CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«Why don't you eat lunch with me rather than your father?» Samantha asked. «You can spend time with him another day, right?»

She knew Nate would have a meeting soon. But, for some reason, he seemed convinced that taking care of a pup while working wasn't much of a hassle.

«I'll bring him back when you're done with the suppliers,» Samantha added, turning to Nate. «I heard there are some problems with the prices. You should fix that and then come fetch your son in my office.»

«Ah, sure,» Nate sighed.

For certain, Jaden would feel better with Samantha than him.

«I'll be there in a couple of hours. I have no intention of cheating like this. I promised Lara I would take care of the pups when they're with me. And so I will do.»

«Sure,» Samantha chuckled.

She turned back to Jaden and found his shining eyes and bright smile. He hugged her again, happy and content.

«You, don't give him weird ideas in the meantime,» Nate whispered before getting out.

«So...» Samantha said. «What are we going to eat?»

«Roast?»

«Roast it is,» she replied, looking for the phone in her bag.

Before she could find a good delivery restaurant, her screen lightened with a well-known number. She hadn't saved it, but she could recognise who that was.

He had such intriguing timing!

She picked up and brought the phone to her ear.

«Sorry, I am quite busy right now. We can talk later, okay?»

«Hey, Trouble, are you that annoyed? I know I shouldn't have forgotten to call you back, but I can find a way to make you forgive me...»

«Do you not have ears? I just told you I'm currently busy.»

She heard Rider's chuckle on the other side of the line. It was so unfair: why was his voice so sexy even through a phone?

«It's lunchtime,» he pointed out.

While Samantha sighed on the phone, Jaden observed her face and touched her cheek to check if she had a fever.

«Why are you so red, Aunty Sam?» he asked.

He knew better than interrupting a phone call. His mommy taught him it's very rude, but he couldn't keep his curiosity.

Jaden covered his mouth with a hand and observed Samantha with wide eyes. She didn't seem annoyed, so he silently sighed.

«Hey, who's that with you?» Rider asked.

He had heard the pup's voice. It was clear as water.

«Is it a pup? Why are you entertaining a pup, Miss Trouble?»

«Why shouldn't I?» she rebuked. Rider was getting on her nerves. Yet, she felt amused by how his voice felt sour. Was he jealous?

Of a pup?

Oh, he had reason to be. She would have chosen to play with Jaden rather than meet that rude man.

«I need to go now; pups need help to eat. I'll call you this evening. For real. I don't forget things like you do. Not even secondary things.»

She hung up without a greeting and returned her attention to Jaden.

«So, what was it you wanted to eat?»

«Roast.»

«Ah, right... Let me call the delivery service.»

«Why are you all red, Aunty Sam?»

«Because I'm annoyed.»

«At me?»

«No! How could I be annoyed at you? You're so cute!»

«Like my mommy?»

«Oh, yes!» Samantha nodded. «Your mommy is so cute as well.»

But wasn't that kid a little too insistent with his mommy? He had a father as well, but he didn't look the least interested.

What had Nate done to make Jaden loathe him like that?

«Who are you annoyed at, then?»

«The one who called me,» she sighed.

«Who is that?»

«A wolf I met a few days ago... He wants to meet me again.»

«Is he tall?»

«Hmm... Yes, quite tall.» He was taller than her wearing heels, even if not too much. Just the perfect height for savage kissing.

«Oh, you shouldn't accept. Mommy agreed to meet our father, and now she's stuck with him. Tall men are difficult to get rid of.»

«Ah, you're right! I didn't even want to meet a second time.»

Too bad that her whole body resonated with his tone. Hopefully, that weird attraction would have lost strength with time.

She didn't plan to meet him again, and she should have continued on that path. He didn't deem her relevant enough: he had forgotten to call her back the day before.

She shouldn't have wasted time dwelling over it. He didn't want anything serious either; it was clear as day.

She should have made things even clearer later that night. She didn't have any intention of using the same cheap trick and forgetting to call him back. But some help would have been appreciated... How many bottles were there in her mini-bar? She didn't open one that often...

She crossed the door to sales with Jaden in her arms but her mind somewhere else. She didn't pay much attention to the shocked eyes on them.

A couple of agents were late for lunch, so they could witness Samantha carrying a pup with a lost expression and her body signalling her turmoil.

It looked like a new source of gossip, but they knew better than talking behind the Boss's back. Not one of them was ready to face the consequences.

«He'll hear me out tonight,» she was mumbling to herself.

Meanwhile, the little pup was nodding at her words.

Jaden would add some fuel from time to time, just when he sensed Samantha was calming down.

Whom her anger was directed at was a mystery. But a greater riddle was the reason why the pup seemed firmly settled on not letting Samantha and whoever she was at odds with make peace.

«You are better alone, aren't you? Also, you can have your cubs and run away. My mommy did that... But be careful not to get caught: my mommy got caught, and now we're stuck with our father.»

«I won't make the same mistake, little one,» the woman chuckled.

Yet, that idea wasn't bad. She was sure Rider would accept. But not yet.... She planned to have her own pups, but it was too early to think about it.