Page 25 of Flint's Arrow
Arrow paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Good.”
He walked out and didn’t look back. He had a few other things he needed to do before he went on his date.
Chapter Nine
“He did what?” Flint stared at Cyrus, certain he’d heard wrong.
“Arrow quit his job.” Cyrus leaned against the doorframe of Flint’s greenhouse, his arms crossed over his chest. “Patterson, Arrow’s supervisor, called me this morning, all pissed off about it. He’d apparently made the connection that Arrow’s new mate was one of my assassins when Arrow asked for a transfer to Bozeman, and he wanted to know if we’d ‘gotten to Arrow’ somehow. I told him to shove his paranoia up his ass, and that I had no idea what he was talking about.”
Flint set down the watering can he’d been holding, barely noticing when it tipped over and soaked his boot. “I can’t believe that Arrow would quit the agency.”
“Apparently, it’s true. After Patterson called me, I called someone else I have contact with at the agency, and the story going around is that Arrow walked into Patterson’s office, put his badge on the desk, and walked out. Patterson apparently tried the whole ‘you’ll never work in this city again’ routine, but Arrow didn’t even look back.” Cyrus’s expression softened. “Look, I’m not trying to influence your decision about him. I just thought you should know before your date tonight.”
“Yeah, I appreciate it. Thanks.” After Cyrus left, Flint stood in his greenhouse for a long time, his mind a whirl. Arrow had quit. The wolf who’d built his entire identity around his fancy job and his success had just...walked away from it.
For me.
Flint’s snake stirred, curious, and cautiously hopeful now. Just the day before, Arrow had sat in Flint’s kitchen and owned every mistake he’d made. And then, without talking to Flint or anyone else, apparently, he quit his job.
He’s using hisactions, not words,Flint realized.He’s showing me, not just telling me, that he can change. That’s a freaking big change.
It was with that in mind, Flint dressed carefully for dinner that evening, choosing his nicest jeans and a soft blue sweater that Pax insisted brought out his eyes. He braided his hair loosely, letting a few strands escape to frame his face. He refused to look as though he was trying too hard, but he didn’t think his gingham overalls were suitable restaurant attire either.
Storm and Pax drove him to Angelo’s in Big Sky because Python refused to let Flint drive himself.
“I’m perfectly fine with my own transport.” Flint had tried to be insistent. But against Python…and Pax, that wasn’t always easy.
“You need some of us around in case that wolf needs his ass kicked again,” Python had said with a grin, and as Pax was hopping about in excitement, trying to encourage Storm to let him steal another dessert cart, Flint appreciated the gesture, even if he suspected his friends just wanted an excuse to hover.
“We’ll be at Rusty’s if you need us,” Storm said as he dropped Flint off, referring to the bar two blocks over. “Text me if he’s an asshole.”
“He won’t be,” Flint said, “and if he is, you’ll probably hear the ruckus from the bar. But I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“At least get through the appetizers first,” Pax added. “I just need my man to drop me off at…”
Flint closed the truck door.I’ll be sharing a back seat with a dessert cart - I just know it.Storm couldn’t refuse Pax anything.
Angelo’s was exactly the kind of place Flint liked. It had warm lighting, checkered tablecloths, and the smell of garlic bread thathit the moment he walked through the door. He spotted Arrow immediately, sitting at a corner table, and stopped short.
The fancy suit that Flint expected was nowhere in sight. Arrow was wearing pressed dark jeans that looked new, a soft gray Henley that hugged his shoulders, and brown leather boots that looked broken in and had clearly been worn before. His hair was less severely styled, falling in soft waves instead of the slicked-back corporate look. He looked...really approachable, actually, and damn handsome.
And he’s waiting for you. Get over there.
Arrow stood when he saw Flint, and something vulnerable flickered across his face. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Flint crossed to the table, hyperaware of Arrow’s scent evident over the garlic bread as he got closer. The pine was definitely there, and the musk of the wolf, but there was something else underneath that made his snake want to curl up andstay. “You look different.”
“Good different or bad different?” Arrow pulled out Flint’s chair, then seemed to catch himself. “Sorry, is that - do you want me to…”
“It’s fine.” Flint sat, oddly charmed by Arrow’s uncertainty. The arrogant wolf from the bar would’ve just done it without asking. “It’s a very good difference, I think. The jeans-and-boots look suits you.”
Arrow’s shoulders relaxed as he returned to his own seat. He kept a respectful distance, not leaning into Flint’s space or trying to touch. Just...attentive without being overwhelming.
The waitress appeared with menus and water. Flint ordered the chicken parmesan because it was his favorite, and Arrow got thelasagna. Once they were alone again, an awkward silence settled between them.
“Your friends are terrifying,” Arrow said finally.
Flint blinked, then laughed, surprised it came out so easily. “They are, aren’t they? I could say that it’s because I live with other people who do what I do, but then Pax can’t stand the sight of blood, yet I heard he wanted to unleash a heap of curses on you, and Python wanted to specifically curse your dick.”
