Final Incident The Best Laid Plans
Seven years later
Ross walked out of the Morganstein CPA office building with a sigh.
It was something of a standard in this day and age, to have two jobs.
Ross might be the only one insane enough to do it just because he wanted to, not because finances demanded it of him.
But after spending nearly six years getting a degree, he’d wanted to use the damn thing. Sue him.
Or at least, that had been his thought when he’d graduated. But it turned out forensic accounting was even more boring in real life than it had been in school—who’da thunk—and doing that part time while working for the clan full time was taking a toll on Ross.
Something had to give. He’d prefer it not be his sanity, please and thank you. Which was why he’d given his two weeks’ notice today. His boss had offered a raise and pleaded with him to stay full time, drop the other job. Ross had very politely turned him down.
As much as the clan drove him nuts, that was where his priorities really lay. Them. Not a job that required he sit in a cubicle and stare at a screen until his eyes crossed.
But that onerous job was done. The weekend stretched out ahead of him invitingly.
It was Friday night, and if things went well, he might be able to get Glenn alone for a little romantic time.
They hadn’t seen much of each other the past two weeks, their schedules not really overlapping. Ross intended to change that.
The one thing he would not risk was his relationship with Glenn. He wouldn’t lose that man just because he’d gotten sucked into work and insanity. And quitting a job he didn’t really enjoy was a small sacrifice to pay.
He slung himself into his SUV, pulling his tie off and breathing deeply. It always felt so good to take that thing off. Better.
His phone pinged as he put it into the holder.
Glenn: Out of work?
A smile on his face, Ross typed back, I am. What’s up?
Dinner out?
Oooh. Dinner outside meant no interruptions from clan mates. Maybe Ross could get a little game on. Drag Glenn to a hotel for some fun sexy times. Dinner out sounded FANTASTIC.
There was glee in his heart as he answered, Yes. ETA fifteen.
See you soon, then.
Ross nearly put the phone back and drove home. Then thought better of it. He sent a message through the clan’s group chat.
If anyone interrupts us tonight, I will personally murder them, bury them out in the woods, and put an endangered plant on their graves.
All he got back was laughing emojis.
He’d warned them. Ignoring that warning would be their problem, not his.
Ross was a happy little clam as he drove home. He missed Glenn fiercely sometimes. Even though they now lived together, they were on entirely different sleep schedules. He didn’t get as much one-on-one with his handsome lover as he would like.
Two more weeks, he promised himself as he navigated through the city streets. Two more weeks of this crazy living alone together situation, and then he could adjust back to Glenn’s sleep schedule. That would be so much better.
He hadn’t told Glenn he was doing this, quitting the job.
Ross had wanted to make that decision on his own, and honestly, after the shit-show that was this week, it was an easy decision to make.
It was why he was doubly glad he and Glenn were going for dinner tonight.
It would give them the privacy necessary to talk about it.
That, and possibly turning Ross. Fiadh had been nosing around more recently, not just showing up once a year and threatening to turn him.
Now she was coaxing him along as if needing to seduce him over to the idea of becoming a vampire.
It wasn’t actually necessary anymore. Ross hadn’t wanted to look permanently twenty-one, was all.
Now that he was twenty-eight, he felt far more comfortable in his own skin.
This felt like the right age to be turned.
Besides, his mother had gotten turned years ago and loved it. If he didn’t act fast, he’d catch up to her in age, and just the idea of that made him shudder right down to his dark soul. No, thank you.
And he didn’t want Glenn going into the future without him there. They were wholly committed to each other, and Ross needed to step up his game to make sure it stayed that way.
As he drove into the clan’s territory, he spied Glenn waiting at the tail end of the Aston, lounging against it like a car model waiting for a photographer to show up.
He wore his favorite suit, the dark blue navy that fit his body to a tee, and Ross perked up seeing that.
Whenever Glenn wore that suit, something special usually followed.
Maybe he, too, was of the opinion that he and Ross needed some time together.
