ma

e who pulls

rom the sudden contact. My mind is racing

ce, and he says, "I'm sorry, Emmalee. I shou

, why d

instills fear in us both. "Romain? Emm

er cardigan tighter around her plump body, and her expression is a mixture of concern and also suspici

aking my voice lighter so she doesn't suspect tha

ying not to sound breathless

nd Soren," she explains while

upposed to be there with them, but Romain wa

scowls. "And who says it's his job to d

his shoulders tight with tension. Watching him walk away physically hurts me.

mean to hope, b

e isn't unrequited? Could

next. Alpha Denver is here with his family, and they'll be spending the next few days with

ogether, lower m

re not paying him attention," she reveals. "I'm sur

"They

with her callused fingers. "I'm just trying to

around her neck and kissing her cheek. "Don't worry.

e claims. "Go on. Go to Sor

on the other side of the lake, staring out at the water. I pray t

ave things

I participate. I catch the way Soren keeps looking at me, and I see a lot of tenderness in his eyes. It makes me

Cade is saying to Soren.

while once again looking a

what?"

tate," Cade says. "Give Soren a good look at

ing how Romain and I

ing up the hill in our direction. He seems distracted, t

yells. "Why don

faster than it is right now. I'm hoping he'll say yes, even though I know that I should probably watch

casually, though his facial exp

't seen him this excited in a really long time. He's alwa

we all head to the storage unit where we keep the bikes. His reaction is surprising me. How

s all the way down the dirt road, and although I'm walking alongside Cade and Soren, I slow do

o's doing the ignoring?" I as

e desperate and upset. "Look, you're the one who kissed m

out looking at me, says, "The

id you do

d to face me, and says, "Since there are

to get in the way," I say, coming up with the first excuse

Soren smiles easily and says, "Don't worry, Emmalee. We ha

m. Romain's eyes don't leave me as I get on the motorcycle with S

the ground. I land on my arm, and a

he climbs off his bike. Romain does t

assure him whi

w how to ride the motorcycle, why did you insist

while placing a hand on his arm. Our eye

And I didn't lie about knowing how to ride the bike. I

accusing look while he stares at my sc

r that he's talking to Romain and not Cade or even me, and he's referring to the motorcycle.

omain ask

en repeats the request like it's t

asks back. A heavy silence f

asks like he d

retorts. He's emanating aggression now,

isn't your job bein

cutting in. "Look, whatever. I

, hurting me. It tears an unexpected yelp from me. He says, "Don't you dar

ing forward. "Don't touch my fian

y. Romain releases me,

ims while gesturing at my arm

he fall, which so happens to be yo

at him with murder in his eyes. "What the hell is your problem, errand boy? Not only are you putting your hands on my f

's going to do something really stupid. With the intention to diffus

t Soren's face, and the