Page 16 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

I was nervous about the meeting Loki and I were about to walk into.

Since yesterday, I’d been trying to come to terms with so much.

Some of it was the implications of having to be protected by anyone.

The rest was my personal feelings for Loki—those I had to push away at the moment.

No way could I meet with my boss while thinking personal, intimate thoughts about Loki.

It had felt odd to introduce him as my boyfriend to Liam, even if I didn’t say the word.

It would be much worse to introduce him as such to my boss.

I knew Eli would have questions, but he’d likely wait until we were alone to ask them.

I was dreading it. I hadn’t told Loki this because he’d want to know why, and I wasn’t prepared to talk about it.

We’d passed through the metal detector, and he had been issued his visitor’s pass. Before we left my apartment, I cautioned him about bringing a gun with him. He hadn’t been happy that he had to leave it in the car, but he did.

My office was down the hall from Eli’s. He had a larger one with a better view, befitting the DA.

Mine met my needs, so I didn’t care. Loki and I had arrived with time to spare.

I would put my things away in my office, do part of the tour before we met Eli, and then continue it afterward.

I knew Loki would want to scope it out, see where the exits were, and more.

I unlocked the door to my office. As we entered, he spoke. “Do you always lock your door, or is it something new you do?”

“I don’t lock it while I’m in and out during the day, but when I leave, yes. And it’s not new. Even though I have a passcode-protected computer and locked file cabinets, I don’t feel right not securing it at night. I make sure to log out and have the cabinets locked whenever I leave it.”

“Good. I’d feel better if you did it every time you leave, but we can discuss that. It’s a big building, and I bet it gets busy when people are in and out, going about their business.”

“It is, but these offices aren’t accessible to just anyone.”

“Explain to me exactly what it is you do. I know you’re a lawyer.”

“I’m a prosecuting attorney, which means Eli employs me. I handle prosecuting criminal cases. I’m the one who gets to argue in court, examine witnesses, and present evidence to the judge and jury. If necessary, I prepare appeals and briefs and negotiate plea bargains.”

“So you don’t work for yourself or the city?”

“I work for the DA, who the people vote for, so technically, I don’t work for the city or district. He’s elected to represent our district.”

I watched him walk around the room and look at my diploma and other items on my walls. Loki turned to me. “You’re how old?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“You must be brilliant to have graduated summa cum laude. Even a biker like me knows that’s the highest distinction you can get. You have to have a damn near-perfect GPA. And then to be a prosecutor just proves it.”

“I was fortunate, and I’ve been a lawyer longer than my age implies.

I graduated high school at seventeen and went straight through, doing my undergrad in three years and law school in another three.

I passed the bar at twenty-three. Eli took a chance on a relatively inexperienced attorney when he hired me two years ago. I was lucky.”

“Brae, I don’t think there was a lot of luck involved. You work for what you want. I doubt there’s much of anything you can’t accomplish if you want it enough.”

“That’s sweet of you to say. By the way, don’t devalue yourself or think I see you as less because you’re a biker. I’m not that way. A college degree isn’t everything. I happened to need one for what I wanted to do.”

“You’re right. I won’t. What would you like to do before we meet with your boss? Check emails?”

“I hoped to do part of the tour, but emails might be better. Then we’ll grab coffee before we head to his office. It’s down the hall. I know he’ll have his. The man drinks way too much of it.”

He grinned. As I read my emails, Loki looked out each window.

He didn’t make noise or hover, so I wasn’t distracted.

I shut it down in time for us to grab our coffee.

It was on the way. I expected him to say he’d take it black, but he surprised me when he put creamer in his.

I sighed in pleasure after my first sip.

“So, should I not trust my safety until you’ve had a cup of java? Because if that’s the case, why in the hell didn’t you tell me to make you some at home first? I put my life in your hands, and you could’ve killed me with that car,” he teased as we made our way to Eli’s door.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “See, something else you’re learning about me. Ready to run yet?”

“Not on your life. You can’t scare me away.”

Just as he said it, Eli’s door opened. He stood there with an expectant yet slightly cautious look. Eli smiled at me and then changed his face to a professional one when he glanced at Loki. I jumped straight to it.

