Page 37 of It All Started with a Bite

“Thanks, bro.”

“Don’t call me ‘bro.’”

Bo was too busy snarfing his muffin to answer him.

“By the way, he doesn’t need to wear that service vest,” Samuel said. “Pets are allowed in the building.”

A shining light of adoration gleamed in Bo’s eyes. He wriggled out of the vest in a flash and rolled unashamedly around on the floor until he clocked my frown and Samuel’s mildly disapproving look.

To my surprise, the werewolf took his coffee with a hefty amount of cream and four sugars. He brought my drink over and sat on the chair opposite.

I pinned him with a hard stare. “How about you tell me why Audit or Die is part of your business?”

Samuel had the grace to look uncomfortable behind his glasses. “It’s the human front of Hawthorne & Associates. We only deal in supernatural affairs under our real name.”

My fingers clenched on my porcelain cup. “Were your auditors the ones who recommended I get fired?”

“No.” Samuel sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I spoke to Dave last night, after you told me what happened. He said your reports were the only ones that made any sense.”

I recalled the man with the piercings and purple hair we’d bumped into outside.

Samuel hesitated. “The rest of your firm’s accounting practices were highly questionable.”

My irritation drained away. “I can’t deny that.” I took a sip of my coffee and played with the handle of my cup before looking at him from under my lashes. “Did you offer me a job out of pity?”

Samuel’s expression turned serious. “No. I offered you a job because we need someone with your skills.” His gaze turned a little heated, making the mate bond spark between us. “I would be lying if I said the fact that you’re my luna didn’t influence my decision one iota. But I’m also running a business. I wouldn’t jeopardize this firm’s future just for your sake.”

My breath caught. Though his words were cool and practical, his face was anything but. I crossed my legs nervously and shivered as his eyes focused on the shape of my calves.

Noisy panting had us both turning.

Bo was sitting on his rump grinning at us knowingly.

“He’s far too sassy for his own good,” Samuel said thinly.

“I have to live with him twenty-four seven,” I muttered.

“I didn’t say anything,” Bo protested.

“You didn’t have to.” I finished my drink, put the cup down with a decisive clunk, and studied Samuel with a faint frown. “What does Hawthorne & Associates do?”

For once, he looked relieved at the question.

“We are a full-service financial firm serving the supernatural community in Amberford and several of the neighboring towns,” he explained. “We deal with everything from cursed object insurance to vampire investment portfolios. We also handle more delicate matters. Ones that are never made public.”

My wolfy sense tingled. “Define delicate.”

Samuel leaned his elbows on his knees, his face growing focused. “We investigate supernatural fraud and track down stolen magical items. Managing territorial disputes between different species also falls under our remit.”

I recalled what Mrs. Chen had said concerning the strange tales circulating about the Hawthornes and wondered if their secret activities were feeding the rumor mill.

I hesitated before asking him about it.

Samuel grimaced. “Your neighbor told you that?”

“She was just trying to help,” I protested.

“I thought I smelled a witch in your building when I came to pick you up last night.” Samuel rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, those rumors concern our undercover work. We can’t exactly shout it from the rooftop that many of the people who’ve suddenly disappeared from Amberford are criminals currently sitting in Darkside Prison.”

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