Aaron's Mate: The Quinton Shifters, #1

By Abigail Raines

I didn't want to resist her. I had to. 

As a Tremblay brother, I'm loyal to my wolf clan. Which means that I have a set of rules to follow. Rules that wouldn't let me quench my desire for Michelle. For one, she's human. Absolutely forbidden. Secondly, I'm her boss. And third, making a move on her would mean betraying my pack. This is nothing but torture. Having to look the other way when she's all I obsess over. I want to make her mine. Claim every inch of her delicious curves. But when my obsession gets the better of me...I have to pay for what I've done.

Michelle is pregnant. 

I'm about to gain a family...does that mean I lose everything else in the process?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abigail Raines
• Release date: Sep 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215115411

Book preview

Chapter One:  Michelle

Isize up the round little man across the table from me, taking in every tick and nervous movement he makes. His button nose scrunches in distaste as his eyes dart around the conference room, briefly landing on me, then back around at the decor. It’s a good thing I have a nice big mahogany table between me and this client, because I’ve wanted to murder him several times. I could swear they paint these conference rooms in muted colors to keep us calm when the clients act like douchebags. And this guy is definitely a douchebag.

The second I walked into the room and introduced myself as the lead on this project his face fell as his eyes darted to the door, looking for someone else - someone with more testosterone - to enter. Aaron had warned me about Mr. Reynolds preference for working with men, but it still doesn’t keep his treatment from rubbing me the wrong way. He doesn’t even have the decency to pretend he’s listening to me. But that’s okay, I won’t let him see me sweat. I’ve seen his type before. If I let guys like him get to me, I wouldn’t be a senior associate.

So Mr. Reynolds, as I’ve pointed out, taking the new Qualified Business deduction and converting your inventory to expense instead of Cost of Goods Sold, will save your company $30,000 in taxes this year, I conclude with my most polite smile. It’s a little strained in the corners because it’s about ninety percent forced, but it’s not like Mr. Reynolds will notice.

Yes, yes, that sounds well and good. Who else looked over this proposal? Mr. Reynolds questions, his skeptical gaze barely glancing at the report I gave him.

There’s a certain kind of deep breath I’ve learned to take without anyone noticing so I don’t give myself away. It’s the breath I take when I’m very angry because I’ve just been dismissed. I take that deep breath now.

Aaron and I...

Oh, thank goodness, Mr. Reynolds sighs in relief, cutting off my reply.

I follow his gaze over my shoulder to see Aaron standing in the doorway. His jet black hair is freshly cut in his usual fade on the sides, longer and swept back on the top. His charcoal gray suit hugs his well defined muscles, crafted from a near religious gym regimen. And his sky blue and white striped tie accentuates his ice blue eyes, which always seem to have a special spark in them when they land on me. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. For the last three years I’ve wanted this man to make a move, any move, on me and he hasn’t. The most likely conclusion is that my feelings are very one sided.

I fight the usual longing sigh that rises in my chest every time he enters a room. My trip down romance lane is cut short when Mr. Reynold’s grating voice ricochets through the room.

Aaron, good to see you. Have you looked over this proposal? What do you think? What is your recommendation? Mr. Reynolds asks with near desperation. 

My grip tightens on the pen in my hand. I fantasize about sticking the pen in Reynold’s stupid, thick neck, or maybe in his brain. A lobotomy could only help him. Aaron strolls into the room, sexy as sin, and extends his hand toward Mr. Reynolds, who stands to accept it.

Mr. Reynolds. Pleasure, he says, as he gives the other man's hand two good pumps.

I stifle a grin as Mr. Reynolds’ face twitches and he flinches in pain. Is it too presumptive of me to assume that Aaron put a little more pressure in the handshake because he was offended on my behalf? Mr. Reynolds snatches his hand back, placing it in his pocket the second Aaron lets go. He tries to be subtle about it, but I can see his hand moving in his pocket as he rubs it against his thigh to ease the pain. Aaron does look pleased by that.

