Page 57 of Santa Daddies

“Oh. In that case?—”

“It’s not a bad thing. I only say it to let you know your timing is somewhat divine, if you will. Having you will help me finish my days sooner so I can get home to my boy.”

Part of me wonders if he means boy in the sense of a child or boy as in partner. Having worked the beat for a long time, I’ve seen it all. You learn a lot from people when investigating crimes. There’s no kink I haven’t heard of, and I’d bet good money Grant Moore is a Daddy Dom.

Maybe there’s more to Chance’s ominous “you’ll fit in” type of speech. He and I have had many talks about our kink preferences over the years. When he found his partner, I was happy for him. Now he’s set me up in a job to be around yet another Daddy figure.Are we going to start a club and get matching shirts or some shit?

I have no intention of finding out. For one, it’s none of my business. And secondly, those types of details shouldn’t exist between coworkers. While Chance isn’t directly connected in such a way, his partner Tank does own the building we’restanding in. Hell, they both might own it. I’m fuzzy on the details.

“You look like something is bothering you,” Grant says, drawing my attention. “Did you have any questions for me before we get started?”

The sparkle in his eye could be a trick of the light. It could also be he’s read my expression to get a hint of my curiosity.

I’m not going to take the bait. Not yet, anyway.

Being a former detective, I can piece together the truth over time. It’ll be my own little mystery to solve.

“All good. I’m ready to get started. Want to show me where you want me?”

His smirk loses some of its power at my reply. I can tell he wants to push. Instead, he shakes his head and motions for us to move back to the desk out front.

“This is where you’ll be most of the time. Your primary role is to field calls and check mail. You’re also going to do a lot of filing. I hope you’re good with that.”

“To be honest, I’m a huge supporter of it.”

He eyes me skeptically. “With all that muscle you’d rather be pushing papers?”

I look down at my form, trying to see myself as he does. While I’m a pretty big guy, there is nothing too special about my shape. It’s not like I’m some hulking bodybuilder. At least I don’t consider it that way. My muscles have practical use.

Though, if I think about it, he’s right. I guess I’ll have to up my time in the gym if I hope to keep looking this way.

“Yeah, I would,” I finally reply after a long pause.

Grant taps the desk for three beats before he shrugs. “Who am I to take away your joys, then. There’s a notebook on the desk. Come to my office with it in ten minutes. I want to go over the current caseload with you, as well as some basic things you’llneed to know. Oh, and before I forget, do you have plans this weekend?”

“No. What’s happening this weekend?”

The smirk from before returns with a vengeance. “We’re having our annual Christmas party. It’s a big deal, and it’s where I met my Donny. You never know. Your special someone could be there too.”

I snort at the suggestion. Can’t tell my boss he’s full of shit on the first day, no matter how true the words are.

Chapter Three

Jared

“Morning, boss. What the heck did I do wrong already?” I ask as I ease into my seat behind the reception desk.

My boss, Tank, owner of all things NightShade, grins at me from the other side of the counter. He’s leaning on it like he has all the time in the world to hang out. But I know the man’s schedule. There isn’t a single moment of peace in it.

If he’s not working on something for the Security Division, then he’s over in the Talent Division checking on his celebrity clients or reviewing contracts. He likes to be hands-on with all aspects.

Which is why I’m pretty sure I’m in trouble. I can’t remember doing anything, though that doesn’t mean I haven’t. Let’s be honest, trouble can find me if it wants to.

“I’m not here to get onto you, Jared. I’m here because we have a new hire on the talent side. Grant finally agreed to bring on a paralegal to help him with paperwork. You won’t have to assist him anymore.”

My sigh of relief is audible enough to make Tank chuckle. He knows how much I despise anything related to paperwork and filing. It’s a wonder they even keep me in this job considering how much I should be doing and don’t.

Phone calls I can handle. Pushy clients needing to be put in their place aren’t an issue either. It’s the damn paper-related things that stump me.