First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) by Alyssa Rose Ivy Page B

You weren’t faking it on the beach.”
    “Could you lower your voice?” She hissed.
    Then something dawned on me. She’d been happy to see me earlier. “Wait, this isn’t about this morning is it?”
    “Well…”
    I relaxed further. It was just a misunderstanding. “Oh, I can explain that. I told you I work for my dad, those men I was with are his advisors. I figured you didn’t need to meet them.”
    “Oh…”
    “But wow, I’m flattered that it got to you,” I teased. I was relieved she was only upset about my so-called brush off.
    “Don’t push it.” Her voice had an edge to it. I had a feeling it had more to do with embarrassment than genuine annoyance.
    I decided to move the conversation to a more enjoyable place. “So… tonight?”
    She crossed her arms. “No thanks.”
    “Wait, I thought we cleared everything up?”
    “It doesn’t really matter. I still don’t feel like going out.”
    “Then we can stay in… I can bring over some DVDs, or we could order something.”
    “You want to stay in and watch a movie?” she asked incredulously.
    “Sure, why not? Besides, it’s a good excuse to get into your room.” I grinned.
    “As tempting as it sounds, I’m going to pass.”
    I sighed. She was making this so much harder than it needed to be. “Okay, then what are you doing tomorrow morning?”
    “I’m working…”
    “Could you get out of it?”
    “Depends on what for.” She was definitely curious. That was a start.
    “It’s another surprise, but this time wear jeans and tennis shoes.”
    “Where would we go that I would need those?”
    “You’ll see.” I kissed her on the cheek and left before she could change her mind about the next day. I’d miss her that night, but I also knew I couldn’t push things too hard—yet.
    ***
    “We’re going out tonight.” Jared didn’t always grasp the fact that he answered to me and not the other way around. Eventually he’d have to accept it, but for the time being I didn’t mind too much. He’d been my friend since before I had many memories. I had no plans to take over my dad’s job without him staying around.
    “Are we?” I took a seat on the couch across from him. I was already mentally going over the lists of long movies that could help me keep my mind off Allie for at least a few hours.
    “Yes. You’ve been a hermit since meeting that girl. I get it, she’s hot, but if she’s not giving you any why not find it elsewhere?”
    Anger boiled in me. As if I could find some temporary replacement for Allie? “I don’t want anyone else. I’m taking my time with her. She’s worth it.”
    “She’s also just here for a few months.”
    “Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I’m not interested in screwing around with someone else.”
    “You can still go out.”
    “So I can watch you pick up girls? That does sound entertaining, but I think I’ll pass.”
    “What are you going to do instead? Stalk the poor girl?”
    “No, I’ll probably just take a flight and get out of town for awhile.”
    “Bullshit. You won’t leave town because you won’t leave her.”
    He had me there. “All right, I’m game for a few drinks.” I’d be seeing her the next day anyway.
    “Nice. Ready now?”
    “I need to stop by the hotel again—not to see her. I forgot something in my Dad’s office.”
    “By forgot you mean you purposely left it there so you’d have an acceptable excuse to check on the girl again.”
    “Her name is Allie.”
    “Funny, I haven’t heard you call her that.”
    I didn’t bother to answer. Instead I walked outside and took flight.

Chapter Five
    The basement was as dark as it always was as I wound my way over toward my Dad’s office. I froze. I heard voices in the distance.
    “It’s not my place. You should talk to Levi if you want answers.” Natalie? The manager wasn’t often down in the basement even if she was a Pteron. “Because he’s the one who brought you in.”
    “Brought me in? You mean like in on