Baiting Him (How to Catch an Alpha #2)(33)

Hearing a noise, I jump, and my heart starts to race. “It’s probably just a neighbor,” I tell myself, but I jump again when there’s a squeak. Feeling overwhelmingly out of place, I flip back the blankets, making LeFou jump. “Sorry, boy. I can’t sleep here. We’re going down to my place,” I tell him before I get out of the bed.

He jumps down and circles my feet as I go to the dresser. I find a pair of flannel sleep pants, along with a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt, and put both items on over my nightgown. Once I’m covered, I grab my cell phone and pick up LeFou. I open the door and peek out just in case someone has snuck in to murder me. When I see the coast is clear, I hurry to the kitchen to get my keys, then run to the front door like someone is chasing me.

When I make it into the brightly lit hall, I let out the breath I’ve been holding and go to the elevator. Once I’m locked in safe and secure in my space, I get into bed and send Gaston a text letting him know where he will find me and LeFou in the morning. My cell phone rings a moment later, making me jump, and I roll my eyes at my craziness, then slide my finger across the screen and put my cell to my ear. “Hey.”

“Are you okay?” he asks as I lean back against my pillows while LeFou explores my room.

“Yeah. I just freaked myself out and wanted to be in my space.”

“How’d you freak yourself out?” he questions, and I notice I don’t hear the sound of music in the background, which makes me curious about where he is right now.

“I somehow ended up watching a crime show, and obviously that wasn’t a good idea.”

“I see.” There’s no mistaking the smile I hear in his voice.

“So, I’m fine. I’m just a dork.”

“An adorable dork.”

“Glad you think so,” I say, wondering if I’ve ever been this happy before. “It’s really quiet. Are you still at the club?”

“Yeah, I stepped into my office when I got your text. Now I’m sitting at my desk, wondering how pissed Luke would be if I called him in to cover for me.”

He told me about his best friend, Luke, last night after I asked who was taking care of his business while he was taking care of me. I was surprised to find out Luke already knew about me, since in most of my previous relationships that didn’t happen until things were kind of serious.

“Probably pretty pissed, if he’s home with his family,” I say quietly.

“You’re probably right.” He sighs, sounding aggravated. I know I shouldn’t like that he is frustrated right now, but I still really like that he wants to be here with me. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m sure. Now that I’m in my space, I’m good, and after LeFou finishes sniffing around and comes to cuddle with me, I’m going to go to sleep.”

“Now I’m jealous of my dog,” he grumbles, making me laugh. “Glad you’re finding this funny.”

“It’s a little funny,” I tell him through my laughter.

“You’re not the one sitting here wishing away time, baby,” he says softly, and then his voice changes as he calls, “Come in,” so I know he’s not talking to me.

I hear a woman’s sultry voice say Gaston’s name, but I can’t make out what she’s saying with the music that is now playing in the background. “I’ll be there to help you in a second, Georgia,” Gus tells her, and a second later the music dies. “Sorry, baby. I gotta go. I’ll see you in the morning.” I want to ask what he’s helping sexy-voice Georgia with, but before I can open my mouth, the phone goes dead. I pull it from my ear and stare at it for a second, then drop it to my side table.

“Come on, LeFou. Time to explore is over,” I say in his direction, pulling his attention away from the pile of clothes in the corner of the room he’s sniffing at. His fluffy white head turns, and I pat the bed. “Come on. It’s time to sleep.” He runs toward me, then jumps up onto the bed and licks my face. “Sleep.” I rub the top of his head with one hand, then reach over to turn out the lamp. Once the room is plunged into darkness, he burrows under the covers, settles in against my stomach, and falls asleep. And after an hour of replaying the sound of Georgia saying Gaston’s name and reminding myself that he’s never given me a reason to be jealous, I thankfully am able to fall asleep.





Suggestion 10

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ADD A LITTLE COLOR TO HIS LIFE

CHRISSIE

Completely sated and sprawled out half on top of Gaston, I listen to his heartbeat while my fingers scribble random patterns along his rib cage. It’s been two weeks since the night I attempted to stay at his place, and since then, we’ve fallen into a routine. When I get home from work, he brings LeFou to me, and we have dinner or just spend a few hours together before he has to leave. And when he gets home in the morning, we spend a couple more hours, usually in bed, before I have to get up. It never feels like enough time, but I still enjoy every second of it.

“What’s your plan for Christmas Day?” I ask Gaston as I lazily lift my cheek off his bare chest to look at him.

“I’ll spend the morning at home, then go to Luke’s around three or four for dinner. What about you? Are you still planning on going to your mom’s?”

“Yeah, I’ll go over in the afternoon. She told me she’s already got most of the groceries and that she wants to cook for me this year, so I won’t have to be there so early.”