Page 14 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
Adler, smiling to himself, reversed out of his parking spot and took them to the hunter’s place, going close to the speed limit.
The three of them barely made it ten steps into 43 Ruthaven before the spare and very glum Lar—Clement—approached them.
“Hello,” Clement said.He had short, strawberry blond hair and brown eyes.Gordon didn’t know all that much about him except that he had been burned and wasn’t feeling at home living in Maxim’s huge house.“That is the child?”Clement pointed at Mil who had taken up position behind Gordon’s legs.Only now did it occur to Gordon to wonder whether it really was such a brilliant idea to leave Mil here.
“I apologize, that one is rude,” said Bryan, the family Lar, from behind his reception desk upon which an overflowing fruit bowl was fully on display.
Gordon felt Mil’s fingers dig into his side, even through his jacket.“Can I stay in the car?”she asked on a whisper.
Gordon untangled Mil’s fingers.“How about next time you get to stay in the car?If you can handle staying with Clement this time that is.”
Clement gave them an acerbic look.“I assure you, Dr.Morris, I am capable of watching over a child.”
There was a snort from Bryan, who readjusted a pear in his fruit bowl so its sun reddened cheek was facing them.
Gordon sensed Adler’s discomfort, noticed that he straightened, made himself bigger as if he wanted to preemptively smother any conflict with the pure size of him.
“Well, this is Milea,” Adler said, and Gordon gently pushed her forward.
“Little one, my name is Clement,” the Lar said softly, going to a knee.“You look like you need but a quiet place to read.Shall we go find one while Dr.Morris and Detective Adler go to work?”
Mil looked at the hand he was holding out toward her and looked from Gordon to Adler, who nodded in encouragement, before she took it.She looked back at them over her shoulder as Clement led her to the elevators.
“Call if—I don’t know,” Adler told Bryan as Clement and Mil vanished in an elevator.“Just call.”
“Of course, but please don’t worry,” Bryan said.“I’ll keep an eye on them—I always keep an eye on Clement anyways.Perhaps this will distract him from being so glum all the time.The donors are talking about him, you know, and he makes the atmosphere up there in the restaurant so dark.”Bryan adjusted the fruit bowl yet again, this time paying attention to a tangerine with a bit of stalk and one oval leaf still attached to its top.“I don’t like it.”Clearly, the Lar was jealous.
Adler frowned.“Look, her only remaining family is in the hospital.Maybe—”
But Bryan shook his head, raising a hand in protest.“No, no.I will watch them.They will be fine, I promise on Maxim’s name.”
Adler’s frown deepened.“On his name?”
Bryan shrugged.“I am the Lar here, so I may do that.”
Oh dear, confused werewolf,Gordon thought when Adler cocked his head.
“I’ll tell you in the car, Adler.We should go.”
Adler nodded, his focus already shifting to Gordon quickly enough.Must be that mate thing at work again.Now I wonder what Maxim wants both of us for.
Gordon sighed, prompting Adler to put an arm around his shoulders for the short walk to the car.
Chapter 9
GordonglancedovertoAdler, who was driving fast.The tension in Gordon’s tall, dark, and very handsome werewolf was obvious.
“What a morning,” Gordon said, trying for a light tone.
Adler glanced over to him.“Thank you.”
Gordon crossed his arms in front of him as New Amsterdam rushed past outside.“For what?”
Despite the tense shoulders, Adler managed to shrug.“Being there.Helping with Mrs.Cooper.Helping with Mil.Being your amazing self.”
Gordon chuckled.“Come on, admit it.You thought I’d hide in the lab at the first sign of trouble, didn’t you?”
Adler huffed and turned up his nose.“My mate doesn’t hide.My mate is brave.The bravest.And so pretty.Sexy too, and irresistible with his clothes off.”
