Page 16 of Cole's Command

The buzzing of Balthazar’s device alerted him that the details had arrived, and pulling his phone from his pocket, he read what Cole had sent.

“Lewis, Webber, and Wilson.” Balthazar’s eyebrow arched. “Who do you see?”

“Lewis.” Cole’s heart sped up as he mentioned Eden aloud.

“And you recommend them?”

“I’ve had one appointment so far, but yes.” Cole fought to keep his responses even, not wanting to show any sign that the thought of his counselor even vaguely enticed him.

“Okay, thanks.” Balthazar reached for his shoulder and squeezed it gently. “I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Cole answered.

“I’d better get back to Cherie.” Balthazar grinned. “She’ll be wondering where I’ve gone.”

“Sure.” Cole gestured toward the bedrooms. “I’m surprised she hasn’t joined you. Have you got her tied up in there or something?”

“Guilty.” Balthazar grinned. “You know me too well, little brother.”

Cole watched as Balthazar strode away and disappeared from view. Glancing at the screen of his phone, his gaze fixed on Eden’s contact details. The longer he stared at her name, the more he feared giving it to Balthazar had been a mistake, as though fate had delivered another chimera, its sights set on Eden.

No chance, he decided as he headed outside to join Draco.

He wouldn’t embroil his newest fascination in the shifter circus that was his family. Eden could take Cherie as her client if she chose to without coming to any harm. Cole knew that much for a fact, because he was already resolved. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her.

Chapter Six

Eden

––––––––

STRETCHING BACK IN her chair, Eden drained the remainder of her glass of water. It had been a long day of clients, and she still had to write up her notes from the prior week in clinic. Her colleagues relied upon fancy software systems to keep their patient records in check, and while Eden used those for consistency across the practice, she preferred to keep her own notes. Despite her relative youth, she rarely trusted technology and never relied solely upon it, favoring more old-fashioned methods.

Putting down her glass, she reached for her folder and the fountain pen her father had bought her when she went to college. Running her fingertip over the smooth edge of the pen, she smiled as her thoughts returned to him. She vividly recalled the day he had given it to her, the pride shining in his eyes as she’d opened the gift and thrown her arms around him.

Ray Lewis had always been a quiet man and had never articulated what his only daughter had meant to him, but he hadn’t had to. His actions had spoken for him in all the best ways, and Eden knew how gratified her dad had been when she’d been able to extend her education past high school. That was why she kept the pen. It wasn’t especially great to write with, but she had a feeling she’d always keep it. Every time she picked it up, it felt as though her father was there with her.

---