Out of idle curiosity, he’d gone onto the Love Bites dating agency website to see if anyone might be remotely interested in an alpha werewolf single dad. What he hadn’t expected to see was the picture of Jamie, a headset clamped around her straight, caramel-coloured hair and a beautiful smile that, to his surprise, had made one of his own appear. A popup speech bubble had appeared: Hi, I’m Jamie, your Love Bites coach. How can I help you today?
A box for him to type his reply had come up and for some reason, he froze. He’d closed the website, called himself a fool, and thought nothing more of it. Until his dream last night.
He was walking in the woods that surrounded Beckett Hall—nothing unusual—but Jamie was there too, and Luna, the pair of them laughing and joking like they’d known each other for ages.
Then Piper appeared, ethereal and floating above them, her hand outstretched and smiling, as if she was giving him her blessing. Impossible, he knew that, but when he woke, it had seemed so vivid and real. Piper’s beautiful smile, the one he had somehow forgotten in the twelve years since she’d been gone, came to him again and he knew what he had to do.
He’d rung the dating agency direct, and after a bit of coercing, he’d persuaded the owner, Harper, to send Jamie to his home.
He sighed. It didn’t matter now. He’d blown it with Jamie. She’d said no to him. No one ever dared to say no to him. He’d been flabbergasted, and aroused too, but why the hell had he offered to pay her to go out with him? He rubbed his temples. No wonder she couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
A gentle knock on the door dragged him from his reveries.
Alice poked her head around the door. “Is it okay to come in?”
“Yes, Imogen’s gone.”
“Thank goodness for that.” His aunt entered carrying two mugs of tea. “Hopefully for good this time.”
There’d never been any love lost between Imogen and his aunt, and she’d made her feelings known on many occasions.
“So do I, Alice.” He didn’t dwell. “Where’s Luna?”
“Up in her room. I made some tea.” She hobbled over and handed him the mug.
“Thanks. Did Luna hear what I said to Imogen? I tried to keep my voice down, but I barely held it together.”
“No, I don’t think so. What did you say to her?”
“The damn woman kept throwing herself at me, insisting we still had something between us, so I had to lie. I told her I wanted to find a mother for Luna.”
Alice laughed as she lowered herself slowly into a chair. “I’m guessing she wasn’t too happy?”
“No, but she still wouldn’t back off, so I said I joined the dating agency because I wanted a marriage of convenience.”
“Why on earth would you say that?”
“The way Imogen looked at Jamie… I thought she was going to rip her throat out.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Alice commented.
Grayson stared into the steaming brew as though it might hold all the answers. “I’m afraid I got Jamie to come here under false pretences.”
His aunt shook her head, her sympathetic gaze not helping. “What have you done this time, Grayson?”
He placed his mug on the side table and mooched over to the Georgian fireplace. Resting his arm on the mantlepiece, he stared into the ashen logs and told Alice how he’d coerced Jamie’s boss into asking her to meet him.
“I don’t understand why you wanted to join a dating agency in the first place,” Alice said.
“I was idly Googling nothing in particular when the website popped up. Then I saw Jamie’s picture. I even dreamt of her last night.”
Alice chuckled. “Oh my, you’ve got it bad.”
“Got what bad?”
“You like her.”
“Yes, I do, but it’s too late. I ruined everything by behaving like a total jerk.”
“I wondered why she ran out of here faster than a greyhound chasing a rabbit.” She shook her head. “What did you say to Jamie?”
“I asked her out and she said no.”
“I’m sorry, Grayson.”
“That’s not the worst of it. I offered to pay her to go out with me.”
“You did what?” Alice’s incredulous tone was nothing he didn’t deserve. She plonked her mug of tea on the side table, its contents splashing on the surface. “If you weren’t the alpha and my nephew, I’d smack you upside the head to knock some sense into you.”
“Maybe you should. I can’t believe I offered to pay her… and I think I insulted her choice of profession, too. She called me desperate and arrogant, among other things.”
To his surprise, Alice burst out laughing. “And you didn’t wolf out in front of her? You must like her a lot.”
“She’s beautiful, even with that bright orange stuff on her face.”
“I did notice her odd foundation.”
Grayson returned to his chair and slumped into it. “I blew it. Big time.” He scrubbed the nape of his neck, his fingers tangling in the curls. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,” he confessed. “Maybe I should try a marriage of convenience. Would it be such a bad idea to find a mate so Luna can have a mother? You do a brilliant job, Alice, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you do for us, but I worry I’m putting too much on you. I noticed your legs are getting worse.”
“Grayson Beckett, don’t you lay this one on me. A marriage of convenience? I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life. You’re a good-looking wolf. Now you’ve finally seen Imogen for the gold-digger she is, you can have your pick of any woman. Not to mention you’re alpha to the largest pack in southern England.”
“Which I never wanted.”
“That’s as maybe, but you still give it your all. It won’t be long before Xander can take over.”
Grayson harrumphed. He had his doubts his beta would ever be worthy enough to lead the pack. “I hope you’re right.” He drank his tea, the clock on the mantlepiece ticking in the silence as he went over his aunt’s wise words. He inhaled slowly. “The thing is, I don’t think I do want my pick of any woman.”
