Page 46 of Secretary's Obsession

So, when Scott translocated them to the clearing where he’d spent many a night drinking and chatting with the forest dwellers, George had no reason to feel uncomfortable or unsettled in any way. He found a log to sit on, encouraging Scott to sit on his lap. “So, your butt doesn’t get grubby,” he whispered when Scott seemed unsure, then nodded at the other people in the clearing.

Dakata was there with Silas on his lap. Merihem had his mate Peni on his lap, too. And Dougal, who never had anyone sitting on his lap but who waved his mug of cider in greeting. “I’m just here for moral support and to make sure your ugly mug was still intact,” he said with a grin.

Dougal was good like that. “How’s Wanda doing?” George asked, purely because he realized, seeing the gathering, that he hadn’t seen her since she’d gone through her own trauma.

A strange look flashed over Dougal’s face, but it was gone before George recognized what it was. “She’s doing fine. She’s got plenty of support around her… so yeah. Suffice to say, she’s okay.”

“I’m glad.” George nodded. “Let me know if she needs anything from town.” He looked around the gathering. “What’s up?”

“You wanted to see us?” Scott had enough apprehension for both of them. “Am I going to lose my job?”

Really? Scott’s worried about that?

But Dakata was shaking his head already. “That business would fall to pieces without you, and don’t take that as a compliment, because it’s a damn fact. So, you ran off to save your blissful one? It’s done. Over. No one will discuss it again after this meeting, if that’s your wish.”

“I told you to take time off,” Merihem added, “because you and your blissful one have gone through a very stressful time, and our blissful ones—Silas and Peni—have both said you need to spend time together to connect and feel…” he looked down at Peni who was grinning. “What’s the word again?”

“You did fine with mentioning the connection aspects. Shifters who go through difficult times, and demons, too, need to spend time reconnecting. We’ve been through that ourselves, so you know what I mean.” Peni was stroking Merihem’s chest, and George would swear that the demon was purring, but what would he know?

“Right, so no more talk about being fired or leaving your job or stuff like that, Scott,” Dakata said abruptly. “No, we have to talk about Cuthbert and Miller. Cuthbert is no more. Is that going to be a problem?”

George realized Dakata was talking to him directly. “I can’t think why it would be. I’m sure Scott will be happier knowing I’m not under threat of being abducted again. I don’t need to know what happened to him, just that he can’t come back.”

“He can’t.” Merihem looked grim. “But there is the little matter of the fact Cuthbert was running a clan, most of whom are related to you, and who see you as the heir of his estate and fortune, which is considerable even in demon terms. You are, or were, his only son.”

“No, I’m not—his heir, I mean,” George said quickly as Scott stiffened in his arms. “I went through a lawyer years ago, giving up my right to any of my father’s businesses or estate. I thought it would get him to leave me alone. Besides,” he added with a quick grin at his mate. “I wasn’t always a taxi driver, and I do have enough investments of my own to keep my mate in chocolates and fluffy rugs if he ever wants to give up work.”

“As if!” Dakata and Merihem roared with laughter.

George felt Scott’s discomfort, only before he could say anything, both demons received slaps on their arms.

“You’re not being nice,” Silas glared at Dakata.

“And you’ll be in big doo-doo if Scott decides to become a man of leisure,” Peni added staunchly to Merihem. “Don’t make fun of his hard work when it allows you to sit on your butts all day.”

“Yeah. What he said.” Dougal raised his mug. “No teasing the pretty blue demon. You’re far nicer to look at in your demon form than the other two, Scott, so just ignore them.”

“Thank you.” Scott ducked his head. “Speaking of work, what’s all this about Miller? Did he explain why he took me to the wrong place in the forest and just left me there?”

“Miller is a lying piece of shit!” Dakata shook his head in disgust. “He’s worked for me for fucking years, and he threw it all away because of that Cuthbert idiot.”

“What do you mean?” George tightened his hold on Scott as his mate looked at him in alarm. “There’s no way Cuthbert would’ve connected Scott to me. We’ve not known each other that long.”

“That might have been partially my fault,” Merihem said. “I sent Scott to check up on you when you were in the hospital, remember?”

“That’s when we met.” Scott had such a pretty blush.

“Miller was driving you, and…” Merihem broke off.

George wasn’t sure what he was going on about, but Scott’s blush deepened.

“I demoned out,” Scott whispered. “When I couldn’t find you in the hospital, my demon was upset. Miller saw that.”

“I’m still not seeing the connection between your driver and my father,” George said, quietly pleased his mate had such a powerful reaction at the hospital. “It’s not like the driver could know Scott and I were fated.”

“No, but Miller was already working for your father,” Dakata said grimly. “Cuthbert knew, don’t ask me how because it’s not like we can question him now, but he knew you came to the forest a lot, George. The only other car that came here was mine—”

“But that’s not right,” Silas interrupted. “We continued using George to transport us after you and I met because we didn’t want anyone in your office to know where my tree was. Merihem and Peni used to call George too until the accident.”

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