The Closet Librarian's Bookshelf.

The Alpha Hearts Trilogy - James Fate

Chapter One - James

The shrill ring of my phone made me jump until I hit the connect button "Hello?"
"James, thank god, I need a favour"
I smile at the voice on the phone, with just a few days to go till the wedding Aggie has been rushing around all over the place with Boston doing his best to make her slow down and let him do it for her.
"What can I do for you Aggie?" I ask.
"Boston's not back yet and I need to pick up some more family from the airport and get them settled, my aunt and uncle are going to moms and my cousin is coming to stay with us. Can you.." she trails off.
I laugh "Aggie, i'll pick them up for you, I'm only about 30 minutes from the airport, so just text me their flight details and I will meet them"
"Thank you James" she breathes in relief. 
"Aggie try to relax, remember if you need anything doing, and I mean anything, please just tell us" I tell her softly and I hear I little sniffle before she whispers "thank you"

I turn the car around and head towards the airport, still smiling. it's been nearly a year since Aggie and Boston met and fell in love and despite everything they have been through that love still burns bright. Not that it's unexpected given the family legend. The Masters men fall in love at first sight and its for life. I'd seen it happen with his cousins and brothers and Boss and I had laughed as one by one they fell, till it happened to him, just a brief glance at Aggie and he knew, she was his.
I envied him a little, knowing the family legend led to true long term love with proven results, made falling in love easier, once that male saw their love, that was it.  Simon had joked it would be my turn next , hinting the legend would strike me too as Bostons family had taken me in when I was orphaned at 10 and he was my brother in everything except blood, I just hoped I was as lucky as him.

Aggie's text with the arrival details, and a photo of her aunt and uncle came through just as I was parking so I made my way into the terminal to wait. I wondered briefly what the cousin was like who was staying at the house but expected I wouldn't see much of him.
Grabbing a coffee, I sat and waited by arrivals.

A delay announcement, two coffees and two dodgy pick up attempts later, I heaved a sigh of relief as the gates opened and I could look out for Aggies family.
They came through towards the end of the arrivals, bags with them and looking around.
"Hello, Mr and Mrs Tate?" I stepped forward and held out my hand. "I'm James, Aggie asked me to come and pick you up as she was delayed" I smiled as they shook my hand before parting to reveal a short redhead who was fighting with her bag.
"This is our daughter Ella" Mr Tate announced and my world stopped as grass green eyes peered up at me. I stared at her, stuffing my hands into my pockets, "Hey" I growled nodding my head in her direction. She blinked up at me before diving back into her bag and routing around, ignoring my stare.
The he is a she, Aggie could have warned me.
"Ella what are you looking for" Mrs Tate asked and my heart jumped again as she growled like a little kitten "My glasses, I can't find them and I can't see without them" she grumbles, still searching, as I watch and her voice invades my mind.
"Ella, I've got them" Mr Tate tells her reaching into his pocket and handing her the glasses. She sighs in relief and slips the glasses on, her gaze returning to me and narrowing as I continue to stare. "Take a picture, it will last longer" she mutters to me and I grin, "I just might do that" I tell her, laughing as her jaw drops before turning back to her parents, and taking their luggage trolley, "My cars this way"

Mr Tate joins me in the front of the car for the journey but I can't help keep looking back at Ella sat behind me, I know she knows I'm watching her by the tightening in her shoulders but she doesn't say anything, just keeps her head down.