Ross parked the SUV and left it with a bounce in his stride that had not been there twenty minutes ago. He leaned into his lover’s arms and kissed Glenn hello. It was meant to be a chaste greeting, but when Glenn responded in that slow, sultry way of his, Ross melted right into it.
Part of Ross was still stunned. Seven years together with this man.
Before Glenn, he’d never managed even six months with a person.
But as familiar as it was, to have Glenn in his arms, the relationship felt new.
Every day, he learned more about this man, and his love changed for him.
It became deeper, truer, gained whole new dimensions he’d never foreseen.
Because of that, he fell in love with Glenn all over again in new ways.
Wonderfully, fantastically, new. And Ross prayed it would always be this way.
Glenn pulled back, his expression soft. “You tempt me, a stór, but we’ve reservations.”
“Reservations, I see.” Ross slid his hands up the man’s chest, felt the quiver as Glenn sucked in a sharp breath. He did actually want to go to dinner. He just couldn’t help but tease, too. “And after our reservations, maybe a hotel? Because I want absolutely no interruptions tonight.”
“On that,” Glenn growled, eyes sharp, “we heartily agree. Come, let’s go before we’re late.”
A quick getaway was always a good plan in this clan. Ross slid into the passenger seat without protest.
Glenn lost no time in doing the same on the opposite side and gunning the engine, taking them quickly out of the neighborhood.
They talked of inconsequential things on the ride to the restaurant. That was fine with Ross. He didn’t have anything to prove to this man. He just wanted to sit and be with Glenn for a while. Telling his news would be better face-to-face, when Glenn could focus on him.
The restaurant was a favorite of Ross’s, an upscale Japanese cuisine that always hit the right spot on his tastebuds. His mouth was in agreement with stomach that Glenn had chosen the right place tonight.
They were promptly seated, and not on their usual side of the restaurant, but on the left.
It was more private here, the lighting a bit more mellow, which suited Ross’s mood right down to the ground.
After today, he was peopled out. He just wanted Glenn’s attention, some good food, and no one else pressing in on them.
A server swooped by to take drink orders. Glenn requested a fine bottle of wine before focusing on Ross.
“I’ve news for you,” Ross informed him, relaxing by degrees.
“Oh? I’ve something to tell you, as well.” Glenn reached for his hand and grasped it on top of the table in a warm brush of fingers. A mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes. “I doubt you can top mine, so you go first.”
Ross somehow doubted that, but he was very curious now about what his lover had up his sleeve. “I quit my job today.”
Glenn startled, golden eyes flaring wide. “Why? I thought you wanted to work for a while longer.”
“Hmm, it was really a couple of reasons. One, I’m tired of not seeing you much day to day. Our schedules only overlap about three hours, and with the demands of the clan pressing on me, I barely spend any of that time with you.”
Glenn melted right in front of his eyes. “A stór…thank you. I’ve felt the lack of your companionship keenly these past few months. But I didn’t want to hamper your goals. Are you sure of this? You worked so hard to attain that degree.”
“And I have no doubt it will be useful in its own ways moving forward. But I’ve learned that working in a cubicle farm isn’t where I want to be for hours every week.
And they keep pressuring me at work to go full time, which I really can’t do.
My clan is my family, and they deserve more of my time and attention.
” Ross shook his head, firm on this point.
“I’ve done what I wanted to do. I got to use my degree and gain experience in the field.
I’ve worked for them over a year now. I’m good.
Two weeks from now, I’ll be done and I can go back to your and the clan’s schedule. ”
Glenn lifted up enough to kiss Ross over the small round table, mouth lingering. “I love you. Thank you for putting me as your priority.”
“I always will.” Ross kissed him back, smiling. “Now, you said something about topping my news. Let’s hear it.”
Glenn didn’t seem at all worried about winning this competition. In fact, his mischief was back in full force. He returned in his seat, reaching for the inside of his coat pocket. “Oh, I can top—”
He stopped mid-sentence, head swinging toward the front doors of the restaurant.
Ross realized he’d heard something odd too. He turned in his chair to look, wondering what the commotion was. A lot of panicked yelling was coming from the front of the restaurant.