Page 35 of Charmed By Destiny

“I guess measurements are the detail he’s hyperfixated on.”

“For now,” Richard replied. “I fear the wedding will push him to the limit. But we should seriously lock up and head home.”

Luke nodded and handed Richard his tape measure. “Sounds like a good plan.”

“How’s your friend Foxe doing?”

“He’ll probably have a great night because it’s payday.”

“No improvement in that respect, huh?”

Falling in step beside Richard, Luke shrugged. “He didn’t ask for anything extra, so that’s good, I suppose. But it’s been nearly three months, and he doesn’t take my calls. He only answers my texts on paydays.”

“I know nothing about your relationship, but I’m still sorry.”

“Thanks, but I’ll worry about it after our office survives this wedding.”

“Don’t be surprised if I cry on your shoulder at the damn thing in relief that it’s over.”

Luke laughed. “I can’t believe your parents invited every inspirit.”

“You’re family to them. To all of us.”

Their gazes collided, and Luke wished he was a hell of a lot more than another stray the Marwood family had picked up. What he wanted was to be important to Richard. But that was out of the question. He’d give himself another couple of weeks to delve into fantasy, then Luke would have to face some hard truths about his life. His heart would ache, but he’d recover.

He wasn’t destined to be with Richard Marwood. And Foxe may have abandoned him. So, where did that leave Luke, and what was his future?

???

By ten on Monday morning, Luke had privately acknowledged that it’d be a long week. The gorgeous Richard was out of the office because of the upcoming Wolfebrier-Marwood wedding, and his presence normally energized everyone—or at least Luke was happier when the necromancer was around.

Douglas was also frazzled. The schedule of events was light so the Marwoods could focus on their family, but that didn’t stop the co-director from calling an hour-long meeting to go through each thing on the schedule. Luke noted the way the other inspirits and humans exchanged annoyed but patient looks.

They liked Douglas enough that no one would complain much. Or at least not yet. Luke hoped their entire staff would remain tolerant until Richard returned the following week. As for Luke, he understood Douglas had a gift that could also be a curse. His own was similar.

He’d been granted the ability to sense the destiny-touched. Foxe had taught him to run from them, but now that Luke had stayed, he wondered about the fairness of Foxe’s instructions. From what Luke had been taught, people like Eric were rare. Luke had proof of that too; he’d sensed a mere two destiny-touched in ten years.

Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of every necromancer and inspirit to protect the Erics of the world instead of fleeing? No one was going to punish Luke for being different, but Eric could pay with his life if he encountered the wrong person. Or was Luke searching for any excuse to stay near the Marwoods when he knew Foxe wouldn’t approve?

Luke’s cellphone rang, and he grinned as Richard’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Lucas, I need your help.”

The urgency in Richard’s voice caught Luke off guard, and he had to force himself to relax. Although Richard needed something, it wasn’t for Luke to run to the Marwood mansion and taste every inch of the gorgeous necromancer.

“What’s up?” Luke asked.

“I know this isn’t part of your job, but I can’t get ahold of my assistant. Would you mind going into my office and looking to see if I left a USB stick on my desk? It has the final table assignments, and I swore I put in my bag on Friday afternoon, but I can’t find the fucking thing, and if I hear my mother ask me why I didn’t email the information to myself one more time I might throw a crystal into the ocean to teleport myself there.”

Luke chuckled as he stood. “Douglas dragged your assistant to the conference room to ensure everything is perfect for the realtor event today.”

“That is a simple thing. They aren’t even having lunch on site. Okay, Douglas is in charge, I can’t examine his every decision. My door shouldn’t be locked. Gabriel secures the outer office doors, and no one will cross him.”

“That’s because he never smiles and everyone is afraid of him,” Luke replied. “Well, unless your brother is around. Gabe grinned so much that night at the club that his face probably hurt for a few days.”

Richard laughed. “Are you in my office yet? Did you find it?”

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