Chapter 7
Major would give anything to be alone with Tabitha, but since that couldn’t happen, he was determined to at least show her in small ways how much he cared for her.
Having Florence bake her a cake was one of those ways.
When he returned from his task, his mood lightened when Tabitha met him by the door.
“Thank you for asking Florence to bake me a cake.” Tabitha ran her hand down his arm. “That was sweet.”
“You’re welcome. I hope we share many more cakes together.” Major opened the door, and Tabitha stepped into the kitchen.
Major walked over to where Florence made the final pass with the icing. “Florence, thank you for this. It looks delicious.”
“It was my pleasure. Now that it’s finished, I’m going to my room and call my Rhett. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
“Good night,” they responded in unison.
Major gestured Tabitha closer. When she was next to him, he lowered his lips to her ear. “Will you be my Valentine?”
Tabitha shivered as his warm breath ghosted her skin. “If you’ll be mine.”
Instead of getting carried away, Major grabbed two small plates from the cabinet and cut them both a piece. If they were alone, he would have shared one plate with her, feeding her bites. They silently enjoyed the sweet treat, sneaking glances at each other, grinning like teenagers.
Tabitha’s phone pinged, and when she read the text, she let out a whoop. Pushing the phone across the island, Major read the message.
Wonder twin: We got him. I wish you could have been here, but you’ll be proud to know Mom hit him with two paralyzing arrows, allowing us all to get a swipe in.
Harlow, being her usual badass self, ripped his heart out.
We can rest easy now, and Elle and I can get on with our lives.
Celebration party at the DuBois manor. I really wish you were here.
Tabitha took her phone back and typed out a message. When she was finished, Major held up a hand, and Tabby gave him a high five. “What is it with your Clan ripping hearts out?” he whispered.
Tabitha shrugged. “I’d have done worse if I’d have been there.”
“Ouch. What’s worse than that?”
Before she could answer, Perry appeared in the doorway. “Is that cake?” he asked, rubbing his stomach.
Major didn’t want to share Tabitha’s treat, but he couldn’t explain why without giving away their relationship.
Not that a couple couldn’t be good at their job working together, but Mason wasn’t aware of them being mates.
Maybe Major was getting ahead of himself, but he considered Tabby his. “It is.”
“So, what was the emergency this time?” Perry helped himself to a hefty slice.
Not knowing who ordered the drugs, Major lied. “Same kids as earlier. They won’t be tripping the alarm again. I had a long talk with the parents.”
“Good. The studio is ready to move ahead with wardrobe fittings and running through the script to begin with. The studio won’t lose many more days.”
“And that’s at Stone Mountain, correct?”
“Yes. The park will be closed to the public, and everyone will have to show their badge to be allowed in. There’s a large security company the studio hires for each film, and they’ll handle all non-essential personnel.
Craig and Trista’s trailers are already there, so they will be onsite for the duration of filming in this area. ”
“Where are we supposed to sleep?” Major asked.
“You and Tabitha have your own trailers, and they’ll be set up next to the actors’.”
“What about food? Is Florence going too?”
“No. There’s a food service that is hired out by the studio who has been vetted. They provide meals for all the movies filmed in this area. You’ll eat when your client does. Sleep when they sleep. You’re basically Craig’s shadow twenty-four seven.” He snorted. “Good luck with that.”
“I take it you’re not a fan of Craig?”
Perry looked behind himself toward the doorway.
“Not really. He thinks his shit don’t stink.
I can’t stand to listen to him and Trista run lines.
She’s been in as many films as he has, and yet he never fails to critique her.
He’s also mad that she gets to do some of her own fight scenes.
He says it’s because he’s afraid she’ll get injured and delay shooting, but I think it’s because he isn’t allowed to do any of his own, since he has the coordination of a newborn giraffe. ”
Tabitha slammed her hand over her mouth and turned away.
“Well, Tabby did put him on his ass when they sparred, so maybe you’re not wrong.”
“Oh, I wish I could’ve seen that. I bet he didn’t take it well.”
Tabitha turned back around, and her smirk was wicked.
“He didn’t. He said it was because he didn’t want to hurt me.
I told him I had trained my whole life with all my cousins, males included, and he refused to go again after the second time I put him on the floor.
