Chapter Twelve – Julius

“Adam, sit down. Coffee?” Julius welcomed Adam into his office. Of course, his young hotel manager had been in here before. But this was a little more formal.

“Yes, please.” Adam undid the button of his suit jacket and sat down. Julius observed how Adam could almost be a younger version of himself. Right down to the style of shoes he wore, which were lovingly polished, if a little worn.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Julius began, placing the coffee cups on the desk, and then going to sit in his comfortable, high-back chair. He’d spent uncountable hours in this office, sitting in this chair, working until he was too tired to think straight, before climbing the stairs to his private apartment.

“Mr. Harrison?” Adam asked.

“Sorry, memories.” Julius smiled. Trying to set a nervous Adam at ease. “As you may have noticed, I’ve met someone.”

Adam’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. Instead, he flicked an invisible piece of fluff off his jacket while he composed himself. “I may have assisted her last night.”

“Ah, that explains it.” Julius leaned forward. “You are a shifter, Adam, it’s one of the reasons I hired you. When we cater to so many guests who come here for recreational activities, I had to employ someone who understood who we are.”

“And I thank you for the privilege, Mr. Harrison.” Adam’s voice flooded with emotion. “I appreciate you taking a chance on me.”

“I saw something in you, there’s no need to deny it. You reminded me of myself.” Julius grew serious. “I’d like to offer you a bigger role in running the hotel. Catherine is my mate. She is the Catherine.” A sweet sensation filled him at those words. “I never thought I’d have the chance to hold her, to make a life with her. But I have been given a second chance, and I aim to take it.”

Adam stood up, his chair rocking back as he straightened his tie. “I will work hard for you, Mr. Harrison. I won’t let you down.”

“I know.” Julius waved for Adam to sit, which he did. “I’m not sure where we plan to live. For now I’ll keep my apartment. But if we choose to live somewhere else, it’s yours.”

“Are you sure?” Adam asked.

“Absolutely.” Julius looked at Adam, saw the man he was, the man he could be. But he didn’t know the man he had been. What Julius had seen in Adam, the part of himself, was the sad part, the lonely part, the part that had been ripped apart and couldn’t quite fit back together the right way. “One promise you will make me, Adam.”

“Anything.” Adam’s eyes narrowed, as he focused on Julius.

“If you find your mate, if you have the chance to find happiness with a wife and a family, you will take it. Don’t let the hotel be your mistress.”

Adam looked down at his hands, his thumb digging into the palm of his hand. A coping mechanism, a way to control the pain. Julius recognized it, and his heart ached for this young man and the loss he’d experienced. “That won’t be an issue, Mr. Harrison. My chance for a wife and children has already passed me by.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” Adam rose, his manner calm, collected. “I won’t let you down.”

“Thank you, Adam. We’ll spend the next few weeks figuring it all out. A substantial raise will be in order, of course.”

“It’s not about the money,” Adam replied.

“I understand.” Julius watched Adam leave his office, and wished he could do something to help him. But if he’d lost his mate, what was there to do? Julius knew the pain only too well.

He sat back in his comfortable chair and smoothed his hand across the solid wood desk. Then he got up and went up to his apartment to change into jeans and a sweater. He hung his suit up next to his other suits. All matching. His life before Catherine had been dull and boring, though he’d pretended it had purpose.

Only with hindsight could he see he was attempting to plug a bottomless void, which only his mate could fill.

With thoughts of his mate uppermost in his mind, he left the hotel and drove to Bear Creek. He wanted to see Cath, to check that she was OK. Did she have regrets about last night? She certainly had none when she left this morning. He recalled her smile, the way she walked, the way she smelled.

He was in love.

When he reached Bear Creek, he headed for Liam’s store. Perhaps he should have called or texted ahead, but he wanted to surprise her. He should buy flowers.

“Hi, Julius!” Liam called. He was cleaning the windows of the store as Julius passed by.

“Hi, Liam. Is Catherine home?” Julius asked hopefully.

“No. She’s still out with Sandra. They went to visit Will Frasier.” Liam threw the wet sponge in a bucket and dried his hands on an old towel.

“Of course. I forgot.” Julius recalled the conversation they’d had this morning, but in the afterglow of sex, it had passed straight through his head.

“She’ll be back soon. Do you want to wait inside?” Liam thumbed toward the store.

“I was on my way to buy her some flowers,” Julius admitted.

“Come and have a coffee first, I’d like to have a talk with you while Mom isn’t around.” Liam picked up the bucket and went inside.

“Is everything OK?” Julius asked, nervous of what Liam had to say. Cath’s son seemed sensible, so he wasn’t expecting the don’t hurt my mom speech. But you could never tell. Liam was bound to be hugely protective of his mom.

“Yes.” Liam led the way to the small kitchen adjoining the store, where he emptied the bucket and washed his hands. “Mom’s happy. I just wanted you to know. She’s suffered a lot over the years, and she wants to embrace the relationship you two have. But she’s scared.”

Straight to the point, he liked Liam even more. “I love her, Liam. I’ll give her all the time and support she needs. No pressure.”

“That’s all she needs. Time to see a new life, a new future.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t remember him. Mom hardly ever spoke of him. I don’t know what kind of a man he was. I wish I did so I could offer you some advice.”

Julius smiled, his admiration for Liam growing. “I appreciate your honesty. I’ve waited long enough for my Catherine, I can wait a little longer to put a ring on her finger.”

“And if that doesn’t happen?” Liam asked.

“We’re joined by a deeper bind than marriage, you know that. Wedding or no wedding, you would still be bound to Beverly.”

“I would,” Liam agreed.

“How do you feel about your dad?” Julius asked.

Liam gave him a lopsided smile. “Mostly I want to wring his neck. He hurt my mom. I don’t remember my dad, but I do remember the sound of my mom lying awake at night crying. For a long time she never laughed. Then as Mike and I grew up, she kind of blossomed, threw herself headfirst into raising us. It’s why I could wring Mike’s neck too. After all she did for us, he betrayed her.”

“I want to make her laugh, Liam. I want to take away the pain and betrayal she felt over your dad. But I know it’s what makes us who we are.” He looked up at the sound of the door opening: he could sense Catherine, she was close. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m happy with that as long as Catherine is.”

Liam nodded. “I could call you Dad.” He gave Julius a smirk. “One day.”

“I’d be honored.” Julius nodded and added, “I’m going to sneak out through the back door and buy those flowers.”

“Good idea.” Liam opened the door for Julius and then closed it again, leaving Julius to mull over their conversation while he ran down to the florist and bought red roses for his true love.