much—”
“Are we headed to the Den?” Nate Caldwell said as he popped up behind Matthew. The wolf shifter had a big grin on his face. “All right!”
“No, you guys are going to The Den,” Matthew said. “I’m going home.”
“Aww, c’mon,” Jason said. “Ben is coming.” He waved to their cousin, who was talking to some Lennox Corp employees across the room. He smiled back and gave them a thumbs up.
“And Luke too,” Nate added.
“Luke?” Matthew frowned. Looking around, he didn’t see a sign of his other brother. “You got Luke to come out with you?”
“Yeah, he’s bringing the car around. He’s gonna be our designated driver,” Nate said.
“How much do you plan to drink?” It took a hell of a lot of liquor to get shifter drunk.
“I think he’s just looking out for us,” Nate replied.
“C’mon, Matthew. You’ve been working 80-hour weeks for months!” Jason exclaimed. “You deserve a break. You can work more when you start as CEO on Monday. But it’s a Friday night and you deserve some fun.”
Matthew thought for a moment. “Fine. One drink.” Then he’d head back to Blackstone Castle. “And I’ll drive myself.”
“Great!” Jason and Nathan high-fived.
“Jack told me they have a hot new bartender,” Nathan said. “She’s smokin’. And new in town.”
“So, you haven’t banged her yet?” Jason asked.
“And neither have you,” Nate retorted.
Matthew rolled his eyes. To say that Jason and Nate had a reputation around town was an understatement. Not that he could blame them. They were both single, young, good-looking and could charm the pants off any woman under ninety. And they both enjoyed every single minute of their bachelorhood. “C’mon, let’s go.” The sooner they got to The Den, the sooner he’d be able to leave.
“Hustle up, girly,” Tim Grimes, the owner of The Den, said in his usual gruff voice. “It’s Friday night, and we’re gonna be real busy soon.”
Catherine gave Tim a two-fingered salute. “Aye, aye, Captain!” She tried to move the keg under the bar, but she only managed to move it a few inches.
Tim let out a grunt and gently pushed her aside. With one hand, he lifted it up effortlessly and placed it under the taps. “Now, get that hooked up.”
“Will do,” she said cheerfully, which only earned her another grunt. She chuckled to herself. Tim may look like a grumpy old mountain man with his thick white beard, suspenders, and propensity to dress in flannel, but she knew he was as soft as a marshmallow inside. After all, he’d given her not only this job, but also helped her find a place to stay, despite having only arrived in town four days ago.
Catherine tapped the keg with practiced ease. Satisfied with her work, she got up and began to wipe down the bar. She was already done with all the prep and busy work, and, just as Tim had said, people started pouring in.
As orders from the both the bar and table poured in, she got into the zone. Her Zen space, as she called. After a year of tending bar, she’s gotten used to the rhythm of making and serving drinks. In fact, most nights seem to melt into each other. Same shit, different night.
Still, it was good money for someone with no other marketable skills, and who knew she could be so good at it? She smiled, chatted and flirted with the customers, though that was one part of the job that came naturally to her. She chuckled to herself thinking of that first night she had somehow conned her way into her first bartending job. She had mixed up the drink orders, got herself into the weeds, and nearly got fired. If it wasn’t for Rissa helping her out—
No.
She shut down that part of her brain as her throat began to choke with unshed tears for her friend. Get back into the Zen space. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and went back to work, pushing all other thoughts aside.
She continued to sling the drinks, the work keeping her mind steady. Before she knew it, she was already halfway through her shift.
“Not bad, new girl,” Heather, one of the waitresses, said as she put her tray on the counter. “Didn’t think you could handle yourself, but you’re doing all right.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Keep ‘em coming.”
“Oh my. Best step up your game.”
“Hmmm?” What did she mean?
Heather nodded to the front door. “They’re here. Oh, and looks like they’re out in full force.”
“Who?”
Heather giggled. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Catherine’s head whipped toward the front door, craning her neck to see what Heather was talking about. There were a couple of guys standing there, eyes scanning the room, probably for an empty spot. A group of guys going to bar wasn’t unusual, but there was something about them that seemed different. Sure, it looked like they came from some fancy party in their tuxes, but that wasn’t it. All of them were tall, gorgeous and looked like they stepped out of a men’s magazine. They also had this aura that seemed to fill the room made people stare at them, an animal magnetism that made every pair of eyes drawn to them (especially the female ones).
The first guy had longish, light brown hair, a handsome face and an easy smile. He was tall and lean, though the guy behind was much taller. And bigger. The blonde man with the thick beard was broad around the shoulders and easily the tallest man she’d ever seen, maybe 6’5 at least. Next was the dark-haired man, probably the same height as the first man. Everyone seemed to know him, as he shook hands with a couple of people as they made their way to an empty table in the corner.
The fourth man in the group seemed to have an opposite effect. People gave him a wide berth and avoided his gaze. She supposed he was just as handsome as his companions, with his long blonde hair and thick beard, but the scowl on his face definitely gave that “leave me the fuck alone” vibe.
Catherine was about to turn back to making a drink when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Looking back toward the group, she realized a fifth man had joined them.
Even from afar, she could tell he was different. Not just the way he carried himself, but something about him. While his friends were all good-looking, he was drop dead gorgeous. Midnight black hair that look like it had been perfectly combed, but now deliciously ruffled. Tanned skin, like he was used to being outdoors.
Under his white tuxedo shirt, his muscles stretched and flexed. And those eyes. They were a grey so light they were almost silver. And they were also staring right back into her.
She gasped and grabbed the side of the bar as she stumbled and looked away. Did she forget to breathe? Heat crept up her neck. She glanced back at him. He was still staring at her.
“Catherine!” Tim called. “I’ve been calling you for the last five seconds. What the hell’s the matter with you?”
Tearing her gaze away from him, she quickly snapped out of her trance. Unfortunately, that also send the glass in her hand tumbling to the floor. “Sorry, Boss!” she stammered. “I’ll take care of that.” She grabbed the broom and mop from the corner and quickly cleaned up the mess. It didn’t take her too long, but then by the time she finished, the line at the bar was already two deep and she still had to finish the table orders.
Oh fuck me.
What was the matter with her? Sure, that guy was gorgeous, but she’d never had that kind of reaction to a guy. Maybe she ate something weird. That ham sandwich for lunch maybe?
“Sorry for the wait,” she said to the next person in line. She didn’t bother looking at him as she grabbed a clean glass from the rack.
“No worries sweetheart,” the man said, his green eyes twinkling.
She realized he was that first guy from the group, the sandy-haired one. Beside him was his friend, the dark-haired guy everyone seemed to know. Hmmm. He seemed familiar somehow. Those eyes. They were the same silver as the last man’s. Was he a cousin or something?
“So, what can I get you?” she said, pasting a sunny smile on her face.
“Five shots of tequila, five shots of whiskey, five shots of bourbon, and your phone number,” the first man said.
Oh boy, like I hadn’t heard that one before. “Gotcha.” She said and began to prepare the drinks. As she placed everything on a tray, the other man put his black credit card on the bar. Oohh, Mr. Bigshot.
The Last Blackstone Dragon Page 10
