Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Yes, particularly since there was no way he wouldn’t have picked up her wolf’s dominant vibes. She was surprised that he hadn’t told Trey and Taryn. Surely the fact that one of their wolves had been lying to them was something worth mentioning to their Alphas. For whatever reason, he appeared to be keeping the information to himself. She had to wonder if it was to make her nervous, to keep her on her toes. If so, it was working. “What do I say?” she whispered.
“How about the truth?”
“You know what will happen if I do that.”
Gabe shrugged. “It’s not for sure that they’ll ask you to leave.”
“I can’t risk it. I won’t.”
He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Okay.”
Seeing that he was glancing at Hope, who was smiling at him and blushing like crazy, Jaime asked, “Something going on between you two?”
“Not yet. But hopefully there will be.”
“If she can resist you, there’s something wrong with her.”
“You have to say stuff like that, you’re my big sister.” He cocked his head, giving her an odd look. “Thank you.”
She frowned. “What for?”
“After what happened with Mom and Dad…Our aunt and uncle might have housed us, but it was you who did the rest, you who did the parenting. And you had your own problems to deal with. I don’t think I ever thanked you.”
“You don’t have to.”
He rolled his eyes. “Will you just accept the thanks? I’ll probably never say it again, so you should really take advantage of this moment.”
“Fine. Thank you for the thank you.”
“So how are things going between you and Shawn?”
She grimaced. “They’re not. He’s still hung up on his ex-girlfriend, though he won’t admit it, so we haven’t even been doing the dirty.”
“Just like you’re still hung up on Dante.” At the sound of her growl, he held up his hands.
“Hey, I’m not judging. I just wish you guys would get your acts together and stop pretending you don’t want each other.”
“If he wanted me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. It’s not like I played hard to get.”
“Sometimes people need to have something moved from their reach before they realize how much they want it.”
She loved her brother, but sometimes he made no sense to her. She knew Dante well enough to know that when he wanted something, he didn’t dance around it, he took it. “Whatfreakingever.” Gabe simply laughed.
As the party continued and Dante didn’t show any signs of slackening his stakeout, Jaime began to get restless. Having his total attention should have made her feel uncomfortable, but it heated her blood. Like her blood needed heating up any further! Good thing she, Ivy, and Riley were going to the club tomorrow night. Operation Calm Libido couldn’t come soon enough.
Eventually the party ended, and to Jaime’s surprise, Dante didn’t take the opportunity to corner her. That made her nervous, but she took advantage of that and scampered to her room. Not to hide.
No, of course she wasn’t hiding. Okay, she was hiding. But considering that she was about to be interrogated by someone who was not only an ace at it but who primed her body with his mere presence, was it really any wonder?
A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on her door. Bracing herself, she took a deep, calming breath. Opening it, she was surprised to find Shaya. She was even more surprised when Shaya pushed her way inside and quickly closed the door.
“I need a favor.”
Seeing her stand there with her hands clasped as if in prayer, Jaime tensed. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to get out of here for a little while. I was thinking of going to the Rouge Bar. Will you come? I just need to get away.”
“Why, what is it?”
After a long sigh, she spoke. “Someone’s coming to visit, and I don’t want to be here when he does. Bring Gabe and Hope if you want, and we’ll make a night of it. Just, please, I need to get out of here.”
“Shaya, you have me totally confused and worried. If you want me to come with you somewhere then fine, I will. But, please, tell me what’s wrong.” Shaya bit her bottom lip hard. “Not here. Once we’re off pack territory, I’ll tell you, okay?” Impatient to know but not wanting to push, Jaime nodded. “Okay. Just give me ten minutes to get ready.”
“I’ll be waiting in my room.”
Eager to get Shaya out of their territory before this mystery person arrived and Shaya hyperventilated, Jaime began swiftly searching through her pine triple wardrobe for something to change into that, unlike what she was currently wearing, wasn’t stained with chocolate—her favorite food group. It was while she was stripping off her clothes that there was a heavy rhythmic knock that almost made her jump.
“Open up, Jaime.” Dante’s tone was implacable, totally unyielding.