“Okay.” He couldn’t watch her leave his truck, so he pulled his phone out of his pocket, pretending to be looking down at it.
“Hey, Brad.”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. For tonight.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before hopping out of the car.
“Sure, Jayla.”
Smiling at him, she slammed the car door, then headed up the walkway to her apartment. Brad waited until she entered and closed her door before he pulled away. He felt a bitter twinge of loneliness as he began the long drive to his empty, quiet home.
Chapter Twelve
Jayla stood in front of Brad’s front door with two coffees in hand and wasn’t ready for the worn-down-looking man who yanked it open. Devoid of hair gel, his long locks fell gently on his forehead. His deep scowl, which she’d grown to know so well, was intensely etched in place.
“Who pissed in your cereal this morning?” She held out a cup for him.
“I’m exhausted.” Taking the drink, he stepped aside for her to enter his home.
Brushing past him, she looked over her shoulder as she made her way to his couch. “Didn’t you get any sleep after you left?”
“No.”
“But you seemed okay with me leaving. I was okay. I mean, it was at least tolerable. I thought for sure our wolves were being satisfied.”
“Yeah, it’s much better. I could function after I dropped you off.” He took a sip of his coffee. “And this is good by the way, thank you.”
“You are welcome. So what happened?” Jayla plopped down on his couch, pulled her shoes off, and tucked her feet underneath her body.
“Your family Facebook and Twitter bombed me.”
“Oh, no, they didn’t!” Jayla grimaced, feeling sorry for him.
“Your grandma called me and…”
“Wait. Grandma Maya called you? How did she get your number?”
“I gave it to her.”
“Why?”
“Because she asked me for it.”
“And you actually gave it to her?” Jayla hunched her shoulders in dismay.
“Of course. Like I could tell her no. Anyway, she called me last night and asked if she could send me a friend request on Facebook. I don’t even fucking do Facebook. But I made a page to appease her because she thought it suspicious I didn’t have one.”
Jayla slapped her palm across her forehead, laughing. “Oh, Brad. Grandma says that about everything. Anything she doesn’t like or approve of is suspicious. You fell for her famous line.”
“She’s old. She’s adorable. And I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.” He ran his hand through his hair, and one side of his mouth lifted into a small grin. Jayla’s heart skipped a beat.
“Give Granny an inch, and she’ll step all over you. You have to be firm with her.” Jayla pounded her fist into her palm. “She’s got that I-could-die-any-moment routine down pat. It stopped working on me when I turned seven. Trust me: the woman is going to outlive the both of us.”
“Anyway, I made a stupid Facebook page and sent your grandma a friend request. Next thing I know, the requests started rolling in. Long story short, I have a hundred and fifty friends, and now I Twitter with a following of close to a hundred and twenty.”
“You tweet? Brad Dalton tweets?”
“Yeah. Grandma Maya thought it suspicious I didn’t Twitter.” He buried his head in his hands.
“What do you tweet about?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Well, us.”
“What about us?”
“Stupid stuff. What we did last night. What we’re going to do today. What side of the bed you sleep on.”
They stared at each other for a moment; then they both answered the question.
“Right side.”
“Left side.”
“How no one caught on to our little sham last night is beyond me. Anyway, my family loves some Facebook and Twitter.” Jayla ran her fingers through her hair, pulling her tresses back away from her face, then banding them into a high ponytail with a hair tie she pulled from around her wrist.
“Your grandma also thought it suspicious we weren’t Facebook friends.”
“Of course she did.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “Did you tell her to cut you some slack, given the fact you just made a page a few hours ago?”
Brad shrugged. “I don’t know, Jayla. Just please accept my friend request.”
She chuckled. “Poor baby. Okay. Imma accept your friend request. And I’ll even follow your Twitter account.”
“Do you Facebook and Twitter?”
“Of course. The whole Dalton pack has to. But the only people my Facebook page is viewable to are my pack members. And my Twitter name isn’t something anyone who knows me outside of my pack would know. So no one at work can see the insanity I’m involved in.”
BRAD STARED AT Jayla as she sipped her coffee, oblivious to her slip of the tongue. He waited a few moments to see if she would catch her mistake. “You…called your pack the Dalton pack.”
“I did? Oh, God. Sorry. I meant to say Stanton pack. Like we’d ever be in the same pack. Anyway, I’ll make sure I…”
Without looking up, Brad grabbed his phone and started typing.
Jayla snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Hey. Are you even listening to me?”
“I’m sorry. I just tweeted you’re up and we’re drinking coffee.”
“Brad, give me the phone. I relieve you from duty.” She held her hand out, waiting for him to hand it over.
“Really?” The relief in his voice was so evident that Jayla started laughing. “I’m glad you think it’s funny. Your pack is certifiable.”
“I know they are. And you do know you don’t have to give updates twenty-four-seven. They’ll love it if you do, but it’s not a necessity, Brad. I’m sure it’s no different than your pack. Well, aside from the Facebook thing. You’re lucky, by the way, that you guys don’t Facebook. Anyway, my pack just wants as much information as they can have.”
