“You want me to do what?” Philip folded his arms and stared at his half-brother. “The gatehouse?”

“Yes. I want you to redecorate it for me.” Dixon matched his stance and crooked his brow. “Why’s that so hard to believe?”

Because Dixon never had Philip do any decorating for him before. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly.” Dixon Meade, the alpha of the Meade pack, didn’t make decisions lightly.

Philip knew that. He also knew his brother didn’t give jobs without a purpose. So why did this feel strange?

“Don’t you want to do it?” Dixon asked. “Don’t you want the job?”

“Wanting isn’t the problem.” If Dixon wanted him for this purpose, then Philip wasn’t about to argue, but he still didn’t see why his half-brother wanted him. There were plenty of other shifters who could help him and it wouldn’t appear to be nepotism.

“I have a job and you’re the one I trust to do it. I have someone in mind to help you, but this is all you,” Dixon said. “If you’re not interested, then say so.”

He needed a few moments to think this through.

Part of him wanted the job straightaway. He didn’t need the money, but he wanted something to do. He felt so useless sometimes because he wasn’t a fighter. Wasn’t good at arguing, either. He liked color and design. Not good for a shifter.

Part of him wanted to hesitate because he didn’t know who he’d be working with. Would the person be worthy? Would they listen? Would he end up butting heads with the person? Would they be a shifter? Would they dislike working with a gay shifter?

“Stop thinking so hard about this,” Dixon said. “I asked you to work on the gatehouse because it needs doing, I want someone to be able to stay there if needed, and I know the guy you’ll be working with will be fine. He’s not a shifter, but he’s a great guy and good with his hands.”

Good with his hands? That sounded promising. “He’s not a shifter and you trust him?”

“I do.” Dixon shrugged. “I have a plan…kind of. I know you’re pretty determined once you see the space, but I’d like to use neutral colors and keep it homey so if we have to house a scared shifter or someone who needs to recuperate, they feel welcome.”

“I can do that.” Nothing fancy or overdone. He appreciated the direction.

“So you’ll take the job?” Dixon asked.

“I will.” He’d rather know the person he’d be working with ahead of time, but he trusted Dixon. “What’s your timeline for this?”

“Well, I figured you could go to the gatehouse tonight and get a feel for the space. Walker is already there, so you’ll get to meet him, too.”

“Walker?” What an odd name. “The human?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Then I’ll go down there.” He had to be losing his mind. Working with someone he’d never met, doing a job for his brother and not having asked about payment for said job?

“Thank you.” Dixon left him in the foyer.

Sometimes he loved his siblings, but right now he hated Dixon’s ability to end a conversation simply by leaving.

He turned on his heel and headed out to the driveway. He didn’t need the money. Working on design didn’t pay well, but he’d invested his money and used that along with his share of the pack inheritance to bulk up his portfolio. He had plenty of money, but he had no one to share it with. Ever since Ed dumped him, he’d been adrift.

He settled behind the wheel of his car and sighed before driving down to the gatehouse. In truth, the house was more like a mini mansion. But his half-brother didn’t do anything small. He had a guest house that could handle twenty people and the gatehouse could accommodate at least six.

As he reached the house, he noticed the beat-up truck parked in the small lot.

A truck man? Made sense if Walker was as good with his hands as Dixon claimed. Would he bring his own tools, too?

Philip parked beside the truck, then left his vehicle and locked it out of habit. He headed to the front door. When he turned the knob, the door gave way. “Hello?”

Philip ventured into the house. He’d expected to see furniture there already, but instead was met with empty rooms. Hadn’t Dixon already had the place furnished?

A man ducked into the room and stopped short. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He swept his gaze over the guy. Tall, but not as tall as him. Muscled, almost V-shaped with the bulk of his muscles in his upper body. A scar streaked across his left forearm and five-o’clock shadow darkened his cheeks. His blue eyes glittered as he grinned.

“I wasn’t expecting you so quickly. Dixon said you’d be down.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Walker Ray. You must be Philip.”

He shook hands with Walker, impressed with his grip. He appreciated men who could shake hands and be professional about it. “I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Walker. You’ve been here a while?”

“About twenty minutes,” Walker replied. “Dixon told me I should take my cues from you, but I wanted to get a feel for the space.”

“That’s why I came down here.” He hooked his fingers in his front pockets. His wolf came to life within him and growled. Was the animal angry with Walker? It felt more like intrigue.

“There isn’t much to see. I thought there’d be stuff in the house. Dixon made it sound like it was a renovation and we’d have to get rid of a few things, but there’s not much here.” Walker gestured to the next room. “The kitchen doesn’t even have appliances.”

“No?” He could’ve sworn this house was furnished the last time he’d been here. He followed Walker into the kitchen and gasped. “You weren’t kidding.”

“Nope.” Walker stopped at the island. “What do you think?”

“We need to see the rest of the house,” Philip said. “And we should get to know each other a bit better. We’re supposed to be working on this, and I don’t think the house will be a quick reno.”

