Page 6

R ushing wasn’t something Richard liked to do, but he’d been doing it all morning. It’d taken him far too long to put together an outfit, and he refused to examine why. He also didn’t question his decision to choose his favorite pants that showed off his trim waist and firm ass to perfection. He’d spent a few extra minutes at his makeup mirror and ensured not a single hair was out of place, which meant he’d arrived at breakfast to find everyone already eating.

His mother had raised an eyebrow but hadn’t commented on his tardiness. Richard had guzzled coffee and fueled his body as he tried to line up his day in his mind. It was something he did routinely. He prided himself on his efficiency, sharp memory, and dedication to every Marwood guest.

Richard reminded himself of details he needed to check and ignored the acceleration of his heartrate as his mind inevitably landed on the new employee being added to his team. Lucas was another inspirit who needed safety, security, and whatever else the Marwoods could offer to ensure his life was a good one. That was the duty of a necromancer.

So yes, Richard would be expected to train Lucas. That was fine. Richard was devoted to his job and had showed more than one person the ropes of their office. He wouldn’t allow himself to be distracted by an attractive face.

Once breakfast was done, Richard went through his emails as a driver took him to work. They arrived, and Richard pocketed his phone and reminded himself that Lucas was an inspirit who needed aid and he wouldn’t drool over him. That was something Richard repeated to himself as he pulled open the door to his department and his gaze immediately landed on the raven-haired inspirit with the crystal gray eyes. At least the man was punctual.

Lucas stood and beamed at him. Richard decided that the way the dimple on his right cheek deepened with that expression annoyed him, but he wasn’t sure why. Or who the hell he thought he was fooling. That little dent in his otherwise perfectly symmetrical face was sexy. Irritated, Richard couldn’t find a smile as he greeted the inspirit.

“Good morning,” Richard stated.

Lucas’s grin faltered, and Richard’s annoyance with himself grew. He was supposed to treat the inspirit well, not take out his personal issues on the poor guy.

“Good morning, Gabe told me to report here this morning.”

Richard found his manners, and the corners of his mouth lifted in what he hoped was a friendly enough expression. “Yes, he told me you’d be here. Why don’t you follow me to my office and we’ll figure out how to get you started.”

“Sure.”

For some unfathomable reason, it was uncomfortable to walk in front of Lucas. Richard didn’t usually lack confidence, and he wasn’t sure why this man he’d literally met twice was unsettling him so easily. Rushing through the space, Richard greeted his assistant with an absent wave. His normal gait was clipped, and he let himself into his office and waved toward one of the guest chairs.

“You can have a seat,” Richard invited.

“Thanks,” Lucas replied.

There was a rap on the open door as Richard rounded his desk, and Douglas sailed in.

“Good morning,” Douglas said. Lucas’s presence was no surprise to the inspirit. Richard had texted Douglas the previous night to fill him in on the change to their office. “I brought you coffee.”

“You know you don’t have to do that,” Richard chastised for perhaps the millionth time.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t think. Can I get you anything?” Douglas asked Lucas.

“No, thank you, but I appreciate the offer. I’ve already had several cups.”

“Richard, I rearranged my schedule so we could both handle the meeting with Rosalind,” Douglas commented.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that. She understands you have a busy schedule. Honestly, if I’d told her this morning didn’t work for me, she wouldn’t have had any issue with coming later.”

“I love any chance to be with Rosalind, it was no problem,” Douglas insisted. “Thankfully, we didn’t have to shuffle much in the office. I helped Benjamin move things on your calendar.”

“That was kind of you,” Richard said.

“I also pulled several white-and-silver cloth tablecloth options for Rosalind to review.”

Although Richard appreciated the way Douglas strived to assist him, he’d wanted to handle the arrangements for his brother’s wedding to Gabriel himself. But he couldn’t fault Douglas’s enthusiasm.

“Thanks, last night I was looking at some stuff online for inspiration. I have some thoughts.”

“Of course you do, I’ll go get the tablecloth book and the swatches I pulled so you can add any that pop out at you to our pile of options,” Douglas said, heading for the doorway.

“I appreciate it.”

“So, Gabe mentioned that your mother’s name is Rosalind. Is that who is coming this morning and why you rearranged your schedule?” Lucas asked.

