Page 21 of The Wolf's Kidnapped Mate

“Because we’re definitely not getting along right now.” My words were teasing, but my stomach was doing that flip thing that happened when I looked over the edge of a tall cliff.

I felt like I was about to fall over.

“It’s not that.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “We’re total opposites. You’re all fashion and makeup. I’m practical.”

I chortled while tugging on his shirt, stretching the worn cotton thin. “I can see through this. That’s how fragile this poor thing is.”

“You’re missing the point.”

“I think I’m enhancing the point.” I straightened my posture so that I was standing as tall as possible next to his somehow-still-tall-while-hunched position. “Opposites can attract.”

“Are you making a case for us being mates?”

My whole face stiffened while I froze up. “I mean—I didn’t say—I wasn’ttryingto make us soundgoodtogether.”

His eyes grew brighter as his pupils blew open wide. “You’re cute when you’re fumbling over your words.”

“And you’re just cute.”

Just as we became statues again, the attendant brought our order over. We gathered it up and went outside, settling in at a black table with a huge umbrella over it. More cat paws and kawaii designs. It was too cute, too overwhelming, too sweet. I didn’t want to go back home, but I knew that moment was coming since our trip was already halfway over.

I lifted the cup of milk tea, shook it, and then popped one of the oversized straws through the plastic kawaii film on top so I could slurp up a few tapioca pearls. Flavorful jelly exploded over my tongue while I hummed contentedly, continuing to slurp the sweet stuff greedily until one of the beads tapped my uvula. I choked, sputtered, and then covered my mouth while trying to catch my breath.

Fred slid one of the mochi waffles over to me on wax paper. “Try not to die before you eat this, genius.”

“Try not to be so sour about everything.”

“You know what they say about old habits.”

I sniffled and cleared my throat. “And you know what they say about opposites.”

He gave me a critical glare that held a hint of a smile behind it. But before he could really smile, he shoved the giant straw into his mouth and took a long sip. Now I wasn’t the type to really pine after someone, but if it had to be anybody, Fred was a great choice. He had gorgeous eyes, smooth pale skin, and this whole grouchy bad-boy façade that would have been perfect for the lead in a murder mystery film.

He was plain hot. I didn’t have any problem admitting that. What I did have a problem with was how he treated me like I was a problem.

I set the boba aside to lift the waffle. Heavenly sweetness filled every bite, causing me to hum so much that Fred gave me an inquisitive look. I didn’t care that it seemed like I was a prisoner suddenly experiencing the outside world for the first time in several years. (Technically, that was true.) I was just happy.

Happy.

And it was all thanks to Fred.

Our eyes locked again. I had half a mind to smile, but my mouth didn’t want to work well enough to thank Fred for the outing. Whatever he had done to make this happen—or whatever had motivated him to do it—I was beyond grateful.

Say something. Sitting like this, I was level with his gaze, able to meet him head-on. It felt good to be on the same level. It would make my thanks feel more meaningful.Just say it, Kylie. Stop stalling.

“Fred?”

His brows twitched up. “Yeah?”

“I just wanna say—”

“What?”

I nipped my lower lip. “The sunset looks really nice from here, right?”

He started to respond, but held up a finger while reaching into his pocket instead. Goodness me, that Nokia had to be a thousand years old at this point. How was it still working? He pressed the green button and held it to his ear.

Without breaking eye contact, he listened. He nodded. He ended the call.

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