Page 36 of Charmed By Destiny

“Settle down, I’m turning the doorknob.”

“I don’t think you understand. I’m literally hiding in a bathroom right now. My mother is going to find me any minute.”

After pushing the door inward, he flipped on the lights, and his gaze was drawn immediately to a USB stick resting crookedly on Richard’s otherwise pristine desk. “It’s here,” Luke said. “Must’ve fallen out of your bag.”

“Of course it did because that’s how my luck often works. Go to your desk and download the files so you can email them to me.”

“A please would be nice,” Luke teased.

“Please? I’ll buy you more cookies, I promise.”

“With an iced coffee?”

“Two if you’re nice.”

“When?” Luke asked as he shut Richard’s office door, then strode back to his own work area to do as Richard requested.

“Tables and chairs will be delivered on Thursday morning to the ballroom. We’ll find a way to sneak off, I promise.”

“As long as your mother doesn’t find out so I don’t get fired.”

“I’m not sure whether I should be insulted. How is she scarier than me?”

“You may be more bark than bite, Richard.”

Richard gasped indignantly. “If I was there, I’d—fuck, she found me. If you want cookies and coffee, send me the files as soon as you can. I have to go. Save yourself, Lucas.”

The necromancer disconnected, and Luke chuckled. He’d been enjoying his conversation with Richard and wanted to know how he would’ve answered if Rosalind hadn’t interrupted them. Luke shouldn’t be so casual with his boss, but Richard was easy to talk to, and it relaxed him enough that he forgot about their work titles.

That was inappropriate, but Luke refused to think about any ramifications. His focus was on giving Richard what he needed, and he couldn’t wait to see him again on Thursday.

Chapter 14

Although the week had proved hectic as his family prepared for Gabriel and Eric’s wedding, Richard was in a terrific mood. His best friend was in town, and Richard had been glued to Maribeth’s side as much as possible. But that wasn’t why he’d woken up with a smile.

Today, Richard was traveling to the resort to set up for the reception. While Richard enjoyed preparing a space for an event, it wasn’t a set-up filling him with joy. As he sailed into the ballroom he caught sight of a striking inspirit with wavy black hair, and he grinned.

It was ridiculous to admit, but Richard had missed Lucas. The inspirit turned, and his gray gaze lit up. Or maybe Richard was reading too much into things. Just because he was thrilled to be there with Lucas, it didn’t mean the inspirit was equally ecstatic.

“You owe me cookies,” Lucas said by way of greeting as Richard strode to his side.

“What’s this?” Maribeth asked. “No one mentioned a cookie debt to me.”

“Lucas saved my life by emailing me the files on the USB stick I left at the office on Friday,” Richard told her.

Maribeth shook her head. “Oh, Lucas, we’re going to have to work on your negotiating skills. You could’ve squeezed a lot more than cookies out of Richard.”

“Or maybe Lucas is nicer than you are,” Richard remarked.

“Every ounce of my meanness I learned from you,” Maribeth replied with a sweet smile.

“At this point, we’re going to ignore her,” Richard commented. “How are you, Lucas?”

The inspirit’s smile simultaneously made Richard’s heart melt and his libido roar to life. Thank goodness he’d gone with loose pants, so if he popped a boner, no one would notice.

“Good, I’ve been looking forward to today,” Lucas replied.

“Well, you can’t be excited about Richard’s less-than-charming personality, so how much do you love setting up furniture and steaming the wrinkles out of tablecloths?” Maribeth asked with a twinkle in her eye Richard knew better than to trust.

---