“No.” Walker folded his arms. “There’s not much here, but I don’t know what he’s envisioning—or is this up to your vision?”

“He wants simple, neutral and homey.” He ventured through the building to the other rooms. The place was basic. Curtains, but no other window treatments, carpeting that appeared worn and no appliances. He stepped into the first of the two bathrooms. “At least he’s still got the tub.” But no sink and vanity. He had no idea why his brother had stripped the house so far down.

“Dixon is your brother?” Walker asked. He strode across the bathroom. “Do you want new fixtures?”

“He’s my half-brother. Same dad, different mothers.” He studied the fixtures and wasn’t impressed. “These are worn and I don’t even know if the wiring is up to code.” It probably was, but he didn’t want to chance it.

“The wiring should be okay, but you’re right. We should check it.” Walker stood beside him. “There’s a lot of brass here. Is that the look you want?”

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s too dated.”

“I agree.”

It was a start. “How long have you known Dixon?” Philip asked. “And do you know why he had this place stripped down?”

“I’ve known him for about ten years. I didn’t realize he had so much family, though. Seems like you’ve got siblings coming out of the woodwork.” Walker chuckled. “I’m an only child, so any siblings are more than I’ve ever had.”

“For a while there, it seemed like we found new ones every couple years.” He left the bathroom and headed for the bedrooms. Unlike the rest of the house, even the bathrooms, there wasn’t any carpet in the space. Good. He’d prefer wood floors instead.

“Did your dad have a good time?”

“Our father was known for his ability to love his wife, but also spread his love around to as many other women as he could find. He was a dick.” He pointed to the closet. “There are some nice built-in shelves in there. We should use them.”

“We should.”

Philip strode back out to the front room. “We need a plan.”

“We do.” Walker joined him. “Dixon told me this place needed fixing up. Said it’d been left to rot, and he wanted to get it back to usable shape. He must’ve had the stuff that’d been in the house removed.”

“Yeah.” He wished he’d have brought his tablet. “I want to make a few sketches and some notes.” He withdrew his phone and the pen, enabling him to write on the screen.

“What are you envisioning?” Walker asked.

“He wants homey, so I’m thinking a lot of plush, but functional items. Neutral walls, but we’ll need to repair the molding.” He jotted down notes. “So creams and beiges for the main colors and accents of taupe. It’s not what I’d use for my own home, but it’s nice and welcoming.”

“Agreed.” Walker stepped over the base molding in the room. “It’s not too damaged, but there are pieces missing. It’s a fairly standard design and won’t be hard to find the needed replacements.”

He agreed. He’d seen that design in other homes. It wasn’t the fanciest or the most expensive, but functional. “I’d like to rip up the carpeting first, though. We should put in wood floors or something similar with accent rugs for warmth.”

“Smart.” Walker picked at the switch plate. “These will need to be updated and standardized.”

“Yes.” He made notes about those items, too. “I want to do some research and put together a plan for the space. Do you have time to meet with me for that?”

“I do.” Walker nodded. “I don’t have much else to do and need the money from this job. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“What are you paying for?” He jotted down a few more notes.

“A messy split from my boyfriend.” Walker sighed and crouched at the baseboard. “He destroyed my life, stole my tools and kicked me out of my house. I thought he might be the one, but he wasn’t.”

He stared at Walker’s back. Boyfriend? “You didn’t strike me as being gay.” What a ridiculous thing to say. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Walker stood then faced him. “He thought I wasn’t gay-enough acting.”

“How can you not act gay enough?” He’d been told he was too flamboyant. “You have to be who you are and how you are.”

“That’s what I’ve always thought.” Walker widened his stance and tucked his hands into his front pockets. “I like to build and work with my hands. I like seeing my ideas become usable items in a house. I don’t dance well and know little about color. I’m quiet and I’d rather be working. Apparently, those traits weren’t good enough for my former partner.”

“His loss.” He swept his gaze over Walker again. His wolf liked this guy. Even after a few minutes, the wolf knew Walker had a good heart. “Do you want to go for some lunch?”

“To bring it back?” Walker crinkled his brow.

“No, we go somewhere and eat, put our heads together and come up with a plan to show Dixon in the next day or so.” It’d give them more time to get to know each other, too. “My treat.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Sure you can.” Philip shoved his phone into his breast pocket. “I want to.”

“I can’t convince you otherwise, can I?”

“You said you needed the money and work. Let me treat you this time, and you can get it the next.”

“That’s not necessary, but we should have a planning session.” Walker pushed his hands deeper into his pockets. “I’m sorry.”

“Here’s the thing. It’s just a quick meal. Don’t think too hard into this. We need to work together and lunch is a great way to do that. We can spread out and take our time.” He flicked his hand. “Come on. My treat and I won’t take no for an answer. We’ll head to the diner.”

“You really won’t, will you?”

“Nope.”

Walker dipped his head. “Then sure.”

