Mr. Rothe - Lynn Hagen Page 0,28
the driver’s side and showed me where the seat adjustment buttons were. They weren’t on the side of the seat like a normal car. They were located on the steering wheel.
I nodded my thanks before I pulled into traffic, nearly sideswiping another car. Clearly I’d been a passenger too damn long. Thankfully I made it to Fitch’s house without causing an accident and pulled into his driveway.
The last time I’d been there, it had been dark and I had been too busy dealing with Fitch’s fit about Cole to notice the aging, rusted car in the driveway. I wasn’t even sure it still ran. One of the tires was flat.
I stared at the rustic house for a moment, wondering how Fitch would react to my impromptu visit.
There was no use stalling. I commanded power and respect at the firm, in court, and dealing with the different wolf packs. I wasn’t going to let a mere human make me nervous. I got out and walked to the door. Before I could knock, the door swung open.
It was Fitch’s mom.
“Oh, thank goodness. Maybe you can pull my son out of his funk.”
“I’m not in a funk,” Fitch yelled from somewhere in the house. “Who’s at the door?”
“A Bible salesman,” his mothered hollered back. “Come get some Jesus in your life.” She winked at me. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come in.”
When I entered, she held out her hand. “I’m Lucille Oliver.”
I took her hand and kissed her knuckles, watching her blush. “Gabriel Rothe, ma’am.”
“Aren’t you a charmer?” Then she narrowed her eyes. “No go charm the happiness back into Fitch. He’s been impossible all morning.”
She was a very odd and direct woman. Now I knew where Fitch had gotten his fiery personality. And his looks. I was staring at a feminine version of him.
“Who was at the door?” Fitch stormed into the room, looking as though he was ready to kick the salesman out. He came to a hard stop, and his glare, for just a split second, was replaced with a spark of joy in his eyes. Then he scowled. “What’re you doing here?”
“Fitch!” His mom looked aghast. “I taught you better manners than that. Take your guest to the kitchen and offer him a refreshment, or I’ll ground you for a month.”
Fuck. She made me miss my own mom, who’d passed away a few years back. It still hurt like hell to think about her, and there hadn’t been a day that went by when she wasn’t in my thoughts.
“A refreshment would be nice.” I winked at her, and hell, she giggled. She actually giggled. I’d always been respectful of the opposite sex, but I needed to reel back my charm.
“This way,” Fitch groaned as he walked through the dining room. The house was quaint, well loved, reminding me of the house I’d grown up in, only my mom had worked two jobs so I rarely saw her.
But I could feel the love here. It echoed off the walls and wrapped me in warm feelings as I entered the kitchen.
“Don’t be too charming,” Fitch said. “My mom is easily flustered.” As soon as they were out of earshot, he glared at me. “Why are you here? We had a clean break. A good time, no strings.”
Max’s advice ghosted through my mind. I pulled Fitch into my arms, crushing him to me, and kissed him so thoroughly that we were both desperate for air by the time we’d broken apart.
“That’s why I’m here,” I said. “Tell me you don’t want that.”
Fitch touched his lips with his fingers. His cheeks were crimson as he stared at me. “Of course I want that, but I told you, our worlds are too different.”
I told Fitch what Max had said to me. “They make it work.”
In truth, I’d never had to convince anyone to be with me, and I was out of my element. I had to force myself not to demand Fitch come home with me so I could strip him naked and prove how much I wanted him.
I had to stop the dominant side of me, force it to heel, which wasn’t as easy as one would think. Since adulthood I’d been savage in work and as a crime boss, never letting anyone see any weaknesses.
But I was weak for Fitch, and I wasn’t sure I liked being vulnerable.
Even so, this morning proved my true feelings toward the human. There was no denying how I felt about him.
“I don’t know.” Fitch bit his