always one more thing we had to talk about. Rowan had confessed last week that he was glad Dakota wasn’t the jealous type and hadn’t objected to our friendship.
I was too.
But so far things had been going well and we’d even had dinner a few times together. Of course, that had Dakota complaining that I was turning him into an extrovert who did nothing but have dinner with people. His complaints had been mostly for show, though, because he’d been the one to ask Rowan when he wanted to get together again.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I pulled into the parking lot and saw Dakota and his friends just standing around talking with the alphas waiting by the door. From the number of cars by the building, the prospective employees were all inside, probably wondering where their potential employers were.
Parking and turning off the car, I climbed out and headed over. Dakota gave me a distracted smile, so as I walked up, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him against my chest. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” But he said it entirely too sincerely for me to believe it.
“Try again.” Kissing his neck, I winked at Austin who giggled.
Dakota sighed. “Don’t distract him.”
“I’m perfectly innocent. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The giggles that came from our audience said they didn’t believe it any more than Dakota did.
I glanced over at Wade who I knew would be guaranteed to spill the beans.
Yep.
“It just felt a little too real for a moment.” He shrugged. “I know it’s silly, but—”
I shook my head as I interrupted. “No, it’s perfectly reasonable. The party was the first step into making it real, but this is big. This is employees and having to explain your vision to someone else. I get it.”
Hugging Dakota tight, I smiled at the rest of the group. “But you guys had most of them eating out of your hands at the party and they want to be a part of this. So just go in and see who feels right with the group and who you think will fit in with the vision you have for the club.”
Dakota’s fingers stroked my hand as he nodded. “Yes, we’re going to get to know them and then see how they fit. Just like characters.”
I couldn’t hide my smile, but he was right. “Yes, exactly. Find out if they belong in the same book or not.”
Being able to see them as characters seemed to tickle Dakota because he was suddenly charged and ready to head in. Of course, that only lasted long enough for them to get in the door, but luckily Tanner’s and Austin’s normally commanding personalities came powering to the rescue.
As they went over to introduce themselves to the group of people who were randomly milling around, I turned to Silas who I’d gotten to know the best. “Why were you just watching?”
He shrugged. “We were told not to hover and drive them crazy.”
I rolled my eyes. “They like it when you drive them crazy.”
Silas nodded. “That’s what I said, but I got outvoted. Evidently, we’re not supposed to jump in on work stuff.”
“This isn’t really work stuff, though.” I looked around the room at the variety of people who were all trying to have the confidence to find what they wanted in their personal life. “This is an extension of who they are. That’s different.”
“That’s the last time I’m going to play nice.” Then the gruff man grinned. “But if I get shit for it, I’m going to tell everyone it was your idea.”
Laughing quietly, I nodded. “Deal.”
Okay, maybe Rowan had been right after all.
Not that I was going to confess that.
As we watched everyone start to relax and chat, I noticed a man standing silently at the door. “Looks like we’ve either picked up a stray or a straggler.”
Silas turned and gave the man a long stare. “Straggler. I looked through the files Austin put together for everyone. That’s the guy who might be a good fit for the playroom upstairs.”
Ah, the temporary Daddy. “He looks—”
Silas interrupted. “Like he’s getting ready to leave.”
If I had to guess, I was going to say crowds were the issue. I looked over at Silas. “I think I might be the better person to handle this.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, because I’m the right person to coax in the nervous Daddy.”
Yep, I was definitely the best option considering everyone else was busy or trying not