Doubly Protected [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (2 page)

“Dylan was hoping to join us for lunch. Are you okay with that?” Maelor asked.

Hawthorne nodded, but it made her think. How had Maelor known she liked Dylan as well? He was a security guard after all, so likely very observant. Had he seen her looking at the other man? Although she didn’t think she’d been at all obvious. Hell, it wasn’t like she’d even seen Dylan very often. As center manager he was always very busy and his office was usually the scene of endless people coming and going.

Maelor sent off a text message on his cell phone, and then let her lead the way once again. Hawthorne walked very slowly from snack bar to snack bar, looking at the menus, smelling all the wonderful food, and finally choosing a place to sit down in the center of the area, under the glass dome so very far overhead. Being in the light and sunshine was lovely, even though she was still inside.

Dylan joined them and there was a brief conversation about meal choices.

“Hawthorne, you stay here with Dylan. I’ll line up for the food.”

“Thank you.” At first she was surprised, and then she wondered if it was Maelor being so very considerate again. Dylan had been working while she and Maelor had looked around the mall. Was this Maelor ensuring Dylan had a little space alone with her?

He was very thoughtful, but she had no idea whether this part of the day was planned or happenstance.

Likely she was building it all up into something it wasn’t meant to be. Just a couple of friends who needed to eat lunch, not some kind of plan to get to know her better. Just because she was interested in them didn’t mean they had even the slightest bit of interest in her. Nor did it mean that they even liked each other, or, more especially, were prepared to join together and share a woman.
Dammit!

* * * *

Some days Dylan Upjohn felt way older than his twenty-seven years. He’d been center manager of the Hanson Mall now for three years, and it was still as demanding and all-consuming a job as it was when he’d taken over after the retirement of the previous Alpha. The old Alpha had insisted his key leaders also retire when he did, paving the way for the new Alpha, Cadfael Hanson, to introduce the changes he wanted to without having to fight endlessly against the old guard and the way things used to be done. It was just another example of how astute the previous Alpha had been. It had been he who’d moved the pack off the farm and had caused the mall to be built in the first place, ensuring the pack had a viable income and plenty of worthwhile work to do. The good thing about a mall, much like a farm, was that there was a great variety of employment opportunities inside it, so that most people could find something they enjoyed doing and were capable of achieving success in.

Dylan had a degree in business management, a masters in business administration, and a never-ending headache from trying to keep the staff, both human and werewolf, happy and focused on the task of running the mall. Not to mention the needs of the customers, suppliers, buyers…the number of people he had to deal with was about the same as the number of people in the county. He’d also had a permanent hard-on ever since Hawthorne and her older sister had fled to the mall, trying to escape Hawthorne’s abusive ex-boyfriend, who was now in jail on tax fraud, of all things.

“How’s your day been?” he asked Hawthorne, taking a seat beside her at the small table.

“I’m really loving being out of the apartment and walking around in the mall. It seems much longer than just a month since I could go wherever I wanted to. It’s an amazing feeling to know Bailey can’t come after me anymore.”

Dylan smiled at Hawthorne as she waved her hands with every word she spoke. He liked that she was so animated and happy. Her gray eyes sparkled and her hair, dyed brown to make her less conspicuous when she’d first taken refuge at the mall, already had the underlying red starting to shine through once again in the sunlight from the dome.

She was pretty now. Once she washed the brown dye out of her hair she’d be truly stunning again. Her form was slender but with an underlying fitness and strength. He also thought it very likely she burned up a lot of calories because she seemed to be constantly moving around, tapping her fingers and toes, waving her hands, looking everywhere at once. But she wasn’t haunted and tense like before. Her movements now were relaxed and graceful. Dylan knew this was the real Hawthorne Cunliffe, and he was thrilled to be spending a small amount of time with her.

Maelor arrived back with their meals, including a thick slice of chocolate cheesecake, which he placed in front of Hawthorne.

“That looks amazing but I didn’t ask for a dessert.”

