Targeted By Love (Between the Greys #1)

5. Maynard

5

MAYNARD

We spoke, and I used all my strength not to drag him into the bushes and smother him with kisses.

Rhodes had best man responsibilities, so I strolled into the manor house while the wedding party was taking photos, guests were congratulating the newlyweds, and wait staff circulated with glasses of champagne. Slipping one of the staff a fistful of cash, I ensured I’d be sitting where I had line of sight to the main table.

You’re not going to shoot him, are you?

No. He’s our mate! The expression line of sight was one that slid into my head when prepping for a hit, but now, instead of a bullet, I wanted to gaze at my target and drink him in.

I sidled outside again via a side door and pretended to sip champagne. There was no scenario, whether as a potential lover or a hitman escaping justice, that involved me getting drunk or tipsy. The sensible part of my brain said to leave now, refund the advance, and get out of the hitman business. Not completing a job could lead to me being a target.

But the other side of my brain was filled with images of Rhodes from our school days, him in his tux as he chatted to a guest, and what he might look like under his suit. My bow tie was restricting air flow, and I wished I could remove it.

Your breathing is fine. A little fast perhaps . Now my wolf was a physician.

Sweat trickled down my back, a rare occurrence unless I was racing away from a job and still in my skin.

This would be the most reckless act of my life, and considering I was a hitman with many kills notched onto an imaginary belt, that was huge. Mingling with the guests, angling for an opportunity to speak with Rhodes, and maybe making a fool of myself, what was I thinking?

But I hadn’t committed a crime—not today anyway, unless making a hefty commission in my day job was illegal.

I shoved a hand around the back of my neck and fiddled with the hair on my wig before stroking the fake beard. If Rhodes and I got to talking and went on a date, I’d say I shaved and cut and colored my hair. It was a flimsy excuse, but he wasn’t part of my world, and hopefully, it wouldn’t be a blip on our horizon.

Being around people, other than family that consisted of my five brothers and our folks, was not where I was most comfortable. Even they weren’t aware about the precise details of my sideline activity, as I told them I cleaned up messes. They were wise enough not to ask for deets. And here I was in a group of people I didn’t know and desperate to be with my mate, when it was unlikely, no matter how well we got along, that we’d mate tonight.

Rhodes was human.

And he wasn’t part of the mafia.

Two strikes that muddled the future. I imagined tentacles wrapping around me, constricting my chest and squeezing the air out of me, forcing me to do fate’s bidding. The universe had given me the finger and screwed me around.

But there was no one else but Rhodes.

Though there was another option.

Ignore the mating instinct, leave the reception, and walk out of Rhodes’s life. I’d never mate. Or I could but it wouldn’t be a love match. And I’d never put an omega through that, for what? To have a companion? Be a dad? Nah. I might end people’s lives with a bullet through the head, but I refused to break an omega’s heart.

Cheering and clapping interrupted my thoughts as the wedding party walked into the building. I snuck off to the side, hoping no one was looking at me, while staring at Rhodes who was glancing around as if he was looking for someone. His eyes locked on mine, and my heart leaped at his shy smile.

Meeting my mate had screwed with my head. Instead of scanning the joint as I normally would when in public, I had eyes for one man. The one who had been the target but was no longer.

Targeted by love , my beast crooned.

Whoa! He’d gone from a hard-nosed hitman’s accomplice to a sappy, lovesick partner.

Mate , he corrected me.

Wishing I could fast-forward the food, toasts, and the ridiculous speeches, I picked at the meal, made small talk with the guy next to me, and clapped and cheered on cue. This was tedious, and thank gods Rhodes and I would never have to endure a wedding ceremony and reception.

I pulled myself back because we had to get to know one another again. He might have someone in his life, though I doubted it. His gaze held a hint of promise, one that included me. But him being human, he’d expect the ceremony and the speeches and throwing those flowers that no shifter would choose because the stench was overpowering.

And I’d agree to all of it if he was at my side.