“Good morning, Eli. Are you ready or already in the thick of it?”

“Come in. And yes, I’m ready, and yes, I’m in the thick of it.

It’s Monday. We were gone for a week. I see you have your coffee.

That’s good. Have a seat, then introduce me to your guest. You said that you had someone I needed to meet with.

I’m dying to hear why. Hello, I’m Eli Jenner, Braelyn’s boss. ”

He presented his hand to Loki. There was no delay in Loki shaking it.

“Hello, Mr. Jenner. I’m Alexander Lane, but everyone calls me Loki. It’s nice to meet Braelyn’s boss finally.”

“Oh, so you’ve been wanting to meet me. Now, I’m even more curious. Please, call me Eli. Let’s sit on the couch and chairs. It’s more comfortable. Let me shut this door,” he said before he moved behind us.

I eased Loki toward the couch and drew him down next to me. When Eli noted how we were seated, he took one of the two overstuffed chairs. The two chairs formed a U-shaped conversation area, with a chair on each end and a couch between them. They surrounded a small coffee table.

“I hope you got some rest yesterday. I know you were exhausted. I was worried about you being alone. I almost came by to see if you needed anything yesterday,” Eli said.

I fought not to squirm or change my expression. I prayed that Loki would take it to be the remark of a concerned boss and possible friend.

“I did.”

Loki tacked on more before I got more out. “No worries. She wasn’t alone. I was with her from Sunday morning onward. I made sure she was taken care of.”

Loki smiled, making me feel like I was his woman, and he loved taking care of me. Boy, the guy was a great actor. I knew I could play the adoring role because I had feelings for him. Even if they were unrequited, I knew they’d leak out.

“Oh, you did. I didn’t know you had friends or family visiting this weekend. You should’ve told me. I would’ve sent you home early,” Eli responded.

“There was no need, and I wasn’t expecting Loki. He surprised me.”

“That’s nice. How do you two know each other? I know Braelyn has a brother and her mom, but I thought that was it for family.”

I’d brought Mom to meet him one day. Hayes, of course, had never been here.

I hadn’t brought up my connection to the Pagans after the first time.

It didn’t affect what I did for him, and there was no obligation to do so unless I found myself involved in a case in which they were a part. I explained this to Loki last night.

After I did, he thought it would be best not to let Eli know he was a biker or anything other than my boyfriend.

He didn’t want my boss to make a stink, and if Eli happened to let it drop and someone was on the Brutal Rebels’ payroll, we didn’t want them to know.

I doubted he’d ever talk out of turn, but in the end, I agreed.

It would make it easier to stay in character if we did it with everyone outside my apartment.

We’d devised a cover story for why Loki was here and would serve as my bodyguard.

“I’m not exactly family, or not in the general sense. Do you want to explain, or should I?” Loki asked me.

I took the bull by the horns. “Sure thing. Eli, Loki is alluding to the fact that he’s my boyfriend.

I thought it was time you two met, and we need to speak to you about something.

He came into town unexpectedly, and, well, he and I came to an understanding on a few things.

Loki is staying for a while. When I explained what was happening with work and that it would likely take me out of town again or to work late hours, he was concerned. ”

“Concerned about you working?” Eli asked.

“No, not her working. I know how much Braelyn loves her job, and she’s excellent at it.

No, my concern was what she told me about a possible threat.

She warned me I should stay away for now.

I can’t do that. When my woman is in trouble, I’ll be part of her security detail.

Who better to be her close-up bodyguard than her boyfriend, who can stay with her at night and during the day?

“The stubborn woman told me how she refused a bodyguard. I asked if you had one, and she said yes. I know you would hate to have your prosecutor injured or worse. So, this works to both of our benefits. I get quality time with my lady, and we both ensure she’s safe,” Loki finished.

He was back to giving me a loving look. It was difficult not to fall under his spell and believe it was real. Maybe this was why Bull sent him. He knew that Loki had excellent acting skills.

Eli was quiet for several moments. I saw a lot of emotions flashing across his face. I waited in dread. I’d have to explain what Eli meant if he opened his mouth and said the wrong thing. Something told me Loki would not be amused.