He nodded, stood, and walked back toward his bedroom.
JAYLA ROSE FROM the couch, yelling down the hallway. “Hey. Are you hungry? Because I think you more than lived up to your end of the bargain last night. And since I’ve never made you a homemade breakfast, I figured I owed you one.”
He yelled his answer in response. “Okay. Thanks. Although I’m sure I don’t have anything in my kitchen you can cook up.”
“No biggie. I can run to the store. What do you want?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you like made for you?”
“Uhhh. I don’t know.”
“Oh, come on, Brad. Indulging me isn’t going to unlock some secret about yourself you don’t want me to know. I’m trying to be nice. What did one of your ex-girlfriends used to make you in the morning after you two woke up?”
“I… Well… I don’t know.”
“Whatever, Brad. Forget it.” She threw her hands in the air, giving up.
“No really. I don’t do sleepovers.”
“Yeah right.”
“I’m serious.”
“Impossible.”
“No, it’s not. I like my personal space.”
“Well then, what did an ex-girlfriend make you when she came over early after not spending the night at your house?”
“Nothing.”
“Ever?”
“Never.”
“Oh. Well. Okay. Ummm. Let’s change it right now.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe you. I can’t even begin to make you understand how important and nerve-racking last night was for me. You came through for me, Brad. Big-time. So I guess I’m trying to offer an olive branch. I just want you to know, when I have to meet your pack, I’m going to return the favor twelvefold.”
Having changed into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, Brad walked down the hallway, one corner of his mouth tipped up. His lopsided grin bri
ghtened his already handsome face. “I always get eggs Benedict when I go out for breakfast. I’ve never had them homemade.” He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. “Do you think you can make those for me, Jayla?”
Smiling, she nodded, folding her arms in front of her like a genie. Her ponytail whipped forward and back before she turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
ONE HOUR, ONE shower, and six eggs Benedict servings later, Brad lay on the couch, a very satisfied male. Damn, the woman could cook. Now this was a part of mate life he could get used to.
“So I think we should have a rule.”
“A rule?” Brad rubbed his stomach underneath his shirt.
“Yes. Outside of work, we don’t discuss work.”
“Why not?”
“It’s counterproductive. Work stays at work. When we’re together outside of work, we’ll focus on other things.”
“You mean fucking.” He wiggled his eyebrows for effect.
She threw a sofa cushion at him, missing badly as it sailed over his head. “No. We focus on our wolves.” Jayla played with her fingers as she fidgeted in her seat. “So…um. Can I ask you something?”
“Ask away.”
“What are you doing today?”
Brad shrugged, looking around his house.
“You wanna do something?”
“With who?”
“With me!” She threw another cushion at him, which made Brad laugh when it hit him in the chest.
“I’m just teasing you, Jayla. Man, you’ve got a temper on you.”
Jayla giggled. “I got tickets to a ball game a while ago, and…well, I think we should go.”
“You and me?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Kind of sounds like a date.” Brad’s face scrunched up.
“And so what if it is.”
He sat straight up, looking at her. “You and me on a date?” He shook his head, wincing.
“Not us, our wolves. Keep our wolves happy, and our human lives stay manageable.”
Brad pondered this for a moment, considering Jayla’s words. His wolf was happier the more he was around Jayla’s wolf. And it was nice for once not to have such turmoil going on inside him. He rather liked the break from the chaos he always tiptoed around due to his wolf. Jayla seemed to have a point.
On an exhalation, he gave her his answer. “Keep our wolves happy… Okay, Ms. Stanton. I’ll go get ready.”
Smiling, Jayla stood from the sofa and extended a hand toward Brad to help him up. He grinned back at her, letting her pull him to his feet.
THEY ENDED UP having a great day together. Their great day extended into another steamy night. They’d fallen asleep on Brad’s couch, and Jayla woke feeling a little sore and cramped. Raising her head, she noticed Brad sleeping soundly next to her. The crick in her neck motivated her into deciding she needed a good night’s sleep in her bed.
Slowly untangling herself from his limbs, she crept to where her clothes were strewn across the floor. Slipping them on, she grabbed her keys and purse, carrying her shoes to the front door.
“Where are you going?”
She spun around, feeling a little foolish at being caught sneaking out of his house.
“To the office.” Jayla winked, grinning at him.
“But it’s two o’clock in the morning.” The roughness in his voice surprised her.
“Brad. I’m joking. Relax. I’m going back to my house.” Her smile fell slightly.
A scowl appeared on his face as confusion flashed in his eyes.
Taken aback by his reaction to her leaving, Jayla nixed humor and leveled with him. “Remember? Keep our wolves happy so our human lives stay manageable? I… My wolf’s had a great day, and now I’m going to my house to sleep.”
They stood staring at each other.
“Brad. I was sneaking because I was trying not to wake you up. You’re not going to get all paranoid on me again, are you? I didn’t want to wake you up. You looked so peaceful. I swear I’m going to my house.”
He stood still, saying nothing.
