Promise of Paradise Read Free Page A

moon for him. She relaxed a little more. Could a man who looked at a woman like that, hurt that woman? She doubted it. Perry never looked at anyone with anything less than contempt. Perry was an asshole, but then, she’d known that from day one.
    “Maybe, he knows, maybe not. It doesn’t make me any less glad to see you.
    “In fact—” Alexa made a show of sizing the man up before she leaned forward, lowered her voice and whispered, “I have a few questions to ask. I’ve been thinking about leaving the carnival, myself.”
    Milla smiled. “It’s a freeing experience.”
    Reaching out, Alexa drew her in for another hug. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your new friend?”
    “Oh!” Milla blushed. “I’m sorry. Alexa and Nadya, meet Jonas. He’s one of the first real gentlemen I’ve ever met,” she said with a grin. “Though, there are a lot of real gentlemen in this town. I’ve only been here a short while, and I’ve found that out already.”
    “Ladies.” Jonas grasped the brim of his hat with his thumb and forefinger. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He smiled at Milla. “I don’t want to cut your reunion short. Would you like to stay here and have dessert while I go find Mel?”
    “Mel? Who’s Mel?” Nadya asked at the same time Alexa voiced the same question.
    “He’s another friend.” Milla led the way to the diner. “And you’re not going to believe who he looks like.”
    Nadya didn’t care who he looked like as long as he or his friend didn’t hurt Milla. If they did, they would both suffer the same painful fate.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    “So what do you expect us to do at this council meeting of yours?” Gabe asked as he leaned back in his chair.
    Adam Greer, Alpha of their odd clan, sat behind his desk, his expression grim. “I expect you to participate in it.”
    “In a council meeting?” Luc snorted. “What the hell for? We aren’t council members.”
    The look on the alpha’s face didn’t help Gabe relax at all. “I have a feeling we’re about to become members.” So much for relaxing. He sat up in his seat.
    “You’re a very astute man, Gabriel.” The alpha gave them both a thin smile. “The town elders have made it perfectly clear that it’s well past the time that I put a council together. I’ve chosen you two, among others, to take a seat at the table.”
    “How many members will be on this council?” Luc asked as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
    The alpha didn’t know it, but that was one of Luc’s agitated poses. Gabe wasn’t surprised. This was a surprise and it wasn’t necessarily a welcome one. They were too busy to take a seat on the damned council.
    “The town charter says that there needs to be at least eight different seats on the council. By different seats, it means eight different families. I’ve chosen you two, Mel and Jonas along with others whom I think will meet the criteria set forth in the charter.”
    “We meet…criteria?” Gabe asked skeptically. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    “Well, you own a business here in town and there are at least two of you. A lone shifter can’t sit on the council. If something should happen to him in a crisis, his seat would remain empty. Mated pairs are the requirement because in the absence of one, we have the other.”
    “Not when we’re on vacation.”
    “If you’re on vacation, you can still be reached, you idiot.” Adam shook his head. “Being on vacation only means your seat here in Paradise remains empty. You would still have a voice in any decisions because we would call you and have you submit your vote remotely.”
    Great . So no private vacations with their mate, if they ever find one. He glanced at Luc. “What do you think?”
    “I don’t know why you’re asking his opinion. I’m not requesting you two to take a seat on the council. I’m assigning you a seat. If you don’t like it, tough shit.” Adam leaned back in his seat