Claiming Shayla by Zena Wynn Read Free Book Online Page B

everything should work out fine.”
    Shayla snorted. “This is me you’re talking to. I’m more likely to head into trouble than to run from it.” Hell, most times she was the one who’d started it.
    Shannon laughed and threw her arm around Shay. “Welcome to the family, Sis.”
    “Yeah, well, just don’t say anything like that in front of my parents. I’m not ready for them to know yet,” Shayla warned.
    “Having met your mother, I understand completely. Are you sure she isn’t a shifter? She’s alpha enough. Doesn’t say a lot, but the look on her face…” Shannon shuddered. “That woman could teach a wolf a few things.”
    “My father didn’t call her the Drill Sergeant for nothing. She has eyes like a hawk and this way of issuing orders that has you obeying before you even realize what you’re doing,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
    “Like I said—alpha.”
    “I’d better get in there before she comes looking for me.” Shay motioned for Shannon to lead the way. “How’s Kee?”
    “Steady. Still worried about you but trying to hide it. This whole wedding thing is just a formality,” Shannon stated as she came to a halt in front of an unmarked door.
    “For you shifters, maybe, but not for Kiesha. She’s been dreaming of this day her whole life,” Shay commented as Shannon opened the door.
    As soon as she saw her mother, Shay squealed, “Mommy,” like the geek she was and ran to give her a hug.
    “Shay-Nei.” Her mother hugged her tight, then pinched her cheeks. “Look at these dark circles. You work too hard. When are you going to quit this gypsy lifestyle, settle down with a man, and give me some grandkids? You’re almost thirty.”
    “Moooom,” she groaned. “It’s been almost a year since we’ve seen each other, and you’re already starting in on me?”
    “I’m not getting any younger. Neither are you. Kiesha’s found a nice young man of her own. Why can’t you?”
    “Her next assignment is nearby in Tennessee. She’ll be there for six months. Maybe she’ll meet a nice man, Auntie,” Kiesha said.
    Glancing over her shoulder, Shay gave Kiesha evil voodoo eyes. When her mom went into raptures, ruminating on the possibilities, she turned where her mother couldn’t see her, pointed at Kiesha, then put her hands to her throat, miming choking motions. Kiesha’s gaze dropped meaningfully to Shay’s stomach, and she arched an eyebrow. The message was clear. With a sigh of defeat, Shay looked around for her dress.
    “My brother lives there. In fact, that’s who Shay will be working for. He’s single, and they seemed to hit it off fairly well when she was here a few weeks ago,” Shannon added with a sly grin.
    “Really?” The glance her mother gave Shay was speculative. “And he’s single, you say?”
    “Owns his own construction business and has partnerships in quite a few of the other local businesses,” Shannon stated.
    “Best of all, he’s not scared of Shay,” Kiesha said with a smirk.
    Grinning, Shay’s mother said, “I want to meet this man. Is he coming to the wedding?”
    “He’s in it,” Kiesha said. “He’s paired with Shayla.”
    I’m going to kill them, the both of them, as soon as this thing is over, Shayla thought to herself.
    “And what’s this young man’s name? And why is he still single if he’s so eligible?” her mom asked suspiciously.
    ’Cause he’s crazy mean and no one would have him? Shay quickly muffled a laugh at her thoughts. If she commented in any way, it would just encourage her mother, so she got her dress and acted oblivious to the conversation around her.
    “He wanted to make sure I was taken care of first. We shared a house until recently. Actually Rory practically raised me. He’ll make a good father,” Shannon said.
    Shayla rolled her eyes.
    “He’s become a good friend of Alex’s in the short time I’ve been here,” Kiesha stated. “I can vouch for his character. I think he’s a good match for