Alice’s wrinkled face broke into a soft smile. “Luna said she liked her.”
His heart hammered against his ribcage. “She did?”
“And that little dog of hers, too.”
“I doubt Jamie will even want to talk to me again.”
“You won’t know unless you try.”
The flicker of hope warmed his belly. “You’re right. I’m going to apologise to Jamie and take her on the best date she’s ever had.”
“That’s fantastic, Grayson, but she has to accept your apology first,” Alice pointed out.
“She will. She has to.”
How difficult could it be? All he had to do was convince Jamie he wasn’t the jerk she thought he was. He’d offer his sincerest apologies, shower her with gifts and take her to a Michelin-star restaurant with the longest waiting time. With his connections, he’d have no problem jumping the queue. If that didn’t impress her, nothing would.
How could she possibly refuse?
Chapter Four
Jamie banged repeatedly on Willow’s door.
“All right, I’m coming,” Willow called from inside. “Who is it?”
“Me.”
Her friend opened the door. She took one look at her and ushered her in. “What’s happened?”
“Grayson bloody Beckett, that’s what happened.”
“You look like you’re about to burst something.”
“I will if I don’t tell someone what an egotistical jerk he is.” Cujo barked from inside her bag. “Be quiet, traitor.”
Willow frowned. “How about I get that mojito I saved for you earlier?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” Jamie followed Willow into her lounge, the pile of beauty products still in the centre of the room.
“I’ll fetch us those drinks.”
Jamie flopped on the white leather sofa, kicking off her stilettos. She ru
bbed the area between her eyebrows, but it didn’t help her headache one iota.
Willow returned with the promised drinks.
She gulped half down in one go. “Thanks, Willow, I needed that. Sorry for barging in.”
“Hey, no worries.” Her friend joined her on the sofa. “Tell me what happened.”
“The arrogant son of a bitch asked me out.”
Willow choked on her drink. “Wait, what? I thought you were helping him sign up to the dating agency?”
Jamie let out an unladylike snort. “Yeah, so did I. It turns out he had no intention of signing up.”
“Why did your boss insist you had to go to his house then?”
“It wasn’t a house. He lives in a mansion, strutting around like he’s some kind of lord of the manor, and thinking he can have whatever he wants just because he’s stinking rich.” She took three more gulps of her drink. “Plus, I have to get new shock absorbers for my car, not to mention the damage to the rest of the suspension system.”
“Sorry, you’ve lost me.”
“The lane leading to his place was full of potholes. I drove out of there so fast, I broke poor Gloria. I had to wait for the breakdown truck to tow me to the garage, then get a taxi home.”
“Still not getting the connection.”
“He basically bribed Harper into making me go there. Apparently, he saw my picture on the website and decided I should go out with him.”
“Lucky you. He must be keen to go to so much trouble.”
Jamie scowled. “I thought you’d be more understanding.”
“Is he hot?”
“No.” Her cheeks burned.
Willow made a fan with her hand. “Whoa there, cool those cheeks, woman! You’re giving me eyestrain.”
Jamie’s anger melted away and she laughed. “He’s mildly warm, I’d say—not that I care—but his personality is colder than the Antarctic.”
“I think you do care.”
“Okay, he is hot. Grayson is a giant of a guy with ripped muscles in places I didn’t know anyone could have muscles, and I watched him turn to mush when he looked at his daughter.” She fished out her phone and showed her the pictures she’d taken of him.
Willow’s eyes rounded like saucers. She wolf-whistled. “You lucky cow. When are you going out with him?”
“I’m not. I turned him down.”
“Are you right in the head? Just look at him.”
She was, and her belly was doing that same tingly thing again. “Looks aren’t everything. Underneath that impressive body, and gorgeous long hair, he’s an arrogant—” She almost said werewolf. “—loser.”
“I’m getting mixed signals here, Jamie. Do you like him or not?”
“For one second, I thought I liked him, actually allowed myself to think of a man that way again. I let my guard slip and he ruined it.”
“How?”
“It was the way he asked me; all overconfident, assuming I would swoon before him like a pathetic medieval maiden because he demanded it.” She sipped her drink. “Cujo ran off, so he showed me around his home, flashing his wealth like he was trying to impress me.”
“You’ve never liked having money, have you?”
“It has its advantages—like if I hadn’t bought the apartment opposite, I would never have met you. I know I’m lucky I inherited a shitload of dosh, but having money doesn’t mean you have to rub people’s noses in it. I hold more respect for people like you, Willow, who’s managed to build a successful business on their own.”
She shrugged. “I do okay, I guess.”
“See? That’s why we get on so well. You’re so modest.”
“Right back at you, but maybe this Grayson guy had to work for what he has.”
She doubted it. It was probably handed down to him when he became alpha, but she couldn’t tell Willow that. “I don’t care. When I refused to go out with him, he offered to pay me.”
Willow’s mouth made an O shape. “He didn’t.”
“He bloody did. Can you believe his audacity?”
“What a total jerk.”
“Yeah, and I told him as much, but I’ll probably lose my job now.”
