Without Reservations

Jake’s a great guy, I’ve known him since I was a kid. Tell him I said hello. And don’t believe anything he tells you about me. I didn’t do any of that stuff, I swear.” He could hear the grin in Chay’s voice.
    Keaton shared a look with Jake and raised a brow.
    “I’ll fill you in after you hang up.”
    Keaton chuckled some more. “Good. I want all the gory details.”
    “Hey, I heard that,” Chay grumbled good-naturedly. “Behave yourself.”
    “Yes, dear.”
    Chay groaned. “Okay, I guess since you have a bodyguard, I’ll leave you alone and let you eat. I want details when you get home. I wanna 166 www.samhainpublishing.com

    Without Reservations
    know how often Jake is going to be with you. Tell Jake I’m going to pay him for whatever work he misses, no arguments. Tell him thank you.”
    “Anything else?” Keaton grinned. Chay was too cute when he worried.
    “Uh, not that I can think of. Don’t eat stuff someone leaves on your desk. Oh, and have Jake check your car before you drive it.”
    “Yes, dear.” Like he’d eat another apple left on his desk. What did Chay think? He couldn’t check his car himself? What was he helpless?
    Keaton rolled his eyes.
    Jake chuckled and held out his hand.
    Keaton handed him the phone.
    “Chay?” Jake’s eyes twinkled at him across the table.
    Keaton heard Chay’s voice, quieter but still easily discernable. “Hey, hi, Jake.”
    “I got it covered. I won’t let anything happen to him. I promise.”
    “Thanks, Jake.”
    “You’re welcome.” He handed the phone back to Keaton.
    “Okay, I’m back. Anything else?” Keaton waited for the barrage of “be careful” and “pay attention” and all that. It didn’t come. Chay seemed to have relaxed with Jake’s assurance.
    “No. It’s cool. I’ll see you around five.”
    “All right. See you at home. Love you.”
    A soft, happy sigh drifted over the phone. “Love you too, Bit.”
    Keaton smiled and hung up.
    After that, he and Jake ate their lunch and talked. Jake told him about Chay as a young wolf and all the trouble he got into. He talked about how friendly everyone in their pack was and his job as a private detective. Jake was down to earth, easy-going and very nonjudgmental.
    He was a hell of a nice guy and he brightened up Keaton’s day. His company was a welcome distraction. Keaton decided he had found himself a new friend.
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    J.L. Langley
    Jake spent the remainder of his guard duty with Keaton being fully aware of his presence. He even sat inside the lecture halls with Keaton.
    Keaton couldn’t see any reason for the man to sit around outside the door although Jake did go check the halls periodically.
    They left class together and Jake walked him to his car. After Jake looked it over, he handed Keaton a card. “Take this. It has my cell number, my office number and my house number. You can always reach me at one of these numbers. Call if you need me. I’m going to follow you home then I’m off duty until Monday. In fact, if you want, I can pick you up and bring you to work.” He offered his hand and Keaton shook it.
    “Thank you, Jake. I…can I pick you up? I got the new car and…”
    Jake chuckled. “And you’d like to drive it. Okay, I tell you what. I’ll meet you at your house Monday and you can drive us. Deal?”
    “Deal.” Suddenly, a thought occurred to Keaton. This man had no issue with his and Chay’s relationship. “Hey, Jake. What are you doing tomorrow evening? You wanna bring your sister and come have dinner at the house with Chay and I? I’ve been wanting to meet Tina.”
    Jake smiled, truly delighted. “I’d love to. Let me see what Tina is doing and I’ll give you a call. What time?”
    Keaton shrugged. He better make it kinda late, considering his and Chay’s culinary skills…or lack thereof. “Seven-thirty?”
    Jake nodded. “Okay, works for me. You need Tina or I to bring anything?”
    “Nah. Just yourselves. If Chay screws dinner up too bad, we’ll order pizza.”

    Û

    Pita ran around in circles barking. It was cute, but annoying as hell.
    Chay wasn’t a decent chef at the best of times and the pup wasn’t helping him concentrate on reading the recipe with all that yapping.
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    Without Reservations
    Keaton had called earlier to inform him that he’d invited Jake and Tina to dinner tomorrow night. Chay was delighted Bit was making friends. He was relieved to find out Jake