“I saw the way you were staring at the chocolate condoms in the adult store. I thought this was a more family-friendly way to get a chocolate fix. Although both Dylan and I will be happy for you to test-drive the other method at any time.”

Dylan tried hard not to laugh at the delightful way her face flamed red, and she waved her hands around before gasping and looking down at the table. Taking pity on her he pushed her soda over toward her so she could take a sip. Then he looked at Maelor, who gave him a thumbs-up sign. Okay so she really had been interested in chocolate-flavored condoms. He must remember to buy a box before the adult store closed for the night.

They talked intermittently about the food as they ate, then Hawthorne surprised him by asking, “How long have you both known each other? Are you friends like Cadfael and Rhion?”

It was obvious she wanted to know if they’d agreed to share a woman, but the answer wasn’t nearly as simple as the question. Since Maelor knew her better than him he raised his eyebrow at Maelor, hoping he’d answer.

“I have heard of at least one other…uh, community, where the men are required to form into partnerships and have a home and everything organized before they locate the woman they want to…uh, marry. But no. It’s only recently that our…uh, Cadfael’s manager, told everyone that such partnerships were not only possible but also welcomed. Our arrangements are much looser than that. Cadfael and Rhion have been best friends for some time and work very closely together and so understand each other very well. There’s no surprises there for them. Others of us are a more loose-knit pair that has agreed if we’re lucky enough to find someone who likes us both. Then we’re willing to work together. Dylan and I both hope that you’re prepared to get to know us better and then see if you could be happy with us.”

By the time Maelor had stumbled his way to the end of the speech Dylan was glad it hadn’t been him answering the question. Maelor had done an excellent job of giving a completely honest answer without using any terms that might cause the customers sitting at the tables around them to prick up their ears. Better than he’d done when he mentioned the adult shop in fact. Not that people attacked adult stores the way they sometimes attacked shape-shifter communities. But then again, most people didn’t think werewolves were real, and he was fine with that assessment. If they didn’t believe he existed, they wouldn’t be trying to kill him.

Hawthorne reached out across the table and patted Maelor’s hand. “I understand. Thank you for sharing.”

Dylan wanted to ask, “So, will you give us a chance?” but wasn’t brave enough right now. Instead he asked, “Hawthorne, what are your plans for the next few days? Now you can go wherever you want to once more.”

“I often used to go for a walk in the evenings after work. I might start doing that again and gradually get to know the neighborhood here. But in the meantime I was thinking of joining the gym here at the mall. I’d planned to go there next and see what kind of equipment they have.”

“A lot more men than women are members, but I know Dakota goes regularly. Do you remember Dakota?” asked Maelor.

“Of course. I met her the day I arrived. She was really helpful. I haven’t really talked to her since that day so it’ll be good to catch up with her again. Are you both finished eating? Can we go to the gym now?”

Dylan ought to go straight back to work. Maelor was off shift right now, but Dylan was supposed to work from eight to six each day. Taking a lunch break was reasonable as long as there were no crises to deal with. Wandering around the fitness center, well, likely he shouldn’t do it. But he did make his rounds visiting the stores sometimes, so too bad. He’d go as far as the door with her at least.

Hawthorne grabbed their trash, dropped it in the trash can, and then they walked to the glass elevator and took it to the fourth level. The Hanson Mall Fitness Center was at the opposite end of the building from the entry to the professional suites, tucked on the sidewall between the cinema and Sam’s Steakhouse.

Dylan couldn’t wait to see what Hawthorne would think of the gym. It had been primarily established so the werewolves would have somewhere suitable to use up their excess energy. Cadfael knew that with too many single young males around, trouble would inevitably occur unless they were able to distract themselves in fun and useful ways. There was plenty of work available at the mall. The gym was to add some fun. It was one of the areas Cadfael had greatly expanded when he became managing director of the mall and Alpha of the pack.

The back wall of the gym had been moved out, enlarging the fitness center to more than twice its original size. A boxing ring, lots more weight and exercise machines, and a lap swimming pool had been added, along with a steam room and an aerobics room. Originally most of the men had sneered at the concept of aerobics classes, until a sexy little wolf had started taking the lessons, and then suddenly they’d become extremely popular.