“Harper wouldn’t do that. Who else is she going to get to work for peanuts?”
“I don’t know. No one, probably,” Jamie told her.
“There you go then; she can’t sack you.”
“I suppose not. I love my job, and we could have done with Grayson Beckett joining—he promised Harper he’d put more work her way.”
“You’re too nice for your own good.”
“I like helping people, that’s all.”
“And I bet you have no intention of billing your boss for the car repairs and tow truck costs, do you?” Willow added.
She shrugged. “You know me too well.” She wouldn’t dream of bothering Harper with the car repair bill when Jamie could easily pay it herself.
Willow’s doorbell rang. “Who’s that? I’m not expecting any deliveries today.” She plonked her tall tumbler on the table and went to the door.
Jamie stared at the bottom of her empty glass in dismay. She could do with another mojito after the day she’d had.
Her friend returned carrying a huge bouquet of flowers.
“Wow, they’re beautiful, Willow. Have you got a new guy you haven’t told me about?”
Willow peered around the blooms. “They’re not for me, Jamie, they’re for you. The delivery lady asked if I’d take them for you when she got no answer at your door.”
“For me?” Jamie leapt off the sofa and searched for the card. When she found the tiny envelope, she ripped it open.
One word was written on the card. Sorry.
She harrumphed.
“What? Who are they from?”
“It doesn’t say.” She knew exactly who’d sent them.
Willow laid the flowers on the coffee table, whipped the card from Jamie’s hand and read it. “I’m guessing they’re from this Grayson guy?”
“Sorry? Did he honestly think a bunch of flowers would make up for his behaviour? And how the hell did he get my address?”
Willow turned the card over. “I don’t know, but is that where he lives?” She passed her the card.
On the back of the card was a tiny picture of Beckett Hall. “Yeah, that’s it. It’s a stunning place; shame it’s owned by a pretentious dork. He can take his flowers and shove them—” She paused, peered more closely. She ran her thumb pad over the picture. It smudged. “Oh, this gets even better. He actually pays someone to hand draw on the back of the cards.”
“Let me see,” said Willow. “It’s really good. Look at the detail on such a tiny drawing.”
She’d noticed. The style of the sketch was not unlike some of the paintings she’d seen when Grayson had shown her around his home.
“He’s obviously gone to a lot of trouble.”
“It still doesn’t make up for his behaviour.”
Her friend narrowed her eyes. “You’re intrigued by that drawing, aren’t you?”
“You keep the flowers, Willow. I don’t want them.”
Her friend laughed. “I’ll make another drink, shall I?”
* * *
Jamie blew out a breath. No point going over it again. Grayson Beckett knew where she lived and there was nothing she could do about it. Although why it bothered her, she didn’t know. She’d ignored his gift of flowers, so hopefully he’d got the message.
Her doorbell rang and Jamie cursed. She was in the middle of two different online chats with a couple of angels. A minute later, it rang again. She finished typing and went to the door, her headset clamped to her ear.
“Ms Osborne?” said the delivery woman, holding a bouquet twice the size of the bunch she’d given to Willow yesterday.
“Yes.”
The woman handed her the blooms. “Hi, these are for you. Did you get the flowers I delivered yesterday? I left them with your neighbour.”
“Yes, I did. Thank yo
u.” She took the bouquet even though she didn’t want them. No doubt another pathetic gift from Grayson.
“Oh, good. I always worry when I leave them with someone else.”
“No, it’s fine. She’s a friend anyway. I was there when you came,” she said to be polite.
“Oh, good,” the woman repeated. “Bye then. See you soon.”
“Bye.” Jamie frowned as she closed the door. Why would she say that? She walked to her kitchen, plonked the flowers on the worktop and fetched the card.
It read, Please accept my sincerest apologies. Grayson.
At least it was an improvement on yesterday’s one-word scrawl, but it didn’t matter what he wrote, she wouldn’t accept anything from him.
She turned the card over. On the back was another intricate drawing, this time of a wolf’s head.
Leaving the flowers and the card on the worktop, she went back to her computer.
An hour later, her doorbell rang again.
The flower lady, holding yet another bunch of flowers. “Hello, me again,” she said cheerily.
“Hi.” Jamie begrudgingly took the flowers. “Thank you. Again.”
“You’re welcome. Bye.”
Jamie went into her kitchen and placed them next to the other flowers. Her hand hovered over the small card for several seconds until curiosity got the better of her.
Jamie, I’m so sorry. I know I behaved like a total jerk, but would you please give me a chance to explain? Grayson.
She turned it over; another drawing, this time of a wolf standing majestically in a rocky landscape. Despite her best effort, a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. The flowers would wither if she didn’t put them in some water; it would be a shame to waste them.
Fetching a couple of vases from her cupboard, she then arranged the flowers and poured the tiny sachets of plant food into the water.
Jamie returned to her laptop, this time answering questions from a rather self-absorbed Fae.
With every hour that passed, yet another delivery arrived, each bouquet more beautiful than the last. A different, hand-drawn sketch was on the back of each card, along with his phone number.
Dating a Werewolf Page 3