Page 20 of Charmed By Destiny

“It feels too damn good to hear your voice. How’s New York?”

“Good. Hectic. I’m working on a list to prioritize things because I haven’t accomplished much yet.”

“Take your time. Do what pleases you. There’s no rush to get anything done.”

“I’m also thinking I need to come home for a visit.”

“Yes. I’d love that. We all would.”

“I was going to wait until the wedding, but now I want to meet Lucas.”

“Of course you do. Maybe you could help Mom with whatever matchmaking schemes she’s cooking up for him.”

“Don’t tempt me. I might push my best friend into Lucas’s path.”

“I’m not interested, Mari.”

“That’s a lie, and we both know it. You just don’t want to be interested.”

“Are you out there trying to find your soulmate? Or is your goal in life now to annoy me?”

“I’m going to a bar tomorrow night, so yeah, I’m working on putting myself out there.”

“Good, I want you to find what Eric and Gabriel have.”

“You deserve it too, Richard.”

“Not everyone is cut out for that, Mari.”

“We can agree to disagree,” Maribeth replied. “Now, tell me if I’ve missed any other family gossip. Has our favorite couple chosen everything yet for their big day?”

Pleased to talk about Gabriel and Eric’s wedding—instead of the complicated feelings the new inspirit in their lives had created inside him—Richard went into detail about how the couple had picked the muted white stripe he’d loved. Richard didn’t mention that Lucas had called that fabric sharp, but the inspirit’s words floated through his mind, and he mentally cursed at himself. His obsession with Lucas was unwelcome.

Coordinating china had already been ordered, and he was meeting with a possible florist tomorrow with his mother. They had a tight timeline thanks to Rosalind’s insistence on a short engagement, but everything would be perfect once the pair made their relationship legal in less than three months. Richard intended to create the perfect wedding Eric and Gabriel deserved.

???

The next morning, Richard went into his office feeling a bit disappointed, which he tried to ignore. To get to his office, he had to pass Lucas’s desk, and this was the first time he’d arrived before the inspirit. It hadn’t been that long since Lucas started, but Richard had grown used to his smile and enthusiasm as they greeted each other at the start of his day.

He was acting like an idiot.

They were coworkers. Richard was technically his boss, but in his mind the lines between him and the inspirits were blurred at the office. The relationship wasn’t as simple as ensuring their timesheets were signed off on twice a month. Inspirits were permanent additions to the Marwood family. Richard never lost sight of that.

However, the special union between necromancers and inspirits didn’t include him mooning over anyone. Or being sad not to see Lucas’s sexy face every morning. Richard’s lips pursed in irritation as he fished his laptop out. He needed to stop thinking about Lucas—and that cute dimple in his right cheek—and organize his thoughts for the day ahead.

Richard’s ass had barely hit his seat when a knock on his open door had him glancing up. It was Lucas, and Richard grinned. The man just had to appear to kick Richard’s heartbeat into a frenzy.

Lucas returned his smile, but it didn’t reach his gray eyes. “Do you have a minute?”

“Of course.”

“Do you mind if we shut the door?”

Although Richard had never considered his imagination particularly vivid, several inappropriate fantasies slammed into his brain.

“Oh. Um. Yes. Yes, of course.”

Lucas pulled the door closed, and Richard told himself he didn’t notice the inspirit’s fine backside in his black trousers. It was a lie. He was getting good at being dishonest.

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