The Wallflower Mate

24

"Did you have lunch yet?" Abraham inquired.

"Food is the last thing on my mind, Abe," Ryker muttered.

"But you need a break." Abraham started putting the evidence and sketches away. Ryker looked at his brother while he put things away. He needed to step away. Staring at the same thing for three hours wasn't giving him any answers.

After the brothers packed and locked away the papers, they headed for Easton's restaurant. They got there a little after noon. The restaurant was as busy as usual in the late afternoon.

Ryker's eyes flickered to the door that led to the kitchen. Mary was behind that door. He could see her sweating away in the kitchen with a driven focused. Last night, Mary saw through a part of him. He felt exposed. Instead of being afraid though, he let go.

I'm with you.

Whatever was happening to him, he had no control over. Ryker was slipping fast, and it rattled him.

Deep in thought, he was a little late in catching movement to his right. Easton stood at their table with their order. Usually, Easton would greet them with a positive air. Today, however, he looked a little displeased to see them.

Ryker looked up and saw that Easton was already looking at him.

"Alpha," he greeted with a quipped tone.

Easton placed the plates onto the table.

"Where is Mary?" Abraham asked out of curiosity.

"She's in the kitchen."

With that, Easton turned and walked back to the kitchen. Leaving Abraham a little puzzled at Easton's reaction.

Jutting a finger towards Easton direction, Abraham spoke, "What's his problem?"

Ryker didn't respond, but he had a feeling that Easton wasn't too please with him. Obviously, Easton was showing a bit of jealousy and possessiveness that Abraham didn't catch right away. Ryker didn't appreciate the slight challenge. Indirect, but obvious regardless.

Abraham and Ryker had just started eating their meal when, again, a flash of a white coat caught their attention. Both of them looked up from their plate to look at who stood next to their table.

Mary had another two more plates. Her eyes were soft like pillowy clouds and her slightly parted lips curved into a warm smile. Ryker's gut twisted with instantaneous need. He remembered those lips. They touched the skin of his neck, latched onto his neck, and drove him insane with dominating need.

"I heard you two were here. Try this new dish. Easton taught me a few tricks." She placed the dishes in front of them.

Suddenly, Abraham was coughing and choking on his steak. Obviously, Abraham has caught a whiff of Ryker's scent on her body because his red, tear-stained eyes quickly flew to Ryker before he grabbed his glass of water and chugged it down.

"Jesus, Mary," Abraham growled.

"What?" Mary, obviously not realizing that she probably smelled of Ryker.

"You smell—" Ryker kicked Abraham under the table. He made an 'oof' sound before he groaned in pain.

"Are you alright?"

"He's fine," Ryker interjected. He pulled Mary's plate closer for a closer examination.

Mary pinched her chef's jacket between her fingers and took a sniff. "Do I smell?"

"You smell like you've been in the kitchen cooking all kinds of different dishes," Abraham lied through his teeth.

Ryker took a bite of Mary's dish. He could taste the subtle corn flavor mixed with bacon and subtle spices of the shrimp. Mary waited for Ryker's reaction. After his first taste, he nodded his approval.

"It's delicious," he replied.

Mary broke into a gorgeous smile.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm learning so much from Easton. He's an amazing chef. He's very patient and generous with me. It's kind of funny. The way he cooks differs completely from mine, but when we cook together, it's like a perfect symphony of flavors," she chuckled while shaking her head.

Ryker pushed Mary's plate away. Abraham's eyes moving from Ryker to the plate before returning to his brother. Picking up his fork, he poked a shrimp and scooped up some grits before bringing it to his mouth to taste.

"You should come cook for me every day, Mary," Abraham smirked, "But I have a feeling that Easton may not like that idea. I know him very well and he doesn't like many people. People find him intimidating, but it looks like you get along very well with him. Losing you might be hard on him."

"He's very sweet," Mary replied.

From Ryker's peripheral vision, he saw Easton stepping out of the kitchen before locating Mary. Immediately, he headed in her direction. Something ugly was growing inside Ryker. He shifted in his seat and picked up his glass of water to chug down. Abraham watched his brother swallow his jealousy before Ryker slammed the glass onto the table rudely.

Easton touched Mary's shoulder. It was a gentle touch—one that merely directed her attention back to him.

"Easton, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you alone in the kitchen," Mary apologized.

"All is fine. The orders have stopped briefly, which was why I stepped out to check on you."

Easton stepped a little too close to Mary for Ryker's liking, but Mary was an unmated female. It allowed her to be courted by more than one male. Was that reason enough for Ryker to clamp down his rising territorial urges?

No.

Easton's actions were evident, even if Mary didn't understand. He was asserting his courtship intentions in front of them, completely disregarding their titles or the fact that Ryker was his superior and he should be afraid.

Ryker felt his control slipping when Easton placed both his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him in his arms. Jerking up into a standing position, he surprised everyone at the table.

"I have some errands to run." Ryker nearly growled his displeasure.

Mary grabbed onto Ryker's forearm before he could run off.

"You haven't finish your food," she said with a confused frown.

"I'll be fine. I remember Alexei needed me to look over the new shipments of seeds."

With that quick response, Ryker left Mary behind. Uncaring if Abraham followed. Once he was outside, he broke into a run. Something to vent his frustration and kill the jealousy that was pitting his stomach.

When he arrived at the greenhouse, Ryker felt his animalistic instincts tampering down. His mind was a little clearer.

Ryker thought about Easton and Mary. The thought of the two together put an unsettling feeling in his stomach and in his chest. Pulling at the vegetables and tilling to the dirt. He yanked a vegetable a little too hard when an image of Easton having his arms around Mary. Growling, he wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his gloved hand.

Ryker worked away for hours. Trying to get rid of all emotions and feelings. Trying to find the peace that he usually has when he worked in the greenhouse.

Then Ryker heard a door squeaking open. He looked towards the entrance and to find Mary. She stood there in her chef's jacket. Her hair up into a ponytail. Her eyes swept across the greenhouse until it founded Ryker, kneeling in the dirt and staring at her. Ryker's eyes dipped lower to her hands. She was holding onto a basket.

"Hi," she said nervously.

Ryker spent hours in the greenhouse trying to not think about her, but all it did was make him want her closer.

Now that she was here, he was speechless and exhausted. But throughout all that, his heart throbbed at the sight of her.