“Meg, if you can knock Kevin down like that you’ll do just fine around here,” said Luc coming over and giving her a hug. “He’s our edgiest employee, and if you can make him listen when he’s shouting, you’ve won,”
“He’s right,” said Kevin from the door. “I came down to apologize and pick up the boxes. I’m territorial about my office, and just blew my top before finding out any of the facts. After you left, I realized I smelled Luc on you and knew you must be his new mate.”
“I… um… Yeah. Business partner too,” said Meg. “Mate! No! um…. wait… yeah, guess he’s right,” she thought.
“Glad to see it didn’t come to blows Kevin. Boxes at ten paces can be viscous,” said Ginny.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I came in this morning?” asked Kevin with just a touch of temper in his voice.
“Cool your jets pup,” said Ginny in a growl. She waited until his shoulders slumped before she continued. “I was on the phone when you came in and by the time I was free to tell you anything, you were already throwing boxes.”
“Oh. Sorry Ginny,” Kevin said.
Luc just watched the whole exchange and smiled. Meg hadn’t over reacted to being called his mate. She had also backed down one of his more dominant employees without a fight. He was happy enough that he almost wanted to wag his tail.
“Shall we get back to work?” he asked looking at everyone.
They all nodded and Ginny and Kevin left the office.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly, touching her on the arm.
“Yeah. He just startled the hell out of me with the boxes, and I just let it rip after remembering what you said this morning,” Meg said.
“Okay, and are you okay with him calling you my mate?” he asked with trepidation.
“Um… it startled me at first, but then I realized that it is what I am isn’t it?” she asked.
Luc took Meg in his arms. “Yes, if that’s what you want,” he said softly.
“Yes, I believe it is,” Meg answered. “Now get out of my office. I have work to do, and your handsome ass is distracting me,” she said with a smile.
Luc smiled back and headed out the door to his office.
***
Meg quickly settled into a routine in her office. At first she didn’t think that there would be enough work for her with Alpha Wolf Tech. To be honest, there wasn’t a lot at first, but once the techs realized what she could do with information, her in basket began to fill. Plus, Luc was helping her with freelance work.
Ginny came down to talk to Meg, and heard her laughing as she hung up the phone. Standing in the doorway, she tried to figure out the reason for the laughter.
“Alright, I give. What’s so funny?” Ginny asked.
“That was a referral call. There’s this company that needed some demographics, and they were referred to us,” said Meg still smiling.
“I still don’t see what is funny,” said Ginny.
“It was the company I just left!” said Meg with a broad grin.
Ginny started to snicker, and then laugh. “Well, did you get the job?” she asked.
“Yes! At three times my normal pay, because they need the data fast. Apparently, they lost their demographer to an HR issue,” she said.
They both laughed.
“What did you need?” asked Meg once she stopped laughing.
“Luc is out of the office, and Duke just dropped off Sara and Joe. Their babysitter called in sick. I said I could watch them for a bit, and then I remembered that I have a date tonight. Could you and Luc watch them?” she asked.
Ginny thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, we didn’t have any plans for this evening,” she said.
“Thanks Meg! I’ll makes sure you have the peanut butter by the time you leave,” said Ginny as she turned to go.
“Peanut butter?” she asked.
“Yeah. Sara and Joe have hit the peanut butter stage. Won’t eat much else but the damn stuff,” she said.
“Oh god,” replied Meg and turned back to her work as Ginny left.
*
After work, Meg packed the two children into their car seats along with a bag filled with peanut butter, bread and a few other items. Luc was working late. He’d been alright with the kids staying, which was a relief to Meg. Not having any of her own, she really enjoyed the kids.
When they got home, Meg made them a quick snack of peanut butter on toast and they sat down to watch Pixar movies. Cars and Planet 51 filled up most of the evening. Luc arrive home in time to watch most of Planet 51. Joe fell asleep by the end of the second movie, and Meg carried him off to the guest bedroom which they had set up with sleeping bags, stuffed animals and a night light earlier. She tucked him in bed and then went back to the living room.
“Meg, I’m hungwee,” said Sara.
“Alright Sara, what would you like?” Meg asked knowing the answer. She couldn’t believe the amount of peanut butter these two little kids had stowed away already.
“I wants a peanud budder sanwich wif red jewwy,” she said.
“Alright, and then a bath?” Luc asked.
“No. I taks a baf in da moning. I wants a stowy,” said Sara.
Meg made the sandwich while Luc and Sara picked out a story. She wanted Revolting Rhymes By Roald Dahl. They were reading Little Red Riding Hood.
“That’s wrong!” cried Wolf. “Have you forgot to tell me what BIG TEETH I’ve got? Ah well, no matter what you say, I’m going to eat you anyway.”
The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers. She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature’s head and bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.”