“No offense, but your couch is lousy for sleeping on. My back and neck always kill me the next day, so I’d like to have a good night of sleep in my bed. You seriously can’t object.”
He closed the distance between them, and pulling her purse strap from her shoulder, he let it fall.
“Hey,” she called out, trying to reach for it before it hit the ground.
Gripping her elbow, he slid his hand down her other arm to her hand and plucked her keys from her fingers. He dropped them onto the floor. Jayla looked up at him, ready to protest.
“You’re staying here tonight. I want you sleeping here with me in my bed. In my arms.”
He didn’t ask her. He proclaimed his command. Yet despite his demand, she picked up on an underlying tenderness to his words. Seizing her hand, he led her to his bedroom. When they entered, she placed her hand over her heart and staggered a step away from him.
“Could it be? Do I actually get to sleep in Bradford Dalton’s bed?”
He pulled her clothes off and tugged her to him, then swept her off her feet and carried her like a new bride.
Jayla giggled. “A bit overdramatic, isn’t it?”
“Sleeping in my bed is very dramatic.”
Jayla rolled her eyes.
He offered her a playful grin as he placed her on the bed and covered them up, tucking her in close to his body. After several long, quiet minutes, he spoke gently, stroking her hair. “I’m sorry I was an ass by not inviting you to sleep in here sooner.”
“If it makes you feel any better, if we were at my house, you would be sleeping outside in the backyard.”
Jayla smiled into the darkness, and the soft rumble of Brad’s chuckle was the last thing she heard before she drifted to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
Jayla stretched out in lazy satisfaction. Waking up in Brad’s arms was now a regular occurrence. Letting out a contented sigh, she enjoyed the feel of Brad’s arms around her. She bit her lip, remembering how he woke her in the middle of the night to the erotic sensation of his kisses raining down her body. What a hell of a way to be roused from a deep sleep. Brad had made love to her until she fell asleep once again, exhausted.
“I just want you to know, you’re not fooling me.”
She started at the sound of his voice. “Hey. I thought you were sleeping.”
“I woke up before you did.”
“How’d you know I was up?”
“A wolf never tells his secrets.”
“Sorry. I’m just so comfortable. You should have said something.”
“Actually, it feels nice lying here with you.” He grew quiet after his confession, and it made her feel giddy inside.
“It does feel nice.”
Silence settled comfortably around them as they bestowed fingertip caresses and featherlight kisses on each other’s bodies. It was a long while before Jayla spoke.
“Brad, I’m not dying to or anything, but when will I have to meet your pack? When are they going to factor into this mess?”
Brad’s body stiffened, and his reaction caused Jayla to keep babbling.
“I mean, you never talk about any of them. They don’t call, they don’t visit, and they don’t seem to be a part of your life. I’m not trying to pry, but I keep waiting for a random pack member to spring up on us. Where exactly does your pack live?”
Brad didn’t reply for a long while. Jayla almost asked him about his pack again when he finally answered. “I don’t have a pack.”
“No pack?”
“No.”
“Did something happen?”
Brad tightened his arms around her.
“No, Jayla. Nothing along those lines.”
“I don’t understand. Did you walk away from your pack?”
“Walk away? No, not quite… I was abandoned.”
“Wolves…don’t abandon their pack members. I mean, males will leave their p
acks to find their mates. And sometimes they start their own pack, but the bonds are always strong.”
“I don’t need a lecture on pack behavior.”
“I didn’t… I just meant… I’m sorry.”
“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” Sighing, he repositioned Jayla against his body. “I grew up in foster care. I don’t know my parents.”
“You lost them?”
“No. I was put up for adoption as a baby. I grew up in foster homes, and although most were decent places to live, I never made any real connections with anyone. None of the homes I lived in had any shifters. Even at a young age my instincts told me I couldn’t out myself to a nonshifter. When I became older and finally found myself around other shifters, I was never accepted.”
“Oh, Brad. How terrible.”
“As a kid it was. But I grew up, grew tough, and moved on with my life.”
“Have you ever thought about trying to find your family?”
“They never wanted me.”
“After all this time, someone could have been looking for you. They could be looking for you now.”
“They’re not.”
“You don’t know.”
“I know. I hired a private investigator to find them years ago. Incredibly, I later found out the investigator I hired happened to be a wolf. I only wanted him to find them. At the time I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make contact. But he took it upon himself and took it a step further. He must have thought he was looking out for me. Anyway, he found them. He confronted them and told them I was looking for them. They told him they didn’t want anything to do with me and to tell me to leave them alone. He gave me a huge manila envelope with all their information. He told me inside were their names, pictures, and information about who I am and where I come from. I left the damn envelope unopened on my desk for over a month. I knew if I opened it, I’d make them real. It took some time, but I finally decided if they didn’t want me, I didn’t want them. The last thing I needed was to create a real image of them. It’s harder to forget something real than something fabricated. So I burned the envelope with all their information and never looked back.”
“Brad, I’m so sorry.”
“Nah. I got over it a long time ago.”
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