Free Mating Thomas Brac Pack by Lynn Hagen Page A

from his taste buds. Who the hell called this food? “I have to help at the resource center tomorrow. Taylor is trying to implement a program for pregnant teens.” And Thomas wasn’t too sure he wanted a second date with the man.
He was looking for someone who was down-to-earth and wasn’t afraid to eat barbeque with his hands. Thomas was looking for someone who had just an ounce of interest in what he did.
His work was very important to him, and Reginald had blown him off twice already when Thomas invited him to a game down at the rec center.
“But it’s Saturday!” Reginald’s voice rose a little higher as he looked at Thomas in disapproval. Thomas glanced around, seeing a few heads turn in their direction, but Reginald didn’t seem to notice as his eyes narrowed and his expression darkened. “Tell me you can’t have a damn weekend to yourself?”
It didn’t sound like a question to Thomas but more like a challenge. He sat there momentarily stunned before he found his voice.
“I’ve already told you that my work is very important to me. I wouldn’t say a word if you had to be called away. As I remember, our first two planned dates were tossed aside when you said you had to work and couldn’t make it,” Thomas reminded him. That seemed to piss Reginald off as his features pinched, making him look ten years older. It wasn’t a look Thomas liked seeing on Reginald.
He didn’t like it.
“I don’t need a secretary to remind me of how hard I work. Reschedule.”
Thomas threw his napkin on his plate, thankful that he didn’t have to ingest any more of that crap. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Taylor is counting on me.” He stood to leave, but Reginald grabbed his wrist, tugging him back.
“I’m sorry, Thomas. I just want to spend more time with you,” he said as he pulled Thomas into his arms right in the middle of the restaurant. Thomas had no qualms about public displays of affection, but this wasn’t the place for that. “Forgive me?”
Thomas sighed as he nodded. What else could he do?
He didn’t plan on having a second date with the man, so why argue about things? He had promised Taylor that he would help out at the resource center, and his work was just as important as Reginald’s. The number of teens getting pregnant was on the rise, and Thomas wanted to do his part in educating as many young adults as possible in safe sex.
“Let’s put this conversation behind us. You let me know when you can get away, and I’ll make it happen,” Reginald said with gentleness as he ran his thumb over Thomas’s cheek.
Thomas wanted to roll his eyes, but gave a tight smile instead. No, there wasn’t going to be a second date. And just as soon as he talked with his sister, he was going to give her an earful for setting him up with this pompous shithead. “I will. Can we get out of here?” Because Thomas was ready to ditch this jerk.
“But we haven’t finished our meal.” Thomas was pulled back to the table, the work of art looking more like a lethal toxic dump as he sat back down.
He wondered if there was a burger place around here that he could sneak off to.

Chapter Two
    Thomas gathered the pages of statistics from his desk and shoved them in a folder. Next he grabbed the pamphlets he had on safe sex and abstinence. He tossed them in the folder as well before heading out of the rec center and locking the place up.
    His back was killing him and Thomas wanted to get home to a nice, hot bath.
As he inserted his key, he noticed the lock was broken. There was some sort of metal shoved inside the tumbler, preventing him from inserting his key. Thomas ran his fingers over the lock, wondering how on earth this happened.
It looked to have been done on purpose. But who would do something like this? In all the years he had worked here, no one had ever broken into the rec center or defaced any part of the property.
Everyone in town knew Maverick funded the place, and no one wanted to piss the man off. He had done