Damn, I probably shouldn’t share that with you. It’s unprofessional.”
Perry waved his fork in the air. “Don’t worry about it. There are no secrets in Hollywood. Everyone talks, so unless your reputation is squeaky clean, you’re going to be gossiped about.”
“Who’s gossiping?” Daniel asked, entering the kitchen wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He stared at the cake for a second, then continued to the back door, looking outside.
Perry licked his fork, eyeing the cake. Shrugging, he cut another piece. “Tabitha was asking about Rylan Shaw, but then she mentioned I probably shouldn’t gossip,” he lied.
Major wanted to cut Perry’s hand off for taking more of Tabitha’s cake. Instead, he took their empty plates and put them in the dishwasher after placing the dome over the cake stand.
Daniel glanced over his shoulder. “I take it since you’re all standing around, there wasn’t a threat outside?”
“It was the teens again.” Major didn’t expound. He didn’t want to talk further with either manager. He wanted to get Tabitha alone, and that wouldn’t happen if the two males were engaged in conversation. It was early, and he didn’t know their sleep schedules.
“Is anyone up for a game of poker? I saw the table downstairs,” Perry asked.
Daniel stepped away from the door. “Nah. I’m going to use the gym equipment. Besides, Craig threatened to cut my nuts off if I lose any more money gambling.”
Once Daniel was down the stairs to the basement, Perry muttered, “That won’t be the only reason.”
“What was that?” Tabitha asked.
“Oh, nothing. How about it? You two up for some cards?”
“No, thank you. We’re on the clock,” Major responded for both of them.
“Yeah, I figured as much. Drinking and watching the stars it is.” Perry polished off his second slice of cake, put his dirty plate in the dishwasher, and disappeared into the den where the bar was located. A few minutes later, he returned with a full glass of clear liquor and headed outside.
Major inclined his head toward the den where they would have a modicum of privacy.
He reached out to sense where Trista and Craig were.
Trista was silent, but the whir of a white noise machine sounded from upstairs.
Now would be the perfect time to voice Craig, but he was upstairs in his room talking softly to someone, so Major only listened long enough to ensure he wasn’t putting them all at risk.
Tabitha walked over to the wet bar and held up the whiskey. Being shifters, they couldn’t get drunk as their metabolism burned through the alcohol quickly. “Small glass,” he said. She poured him a generous portion instead and helped herself to the tequila.
She handed Major’s glass over and took a sip of hers. “I’m surprised Daniel’s working out since he was smoking weed earlier.”
“Maybe that’s his compromise. Like drinking a diet soda with a double cheeseburger.”
Tabitha grinned before getting serious. “Or maybe that was his warm-up before getting the harsher drugs.”
“I guess we’ll find out if he’s the one who goes looking for the box. What did Mason say when you called him?”
“To try and find out who ordered the drugs. He’s going to call Everett.
” Everett Murdock was a detective with Atlanta PD, and he was also a Gargoyle.
“Mason wants to know without a doubt who bought them. It could cause trouble for everyone, especially if they were dropped off here for someone who lives in one of the other houses.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“I texted the Trio with the name Corvus to see if they could match it to any of the owners in the neighborhood.” Tabitha held out her glass and tapped it to his. “Thank you again for asking Florence to bake me a cake. That was sweet.”
“Literally,” Major joked. Tabitha rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, so Major closed the distance between them. “I was serious when I asked you to be my Valentine.” He tucked a strand of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear, then traced the shell with his fingertip.
“I was serious too. You’re quite the catch, Mr. Lazlo.”
Now wasn’t the right time for this particular discussion, but fuck it. Major couldn’t wait any longer to know. “Can I ask you a serious question?”
Tabitha held up a finger and downed her tequila. “Shoot.”
“Am I your mate, or are you just enjoying time with me until you find him?”
Her eyes widened, and Major held his breath. She took his still full glass from him and set it on the bar. Then she grasped both his hands and stared up at him. “You are my mate.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Do you not want—”
Tabitha released one of his hands so she could press her fingers to his lips. “Oh, I do. I really do, but Gryphons don’t have fated mates, and I didn’t want you to feel like you had no choice but to accept me as yours.”