Finishing his drink, he licked the remaining water drops from his muzzle and continued running towards home, still thinking about the young woman. Why did she want to see him? He’d certainly never met her before; he wouldn’t forget someone that looked like her. She was a cute little thing—not his usual type, of course—but still cute and worth a second look. If he was looking to settle down with a human, she might be worth considering, but a permanent mate wasn’t in his plans at the present time, despite his drunken musings of the previous night. There was enough to do trying to establish his territory without having to worry about a female.
Sure, he wanted the pack to expand, but he wasn’t planning on being the one responsible for that—at least not for awhile. Bryan and Daniel were randy enough, though. They could locate mates and provide the pups. He’d just keep finding willing females to help him release his sexual tension, whenever the need arose.
But enough of that. Melody Greene was here looking for him and he was pretty sure it wasn’t just for the pleasure of his company and a quick roll in the hay. It had to be something to do with that damned picture. After all, what were the chances of two different strangers looking for him in the course of a month; one in Smythston a few weeks back and now one in Stump River? She had to be the same person, but how had she found him? He and Kane had gone to great lengths to bury the trail that connected them. Ms. Greene must be one hell of an investigator and incredibly determined if she’d been able to ferret out his whereabouts.
His house came into view and he paused in the backyard, phasing back into his human form before walking to the building. The smell of frying chicken and fresh coffee drifted towards him causing his mouth to water. He inhaled deeply, savouring the smell, but then frowned. What was that other smell? Oh. Right. Ms. Greene’s scent lingered in the air too. Damn. Grimacing, he hoped he’d be able to get rid of her. He didn’t need the type of complications she represented.
Chapter 7
Mel put off calling Aldrich as long as possible. She had nothing positive to report and hated lying to the man, since she was sure the lawyer saw right through her attempts at evasion. During the job interview that she’d endured with him, she’d felt his eyes on her as if he’d been trying to delve into her brain to find every little secret she’d ever had. The background information he’d required had been extensive; family background, medical history, school records, letters of reference, a police background check... Given the large amount of money involved, she supposed he couldn’t be too careful, but it had seemed a bit excessive. However, his employer, Anthony Greyson, hadn’t become a wealthy man by entrusting his money to just anyone.
She still recalled sitting in the upscale office, trying to remain calm as Aldrich interviewed her and gave a few generalized hints as to what the job might entail. His demeanour had made her feel like she was on trial. He’d ask questions nicely then moved on to a new topic, only to suddenly revert to the previous train of thought and re-ask the same question with slightly different wording and an accusing tone of voice. Mel knew she had nothing to hide, but still felt guilty and nervous. At one point she’d almost felt the need to confess to stealing Timothy Hawthorne’s chocolate bar in fourth grade! Thankfully, she’d controlled the urge, but somehow she was sure Aldrich already knew the truth.
Aldrich was an imposing man, not because of his size—being only average height and weight—but because of his appearance and demeanour. His greying hair was always too perfect; his eyes were a pale ice blue while his face was impassive, only the faintest hint of a smile or frown gracing his thin lips. The man seemed cold and calculating, and Mel hoped she’d never end up on his bad side. After making a few notes on her answers and double checking her contact information, he’d dismissed her, leaving her with the impression that she’d failed the interview. It was with great surprise that she’d received a phone call a few weeks later, saying she had the job. Her surprise was even greater when she discovered that Aldrich worked for Mr. Anthony Greyson, head of Greyson Incorporated.
Anthony Greyson was a well known business tycoon in the Chicago area. His name was synonymous with wealth and success, yet he led a life shrouded in mystery. Very few people ever saw him and even when he entertained, it was rumoured that he only put in a perfunctory appearance before disappearing into the private depths of his mansion. Some said he was involved with the mob. Others claimed he led a double life and had homes all over the world where he assumed other identities. The tabloid stories about the man were even more ludicrous and not even worth mentioning.