I perked up when Rhodes stood to give his speech. It was witty, I guessed, because people tittered and one of the grooms blushed and hid his face behind his hands. I wasn’t listening but concentrating on his long slender fingers holding the phone as he read what was on the screen. His body swayed, but I put that down to nervousness. Him having had too much to drink didn’t figure into my plans.

We reached the cake-cutting stage, and I made a bet with my wolf that one or both of the grooms would shove cake on the other’s face. That was grounds for divorce in my mind, but it amused humans.

And I was right. One smushed cake on his new husband’s face while the other guy laughed. Gross!

With his best-man duties at an end, Rhodes made his way to me. My heart sped up and, and…

What is that? My wolf was perplexed by the weird sound and rhythm.

It’s fluttering , I told him. My heart never did that.

“Hi.”

I got up. “Hi, yourself.”

He jerked his head at the grooms who were about to dance. “Didn’t realize you knew either of them.”

“Long story.” I didn’t want to get caught up in a lie, and if questioned, I’d say I’d worked with one of the parents.

He studied my empty plate. “Let me get cake.”

Until this moment, I didn’t have a sweet tooth, but if my mate insisted I eat the sugary, creamy concoction, I’d shovel an entire tier down my throat. Hey, I’d accept cake in the face if Rhodes demanded it.

That’s going a bit far .

Nah, anything for him .

When my mate returned, he had two plates and forks. We sat and ate, but I didn’t taste it since my gaze was fixed on his mouth while he licked the frosting from his lips. My length engorged, and I was glad I was seated with a crisp linen napkin over my lap. I thanked the universe for that one favor.

“More?”

I wanted much more than to watch him eat, but he jerked his head at my empty plate. Did I finish it? I had no memory of that.

People were slow dancing, and Rhodes stared at them and back at me. Was that a signal he wanted to dance? I was no expert, but I could shuffle around the floor and not step on his toes while his body was cradled against mine.

“Would you like to dance?”

His face lit up, and he took my hand, his soft skin resting on mine. Warmth from his body seeped into my own, and I was tempted to bring his palm to my cheek before kissing it.

But he was gazing at the back of my hand. Shit, I’d forgotten the fake tat with the initials, similar to what human teens carved into a tree.

“Who are S.D. and R.J.?”

“It’s a joke. Not real. Got it at a bachelor party and it’s not come off yet.” I made light of it, rolling my eyes and grinning. Rhodes narrowed his gaze but returned my smile, and we wandered onto the dance floor.

We stood, a couple of inches between us, before I slid a hand over his hip and pulled him close. Taking his hand in my other one, I led him around the dance floor as the guests, lights, and furniture blurred.

The music stopped and started again, and we continued dancing. I held Rhodes tight, inhaling his scent. His shoulders were so close I could have bitten him. But that was taking away his autonomy over not only his body but also his future.

I wished the band would continue all night so I could put off the reality of me being a shifter and how we’d hurdle that if we became a couple. There was also the issue of my extracurricular activity, but I’d give that up in a heartbeat. Maybe.

“I can feel your heart,” Rhodes mumbled.

“And what’s it saying?” I pulled back so I could see his expression.

“Not sure.” He took my hand and put it on his chest. “But mine is repeating that I don’t want to say good night.”

His words sparked joy in me, but was it wise to sleep with him when he knew little about my life and who I was?

The wedding party was staying on the estate, and Rhodes showed me his digital room key. He pressed himself on me, his arousal evident. But how could I admit my hair, beard, and mustache were fake? I’d come up with an excuse for the tattoo, but there was no reasonable explanation for fake facial hair.

“I have a breakfast meeting with a client.”

Geez, what sort of excuse was that? I couldn’t see him naked because I needed to get plenty of sleep before meeting a guy who didn’t exist? I half expected Rhodes to walk away, saying, “Maybe we’ll meet again in another twenty years.”

His face fell, and I wanted to take it back. All the words.

“Raincheck?” I whispered.