Page 13 of Wolf's Whistle
The plane made a smooth landing at La Guardia.
Now we go home, and I begin to court him.
§ § §
New York
Very Early Thursday Morning
As in Chicago, the limousines and Navigators waited for them on the tarmac. Julio ran over and kissed Richard on both cheeks and gave his little signature wave to Julien. “I’ll talk to you in the morning. I know Julien sort of likes you. Give him a chance.” Julio left Richard with a slack jaw. He sort of liked Julien too, there was that incident on the plane when he almost kissed him. If only Armand hadn’t interrupted them. His pulse quickened as he imagined Julien’s kisses.
Richard did not react to strange men like that. He’d had a few affairs at MIT that had all ended amicably, but he’d never had such an instant attraction to a man before. Then there was that stupid thread.
In the limousine on the way from what they said was Queens to Manhattan the string followed. It was almost like one of Colin’s books, but that couldn’t be true, could it? Richard was a scientist and knew better. He read werewolf novels for entertainment.
“Julien, do you see that thread?”
“What thread, mon ange?”
“I guess I am tired. I’ve seen it on and off since we boarded the plane in Chicago.”
“You’re exhausted. It’s been a very long day. We’ll sleep in tomorrow although I’m sure Julio and Etienne will show up at ten. Etienne made Julio very happy by finding you. Julio, according to Etienne, was ecstatic that you took the job at Garou. He and Donal both had it rough for a long time, and Julio took care of Donal although he keeps denying it. Evidence says otherwise.”
“Julio always hid his soft heart. He took in strays and found them homes. When I moved in down the street, he adopted me and made sure I was comfortable at home and at school. I have a feeling he is about to embark on that project a second time.” Richard gave a little chuckle.
“Yes, Julio is very goal-oriented. If he decides that you need help, you’ll get it whether you want it or not. He kept Donal alive until Alexei found him. For that, Alexei is forever in his debt. Etienne thinks that Julio is the gods’ blessing on him. All of the board feels the same way about their husbands.”
The limousine stopped in front of a gray granite building. Julien’s house?
“Wow, that’s a big house.” Richard gazed up at the wrought iron railings and the impressive façade.
“As I said, we have six floors plus an English walk-out basement. We have a great room and a catering kitchen in the basement and a normal kitchen on the first floor. Isabel and Marcel have their suite down near the catering kitchen. Marcel also has an office there, and they share a sitting room that overlooks the kitchen garden.”
“I’m on the third floor, and I’m putting you on the fourth floor where you’ll have a bedroom and a sitting room. Denis and Charles have their suites on the fifth along with the gym. There is a sixth-floor family room with a terrace, a solarium, and a media room. I’ll show you the house tomorrow. We’ll have a snack. That will give Marcel enough time to unpack your clothing and lay out your bedclothes.”
“Uh, I sleep in my boxers and a T-shirt. But I do have a robe and slippers.” Richard felt his damn face heat and probably redden.
“Don’t worry, Marcel will sort it out for tonight and after brunch, we’ll go shopping tomorrow for what you’ll need to work at Garou, and a few things for you to wear at home. You can pay me back when you start working. Before you say anything, I’m as rich as Croesus. I don’t need the money back. But I know you’ll be stubborn, so I’ll run a tab.” He offered a warm smile.
Richard put his satchel on the floor next to his chair, and a brown-haired, brown-eyed dynamo entered the kitchen. “I have some pork chops and applesauce, and don’t tell me you can’t eat, young man, because I know differently. By the time you finish, your room will be ready, and once you get settled, no one will bother you until the morning.”
“You must be Isabel. I saw you in the front seat of the limousine. You made the sandwiches.” Richard smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, but you don’t have to cook me something this late at night.”
Isabel shrugged. “You’re hungry, so you’ll eat. Then you can go to bed or watch television with Julien, but I think bed tonight. It’s been a long day.”
Richard glanced at Julien, who had laughter in his eyes, and said, “Yes, ma’am.”
She stood with her hands on her hips and winked at Julien. “You got a sassy one.”
“Mon ange, eat your pork chops and applesauce. You’ll have no peace until you do.”
Richard, who had been trying to hold in his laughter, finally couldn’t control it, and it burst out of him in a large guffaw. “I know who runs this house.”
Isabel peered at him. “Smart boy. Remember it.”
After he obediently finished his pork chops, he hid a yawn behind his hand. “Can I help you clean up?”
“Rule number one, stay out of my kitchen unless you’re eating, there is no helping here. You’ll just get in my way.”
