Without Reservations

definitely a wolf.
    Keaton cleared his throat. He wasn’t going to cower but he was a tad on the worried side. He was stronger than this wolf, but he hated to fight.
    The sudden urge to call Chay back overwhelmed him.
    “Dr. Reynolds?” The wolf stepped into the room.
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    “Yes?” Keaton stood up straighter. He couldn’t sense any malice, but he figured if the guy was psycho enough to want to kill him, he wouldn’t.
    The man extended his hand and bared his throat. “I’m Jacob Romero.
    John Carter sent me.”
    John Carter? Chay’s—his new Alpha? Keaton looked at the man’s hand and stepped back. “I don’t understand.”
    Jacob gave him a sheepish grin and dropped his hand. “He asked me to keep an eye on you. His Beta, Joe Winston, was very concerned about you and asked that you be assigned a bodyguard.”
    Wow. Joe got him a bodyguard? “I see.” He pulled his phone off his belt. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment?”
    Jacob nodded. “Of course. Do you need the Alpha’s number or are you calling Joe?”
    “Joe.” Keaton backpedaled, keeping his eye on the other wolf. He felt like the man was telling the truth, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. He’d promised Chay he wouldn’t. He found the Winston’s home number and nearly pushed it. Then he thought better of it. Lena would probably be home. He quickly found Joe’s cell number and dialed.
    “Hey, Keaton, what’s up? Everything okay?”
    Keaton almost grinned. Chay hated it when Joe read the caller ID
    and immediately addressed whoever called. “Yeah, Joe, everything is fine.
    Listen, do you know a Jacob Romero?”
    “Dad,” Joe corrected.
    “What?” Keaton frowned.
    Jacob raised a brow.
    Joe chuckled. “You are supposed to be calling me Dad and yes I know Jake. I guess this means you didn’t get the message I left you on your voice mail?”
    He hadn’t checked his messages today because he assumed they were all Chay, fretting over him. Keaton smiled. “No, I didn’t. And sorry, I forgot…Dad. He says he’s here as my bodyguard.”
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    “He is. John and I discussed it last night after we found out about you being poisoned.”
    Keaton nodded. “Okay, just checking.”
    “No problem, Son. If you need anything else holler. I’d talk to you, but I have to run. Lena has me up on the roof fixing the antenna.”
    “Be careful. I’ll talk to you later.”
    “Later, Son.”
    Keaton pushed “end” and replaced the phone at his waist. “Well, Jacob—”
    “Jake please.”
    “All right, Jake. Have you eaten lunch?”
    Jake shook his head. “No, I’ve been trying to stay downwind of you all morning.”
    Keaton laughed. “You did a damn good job. I had no idea until right before you walked in here. What made you decide to introduce yourself?”
    He slung his backpack over his shoulder and motioned for Jake to precede him out the door.
    Jake stepped outside and turned to face him. “My curiosity got the better of me.”
    “Yeah, how so?”
    “My sister has been bragging about you for weeks. Well not you exactly…your dog. I had to meet the man that owns ‘the absolute epitome of puppyhood’.” Jake grinned. “My younger sister, Tina, works for Chay.”
    Keaton laughed quietly. He had to meet Tina. It would seem the woman had designs on his dog.

    Û

    They were sitting in the diner across from the campus when Keaton’s phone rang again. He smiled and shook his head.
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    Jake chuckled. “Chay?”
    “Every fifteen minutes.” He hit the call button and put the phone to his ear. “Still alive.”
    Chay’s rich laughter echoed over the phone. “I’m glad to hear it. What are you doing?”
    “I’m eating lunch.”
    “You didn’t call me back.”
    “I got sidetracked. I sort of ran into my bodyguard.”
    “Your what?”
    Keaton flinched. Apparently Chay didn’t know either. “It appears that your Dad and John decided I needed another wolf to keep an eye out for me.”
    “Damn, that’s awesome. And a great idea. My dad freakin’ rocks. Who is your bodyguard?”
    Keaton looked up at Jake and grinned. “Let’s put it this way. You better tell your VA I’m on to her. And she’s not getting my dog.”
    “Huh?”
    Keaton winked at Jake, knowing he could hear everything Chay said.
    “Jake Romero.”
    “Oh hey, Tina’s brother. Good, you’re in fine hands.