Who's Your Alpha? Read Free Page B

forest floor. She was sure she wouldn’t sleep much—she never slept well in strange beds—but the next morning she woke after sleeping better than she had in years. And without any nightmares.
    At the diner the next morning, she was enjoying a second cup of tea when David entered. Like Robin Hood’s arrow to a target, he bulls-eyed her and headed straight for her, not even looking for another seat.
    “Good morning!” He slid into the bench opposite her. “You look incredible this morning.”
    “You’re not so bad yourself. How’d your emergency turn out last night?” She figured he’d faked the importance so he didn’t have to stay with her. After all, he was David, as perfect as the statue carved by Michelangelo. And she was…Sunny. Slightly overweight nerd and weirdo.
    “A German shepherd got into a fight with another dog. Gashes and some internal injuries, but he’ll pull through. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you, but by the time I was out of surgery, it was pretty late.”
    “You mean it really was an emergency?” His eyes widened and she choked on her tea. “Damn. I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
    “Yep. I take it you’ve been the victim of the fake emergency call a time or two.”
    “Or more. I even had an accountant once tell me he had an accounting emergency he had to fix. Didn’t even get past the appetizer on that one.”
    “Ouch. Were those guys all blind?”
    “No. That’s the problem. They saw all too well.”
    “Sunny! You were a cute teen, but you’ve matured into a gorgeous woman. Any man would be proud to have you at his side. I know I would be.”
    “Excuse me? You? You can have any woman you want. There were enough of them drooling after you all through school.”
    “But none of them were my friend. Not like you. I’ve never been as comfortable with anyone as I was with you.”
    Her hopes sank like a breached sub. A friend. That’s all she was. She stiffened when he reached for her hands.
    “I’ve missed you more than you can possibly know. And I am so glad you’re back. But before I say anything else, we need to really talk—finish what we started last night. Are you done?”
    “Yes. But what about you?”
    “I ate earlier. Come on.”
    She paid her tab and followed him out. A cold breeze blew leaves around. They’d had a hard frost during the night and the sun hadn’t yet warmed the air. Her breath puffed white in the cold and she pulled up the collar of her heavy jacket. “Where to?”
    “Would you mind coming to my place?”
    Only as much as I’d mind winning the mega-lottery. “Um, no. That would be fine.”
    “We can take my car. Do you have any plans you need to be back for?”
    “I’m supposed to meet up with Rommy sometime today, but nothing definite. And there’s the parade tonight.”
    He laughed. “I promise you won’t miss the show. Rommy, I’m not sure about. You can call her from my place.”
    “I’ve got my cell phone.”
    “That’s good then. Come on. My car’s behind the hardware store.”
    He led her to a big black truck with scratches showing through the caked-on mud. “Sorry. I should have run it through the car wash.”
    “Why? This is the vehicle of someone who gets into his work.” She climbed into the passenger seat after he opened the door for her. The interior smelled like dogs and she smiled. Most people would find the odor offensive. She bit back the urge to sniff at the seat. He climbed into the driver’s seat and they were off. To her surprise, they headed into the mountain.
    “Your place is upslope?”
    “Yeah.” His cell phone howled, and he hit the talk button on his earpiece. She wasn’t totally surprised when the truck slowed to a stop.
    “I’ll be there shortly.” He hung up and sighed, his head dropping to the steering wheel. “Sunny?”
    She laughed. “Yeah, I know. Another emergency.”
    “Actually, no. But the shepherd isn’t doing well. I need to go back. You want me to drop you at the