The next two days passed in a blur of agitation and embarrassment as Xander followed the trail to his grandmother. She always seemed to stay one step ahead of him, and the employees in her wake chuckled as he searched her out. He couldn’t even begin to guess what stories she had been telling and what questions she had been asking. Some of these people were actually blushing.
“Dude, just give up. She is running you in circles, and you know it,” Keir called out with laughter filling his voice.
“You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve heard. That woman is a menace,” Xander growled in frustration.
“Come on, she’ll eventually turn up at your office or more likely your secretary’s desk. We can hide and wait for the perfect time to trap her.”
“It’s my grandmother, remember,” Xander groused in sullen reply.
Keir frowned. “Oh, yeah. We never did get away with that. Did we ever figure out how she already knew?”
“Hell, no, but I want to learn that trick before I have kids.”
The two men headed back to Xander’s office laughing and reminiscing about their adventures and the times Julia had figured them out and chased them with the water hose, brooms, or whatever else was handy.
“There you are. I was beginning to think you had gotten lost,” Julia called out from her perch on the outer office desk.
Xander and Keir shared a quick glance and sighed in resignation. This woman always knew exactly what was going on and how to foil their fun and games.
“And, Keir, it’s about time you showed yourself. You’re looking well, but I hear you haven’t changed a bit. Still up to your whoring ways. Not ready to settle down yet, you big pussy?”
Keir’s face flamed and he stuttered in an attempt to reply. Xander couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s reaction.
“Why are you laughing? I heard what you’ve been like. Throwing things, growling, and just being an ass.”
It was Xander’s turn to sputter and blush in reaction to her words.
“All right, that’s enough foolishness. Give me those papers we never got around to signing after breakfast the other day and go get your mate. Keir, I expect you to meet us for dinner tonight, as well. Also, while I was waiting here, a call came in from Ally. What a sweet girl she is. Anyway, she will be joining us as well. I made reservations at Ricardo’s for all of us.”
Keir and Xander smiled sheepishly, said yes, ma’am, and quickly left the office and the line of fire. Julia’s quiet chuckle trailed after them.
“What are you doing for the rest of the day?” Xander inquired with a twinkle in his eye.
“Not much. Why?”
“I let Josie use my car again. I really don’t trust hers. Not that she cares. Took a lot of convincing to get her to use mine. I’d buy her another, but with her reaction to just borrowing mine, I am guessing she’d flip if I got her a new one. Want to give me a ride to her? I’ll even let you meet her, but you better be on your best behavior, or I will hurt you so badly your dates will be canceled for the next six months.”
Keir’s eyes widened and a slow smile spread over his face. “Oh, I can’t wait to meet her now. She’s got you this possessive after only a few days, then she must be something.”
Xander rolled his eyes. “You’ll understand when you find your mate.”
“Whatever. Just tell me where to take you so we can get away from Julia and those all-knowing eyes of hers.”
“I don’t know yet. I have to check the GPS tracker on the car.”
“You’re stalking your mate? Seriously?”
Xander scowled. “No, of course not. My car’s a new model, so of course, you can track it. It’s just I’m worried about her and want to make sure she is okay. She was attacked, remember.”
“Are you trying to convince me of that, or yourself? Because it’s pretty thin, my friend.”
“Just shut up. I want to see her okay.”
Xander grumbled under his breath as he opened the app and located his car. “She’s at her apartment. I recognize the address from her file the service gave me.”
“Then by all means, let’s rescue your mate from her scary kitchen appliances. Who knows what they will do to her.”
“You’re such a smart-ass. Why am I friends with you?”
“Because you’re a sarcastic ass too, and we work well together.”
“Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting. Lead the way. I have a damsel to rescue from her lonely time away from me. She must be counting the minutes until I’m with her again.”
“Dude, it’s getting really deep in here now.” Keir snorted. “I think I’m gonna need a paddle to wade my way out of all the emotion.”
“Dick.”