Back to the Grind

     Melody Von Line found her parking spot in a rush. She was late again. Taking her purse from beside her, Melody took a pill case from her purse and popped a pill. She wasn’t ill. These were scent blockers. Something she had to take every day she worked. Why? Because she was a fox within a den of wolves. Shifters, every one of them. But wolves saw foxes as prey, and the two sets of shifters didn’t work with each other ever. So here she was with the opportunity to work in the top firm on Bay Street. She was working alongside the legendary Wolf of Bay Street.

     Melody didn’t know when she applied. He was actually a wolf shifter. So, to keep her job, Melody pretended to be human. Hence the need for scent blockers.

     Standing outside of her car, she sprayed herself down with a perfume she made of lavender and vanilla. It was a popular scent right now for human women. She just altered her formula to help hide anything she missed.

    A look at her phone as a text came in surprised her. It was from Malcolm, himself. How did he know her number? His assistant must have sent it. All it read, ‘Meet me at Starbucks in the lobby as soon as you get here. Malcolm.’

     They were supposed to be having a team meeting, and he was demanding to see her already. That was never good. It went through her mind that she might get taken off the project or get the sack. Either way, she wouldn’t know until she got there. At least she’ll be able to get her morning coffee now.

    The building’s lobby was where the large coffee shop was located. There was no way of missing Malcolm Richards in a crowd. The man lived in designer suits. He stood head and shoulders over everyone else but his assistant. With his thick dark hair and a neat wave. Between his colouring and form, she couldn’t deny he’d make an impressive wolf. But it was his eyes, sapphire blue with a hint of his wolfish nature.

    Melody couldn’t tell you what colour his tie or shirt was because she got lost in those eyes. Her body craved his, but so far, she’d resisted approaching him as others did regularly. Melody didn’t want to get lost in the sea of rejection. Malcolm was an alpha. That meant he made the move, not his lovers. Also, she liked her stressful job and she worried if she could keep her secret up close and personal with the handsome predator. At least, that’s what she told herself.

     Malcolm was on the lookout and his focus zeroed in on her instantly. Her dark auburn hair and coppery colouring did not surprise him. Her delicate features also stood out in any crowd.

    Melody swore she could feel his eyes eating up every inch of hers as she approached, and Melody used it to boost her confidence.

      “Mr. Richards.”

      “Miss Von Line.” She could hear him teasing her for being so formal, but they were out in public. She’d keep it professional if it were the last thing she did.

     “I’m glad you could meet me so quickly.”

     “I was on my way up to the office for the meeting. May I ask why you asked me to meet you here?”

      “Just to ease your mind. There’s nothing wrong. I wanted to tell you I’ve requested that you work with me on the coming project. Will that be a problem? We may have to work over the long weekend.”

     “I don’t see a problem with that.” She saw the look in his eyes change. Melody knew that look on any shift. They were all erotic creatures and that look she’d seen him use on others. Now it was her turn to feel her insides melt, preparing to give him a welcome he’d always remember.

     “We’ll be together, alone at my cottage. Are you still fine with it?”

     “I see. Let me get a coffee and I’ll continue this.” She would control what she could of this. He wasn’t the only shifter in this. Melody wouldn’t leave here without her morning coffee.

     “Jordan has taken it up for you, along with that blueberry muffin you like so much.” Wait, he knew of her addiction to blueberry muffins? That amazed her. No man saw that before.

     “Thank you. So, back to the subject at hand. This won’t be a working weekend and we both know it. It will start when I arrive at your cottage and end when I leave. That, sir, is a potent and tempting offer. Send me directions and I’ll be there tonight.” She dared to stand close to him and whisper it in his ears only in the sexiest voice she could, without losing eye contact with him. “I expect that after this weekend, when we’re both out of each other’s systems, we can continue to work together?”

     He stood there listening and feasting on her image. Her face, the fact he could now see down her blouse and revealed the firm curve of her breasts. She smiled when a sensual smile slid in place on his full lips.

     Her foxy nature tempted her to push up on her tiptoes and nip at that smile.

    “Now we have a meeting to get through before the fun and games can start. No message before three pm, I won’t be there. But I’ll await that message. See you upstairs.” She practically purred her words to him before she turned and left the coffee shop.

    Now Melody didn’t need that coffee. That exchange was more than enough. She’d been distracted for most of the day now. Melody hoped he would be just as distracted. But since they’d be across from the table, she could give him several subtle reminders of how she wouldn’t be like his other conquests.

     At the elevator, she smartly stepped into it and turned around, smiling at him with all the promise of hot steamy nights to come. She only prayed he didn’t figure out that she was a fox.