Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

" N ice to meet you, Dan." Tyler shook hands with his new manager, incredibly tickled that the man had shown up, that he was dressed well, friendly, and seemed smart and enthusiastic.

"Pleased, sir. What a great location. Seriously. It's in a perfect place."

"Yeah. Yeah, it's good for the workers, too, since nights and weekends are short, light shifts. Breakfast and lunch are great tips too. Now, I know you're familiar with the basic setup of every Rocky Mountain Java."

Soon they were up and running, and this kid knew his shit. Before any time had passed, the jacket was off, the sleeves were rolled up, and Dan was helping out.

The baristas all seemed to like him, and Tyler headed back to his office, leaving them to it. He wanted to text Reed.

Two weeks, tops, and he'd be on his way back to Colorado.

How's it going, love? He'd urged Reed to quit a few days ago, but there was some big event coming up. Reed didn't want to leave anyone hanging, he said.

I hate everyone and everything but you.

Uh-oh.

That was a bad day happening. What's wrong?

His phone rang, and he answered. "Hey. I'm running. I've been to the jewelers, three designers, five bakeries, and I haven't had lunch. Every time I stop, someone sends me somewhere else."

"Text the admin. Tell her you're taking lunch, turn off your phone, and come meet Dan."

"Do you think I could? I'd love to sit a minute, meet the new guy."

"Yes. I think they're doing this to you because you've been coming to work on time and leaving on time and not jumping when they say how high."

Reed's warm chuckle told him he was on the right track. "Can I have lunch when I get there? I'm so hungry. My stomach is snarling."

"I will make you something yummy." Reed was okay except for first thing in the morning. Tyler knew he worried he was gaining weight, but he thought Reed was stunning. He was so perfect it hurt.

"I'll see you at twelve thirty. Promise. Love you, bear."

"Love you. Turn off your phone after you text in." He was learning Reed just had to set firm boundaries. The boss would just keep pushing and pushing if Reed allowed him to. But if Reed pushed back, he was surprised enough to respect it.

"Right? See you soon!" Reed was laughing as he hung up the phone.

So much better. He felt like a hero or something, making his lover smile. Tyler headed out front, looking for the makings of an epic sammy.

"What's up, boss?" Dan asked as he wandered by.

"My omega mate is coming for lunch. I need to make him something really good." He grinned at Dan. "Been a tough day."

Dan pushed up his sleeves. "Leave it to me. I saw some honey ham."

"Oh, do we have one of those big croissants?"

"We do. Does he like swiss?"

"Do we have something milder? Like provolone?"

Dan gave him a shrewd look, but never said a word. He could be friends with this guy. "We do. I'll even put the garden on the side so he can decide what he wants. Fruit salad on the side?"

"You're a genius, man."

"Nah, just your average nurturing wolf shifter." Dan winked. "And I knew a few bears once."

"He's having my cub. I'm over the moon." Reed wasn't a secret, and neither was their baby.

"Congratulations, man! I'm giving Valleywood some good years, but ten years down the road? I can see me wanting an omega, male or female I'm not picky, of my own." Dan started making the perfect sandwich.

"Yeah, I hear you. In ten years, you could have a franchise of your own."

"You think so?" Dan beamed. "I felt like I needed to step up. Seattle was nice, but it was… No one was noticing me."

"My brother did, so good job. And I have nothing but good things to say." It was true. Dan was just what they needed at Rocky Mountain Java.

"Excellent. I want to make this work. I need to make a splash, you know?"

"There you go." He started making up a tea with honey. Coffee was off the table. Not because it made Reed sick, but because it wasn't great for the baby. He'd switch Reed to decaf tea soon, too, but he was easing his mate off gradually.

The last thing he wanted was a grumpy mate.

He grinned and checked the time. Four minutes. "I'll take that into my office. Thanks, Dan. You were a huge help."

"Here, Boss," Lorrie said. "Have a honeybun for Reed. We'll bring a sammy for you too."

"Of course!" Dan grabbed another croissant.

"You're good to me." He headed into the office and cleaned up his desk so Reed could have lunch with him.

He wanted to just call Reed's boss and tell him he quit. That was a little too alpha, he supposed. Too presumptive. But they needed to settle this soon.

He wanted to go home. Take his little bear to the mountains, meet Reed's mother, introduce Reed to his people.

He wanted Reed in his house, making it theirs. Tyler knew Reed would have so many ideas to take it from a bachelor pad to a home. His sweet love…

And the company would benefit from Reed's organization and care. He knew Reed would find what he wanted there, what he'd been hunting in Valleywood and not found.