Richard nodded. “Yes, my brother Eric and Gabriel are getting married. For reasons I can’t understand, my brother and his fiancé have zero interest in fabrics, china, or anything resembling design or style. If we left it up to them, they’d probably pick things at random and create something eye-searing they’d have to look at forever in the ten million pictures my parents will insist are taken. So, my mother and I are going to narrow down a few choices to make life easier for them and ensure they have a fabulous wedding without either of them getting stressed out. Plus, I think it’s fun choosing those things.”

Lucas flashed his grin, and Richard ignored the way his pulse picked up. “Yeah, I can tell from your outfit that you can appreciate when something is well coordinated.”

Richard glanced at himself reflexively. “My outfit?”

“Yes, at first glimpse it’s an outfit in all black, which it is,” Lucas remarked. “But if you pay attention, there is a tonal black dot on your shoes that matches a similar pattern on the cuffs of your sleeves. The belt looks like a contrast with the floral pattern, but there are tonal dots on that too.”

With a startled blink, Richard wasn’t sure whether to go with shock that Lucas had noticed such small details or to revel in the amount of attention the inspirit had given to his ensemble in the few minutes since he’d walked into the office. Instead of standing there like a dolt, Richard pulled himself together.

“You have a keen eye. That will serve you well in our line of work,” Richard said. “Our job is to ensure that every group who walks into our resort experiences the same level of professionalism and care. I don’t want tables placed incorrectly, a meal to be a minute late, or a single guest finding themselves wandering around without the proper signage to guide them to their conference. And everything should be done with elegance and style.”

Douglas rushed in, and he laid out the thick book their favored rental company had provided. It contained a wide variety of fabric swatches so they could select tablecloths. It wasn’t used for every conference. They had in-house plain linens in a few basic colors for most things, but special events like the Wolfebrier-Marwood wedding required something iconic. Richard took the thin stack of fabrics Douglas handed to him and laid them out on his desk next to the binder.

There were two keepers, but the other ones Richard immediately dismissed in his head. They were too fussy for Gabriel and Eric. Since Richard refused to tell Douglas he didn’t like them, he’d wait for his mother to set them aside. Rosalind’s sense of style was strikingly similar to Richard’s, and they rarely disagreed on an article of clothing or piece of décor.

Across the room, Douglas and Lucas were speaking, but Richard tuned them out. If Lucas had questions about his new job, Douglas could answer them. Richard’s entire focus was on creating a vision for Eric and Gabriel’s wedding. The book was organized by color, which made things easy.

Richard flipped through the first few pages, then tugged out a swatch. It was a tonal white stripe with a hint of silver sparkle. It’d be beautiful with the right overlay and napkins. By the time Richard had exhausted his options in the book, he’d added another pair of muted patterns to the pile to show his mother. Once they had their cloth choices, they could decide on the tableware and flowers.

Finished, Richard closed the book. He could grab it again if his mother wanted more options, but they’d likely have to go with a different vendor if she did because he couldn’t imagine her leaning toward any of the remaining selections.

“Oh, you found a few others,” Douglas remarked as he wandered closer to the desk to check them out.

Lucas rose and joined them. Richard tried unsuccessfully not to notice how enticing his musky scent was or the six inches that separated them in height.

Should’ve worn a damn heeled boot , Richard thought.

The gray-eyed inspirit put a finger on the white-on-white stripe Richard had been drawn to first.

“That one is sharp,” Lucas commented.

The door to the outer main office opened, and Richard caught a glimpse of his mother’s dark hair.

“I guess we’re about to find out if Rosalind agrees with you,” Richard said. It was odd to call his mother by her name, but his parents wanted him to get used to it before the humans questioned why Richard and his brother looked so close in age to their own parents. Necromancers didn’t age visibly, but no one could explain that.

Richard didn’t bother to look for David. She wouldn’t have brought him there without meeting the new inspirit first. And although she appeared alone, Gabriel had cameras everywhere and his security team would ensure no one harmed any Marwood.

His mother sailed toward them in a soft blue shirt that accentuated the eye color he’d inherited from her. She’d paired it with a navy skirt and skinny heels; she’d also passed along her lack of height to her eldest son.

