Claiming His Mate(8)

He watched her swallow and tried to ignore the way she’d laughed about the idea of them mating. Yeah, it was uncommon but not unheard of. It bothered him that she thought it was funny, even though he knew he shouldn’t have this reaction.

“Do you not like it?” Lauren asked and he realized he was staring at her.

Clearing his throat, he turned his attention back to his plate and took a bite of his meal. It was good. Really good. Of course it could have tasted like sandpaper and he would have told her it was the best meal he’d ever had. “This is great, thanks for cooking. I don’t expect you to though.”

“I wanted to.” She shrugged again as if it was no big deal and he struggled to read her. He could scent her natural amber and vanilla as strong as anything, but normally he could read more than that with others. He hated that he couldn’t tell much about her emotions. His wolf senses were how he read people.

“Listen, I’ve got to head to The Crescent Moon Bar tonight for a couple hours.” Max normally managed there, but with Grant gone Max had divided his time between all the places the pack owned and tonight was when he visited his normal bar. He wanted Lauren with him when he went. “Come with me?”

She set her fork back down on her plate. “Do I have a choice?”

There was no sarcasm in her question. He realized she was being serious. He could order her if he wanted. His most primal side wanted to. He’d felt edgy all damn day without her—something he was still trying to understand. “Yes.”

She smiled then, a real one, the effect stunning as it relaxed her entire face. “Okay. I’ve been cooped up here all day so it’ll be nice to get out. Your pack has been really great.” She sounded surprised by that.

Relief settled through him that she wanted to go, even if it was just to get out. Tonight he had to show her that he wasn’t the asshole who’d said he wanted to bend her over the nearest flat surface and fuck her. He cringed at himself, even if what he’d said was true. Inwardly sighing, he took another bite. He just hoped he could keep his primal side in check tonight.



* * * * *



As they stepped into the Crescent Moon Bar, Lauren was consciously aware of Max’s large hand on the small of her back. It should have been a casual move, but she felt as if he was branding her in some way. The heat generating from him was unmistakable but she was doing her best to cover the scent of her attraction and her expressions. So far she was pretty sure it was working. He seemed to be able to smell her natural scent but nothing beyond that. Of course she was concentrating really hard on masking her attraction to him. She didn’t want him using it against her and she really didn’t want to do something she’d regret. But if he kept touching her, she didn’t know how long she could keep it up.

In addition to her gift to cover her scent, as the youngest of the Hayes sisters, she’d learned how to school her expressions at an early age thanks to her older sisters. With her father being the alpha, she’d needed to keep a few things from him if she’d ever wanted to have any fun as a teenager.

Which was why her father didn’t actually know she was here in Gulf Shores. He thought she was on vacation.

Man, he was going to be so pissed when he found out. Two of her sisters knew that she and a handful of her cousins had decided to come after the brooch so they could give it as a gift to her oldest sister, Stacia. They wouldn’t say anything to her father though.

Lauren inwardly sighed. Stacia would be angry at that risk they’d taken but it was going to work out now and no one was getting hurt. Grant had a reputation for being honest and if Max said she’d get the jewels, she would. If at the end of the week he lied, however, then there would be an all out war between her pride and the Kincaid pack. She knew no one wanted that.

Well, no one in their right mind. Shifters didn’t like to attract attention to themselves so while yes, she was taking a risk by staying here a week and walking away with nothing, something bone deep told her that Max wasn’t lying.

Two steps inside the bar, Lauren realized the place was in chaos. There was no other word for it. In college she’d waited tables—something that had driven her parents crazy since they hadn’t wanted her to work—and from what she could see there were only two women on the floor and one woman behind the bar. Clearly they were overwhelmed.

“Shit,” Max muttered next to her. Then taking her by surprise, he grabbed her hand and headed for a swinging door she knew would lead to a kitchen.

Inside was one woman lifting up a large oval tray filled with plates of hamburgers and other grill style meals. She gave Max a frazzled look and didn’t even bother glancing at Lauren. “We need help at the bar!” she growled before hurrying toward the swinging doors.