A Hippogriff for Christmas - Zoe Chant Page 0,2
a cup of coffee – over his eyes. “Does no one appreciate a good ballad anymore? Viva Forever is the best song they ever did!”
As the argument devolved into dark looks and angry snarls, Beau could only shake his head.
“So, you guys have been spending… a lot of time in the office?”
“It’s these end of year reports,” Rowan moaned. “I keep thinking they’re done, and then I find something else that needs doing! At this rate I’ll never get home to see Emilia and Laura.”
Beau could tell Rowan’s anguish was real. Ever since he’d found his mate Emilia and their first child Laura had been born a little under a year ago, he’d barely been able to talk about anything else. His desk was littered with photos of Emilia wrapping Laura in fluffy blankets, Emilia and Laura in their garden, Emilia and Laura with the approximately twenty thousand animals Emilia cared for in her animal shelter, Emilia and Laura doing this, Emilia and Laura doing that…
To be honest, it was kind of cute. Beau had never imagined Rowan would be the type: he’d always seemed 100% dedicated to the job. But since Laura had been born, he’d seemed not to even mind being assigned to desk duty more than usual, so he’d always be around to help Emilia with the baby if she needed it.
You know I love field work, but if it takes me away from my girls, then it’s not worth it, Rowan had explained.
“It’s Declan’s fault for even having a ’90s pop playlist on his iPod in the first place,” Garrett said. “And then playing it on repeat four hundred times in a row.”
“Hey, I asked if you minded if I put some music on,” Declan shot back. “I didn’t realize you had such strong – and incorrect – opinions about the Spice Girls.”
“All right, all right,” Beau said peaceably when it looked like the argument was about to start up again. “How about we all just agree to disagree. Especially since everyone knows their best song is Stop, which is, coincidentally, what you guys should do with this argument.”
It took a second, but then all three men burst out laughing, the tension in the air evaporating in an instant.
“I guess I’m just going a bit stir crazy at the moment,” Garrett said, shaking his head. “My Christmas leave starts tomorrow, but it still feels like it’s an eternity away.”
Yes, I know how he feels, Beau’s hippogriff spoke up.
We’re leaving in just a minute! Beau rebuked it, ignoring the way it snorted at him, stomping the hooves on its back legs.
Garrett had always had a reputation around the office as a growly loner with no time for anything but the job, but since he’d met his mate last year, Beau had seen a whole other side of him – a surprisingly friendly man who doted on his mate Georgia’s nine-year-old son, Logan. He had settled into fatherhood easily, and it was clear to Beau that Garrett was happier than he’d ever been since he’d known him.
Maybe one day I’ll know that kind of happiness too, Beau thought wistfully – before quickly pushing the thought aside. You couldn’t predict when you’d meet your mate, if you ever met them at all. You just had to hope you were one of the lucky ones who did.
In the instant that followed he caught Declan’s eye, and saw he was thinking the exact same thing. He still hadn’t found his mate either – but in Declan’s case there was the added complication that he was a unicorn, one of a dying breed, and who was restricted by his clan from mating with anyone other than another unicorn – unless he could find his one true mate before he turned thirty.
Thank goodness I don’t have those kinds of time pressures, Beau thought, relief warring with sympathy for the predicament Declan was in.
“Well, I was just swinging by to tell you guys my Christmas leave’s been approved, so I’m off. I’ll send you some photos from home.”
“Lucky bastard,” Rowan muttered. “What’ve you done lately to get into Hardwicke’s good graces?”
“Just been my charming self, I guess,” Beau said with a light laugh, running his fingers through his hair. “Being so popular and lovable has to have some perks, right?”
“Oh my God, get out of here before I puke,” Garrett said, shaking his head. “This is too disgusting.”
“Envy is the only truly disgusting thing around here,” Beau shot back. “But seriously, guys, only a