Page 15 of Tempting His True Mate
“How’s everything going today?” I asked as I set my plate down and pulled out the chair. Randy grunted a hello. I guess he wasn’t much of a morning person, either.
“Everything’s great. Mariam just left for the salon. She’ll take a little longer than us, what with all the honeymoon waxing and stuff.” Justine raised her eyebrows suggestively, and Randy reddened, much to his mate’s delight. “We should actually head over in a little bit, too. Do you want to do a dye or anything special with your hair? We could curl it or put in some nice highlights.”
I shrugged. I’d never dyed my hair and usually just settled for the same old cut at Miranda’s Haircuts and Shaves back in Dark Claw. She was the only stylist in the pack, so it was where pretty much everyone got their hair cut.
“Why mess with perfection?”
Gabe gave everyone at the table a cheery smile and sat in the chair across from me. I studied the fruit on my plate,trying not to engage. Of course, it didn’t work, but I tried.
“So, Ella,” he started. I could feel his eyes on me. “How did you sleep last night?”
I raised my eyebrows, meeting his gaze. It was a harmless question, but how he said it sounded like he already knew I didn’t get much sleep. Maybe that’s just how rough I looked, but I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of confirming whatever he thought. “It was fine. No complaints.”
He gave me a knowing smile like he didn’t believe a word I had said. Suddenly, I wasn’t very hungry anymore.
“Should we go over to the salon now? I’d like to see Mariam and maybe get a few pictures of her getting ready.”
Justine nodded. “Sure. The photographer’s there, too, but I can’t wait to see what she looks like. I probably could use a little extra TLC, anyway.”
Randy growled a warning to her. “Don’t forget what we discussed. No dyes or anything shorter than your shoulders.”
Justine huffed and stuck out her bottom lip. “I know, I know…nothing fun, I got it.”
“Good. I need a good handful to grab onto.” It was Justine’s turn to blush, which was surprising. I didn’t think she could get embarrassed about anything.
“That goes for you, too, Ella.” Gabe’s eyes were back on me. Or maybe they had never left. Either way, I frowned at him, unhappy at being told what to do.
“I haven’t decided what type of style I want. I’ll probably ask the cosmetologist what she thinks would look best.”
“I mean it, Ella,” Gabe said. Any trace of the smiling, carefree man was long gone. “I like you the way you are. A little makeup or a trim is fine, but I don’t want you coming back looking different.”
I snorted. “Well, that’s great, but I do what I want with my body. I’ll decide when I get there.” I stood up, ready to bring my dishes to the sink. “Let’s go, Justine. I would rather leave now if that’s okay with you.”
Justine looked between Gabe and me, clearly entertained by the tension building between us. I snuck a glance at him, too, expecting to see him fuming at being dismissed, but instead, he looked calm, almost thoughtful.
It was then that I decided it didn’t matter what the hair stylist recommended to me. I was going to chop, dye, maybe even perm my hair to my heart’s content. Maybe that would show Gabe once and for all we were not meant to be mates.
Chapter 7
She was beautiful, but that wasn’t surprising. Mariam had always been gorgeous. Now, though, with her curls brushed out and her makeup done, she was a vision. I cursed myself as tears welled in my eyes again, thinking about how much I wished our parents were here. Mariam grabbed my hand, squeezing it and letting me know without words that she wanted the same thing.
I took a seat in the chair next to her. The photographer took some candid shots of us, which made me happy. These were the pictures I wanted copies of, where we were just happy and not at each other’s throats. I also wanted the record to reflect that I hadn’t been entirely absent during these important few days. I was here for at least some of it.
“What do you want to have done?” The stylist untied my messy bun, and my hair cascaded down my back, resting on the black cape she had secured around me.
Did I dare?
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was the same old Ella with the same old dull look. I needed something new, and this was as good a time as any tobreak out of my rut. Sending a message to Gabe that I wasn’t his to boss around would just be a bonus.
__________
“Seriously. Are you a masochist or something?” Justine asked, eyeing the color in my hair with envy. The stylist had just finished blow-drying it, and the purple was coming through nicely. I grinned at my reflection, enjoying the difference already. “I know you said you wanted a mate who would discipline you, and if this sort of thing is typical, I don’t think that will be an issue.”
“You saidwhat?” Mariam was sitting on a nearby sofa, flipping through a magazine and waiting for her wax. We had her full attention now, though.
I blushed. “I didn’t say I wanted to be punished. I said I wanted a strong mate, not someone like Gabe. He’s just so polite and friendly…which is great, but I want what you both have. I want sparks and passion.”
I waited for them to argue with me and tell me that Gabe could be a strong mate for me, but they didn’t. For some reason, my heart sank slightly, knowing that they must agree.
