Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Alpha Blake
I probably shouldn’t have brought Ryley to meet Jeremy, but he is one of my favorite chefs. He has also been encouraging me to date. Jeremy is a great guy. Mia had asked me to invest when we were first mated. His restaurant has repaid my investment ten times over but I haven’t taken a penny from him, I also didn’t put the business on the list because the investment was in Mia’s name and now Aspen’s Mia was very passionate about this place and her older brother.
After getting Ryley’s drink, I was thankful when she turned around on the bar stool. I needed a moment to readjust myself. I thought I was playing earlier but she’s a da*n tease. The way she leaned over the bar and played with her lips. The way her voice purred. F*ck me. There’s no way she has ever paid for a drink in her life. Even dressed in her tight jeans and a plain black t-shirt.
Then my mood turned sour. Just the thought of another man having her attention angered me. She’s mine and no one touches what’s mine.
“But, she isn’t ours. And unless you do something to prove to her that you are a good mate and alpha, she will leave at the end of the summer.” Gunner reminded me.
I downed my whiskey before filling up my glass again. I wanted Gunner to be wrong.
Ryley sat down at a table beside the stone fireplace. It was Mia’s favorite spot. My heart twisted at the memory as I took a seat across from her.
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Twenty Two
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“Do you come here often?” She asked, before sipping her soda from a straw. I watched her plump lips wrap around the straw.
“With Aspen or business.” I cleared my throat. If she thought I brought dates here, she was wrong.
“Well, it’s a lovely place. And your brother-in-law seems great,” she
smiled.
“He sure is that,” I said, my voice coming out more annoyed than I would have liked. I took a sip of my drink as Ryley watched me.
“Blake, are you okay? You didn’t have to bring me here. Honestly, I thought we hit a drive-thru. If this is overwhelming, we can take our meals to go.” She looked worried. Does she care about my feelings?
“Drive-thru?” I asked instead, raising an eyebrow.
“I
mean, I’m sure Jeremy is a great chef but nothing bets a cheeseburger and fries,” she chuckled.
“I’m going to forget you said that,” she smiled before laughing. The same laugh she laughed with Aspen at his joke. I found myself laughing with her.
“But seriously, if you ordered me a salad, I will stab you,” she chuckled.
“Not salad,” I heard Jeremy and we started laughing again. The tension between us was lifted and it felt good to laugh with her.
I wouldn’t have ordered her a salad. Instead, she gets steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and buttery green beans. And Jeremy’s secret BBQ sauce. Which I would kill for.
“Wow,” Ryley breathed out when Jeremy placed down her plate.
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“This smells amazing, thank you,” she exclaimed.
“You are welcome,” Jeremy told her.
“Not going to join us?” I asked him, surprised he didn’t make himself a plate.
“Nope, I have to get prepping but first paperwork.”
“Thanks, Jeremy,” I gave him a nod.
“Come to my office before you leave,” he said before Ryley let out a small moan.
“This has to be the best sauce I have ever tasted.”
“It’s a secret,” Jeremy smirked.
“Of course it is. But I would drive the four hours just to eat this,” she mumbled taking another bite. Jeremy gave me a questioning look.
“Later,” I mouthed to him.
He gripped my shoulder, squeezing it before disappearing to the back.
“Better than drive-thru?” I chuckled as Ryley stuffed her face. She just noaded with a smile, her cheeks full. I can see where Channing gets his goofiness from. Under that protective momma wolf, is a playful, goofy woman, with a heart of gold.
After Ryley all but licked her plate clean, she leaned back in her chair.
“That was hands down the best meal I’ve eaten.” She breathed out.
“Now, we have to go grocery shopping,” I said and she groaned.
“I just want to nap,” I chuckled.
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“And then what would we eat tomorrow?” I asked her.
“I don’t care. Let me enjoy my food coma. I only had cheese and cr**kers for dinner last night,” she complained.
“What, why?” I questioned.
“First, I have two teenage boys eating and apparently you’re starving that poor boy of yours. And second, I was too lazy to go anywhere,” she shrugged.
“Why didn’t you just come to the pack house?”
“Because last time I almost killed one of your pack members. And as much as that would have satisfied my wolf, I sighed a contract. Also, it wouldn’t be setting a good example for Channing.” she sighed, before taking a sip of her drink.
“I get it, but next time call me. Also, Aspen should be eating at home.” I told her.
“I don’t mind feeding him. I enjoy having him around. I just need to double up at the store, which I’ll do Monday. And don’t worry, I’ll send you the bill at the end of the summer,” she chuckled. I made a m**tal note to text Luca. If she’s feeding my kid, I can at least have the house stocked. And I’ll make sure it’s stocked up every few days.
“Okay, well, I’m just going to let Jeremy know we are off,” I told her, standing up from the table. I downed the rest of my whiskey before heading to the back, where his office is. I had to walk through the kitchen and I jumped, whipping around when I heard dishes hitting the sink. Ryley followed me with our dishes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching her fill up the sink with
water.
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“Cleaning up. It’s the least I can do after Jeremy cooked us lunch.”
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