Reed would be important, necessary, cared for, and respected. Not only that, they would be together, back in the mountains, back home.

He found himself making notes to start calling. His brother. His folks. His personal assistant. His planner was full by the time Reed came in carrying a plate.

"Hey, bear. I come bearing amazing sandwiches of joy. Dan seems really nice!" Reed looked exhausted but happy to see him. "They said this was yours. Or mine." Reed gave him a loving grin.

Tyler bounced up to take the plate from Reed and set it on the desk so he could take a kiss. He hoped it curled his mate's toes and took his breath just like it did Tyler's.

"Mmm… Mate." Reed hummed and leaned into him. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too. I was longing to see you." He patted that wonderful, round ass. He did love it so. "Come have a sit, love. You look run off your feet."

"I am. I need to buy new pants soon, bear. Soon. Between the food and the cub."

"I know. We'll get you some comfy ones." He waited to spring what he really wanted to talk on though. Reed needed to decompress for a moment.

"Elastic waistbands." Reed rubbed his belly, and the smile was utterly blissful.

"You know it. Soft fabric." His mate and his baby. Tyler was over the freaking moon.

"Yes. Room for this little one to grow. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"

"I can see the happiness in both," Tyler said, grinning at the thought of a boy with his eyes, a girl with Reed's. "One of each would be fine too."

"Yeah? You want more?" Reed gave a soft little sound. "I want… Do you think it's silly to—I mean, I really want to…"

"What? To want a big family? I come from huge one. So I think it's grand." Was he putting words in Reed's mouth? He didn't want to, but he wanted that whole thing so much.

"I always said I was going to go be someone fierce, you know? This high-powered professional in the city, and I haven't been successful or happy, and I tried so hard."

"You gave it your best shot." Tyler reached across the table. "When I got out of college, I decided I wasn't going to work with my family. Dad just had one store then, but he had a diner attached to the coffee shop, and I wanted nothing to do with it." He grinned crookedly, and Reed smiled back at him. "I learned I need my family. Their support. I wasn't cut out for having a boss who didn't give a shit what my issues were or how my life was going."

"I just…" Reed sighed for him. "I'm caught in between admitting that my dream to be a huge success in Valleywood is over and wanting to, well, have a new dream that's not as big but will make me happy."

"Of course you are." Tyler fed Reed a bite of sandwich, because damn, it was really yummy. "Even happy change is change. Will you come home with me, though? To Colorado?"

"Do you want me there? Full-time?" Reed's expression was worried, but there was a hunger there, an eagerness.

"I do. I want you to meet my family. I want to spend my days with you as well as my nights."

"They don't need many talent agent assistants in Denver, do they?"

"Not talent, no, but we have a huge moving machine. If you're not careful, you'll end up as Justin's assistant, and he's nuts." Tyler grinned, relief easing his tight shoulders.

"So long as we can travel together with the baby, or whatever. I don't want to be alone for weeks and weeks." That was direct. He approved.

"I promise. If I do on-location training, you come with me." He could absolutely do that. They were a family.

"Okay. I'm willing to work. You know that. I'm good at it, but—I want to be able to raise our family too."

"I know. That's the amazing thing about our business. It's family friendly. We would never want anyone to feel as if they didn't have time." He took Reed's hand. "I want you to come with me. See our home. Prepare for the baby. I want to meet your parents, and I want you to meet mine."

"I'll have to give notice, but that's only two weeks. Maybe less, as many people as would kick me out to get my job."

"We can leave whenever you're ready, little bear. You do what you need to." They could head home tomorrow.

"I will. I just don't want to leave on bad terms. Not for them, but for me."

That made Tyler proud, because Reed was a good man.

"Well then, give your notice, and we'll start packing and tell the apartment you're leaving."

"That's only paid month to month, so they'll be fine with it. Is your manager ready to be on his own?"

"The shop in Seattle was busier. He'll be great. He's got plans for looking into studio accounts."

"I'll give notice this afternoon." Simple as that. Just, "I'll do it."

"That's my bear." He stood to lean over the desk and kiss Reed on the mouth. "Now, eat up."

"The sandwich is perfect, by the way. You know I love a flaky croissant." Reed looked so goddamn happy.

"I do. Dan and I tag-teamed it. He was really listening to me." He was babbling. It didn't matter. All he needed right now was that blissed-out expression on Reed's face, that loving little glance he got over the sandwich.

He couldn't wait until tonight.

He would be picking his mate up and taking him to the hotel for their first night of forever, for sure.