Maelor swiped open the door to the gym for them and let Hawthorne enter first. Dylan deliberately stood to the side so he could watch her look around.

Andreas, the manager of the fitness center, was on the reception desk as he so often was. He liked to know exactly who was in his gym at all times.

“Hi, Maelor, hi, Dylan, and I’m guessing you’ll be Willow’s sister. You have the same hair and eyes.”

“That’s right. I’m Hawthorne. I don’t have any money right now, but as soon as the house is sold I plan to become a member. Can I please just look around? And maybe take some brochures about the programs and costs?”

“Of course. But since you work here you can start coming as soon as you wish, and we’ll backdate your membership when you actually join up. As a worker at Hanson Mall you get the discount rate. I’m Andreas, the manager. Ask me any questions you want.”

“Thank you.”

Dylan felt jealous of the lovely smile she gave Andreas, and had to prevent himself from snarling and snatching her to himself. Instead, he stayed beside her as she walked through the complex, looking at everything.

“Wow!”

“Wow what?” asked Maelor.

“You’ve got mirrored walls and a sprung floor and everything. That’s awesome. I hope there’s a Zumba class I can join.”

“Zumba?” Maelor looked at Dylan and he shrugged. She might as well have been speaking a foreign language to him. He boxed, used the weights and rowing machines, and occasionally swam. That was the limit of his knowledge about the place.

All he knew was that the more he saw of Hawthorne Cunliffe, the more he wanted to get to know her better. Preferably naked and in his bed. Or in Maelor’s bed. Either would work as long as the three of them were together.

After Maelor and Dylan had walked Hawthorne back to her apartment, Maelor turned to Dylan. “If we want to make her ours we need to talk, and plan, and get our act together. Did you see the look Andreas gave her?”

“Yes, I did. But he’s way too smart to push in on our territory. However, if Hawthorne doesn’t want us, all bets are off. I expect he’ll be after her himself in a heartbeat.”

“Damn straight he will be. That’s why I said we need to—”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you. But I’m way overdue to return from my lunch break. I have to get back to my office. What shift are you on today? Have you finished for the day or what?”

“I’m on early shift this week. Midnight to 8:00 a.m.”

“Well, damn. That’s not going to work. By the time I get off tonight you’ll be asleep getting ready for your shift, and I should be at work at eight when you get off shift.”

“I don’t want to wait a whole week before we talk. I usually get some quiet time to think on this shift. It’s mostly just walking around making sure the cleaning crew is doing its thing and checking that no one is vandalizing the parking lot, or painting graffiti on the building. I’ll drop into your office when I come off shift and maybe we can talk for a few minutes to work out where we go from here. We need to take her out on a genuine date.”

“Maybe we could join her in the Zumba class. If they have one on the weekend that is,” joked Dylan.

At least, Maelor hoped he was joking. For a start, both of them often worked on weekends, and secondly he had no intention of prancing around in some girly dance class. Likely they’d expect him to wear one of those skintight, see-through dance costumes where everyone could see his cock and balls. He wouldn’t even wear one of those for a game in the bedroom, never mind in public.

Maelor was partnered on again with Dakota tonight. Even though he was the head of security, he never interfered with the rosters. They were organized by a computer program that treated everyone equally. He believed in doing the shit shifts as well as the good ones, and partnering with the other guards in rotation helped him get to know them all, their weaknesses, their failings, their strengths, and their personalities. Dakota was a good partner. She was smart and fit, so much so he had trouble remembering that she was both human and female. But she didn’t cause his cock to rise. His admiration, yes. But not his cock.

The shift turned out to be one of those nights where they were constantly on the move. First there were teenagers in the parking lot, using the supermarket trolleys to ride down the ramps like toboggans. Some people might call it harmless fun but the ramps were steep, the teenagers intrepid, and the likelihood someone would fall over the side of the parking lot onto the concrete many feet below too high.