Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
He loved the smile on her face.
“Do you?”
“I have been known to.”
Alexander loved to hear her laugh. It was the sweetest sound in the world.
Chapter Three
“Are you not going to tell me any juicy gossip?” Elle asked, sliding opposite Layla as she ate her lunch.
Layla looked at her best friend and smiled at how radiant she looked. She truly looked stunning, even more so than she could remember.
“Juicy gossip about what?”
“You, Lewis, anything. Have you been on a date?”
She reached for a napkin and wiped her hands as she wrinkled her nose. “You really need to stop talking about Lewis. Seriously, he and I, it’s never going to happen.”
Elle groaned. “Why not? You two look so great together. You have to admit you do.”
Layla had lost her appetite, and was about to place her napkin on top of her plate but Elle stopped her. She pulled the leftover fries toward her.
“You cannot waste good food.”
“It’s nice to see that your appetite hasn’t been affected by everything going on.”
Elle groaned. “I don’t know if this is because it’s Brandon’s baby, or a whole wolf thing, but I’m starving, like all the time. Do you know I’ve had to start taking cookies to bed, and snacks. All of them. I’m so hungry.”
“Let me go and order something for you.” The fries were pretty much all gone.
“No, no, it’s fine. I’m good now.” She blew out a breath, and then turned toward her. “Where was I? Oh, yes, Lewis.”
“No, we’re not talking about this.”
“Why not? I want you to be happy.”
“And does that happiness involve me getting my heart broken by him? I’m not Lewis’s true mate, which means when that person does turn up, I’m going to be the one to get the boot.”
“Didn’t you have a crush on Lewis?”
“I did, but … I don’t know, it kind of ran its course. When I look at him, he doesn’t make my heart race and I don’t feel anything for him. To be honest, can you get Brandon to stop him from constantly walking me home?”
Elle sat back. “Is that what you want?”
“Yeah, I would really appreciate it.” She picked up her coffee and took a sip.
“I can ask him.”
She smiled at her friend and quickly changed the discussion. “What’s it like being pregnant?”
“You mean besides the constant hunger? The slight back pain, not to mention sensitive nipples and other body parts?”
Layla couldn’t help but smile. Elle had warned her that everything was heightened for her.
“So, you’re not having fun?”
“I love being pregnant. I think I love being pregnant.”
She burst out laughing. “You’re a hoot.” She checked the time. “I’ve got to get back to work.” It was Elle’s day off. Since her pregnancy, it was agreed within the pack that she had to work less. She had noticed the pack would intervene if they felt Elle was doing too much. She was carrying the next generation of the pack, and her job was one of the most important. Providing healthy babies for the future.
Layla couldn’t help but think about Alexander. Did he have a family? Did he know what it was like to father children? When he was alive, did he have a wife? Had he ever been in love?
She thought of all the questions she could ask him, and it made her excited for the next few hours to pass.
Her shift didn’t end until after the dinner service, which was always a hectic time. The pack were not tense, though, as they’d not had any human visitors for quite some time. At the end of the dinner shift, Daisy had told her she worked way too hard and she needed to go and get some rest.
She was more than happy to work, but it was hard for her to sleep. Each night, she seemed to go to sleep later and later.
Stepping out of the diner, jacket in hand, and bag across her body, she came to a stop when she saw Lewis waiting.
“You don’t want me walking you home anymore?” he asked, looking mighty pissed.
Elle worked fast.
“I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Did you not know that we’ve got a couple of vampires in town, and a potential threat lurking around? Is my company so repulsive to you?” he asked.
“You’re not repulsive but you and I both know nothing is going to happen here.”
Lewis shrugged. “Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
She groaned. “Do you think I don’t see through you?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked.
“Simple. I’m a challenge. You’re after the chase and I’m it right now, because I don’t want you.” She sighed and looked past his shoulder. “I’m not going to do this with you.”
“You really don’t want to fuck?”
“No, not with you, and stop acting like the vampires are horrible. They’re not.” She felt the need to defend Alexander. He was one of the sweetest men she had ever met.