Page 30 of Charmed By Destiny

Luke’s desire to puke was enough to tell him he’d spent too much time lusting after Richard. How deep were his feelings, and why had he allowed them to grow unimpeded? The reality was he didn’t know Richard well. All he saw was the professional side Richard displayed at work. Clearly, there was a lot more to the man.

“Of course you do,” Maribeth chimed in. “You’ve been friends forever, and you work together. Richard isn’t exactly a mystery.”

“I don’t know about that,” Douglas commented, turning his head away from Maribeth to stare at Richard. In his eyes was undisguised adoration, and that answered the lingering questions in Luke’s mind. That wasn’t a look one friend gave to another.

At least Luke had fantasized about Richard from afar and been smart enough not to make a move on another person’s man. Gabe had explained that the bond between soulmates didn’t happen immediately. As they grew to care for each other, the two souls merged closer. Other inspirits and necromancers couldn’t detect the link until it was complete.

Were Richard and Douglas on that journey toward connecting their souls fully? Luke supposed he’d learn that in the coming weeks and months if he stayed working for the Marwoods. And while it was disappointing to have his fantasies trampled to oblivion, Luke wasn’t quitting his job.

He needed the work and the money. It was his fault he’d allowed his imagination to run amok. Had he missed signs at work that Douglas and Richard were lovers? Or were Douglas and Richard too good at keeping what they wanted hidden from their staff?

“Luke, do you want another drink?” Maribeth asked as a server approached the table.

With a shake of his head, Luke offered Richard’s cousin a smile. “Nope, I should head home soon, so I need to sober up.”

“So unfair that inspirits and necromancers don’t have to worry about hangovers and can still drink when they go out because the alcohol runs through them so fast,” Tasha complained. “Being human has so many disadvantages.”

“Pretty sure that stuff gets better for you once your bond is complete,” Maribeth remarked.

“Well, this bonding stuff takes too damn long then,” Tasha exclaimed.

Rhonda kissed her girlfriend softly. “Our bond is nearly complete.”

“About time,” Gabe teased, and Rhonda elbowed him.

“Stop showing off because you’re the only pair fully bonded at the table,” Rhonda countered, narrowing her brown eyes at Gabe, who grinned unrepentantly at her. Eric and Gabriel left no doubts they were a couple—Luke had envied them every cuddle and smooch since the night started. They were lucky to have each other. So were the other two couples at the table.

At least Maribeth hadn’t met her soulmate yet, otherwise Luke would be the lone odd man out.

“Luke, you weren’t really thinking of leaving yet, were you?” Maribeth asked.

“Yeah, I don’t want to sleep all day tomorrow,” Luke replied, though the truth was he wanted to escape. His imagination was going to do things it shouldn’t if he stayed, and Luke had to prevent any future fantasies. It was inappropriate to lust after someone’s boyfriend or soulmate. Luke had to find a way to halt his dreams immediately.

Easier said than done.

“Leave Luke alone, he has laundry to do too,” Douglas said. “The man has a right to head home whenever he wants.”

Something in Douglas’s tone told Luke he was eagerly awaiting Luke’s departure, and he hoped he was wrong about that assumption. Had Douglas figured out that Luke had unsuitable feelings for Richard? If so, would Douglas have Luke transferred or fired?

A single invitation to a night out had twisted Luke into a hopeless mess of tangled knots, and he wanted the comfort of his quiet apartment.

“Did you want us to order you a coffee, Luke?” Richard asked once the rest of the table had given the server their drink orders. “It could help you stay alert on the drive home.”

“Sure,” Luke replied, though he wanted to slide to the floor and crawl out of the club. Even Richard wanted to be rid of him.

At least Luke had enjoyed his time with Gabe, Rhonda, and Tasha. They were probably the only three people at the table that’d be sad to see him go. Luke slumped a little in the booth and allowed the conversation to flow around him without bothering to listen to any of it. He was leaving right after he finished the coffee he didn’t want. If he wasn’t sober enough to drive, he’d take a nap in his car until it was safe to operate a vehicle.

But he wasn’t staying at the club a minute longer than necessary.

Chapter 12

Nearly a week had passed since Richard had wiggled out of his leather pants, taken a cold shower, and gone to bed alone after a night of dancing at the club. It’d been fun to let loose, but he’d hated saying goodbye to Maribeth the next morning. Thanks to the crystal she’d left behind, she’d teleported to her condo in New York, and Richard had spent his day moping.

Maribeth was full of excitement about her future—though she was still figuring out her next moves—and Richard was growing more convinced she wouldn’t return to Vegas anytime soon. He was a selfish prick because he wanted her to miss him and every other Marwood. Which was silly. She loved them but was embracing the fresh path she’d chosen.

And he should be happy for her. He was, but that didn’t mean he was selfless enough not to feel sorry for himself too. The rest of the Marwoods rolled their eyes at him and encouraged him to support Maribeth. But they were too used to his dramatics to comment on his decision to switch to pajamas in the evenings and sulk in front of the television.

Mired in his own funk, it’d taken Richard a few days to figure out he wasn’t the only one who was unhappy. The newest inspirit to the Marwood organization had been oddly quiet all week. At first, Richard thought it was his imagination, but then the other inspirits mentioned it to him. All except Douglas, but their schedule packed, and the Wolfebrier-Marwood wedding was fast approaching. When things were stressful at work, Douglas focused on the details and lost sight of the larger picture. It was up to Richard to boost morale with the staff and ensure everything came together in the end.

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