Without Reservations

strenuous or anything. Anyway, will you take me car shopping?”
    “Yeah, I’ll take you car shopping. You know what you want?”
    “Not a clue. If you’re really nice to me, I’ll let you help me pick.”
    He smiled. He could almost picture those light brown lashes batting, trying to look all sweet and innocent. “You’re being careful, right? You are paying attention to things? You have the garage door open, right?”
    “Yup. I do. And yes, I’m paying attention. My nose, eyes and ears are on full alert.”
    “Good. Don’t kill yourself trying to clean.”
    “I won’t. I’m expecting help any minute.”
    “Help?”
    “Yep. Your dad is coming to help me.”
    Chay’s chest swelled with pride. “He is?”
    “Yup. He’s on vacation this week. He offered to take me car shopping today, but I wanted you to take me. That way we can pick together.”
    Chay closed his eyes. Damn, he loved this man.
    Tina poked her head around his doorframe, looked left then right.
    She caught his gaze, started, and her head popped back out.
    Chay groaned. He was tired of this. He was going to have it out with his staff once and for all. “Okay, babe, I gotta run. Be careful and I’ll see you tonight.”
    “Okie-dokie. Later, Chay.”
    Chay hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair. He put his feet up on his desk. “Tina. Tommy. Cheryl. Come in here please.”
    Tina came in first. She grinned and cocked her head.
    “Have a seat.” Chay pointed to an empty chair.
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    J.L. Langley
    Tommy came in next. His red hair appeared before he did. He seemed…nervous.
    Chay pointed to the seat next to Tina. “Sit.”
    Cheryl came in the door openly glaring at him. “Yes?”
    Chay glanced around his office, looking at all three of them. “Do we have a problem? All three of you have been acting strange all morning.”
    Cheryl put a hand on her hip. “You tell me, Dr. Winston. Do we have a problem? There are all sorts of rumors going around.”
    Chay raised a brow at her. “Rumors?”
    “Yes. They are saying you’re gay.” She glowered.
    “Why is it any of your business?”
    “Are you saying it’s true?”
    “Yes.”
    Cheryl coughed and sputtered. Judging by her reaction, she’d expected him to refute the accusation. “I quit. I refuse to work for a—”
    Chay smiled. “Get the fuck out. I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say.”
    Cheryl huffed, turned on her heel and marched right out of the office.
    After banging stuff around for several minutes getting her things, she stormed out of the clinic, slamming the door behind her.
    Blinking, Tina’s eyes widened. “Holy cow! I knew she was a bitch, but…” She shrugged. “She’s only pissed because now she doesn’t stand a chance nabbing you for herself.”
    Chay frowned. Tina didn’t seem to be bothered by his announcement.
    So why had she been acting strange? “What do you have to say? What’s with the looking from room to room?”
    Tina’s eyes shot wide and she put a hand to her chest. “Me?”
    “Yes you.”
    She ducked her head and blushed. “You thought it was because of you? I mean, well, I was curious, but that wasn’t… I was looking for Pita.
    Where is he?”
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    Without Reservations
    Chay chuckled. “You mean all this time you’ve been trying to find Pita?”
    Tina nodded. “I mean, I am surprised. I always thought you liked women. But hell, Chay, my older brother is gay. I could care less if you are or not. You know?”
    Chay blinked. “Jake is gay?” He’d known Jake for years. Jake was a pack member. He was a little older than Chay and they’d never been the best of friends, but they were friends.
    “Well yeah. Has been since longer than I can remember.”
    “Hmm.”
    Tommy smiled.
    Chay frowned. “What?”
    “I have the sudden urge to jump up and dance around the clinic and sing, ‘ding-dong the witch is dead’. Man, I’m glad you fired Cheryl.”
    “She quit.”
    Tommy shrugged. “Who cares, she’s gone.” Holding up his hand, he gave Tina a high five.
    Wow, Chay hadn’t thought Cheryl was that bad. And apparently Tommy was okay with his sexual preference too.
    Tommy looked back at him and grinned, obviously reading the confusion on Chay’s face. “I’m shocked, Chay. But I don’t give a damn.
    Your private life is your own.” He shook his head. “Man you got chicks all over you and you… Never mind. It’s your life. If you’re happy,