Yes, the pleasure is mine Aaron. So, have you taken a look at this proposal... He snaps his fingers, looking in my direction as he tries to recall my name.

Michelle, I supply. I’ve told this guy my name probably ten times.

Yes, Michelle. Have you looked over the proposal Michelle presented to me?

Aaron looks from Mr. Reynolds to me, then back. My libido must be raging on an entirely new level these days because I swear in that brief glance he undressed me and imagined all the ways he could make me scream his name. I’ll have to bring out my trusty battery operated boyfriend when I get home or else risk throwing myself at my extremely hot manager. Not that it’s unheard of. When you work sixty or seventy hour weeks with the same people six months out of the year, things happen. But I don’t want that with Aaron. I want his respect for me as a professional and peer more than I want to spend what I’m sure would be an amazing night under his chiseled body. Marginally more, but still more.

I’ve scanned it briefly, Aaron lies. Nothing gets past his desk without being thoroughly read and then questioned like it’s undergoing the Spanish Inquisition.  But Michelle is one of our top seniors, soon to be a manager, and I trust everything she produces. If she gave you a suggestion, I back it one-hundred percent. Frankly, you’d be a fool not take her seriously.

I sit a little taller in my chair. A warm flush flows through my body at the compliment. I love what I do with everything in me, and I’d do it no matter what. But moments like this, when my hard work is recognized, are nice perks.

I see, Mr. Reynolds grumbles in a terse tone. He pull on the lapels of his suit jacket, as he cuts his eyes to me. His nose is stuck so high in the air, he could probably smell a coming rain. I half expect him to stomp his foot and break down into a third grade level tantrum. Aaron shut him down and he had to accept it, because he knows that Beckmond, Rivens and Associates is one of the best accounting firms in the Pacific Northwest and even if he doesn’t want to work with a woman, he wants to work with our firm.

If you’ll excuse me, Aaron says, ignoring Mr. Reynolds offended posture.  I have pressing matters to attend to. You are in very capable hands Mr. Reynolds. Michelle. He turns to me. I wanted to ask you to stop by my office when you’re done here.

Of course, I agree, a sweet smile on my lips.

Excellent. He gives me one of his little winks and I definitely don’t find it charming. Not at all.

Aaron disappears back through the door, and my eyes can’t help but linger on his retreating form, until he is completely out of sight. Yeah, me and B.O.B. are going to have a long night tonight. Turning my attention back to Mr. Reynolds, I paste on my most polite smile as I ask, Shall we continue?

Yes, yes, Mr. Reynolds grumbles as he slumps back in his seat. He grabs the presentation papers I gave him, shuffling them around a bit before pretending to read them again. If this will save us as much as you say it will, then we will proceed with it.

Good to hear. I will have one of our admins send you a copy of the engagement letter and once that gets signed we can begin making the necessary accounting changes to your books.

I close the folder in front of me and reach across the conference room table to shake Mr. Reynolds’ hand. He tries to give me a limp shake in return, but I grip his hand firmly, refusing to allow him to get away with it. After barely a single pump he snatches his hand back as if he’s afraid I’ll give him the plague.

No matter, I keep my smile planted on my face, not allowing him to ruin my now good mood. Mr. Reynolds may be a chauvinist prick, but his company, Claro Manufacturing, is worth millions and will bring in thousands in revenue to our firm. My aim is to one day make partner at Beckmond, Rivens and Associates, and continuing to close contracts with clients like Mr. Reynolds was going to make that happen. That’s assuming I don’t do anything stupid, like fall helplessly in love with my manager. Oh wait, I’ve already done that.

I’ll walk you out Mr. Reynolds, I say rising from my chair.

He gathers his papers, stuffing them back into the folder I’d presented them in and tucking it under his arm. Lips pursed and face scrunched like he smelled something bad, Mr. Reynolds stands from his chair

Reviews for Aaron's Mate

[Tisha Fleming · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Cliffhanger with a link to an external site. Decent enough story line with a few grammatical errors and repetition of details.