Page 29 of The Betas: Rene
René and Frankie exchanged rings and passionate kisses in Mr. Blanc’s tearoom until Martin came in and cleared his throat. They wore the rings home. Mr. Blanc handed them their packages. Besides his extra package with René’s watch, René had an extra package of his own.
Hmm. Frankie was curious.
§ § §
Abbotts Tailoring and Haberdashery
They arrived at Mr. Abbott’s shop at precisely ten. As Mr. Blanc did before him, Mr. Abbott closed the shop. René spoke to Frankie over the Mate Link. “Mr. Blanc is loup garou, Abbott isn’t. He closes the shop because The Alpha is such a good customer, so be careful what you say here.”
The Alpha called for Mr. Abbott’s attention. “Mr. Ferone will need seven suits, English cut, and a tuxedo. We’ll need the tuxedo and one of the suits by Thursday afternoon. I’ll pay your tailors overtime to get this done. Leave extra room in the crotch.”
“Yes, Mr. La Marche, I always do that for the customers you refer to me.”
“Now, we need a navy pinstripe, a charcoal, a gray flannel, a blue indigo, something in sage and something in a brown. Make the last suit in tan. I’ll need twenty-one shirts and ties, three for each suit.” The Alpha shifted his gaze to Frankie.
“I’m assuming you have black, brown, gray, and cordovan shoes?”
“Yes, Al…Mr. La Marche. Although they are Italian style shoes.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you fit for custom-made.”
“Mr. La Marche, I don’t need custom-made.”
The Alpha pursed his lips. “Working for me, you’ll do a lot of standing about, so your feet will need to be in comfortable but stylish shoes. Your Italian shoes are stylish but not comfortable. If we buy English-style shoes at Barneys, they’ll be comfortable but not stylish. To work for me, you’ll need custom-made.”
“Don’t worry, Ma Vie, we can afford it. These suits will last for years and not go out of style. They will be well-made of all natural fibers. You won’t regret we spent the money, especially on the shoes. Mr. Abbott will refit the suits after we return and you begin to pack on more muscle. He’ll leave plenty of room through the shoulders.”
“I don’t understand about the shoulders, but I do understand the extra room in the crotch. I’ve been half hard since we met.”
René chuckled.“That is the normal condition for Mates in each other’s company.”
Frankie sat in Mr. Abbott’s fitting room eating roast beef sandwiches while The Alpha picked the material for his suits, giving him nominal input. He gazed up at René with irony.“If The Alpha doesn’t need me to help pick out the suit material, why am I here?”
“As The Alpha told other Mates who asked the same question, you had to be measured.”
Frankie burst out laughing.
§ § §
René’s Townhouse
One in the Afternoon
Annie and Alphonse Eustis arrived promptly at one in a Navigator with their suitcases, many grocery bags, and plastic food containers. Two Enforcers were with them to help unload. “Beta DuBois and Beta Mate Ferone, if you permit, I brought groceries. The Alpha told me where you have an account. The Beta Mate must be starving. I have lunch already made for him. I cooked at The Alpha’s house. Meg accommodated me in her kitchen. If you point me in the direction of mine, I’ll warm it up.”
René’s head spun. The Alpha moved quickly when he wanted something done, and he definitely wanted Frankie to be comfortable. His Mate had proved his worth this morning by telling The Alpha when and where the Russians would arrive.
Annie, the bolder of the two, continued, “We were interviewed by The Alpha at noon. He explained that you guarded The Alpha Mate, Beta DuBois, and that anyone who would be near you had to pass his evaluation. He ran an extensive background check on both of us, including a check to see if we were involved in illegal activities.” Their new housekeeper sniffed. “As if Alphonse or I would gamble. As far as women or other men are concerned, we are True Mates, so he isn’t about to get involved with other women, nor I, other men. Furthermore, I had my pups at a young age. They are grown now, so you don’t have to worry about losing a housekeeper and manservant to children. Do you have any questions?”
A bemused Frankie shook his head and turned to René, lifting an eyebrow.
René spoke to their new housekeeper. “No, Annie, no questions. Can you give the Beta Mate his lunch? The kitchen is at the bottom of the back stairs. You’ll find an elevator underneath the staircase. Alphonse, if you would help Annie haul the groceries.”
René gazed over at the Enforcers. “Blaise and Leonce, this is Beta Mate Frankie Ferone. After you help Alphonse get the groceries to the kitchen, you can go back to The Alpha’s house with my thanks.”
He turned to Alphonse. “We’ll need two overnight bags packed. Both of us will need a suit. We are going to New Mexico to pack lands so we can mate tonight.”
Annie’s eyes opened wide. “You haven’t mated yet, oh Beta Mate, you must be starved. Come with me, and I’ll get you fed right away.” She hurried to the back stairs.
Frankie gave René a quick kiss and then followed their Annie. She stopped so quickly that he almost ran into her. She turned back to René. “Beta DuBois, The Alpha sent Alphonse to Li-Lac Chocolates on Eighth between Jane and West. He bought a pound of truffles and a pound of assorted fudge to take with you to Beta Mate’s mother. Alphonse did some thinking of his own and bought a cigar case for Beta Mate’s father and a twenty-five-dollar iTunes gift card for his brother. The Alpha put two Havanas in the case.”
René rolled his eyes. “The Alpha is nothing if he’s not efficient.”
Now all I have to do is impress the hell out of Frankie’s family so he can work for the Alpha without causing trouble with the Italians.