“Want to ride with me? Or do you have somewhere to be afterward?” He wasn’t sure why he’d just asked that. Walker didn’t have to ride with him.

“Do you mind?”

“Not a bit.” He wouldn’t have offered otherwise.

“Then sure.” Walker followed him out of the house. “Do you need to get swatches or something?”

“Not yet. I want to come up with an overall plan first.” He withdrew his keys from his pocket. His wolf whined and paced within him. There was more to Walker’s story, but this wasn’t the time to get him to talk. He wanted to tell the wolf to be patient, but he also wasn’t sure how Walker would take the conversation with the animal.

Walker joined him in the car. “This is nice.”

“I bought it with investment money.” He engaged the engine and backed out of the parking spot. “I try to spend my money frugally and put most of it into investments so it works for me.” What was he doing? Showing off? Jesus.

“That’s smart. I’d like to be ahead enough to be able to do that,” Walker said. “One day.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.” He had to stop talking about his money. God. It was no wonder he didn’t have a boyfriend. “How about we get to know each other?”

“You’re that kind of boss? You’re nosy?” Walker laughed. “I thought Dixon asked a lot of questions.”

“He did?” He drove away from the house to the gate, then added the code before heading across the pack lands to the diner. “I’m not shocked.”

“There’s twenty questions, then there’s Dixon’s version, which is one thousand questions.”

Dixon could be intense. “He likes to be sure about things.”

“He does,” Walker replied. “Plus, he had to know I was licensed and bonded. Wanted to see the work I’ve done and even know about my life. I suppose you want to know that, too? Or did he tell you everything?”

“Wow.” He flexed his hands on the wheel. “I wasn’t going to get that intense.”

“Then you’re the only one,” Walker replied. “His partner asked at least a hundred questions.”

“I’m going to assume they approved you or you wouldn’t be working with me, but it’s been tough around the pack lately,” Philip said. He turned onto the main road. “We’ve had to integrate some new pack members because their packs either folded or were destroyed. We’ve also had to handle situations with rival packs and the challenges aren’t always pretty. Dixon wants his wolves to be safe.”

“That makes sense.”

Philip sped along the main road to the diner, then pulled into the small lot. “He’s seen a lot of bullshit lately, and we’ve had to work through a bunch as a family. Too much information, I know.”

“Not really. I wasn’t sure what having a pack entailed. Like I said, I’m an only child,” Walker said. “My parents split when I was ten and I grew up with only my mom in the picture. My dad moved to Florida and we haven’t seen him in years.”

“That’s terrible.” He wasn’t his father’s biggest fan, but he couldn’t imagine not having him in his life when he’d been alive.

“It wasn’t so bad. My father wasn’t the greatest influence. He wanted to sleep around and told my mother they could be friends while he ‘saw’ his other friends.” Walker shrugged. “His version of seeing meant sleeping with anyone he wanted to, but she was supposed to sleep with only him.”

“That’s messed up.” He parked, then shut off the engine. “But I get it. My father did the same thing. He seemed to believe he should be fruitful and multiply no matter what. It was hard on my mother, hard on Dixon’s mother… It wasn’t fair.”

“No, it’s not.” Walker left the car and followed him into the building. “I’ve never been here before. I’m assuming it’s good.”

“It is. Homey, filling and worth the price.” He nodded to Tara, behind the counter, then strode over to one of the empty booths. “They take care of you and it’s economical. Plus, they’re all shifters, so we’re safe.”

“You’re not safe otherwise?” Walker asked. “I’ve got so much to learn.”

“It’s just about dynamics. If I were to go out to another pack’s land, I’d be at risk because I’m a rival. Humans don’t tend to come in here because they don’t know about the place, so that helps keep the diner safer for us.” He needed to stop babbling. “I’m sorry. Apparently I don’t know when to quit.”

“Quit what? Talking?” Walker accepted the menu. “I don’t mind. I spend a lot of time on my own. Being single tends to force the issue.”

“Where are you staying? You said he’d tossed you out.” It wasn’t his business, but he and his wolf cared about Walker. “Sorry. I overstepped.”

“No.” Walker toyed with the plastic. “I was with Ed for over three years, but he had certain ideas as to how I should live my life. He liked the money I made when I worked, but he wasn’t fond of how I worked. A real man doesn’t need to use his hands. He should use his brains. I do use them when I’m building, but stairs don’t fashion themselves.” He tensed as Tara approached the table.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked. “Hi, handsome.”

“A coffee,” Philip replied. “What would you like?”

“Water is fine.” Walker blushed a deeper shade of red.

“Make that two and we’ll decide what we’d like by the time you come back,” Philip said. “Thanks.”

“Any time.” Tara left them alone.

“Are you okay?” Philip asked. “Walker?”

“I’m fine.” Walker folded his hands on the menu. “Just out of practice at being in public.”

“Then I’ll have to help you knock off the rust.” And he’d love every second. He liked their conversation and time spent with Walker. The wolf liked him, too.

Maybe Dixon had known what he was doing when he put them together.

Maybe.