Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3) by Terry Bolryder Read Free Book Online

purple twilight color outside. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”
    She felt tingly just sitting next to him. Suddenly, it all just felt so right. Staying by his side. Watching out for him. Supporting him. Eating with him. Coming out here in the evenings after a long day of work on the kingdom and sharing thoughts as night crept up on them.
    “Anyway, you like Chinese food, right?”
    “Yeah,” she said. “The usual place we get for lunch?”
    He nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”
    “No big,” she said. “I always love the food you order in. You’re a good boss, you know.”
    “Even though I’m trying to date my employee?” he asked, looking down at her.
    “We both know it’s a different situation,” she said. “Not the norm.”
    He sighed and leaned back on his hands. He was so much taller than her, even when they were both sitting. “I guess so.”
    “Wait, did you say you called your brother?”
    “I did,” he said. “For help with the date.”
    She was oddly touched by that. He really was trying. If he was just trying to learn from her, would he be putting in that much effort? But her heart told her that was a dangerous train of thought. Their relationship had an expiration date, unless the slim chance of her being named his mate came to fruition, which she doubted.
    She’d never really pictured herself having a mate after all. She had no ties and she felt she never would, and that suited her,
    He scooted a little closer. “Thanks for trying the food. I appreciate your bravery.”
    She laughed. “It was pretty brave.” She nudged against him so he would lift an arm and she could scoot under it. She loved the feel of his body against her.
    Loved how relaxed he seemed in her arms.
    “I’m sorry I screwed up our first date,” he said. “The food will be here soon. That’ll fix it.”
    “You didn’t screw up,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder. “I think it was perfect. After all, you saved me from actually eating it.”
    “That’s because it was going to make you cry,” he said. “I never want to see you cry.”
    She laughed. “Good call. A woman crying is always a sign something has gone wrong in the courting department.”
    “Hey, even I knew that,” he said, putting up a hand and running it through her hair. “Hey, Lucy?”
    “Yes?” she asked.
    “Let me try again tomorrow? I’ll make it up to you.”
    “Nothing to make up,” she said. “You still get an A for effort, and I’m looking forward to Chinese. And the night isn’t over.”
    He stared at her, tilting his head, and then a grin spread across his lips. “Okay. Not over, then. Got it.”
    She bit her lip and tried not to smile like an idiot as she enjoyed snuggling against him.
    It was just so nice.

    * * *
    A xel tried not to be humiliated by the failure of his cooking to impress her.
    He checked his watch with the arm that wasn’t around Lucy. The Chinese food would be here, fully ramming home his folly in thinking he was capable of cooking for her at all.
    Still, if this was what resulted, him sitting beside her, watching the quiet evening, enjoying the fresh spring breezes moving through, then maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.
    He could really see doing this with her forever. He wished there wasn’t a time limit on what was happening between them. Because from the moment he’d leaned into it, it had just felt perfect and right.
    Still, maybe that was just infatuation. It was hard not to be infatuated with Lucy. Her curvy, feminine shape, the soft clothes she wore, her curly hair that always waved around her face, driving him crazy.
    She was perfect. Of course he could fall for her. He’d been resisting it for months, and that kiss had been the last straw. In kissing her, he’d pulled his finger from the figurative dam and let the deluge come through.
    He sighed and looked over her. She was wearing a soft red sweater over tight black leggings. Red lipstick and minimal makeup on her tawny skin. She looked just