After greeting Richard’s assistant—another Marwood inspirit resurrected by Eric—with a hug, she headed for the office. She spotted Lucas, and Richard nearly shook his head at the way her brow raised. The woman never failed to notice a handsome face, and she’d be pushing Lucas into the path of anyone needing a soulmate within minutes.

“You must be Lucas,” his mother said, holding out her hand to the inspirit.

“I am,” Lucas replied, flashing his killer smile at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Marwood.”

“It’s Rosalind. We’re so pleased that you’ve joined the Marwood family.”

“Thanks, I’m grateful for the opportunity and the gifts I’ve been given since I arrived yesterday. The kindness of your family is overwhelming, and I spent a few hours alone last night pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”

“Alone? What a pity for such a handsome man.”

Richard sighed gustily and charged forward. “Ignore her, she has a horrible record of matchmaking, and you don’t want to get caught in her web.”

His mother narrowed her eyes at Richard, and he ignored the pang of fear in his heart. Rosalind Marwood was not a woman to be trifled with, and Richard was treading on dangerous ground with his casual dismissal of her.

“That’s interesting since I could’ve sworn when I checked my calendar this morning it included a meeting to aid with my youngest child’s wedding. Those nuptials, of course, being a direct result of my matchmaking.”

Richard snorted. “Please, Lucas and Douglas won’t tell our secrets. It didn’t matter how much blood, sweat, and tears we put into matchmaking. Nothing happened between Gabriel and Eric until Mr. Wolfebrier decided to make a move on your youngest child.”

“The truth is, I love Gabriel as much as my own children, but the man is unbelievably stubborn,” his mother confided.

“Which somehow suits Eric perfectly,” Richard said.

“Without a doubt,” Rosalind agreed. “My heart overflows every time I see them together.”

“So, let’s give them a fantastic wedding,” Richard remarked. “Douglas and I pulled a few swatches for you to look at.”

“Perfect. Lucas, would you be a dear and grab me a cup of coffee? I have a feeling I’ll need the fortitude of caffeine to keep from weeping with happiness as I negotiate with Richard to narrow our choices to two or three.”

“Happy to help however I can,” Lucas replied and sailed out.

“Richard,” his mother stated. It was a single word, but her tone spoke volumes, and Richard didn’t have to ask why she’d shooed Lucas out to grab her coffee. She had plans for the inspirit and wanted a team of helpers.

“Mom, don’t start. I don’t know what Lucas is looking for in a partner, and my job is to help him build skills in a professional capacity, not set him up on dates.”

“You’re a Marwood, and our responsibility is to ensure inspirits are happy.”

“I don’t remember ever being told that part of that duty was to turn into a dating service,” Richard said.

“This is why you’re still single, Douglas. You spend too much time with Richard, and his bad attitude is scaring away your soulmate.”

Douglas laughed. “Richard is one of my dearest friends.”

“Douglas, you need better friends,” Rosalind chided. “Richard, it couldn’t hurt for you to befriend Lucas and add him to your circle.”

“You told Douglas he’d be better off without me as a friend,” Richard exclaimed, not ready to admit to anyone that the striking Lucas was far too enticing for his peace of mind. Since they didn’t know each other, it was Richard’s problem with men resurfacing yet again. A hot man walked in and he was ready to run off with him—without bothering to figure out if he was shallow, selfish, or anything else.

Lucas returned before Rosalind could argue further, and she thanked the inspirit as she took the coffee.

“Lucas, I was discussing with Douglas and Richard how we must have you at the house for dinner soon.”

“Were you?” Richard asked with a glare for his mother.

“Yes. Is any night next week good for you, Lucas? Douglas, you must join us. I insist.”

Richard consoled himself with the fact that he’d have his close friend there and perhaps he could spend the dinner talking to Douglas instead of noticing how handsome Lucas was.

“My schedule is wide open, Mrs. Marwood.”

“It’s Rosalind. Douglas, would Thursday work for you?”

“I do believe it would,” Douglas replied.

Richard wished Douglas had at least quibbled over the date, but just like that, he and Lucas would soon join the Marwoods for a meal. Douglas visited on occasion, but Richard saw no point in Lucas being added to the table. Unless, of course, he enjoyed being the prey of an ancient necromancer and her desire to have everyone in her orbit find their soulmate. Something Richard was happy to avoid.