Reaper (Lost Mates book Two)

Chapter One

Bethany smiled. This was no where near as bad as she expected. Sure her “Boss” was devastatingly handsome if a little intimidating, but it was obvious to anyone who looked at him that he was totally besotted with his very pregnant mate and it seemed to be her that was doing the interviewing.

Aurora or Rory as she had demanded she be called with an eye roll had made her feel instantly welcome and at ease. In all she had a really good feeling about the whole situation and by god she needed this break.

Sure, she could walk into any bar in any town and pretty much land a job on the spot. If the bar called for someone clean cut and wholesome then she would put on the crisp white shirt she favoured for such occasion, wipe off her make up exposing the dusting of golden freckles and slick all her red curls back and if it didn’t. well if it didn’t then she was free to be her. The REAL her. Tattoos and all. It didn’t matter to Beth what persona she had to don as long as she put a roof over their heads and food on the table.

That was all that mattered.

But bar jobs would mean leaving until all hours of the night and that just wasn’t working for her anymore.

“We can be pretty busy so we need someone who can be here at the drop of a hat if needed” Rory was talking again, and Beth had to shake herself from her daydream to concentrate on what the dark-haired woman was saying.

She frowned, no where in the advertisement had there been any mention of being on call, catching her look Rory smiled. Making a point of glancing down at the application in front of her. “You have a child, right?”

Mutely Beth nodded. This was going to be a disaster. She couldn’t commit to anything that could drag her out of their house in the middle of the night.

“I’m sure we could make it work don’t worry” Rory patted her hand gently across the desk, no mean feat considering the size of her stomach. “couldn’t we Roman?”

Roman didn’t look convinced at all, but he smiled down at his mate anyway. Bethany had a sneaky feeling that he would do anything for her. Even give a job to a woman with too many of her own commitments who had no experience.

“Sure, we can, in emergencies only you would be welcome to bring your…”

“Daughter” Bethany couldn’t trust her voice. She hated speaking about her home life in the workplace. She wasn’t here for friendship; she was here for a job. She couldn’t afford friendships, letting people in only made the possibility of running again more likely and they were so done with running. It wasn’t fair on them.

“Your daughter would be welcome to use one of the sleeping rooms if you had to come in out of hours, of course normal office hours I would expect you to have found childcare”

Bethany nodded; eyes lowered. She missed how Roman narrowed his eyes at her.

“That won’t be a problem” She added finally becoming aware of their stares.

“Good, then that’s settled. We will need to run the background check but I’m pretty confident in saying welcome to the team”

Bethany swallowed. Of course, there would be a background check. They worked in security. She just hoped they wouldn’t check to deeply or to far back.

“Don’t look so nervous” Rory laughed, sitting back in the huge leather chair that even in her pregnant state made her look tiny. “We do our own checks in house, if we find anything, we will give you the chance to explain it. We are all about second chances here aren’t we love?” Her eyes swung up to her husband towering over her. He reached for her hand. They were so in love it was nauseating.

“We wouldn’t be here without second chances” He kissed her hand.

“Its fine, there’s no skeletons in my closet” and there wasn’t, she hadn’t been Beth long enough for that and she was confident they would never be able to track down her real name. she had hidden her tracks to well. The fact they were shifters may complicate the matter but what better place to hide then in plain sight?

The door slamming open made her jump, causing Rory to laugh. “Don’t you worry about Reaper; he likes to make an entrance”

“Reaper is one of the partners here so its good he dropped by, though he knows better than to enter without knocking” Roman gave her a friendly wink and she broke into giggles. Yeah, she could image entering this office without knocking when its owner was so in love with his new wife could be embarrassing for all involved.

Remember to knock always, she made a mental note.

“Rose?”

Instantly she froze. The laughter dying on her lip.

“No reaper, this is Bethany” Roman tried again “Honestly brother you can’t just waltz in here and call our newest assistant someone else’s name, this isn’t one of your hook ups” He laughed again.

Bethany became instantly aware of Rory’s piercing eyes on her. She gave a small smile before raising her head.

She hadn’t seen the man who had come through the door, hadn’t turned to see who this person called “Reaper” was. She didn’t need to.

Goosebumps erupted over her skin as he stepped to her side and she shivered. No, she didn’t need to look to know who that voice belonged to.

“Reaper meet Bethany, Bethany meet…” Roman tried again.

“Rose”

He was so close she couldn’t breathe.

“I’m sorry you must have me mixed up with someone” She didn’t dare turn her head to him, instead she spoke to Rory whose own eyebrows were disappearing into her hair.

“Do you know each other?” Romans voice had turned hard. Gone was the softly spoken man she had been talking to for the last fifteen minutes.

“Rose won’t you look at me?” It was a request, but the tone left no room for arguments. Slowly as if she had no choice in the matter Bethany raised her chin.

He hadn’t changed. After everything he had put her through. Put them through he didn’t look any different at all. Bethany felt her anger flare. Even when her heart started thrumming in her chest wildly when he gave her one of his lazy smiles.

Damn him that he could still affect her with just a smile just like when they were teenagers. Only difference was she wasn’t stupid anymore. Beth wrapped her anger around her like a comfort blanket.

“Rose” he reached a hand towards her face and she instantly shied away, stepping back with tears prickling her eyes.

This was wrong, she had spent years running. Only to walk straight into his office and ask for a job? It was a joke. The universe must be laughing hysterically and now she had no choice but to run again. As far and as fast as she could. Mentally she started to make plans. It wouldn’t be the first time had had to pack up and leave at a moments notice.

“Stop calling me that name” She couldn’t help the pain her voice, she needed to escape. To get away from this room, this office, this town but more importantly his green eyes before she succumbed to the panic attack that was threatening to engulf her. She threw up her hands in defeat. “Thank you for seeing me but I don’t think I’m suitable for this job” She smiled sadly. No, this job was definitely not for her. Not if HE was one of her bosses.

“I am totally lost” Rory tried to stand but her mate pushed her back gently, shaking his head as he watched with heavy eyes.

“Rose” Reaper knew he kept saying her name, knew how strange it must sound to the other people in the office. He just couldn’t help it. She was here. Actually, here in front of him. “Its been so long, so god damn long. You don’t know how fantastic it is to see you”

She shot him a look that could curdle milk and turned on her heel, walking towards the door without a backwards glance. “Screw you”