Making You Mine

Chapter One

(Chase)

I looked up from my desk as the door to my office was abruptly pushed open. I was not surprised to see my best friend standing at the door with a smile on her face.

Unimpressed, I arched a brow. “What are you doing here, Harriet?”

“Are you busy?” She asked cheerfully.

“Yes, I’m working. Like you should be.” I sighed, returning my gaze to the monitor before me. “Come in already.”

The sound of the door closing faintly reached my ears, and within the space of a few seconds she was right in front of my desk.

For a long minute the room was silent, save for the sound of my fingers hitting the keyboard. I could feel Harriet regarding me while I worked, likely with that cheeky grin of hers.

“It’s good to see you’re working diligently.” She said, her voice light with teasing amusement. “As expected of the future Alpha. Our pack will remain prosperous with you at the lead.”

I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t count on White Fall remaining prosperous for long if this is the same work ethic you plan to continue with once you inherit.” She chuckled. “Why are you here, Harrie?”

“It’s time for lunch, and I thought I would drag you out to get something to eat.”

Our company’s lunch break wasn’t till one. “There’s still thirty minutes till lunch.”

Harriet shrugged. “What is thirty minutes, really? It’s nice to be early to things.”

I fixed my gaze in her direction. “We’re on company time now. You should be working.”

“But I’m not.” She said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Reward me by taking me somewhere nice to eat.”

Before I could stop it, my lips curved at the corners. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I agree.” Harriet said wholeheartedly, her grin widening. “I want something expensive for lunch. You’re paying.”

“Naturally.” I gave in with a sigh, closing the document on the screen and setting the computer on sleep before rising to my feet. “Where do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “You pick, you know what I like.”

I did know what she liked. Every single damn thing, down to the littlest details. Growing up with her in the pack as kids, I naturally had grown accustomed to everything that was her.

Watching her absentmindedly as we walked out of my large office, I wondered where I would take her to. Usually she liked savory dishes, but who could tell with Harriet? She was as unpredictable as the weather.

Pausing for a moment to tell my secretary I was leaving for my lunch break, I stepped into the elevator afterwards with Harriet.

Without my intending to, my eyes landed on her. Harriet was tall, just an inch or so short from being as tall as I was. She had on a pair of charcoal black slacks and a bright green, flowery-patterned long-sleeve blouse that complemented her slightly bronzed skin tone.

Her strawberry blonde hair was done up in an elaborate bun, exposing her nape to my view. For a wild moment, I imagined pressing a kiss onto her bare skin, letting my mouth linger on her body. My mouth watered at the thought.

Discarding the image the second it popped up into my mind, I reined in my arousal before she could smell it. The last thing I wanted was for her to know how I truly felt about her.

It would destroy our friendship.

Okay, maybe not exactly destroy it, but it would definitely fuck it up in some way. Our bond would never be the same if I acted on the feelings I had whenever she was around me. The possibility that she didn’t feel the same way too great.

I couldn’t risk it.

Harriet looked away from the panel, turning her attention to me. Her green eyes were as vivid as ever, and my heart throbbed in my chest. “Where are we going? I feel like having something spicy today.”

“Sure.” My voice sounded just a bit hoarse. I hoped she didn’t notice. “Whatever you want.”

Harriet grinned, looking pleased. “I like the sound of that.”

My gaze feathered down to her lips, tracing a path back to her eyes swiftly. Trying for a bored tone, I snorted. “Of course you do. You’re not the one paying.”

She laughed. “Damn right I’m not. Not when I have you, darling.”

The elevators opened. Stepping outside beside her, I let her go before me. Several employees nearby greeted us as we walked past, and we nodded at them.

Harriet hummed as we walked towards the parking lot, clearly in a good mood. She stopped right in front of my car before turning to beam at me. “Open it.”

Faintly amused, I unlocked the car with the fob. I rounded the car as she slipped inside it. It didn’t take long for us to fasten our seat belts, and then I started the car.

“Where are we going?” Harriet asked again, before shaking her head once. “You know what, don’t answer that. Surprise me.”

I kept my gaze on the road, not bothering to make a reply.

“My mom asked me to invite you home for dinner.” She said suddenly, looking out of the window. “It’s been a while since you stopped by at our house.”

“I’ve been busy with work.” My voice came out colder than I had intended. “Unlike you.” I amended, softening my tone. “You really should stop abandoning your position so often.”

“Mmhn.” She clearly wasn’t paying attention. “Sure.”

“Harriet. I’m being serious.”

“What?” She said lightly, glancing over at me. Her green eyes danced with an impish light. “So am I.”

Exasperated, I focused my attention on the road. It took another ten minutes before we were at the restaurant I had decided to take us to.

“I guess it is a good thing I made us take our break early, since you’ve driven us twenty minutes away from the company.” She frowned, looking confused. “And to somewhere I don’t know?”

I arched a brow. “This is literally your favorite restaurant. We’ve been here a thousand times before.”

“Is it?” She tsked. “Hm.”

Rolling my eyes, I switched off the ignition. “Get out of my car.”

“You’re mean.” She sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Why do I bother tolerating such a mean friend?”

“Because I’m your only friend.” I said dryly.

“Says who? I have multiple friends, you just happen to be my best friend.” She eyed him thoughtfully. “Though I’m certainly rethinking that now. Meanie.”

“Great.” I said, snatching up the key fob. “Let me know what you decide. Now get out, Harrie, or I’ll lock you in.”

Muttering beneath her breath, she complied, slamming the door behind her. The sound made me wince, my extra sensitive ears protesting the loud bang.

For a while I remained seated in the car, trying to compose myself. The sweet, warm scent of her perfume still hung in the air, making my efforts go to waste.

“Fuck.” I muttered quietly as desire rose inside me again. “Fucking hell.”

“If you waste anymore time grouching inside there I’ll go in without you.” Harriet threatened. It wasn’t an empty threat. She had done exactly just that before, seating herself in the restaurant while I had struggled to kill the erection that plagued the living shit out of me.

I couldn’t keep doing this. It was getting increasingly difficult to hide my attraction to her, especially as she seemed to be so damn close all the time. Pretending to see her just as a friend was killing me.

I had to tell her how I felt.

Fuck.

“Chase.” She huffed, sounding irritated. She knocked on the window, and when I didn’t emerge, she turned away. “I warned you.”

Her boots clicked loudly as she walked away. I listened to the sound of her movements for two more seconds, counting my breaths as her footsteps echoed around me. With a muted curse, I emerged from the vehicle.

There was no way in hell I could keep doing this, pretending I didn’t love her, without completely losing my sanity.

But then again, with Harriet Winston I would probably end up losing it anyway.