With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

but Jarred wasn’t any more powerful than he was. “Matt, please.” Brandt?
    “You’re Tara’s dad?”
    Howard was at the bar pouring another drink. “He’s also my Beta.”
    “I am, yes. For the moment anyway.” Jarred laughed. “I’m considering killing her and hiding the
    body.”
    “Uh-oh, what’s she done now?” Howard came forward, handing Jarred the glass he just poured.
    Oh no, did Jarred think Aubrey was his daughter’s mate? Nausea climbed its way up Matt’s throat,
    forcing him to take a deep breath.
    Jarred regarded Matt, then turned to Howard. “What hasn’t she done? She’s still refusing to go get her
    MBA. Yesterday she helped Megan rearrange my damned living room without my permission. And today
    before I left she and Ashley were intent on fixing my Mustang.” After knocking back all of his drink, he handed the glass to Howard. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do with her. She’s making me
    crazy.”
    Matt chuckled despite his worry. Jarred sounded exactly like his dad when he talked about Logan.
    Turning back to Matt, Jarred smiled. “You laugh, but just wait until you have kids. All three of my
    girls are—” He waved his hand absently.
    “Problem children?” Matt offered.
    “Yes. I love them, but…yes. I’ve decided their charm is a self-defense mechanism.”
    Howard slapped Jarred on the back. “Isn’t being a parent fun?”
    “No,” Jarred answered without hesitation.
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    With Abandon
    The door from the study into the house opened. Matt’s cock tried to perk up, and if he hadn’t blinked,
    his eyes would have shifted.
    “Aubrey. Come have a seat. We have business to go over.” Howard returned to his desk and met
    Matt’s gaze. “Matt, why don’t you let Jarred introduce you to the rest of the pack?” He smiled a
    conspiratorial sort of grin and dipped his head.
    “Okay.” He turned to leave with Jarred, but Aubrey stopped him.
    Clutching Matt’s shoulder for a few seconds, Aubrey said nothing. He turned Matt toward him and
    stared. “I’ll meet you outside, okay? Stay by Jarred.” Slowly the corner of his mouth raised, and he winked at Matt.
    Just like that the tension eased. Everything might work out after all. “Okay.”

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    Chapter Ten
    “I’m not kidding, son, watch your back with Boskie.”
    Aubrey paced toward the bar, swirling what was left of his cognac. Why couldn’t his dad keep whisky
    in the decanter? Hell, he wasn’t picky, even cheap whisky. He preferred it to brandy.
    Lord, he was on edge. He needed to get out and run, play with Matt. He wanted to show Matt the
    grounds as a wolf.
    “I made some calls before dinner and he’s trying to get the other board members to vote down your
    proposed renovations. So far he’s not having much luck, but it’s not something you should ignore.”
    “Goddammit.” After tossing back the rest of his brandy, Aubrey slammed the empty tumbler down on
    the bar and poured some more. “I knew he was going to be trouble.”
    “Why do I have a feeling this isn’t really about the renovations?” His dad’s chair creaked a little, and there was a soft thud. When Aubrey turned, his dad had leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the desk.
    “Because it’s not, it’s personal…or maybe it isn’t, I don’t know. He was hesitant about the plans I
    have for the hotels at the last board meeting. He wants to build another hotel. Which is just stupid in this economy.” Aubrey sat in the chair in front of the desk and took a sip of cognac. If he ran into Boskie
    hunting tonight, he might just bite the fucker.
    “I agree. I like the ideas you have. We need to get the chain into this decade. I can’t imagine why
    anyone would have a problem with updating the Wi-Fi and making it faster or whatever. Enlarging the
    gyms and renovating the bars is also smart. Why would Boskie oppose it? And why do you think it may be
    personal?”
    Aubrey set his glass on the desk and slouched back in his chair, letting his butt slide forward on the
    leather. “For one, he thinks I’m too young to run Reynolds Inc. He’s been very vocal about that.” Aubrey snorted.
    “Well, that’s ridiculous.” Dad’s voice became stuffy, almost snooty, as if he were offended. “It isn’t
    his decision, now is it? The company bylaws state the president picks his predecessor and when. How dare he pass judgment on you. Boskie can blow it out his