Page 52 of Tainted Romance

“Yep, while not thinking about how much I want to touch you.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I slapped a hand across my mouth.

“Really?”

“Oh, shut up will you and take me home.” I whacked his stomach with the back of my free hand.

“Just can’t keep your hands off me?”

“You’re cruising for a bruising, mate.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “Take me home.”

Would we regret this in the morning? Would I even be able to look him in the eye come tomorrow? I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

Chapter Twenty-two

I had always seen the world as two-sided, white and black if you must. There was good, and there was bad. I never really saw a middle ground, so it was hard for me to admit what happened last night with Zane was good when really it was so wrong at the same time.

“So, you going to tell me how your night was?” Ryder smirked across at me. “Or are you just going to keep staring at me.”

“I’m not staring!”

“Sure, you’re not,” he scoffed and handed me an empty plate. “You better start serving up your plate before it is all gone.”

“I can’t.” I sighed andjumped off the counter I was sitting on. “I have an appointment with the pack doctor this morning, so I guess I’ll have to miss out.”

Ryder gave me an exaggerated look of disappointment. “Bugger, the breakfast feast is always the best of the week.”

“I know.” I gave the row of freshly made food a deflated look.

Ryder wasn’t joking either, the pack house always went all out for Sunday breakfast.

“I’ve got to go.” I waved over my shoulder.

“Ok, I’ll see you when I see you.”

I left the man with his bacon and pushed open the swinging doors. Why did I have to get an appointment first thing Sunday morning? I know now why that appointment was still free.

I was walking up the hall deep in thought when I accidentally walked straight into someone.

“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.” I looked up apologizing, and when my eyes met his, I lost all thought.

Zane rubbed the back of his neck, looking and acting as awkward as me. “It’s ok, I um, wasn’t watching either so, um, yeah.”

Hearing Zane stumble over his words caused me to smile. “So, this is, um…” I rocked on the balls of my feet.

“Awkward?”

“Yeah.” I nodded my head. “It shouldn’t be, as we had a good night.” I was saying the words, but even I was struggling to believe them.

He raised both eyebrows at me, looking at me curiously. “Good night? Here I was thinking you would be regretting it by now.”

“Well, it’s only nine in the morning, so I guess we will have to wait and see.” Remembering the time, I really had to speed this up. “Um, look I’m not doing this to run away from you, but I have an appointment on the upper level with the doc, so I have to get a move on.”

“You’re going to miss the feast.”

“Yep.” My luck sucked like that. “So, I’ll see you, um, next time.” I gave him another awkward grin, and before I said another word to embarrass myself, I walked past him.

My eyes widened, and I really wanted to just go invisible. Could that have been any more awkward? What was worse was I felt like I was the one making it awkward. Of course, I would choose that moment to act like a girl.

“Allie?”

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