Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

NOVEMBER

LUNA

“ L una!” Erika cried, when I came to take my shift at the reception desk like I did every Friday afternoon.

“Hey, girl.” I moved to stand behind the computer, but she blocked me from doing so.

“I’m supposed to tell you Master Derek wants to see you in his office before you start your shift.” She grinned at me, but her smile was strained and didn’t quite reach her eyes.

My stomach dropped to my toes, and a wave of nausea overcame me.

Master Derek wants to see you in his office. Nine little words guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of Littles all over the Ranch. It wasn’t just Littles who had that reaction, it seemed.

“Do you know why?” I questioned, my voice way squeakier than it should be.

She shook her head. “He didn’t say. Just asked me to send you in before you started your shift. But I’m sure it’s no big deal, nothing bad.”

That would have been a lot more convincing if he’d asked to see me after my shift ended.

Still swallowing back waves of nausea, I forced a half smile. “Okay, thank you. Should I… go now?”

“Well, yes, I can’t cover you too long.” She smiled. “It’s date night.”

It was cute that she thought I’d be back, the faith in me that she had I wasn’t getting fired and asked to leave the Ranch.

As I forced myself to make my way across the lobby to Master Derek’s office, my brain raced, trying to figure out what I could have possibly done wrong. But all I came up with was minor stuff. Nothing that would get me fired and booted from the Ranch with no warning.

So the voice telling me that’s what was about to happen was likely my anxiety talking.

I didn’t get it often, but even the calmest of people would have it under these circumstances.

If I wasn’t getting fired, why did Master Derek want to see me?

I busied my brain by coming up with possible reasons…

Was it because I’d snuck extra carrots and celery out of the kitchen to take to the petting zoo?

Maybe because of my dance moves while I tried to occupy myself at the check-in desk?

Nah, it had to be because of the hoard of extra cookies I liked to snag on my way out of the cafeteria.

I giggled to myself. None of those were likely to be the case, but at least it was better than thinking I was about to be fired.

When I reached his office, I bypassed Erika’s since she wasn’t in there and instead stood outside the heavy closed door.

Well, shit. I hadn’t expected the door to be closed. What should I do now? Did I just go in because he was expecting me? Poke my head in? Knock?

After momentarily considering, I went with knocking because it was the only thing that felt right.

My small hand looked even smaller against the heavy wooden door. I knocked, frowning when nothing happened. I pressed my ear to the door in case I wasn’t hearing. I’d hate for him to tell me to come in and not hear him.

Still nothing.

I raised my hand to knock again, and just as I did the door swung open, and Derek’s wife Sadie came skipping out, her hair in pigtails, and her pink and purple skirt swinging as she skipped.

She stopped a few feet past me, looked back, and said, “You can go in, Luna. My Daddy is waiting for you.”

Taking a deep breath, I pushed my shoulders back, and tried to keep any signs of nerves from showing. Doms were like bears. Never let them smell fear and poke at your own risk.

Okay, I’d made that up. But it totally made me feel better.

Telling myself it would be fine, I pushed the door open, and poked my head in.

Master Derek was sitting behind his massive desk, stroking his chin as he read a pile of papers in front of him.

“You wanted to see me, Sir?”

He looked up with a wide smile. “Luna! Yes, come in, come in.”

Phew. At least he seemed his usual jovial self and looked happy to see me. That was a good sign.

Smiling to myself, and only a little nervous now, I made my way into the room and took a seat in one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.

I crossed one leg over the other and folded my hands in my lap. Then I waited.

After a few seconds that seemed to drag on forever, he laid the paper down, and looked up at me.

“How are you doing, Luna?”

“Erm… fine, Sir.” His easy and casual question ramped up my anxiety once again. To my knowledge, in all the years I’d been here, Master Derek had never called someone into his office just to ask how they were doing, especially not someone who’d been here as long as I had.

“Good, good. How are your studies going? Still working on that psychology degree?”

“Yes, Sir. It’s going pretty well. Only six credits left.”

“Oh, excellent. That’s great.” He waited a beat then asked. “Are you finding time for yourself to have a little fun outside of your studies and work?”

What the…? This was getting weirder and weirder. I had no idea where this could be going. “Am I in trouble?” I finally blurted, unable to handle the strange line of questioning any longer.

The usually unrufflable owner of the Ranch, looked suddenly taken aback. “What? No, of course not. Why would you think that?”

Well, I now felt very stupid. “I don’t know, Sir. I’m not usually just called into your office, and you haven’t yet told me why I’m here, and you’re asking me lots of questions, but I’m not really sure why, or where this is going.”

“Oh.” Derek grinned, smoothing his bolo tie. “No, Luna, you’re not in trouble. Quite the contrary.”

Oh thank god. I was sure my relief was tangible. “Sir?” I questioned, fully ready for him to get to the point.

“Well, Luna, Professor Rogers is wanting to start a book club on campus.”

“Oh! That sounds fun! But wait…” I frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Well, see… he thinks it will be more popular if it’s led by a student and not a professor. He asked me if there were any students who I thought would be a good fit, and naturally, I thought of you. You’re a big reader, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Sir.” I nodded eagerly. And I was just about to say yes when a thought occurred to me. “But, Sir… why didn’t he just ask Emily?” Emily was my old suitemate, Professor Rogers’ wife and a way more voracious reader than I was.

“Well, you see, Emily isn’t a student. And Professor Rogers didn’t want there to be any accusations of favoritism,” he answered smoothly.

“Oh, right.” I nodded. “I guess the answer is yes, then. I’d be honored. I’ll do it.” I quickly accepted, then faltered. “I mean as long as it doesn’t conflict with my classes or work hours.”

“Professor Rogers was thinking Sunday afternoons, late afternoon, like the hour before dinner is served, in the library. Starting next week when the University goes on winter break. Would that work for you?”

“Yes, Sir. It would. I accept.” I leaned forward to shake his hand across the desk but paused before I got that far. “Is the book club open to anyone?”

“Yes, I believe so, but it will probably mostly be students. Professor Rogers is offering extra credit to students of his that participate.”

“Right. Okay. That makes sense.” I shook his hand for real this time, thanked him for thinking of me and for the opportunity, and left his office smiling.

It wasn’t until an hour later when I was checking in a guest that it occurred to me that anyone actually meant “anyone”.

Drake loved reading.

But he wouldn’t have any interest in going to a book club, would he?