Page 36 of It All Started with a Bite

“You work here?” I asked incredulously.

“Yeah.” He grinned. “When I’m not high on werewolf nip.”

A cold voice reached us then.

“I thought I told you not to come in today.”

Hugh stiffened and stared past my shoulder, his smile fading.

12

Special Investigations, the Werewolf Way

I turnedat the sound of Samuel’s voice and nearly swallowed my tongue.

The man had been handsome as sin in casual clothes last night. In a perfectly tailored charcoal suit and silver tie, he was devastating in an ovaries-exploding kinda way. Even his work glasses looked more expensive than my monthly rent.

“You’re drooling,” Bo observed in a low undertone.

I closed my mouth. “I’m not.”

Samuel’s lips twitched as he approached us, like he could hear every word. He probably could, what with being a werewolf. His expression cooled as he turned his gaze on his brother.

“I believe I was clear about you taking the day off.”

“I just wanted to welcome Abby to the firm.” Hugh’s voice had turned decidedly sullen.

“You’ve done that. Now leave.”

“But—” Hugh fell silent at Samuel’s frown.

Samuel sighed. “Look, Mother and I are still deciding what to do with you, so how about you lie low for a while?” His gaze held a measure of tired resignation.

Hugh swallowed. “Alright.” He slinked toward the elevator.

I reminded myself that I shouldn’t feel terrible for the guy since he was the reason I was in this mess in the first place.

Samuel waited until Hugh was gone before addressing me. “My office is this way.” He glanced at Bo’s service vest and looked like he was biting back a smile.

I followed him past the open office, conscious of the stares following our progress. The guy with the horns accidentally set some of his paperwork on fire and cursed as he fumbled for an extinguisher.

“Is it always like this here?” I asked warily.

“This is a quiet day.” Samuel led me down a corridor lined with meeting rooms and opened a door markedCEOat the end. “Usually there’s at least one explosion before lunch.”

His office was exactly what you’d expect from a high-end corporate type: all dark wood, expensive leather, and rich furnishings. My gaze moved from the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of the park to the wall of security monitors showing various areas of the building.

I was about to comment that this seemed a bit excessive when it dawned on me that this was a business belonging to one of the most powerful families in Amberford.

The Hawthornes probably had as many enemies as I’d had hot dinners.

Samuel indicated a Chesterfield sofa next to the fireplace before heading for the newfangled coffee machine on a sideboard.

“Drink?”

“Coffee, black.” I hesitated. “Two sugars.”

He saw Bo eyeing a selection of fresh muffins and tossed him one.

---