The Wolf's Forbidden Baby: A Paranormal Pregnancy Romance by Ellie Valentina Page B

squabbles.” She shifted away from him and stared at her drink, cradling it in both hands. “My mom… well, let’s just say she won’t be winning a Mother of the Year award anytime soon.”
    “Let me guess. She wants you to hurry up and marry and give her a grandchild already.” He laughed, trying to coax a smile out of her and ease the tension some.
    Her gaze pierced through him, as if she could see through his speech and to the heart of his words’ double meaning. “She can’t want anything anymore. She’s dead.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I’m not. She… She made some bad decisions herself. Even before that, she never was the motherly type. God, I need another drink.”
    Now, their laugh helped to settle them, and the heaviness disappeared. Good. He hated seeing her frown, but even that didn’t mar her beauty. Even more than her looks, he wanted to learn more about her. For the moment at least, he had banished the loneliness with her help.
    “Think it’s time to change the subject.” He grabbed the container of bar nuts and enjoyed their salty crunchiness. “What do you do, Kyla?”
    “I’m a lifeguard.”
    The idea of her in a bathing suit only stirred the wolf inside him. For five years, he hadn’t shifted or allowed even his wolf to have a say in his actions. Right now, he knew what his wolf wanted and he couldn’t help wanting the same thing.
    “A lifeguard, huh?”
    “Yes. I like helping people, and I’m a good swimmer.” Her shrug caused the strap of her dress to fall down.
    He adjusted it for her, his fingers lingering on her shoulder.
    Kyla’s full lips curled into an easy smile.
    “Helping people is admirable.” He wanted to smack himself and withdrew his hand. Couldn’t he have come up with something better to say?
    “I’m used to it. I’m one of nine so…”
    Devan choked on his drink. “Nine?”
    “Two of my brothers died, so really, one of eleven.”
    “Wow. And I thought my having four siblings was a lot.”
    “Got you beat.” She slammed down her empty glass. “In more ways than one.”
    Not wanting to be outdone, he finished his. He was definitely feeling the effects of the drinks—bold, empowered, and craving something other than nuts and more drink.
    “Your job, Devan?”
    “I’m a construction worker.”
    Her hand touched his bicep, and he flexed for her. Her eyes widened. “Not bad,” she teased.
    He claimed her hand and engulfed hers in both of his. “I’m sorry about your mom.”
    “I’m sorry about your brother.”
    The bartender approached. “Want more?” she asked.
    Devan turned to Kyla.
    “I do want more,” she whispered, looking at him and not the bartender.
    “Wanna get out of here?” he heard himself asking.
    Her smile lit up the dark establishment. “I thought you’d never ask.”

CHAPTER TWO
     
     
    Devan opened the door to his Civic and couldn’t look away from her long lean legs as she climbed in, the skirt of her dress hiking up to reveal her toned, creamy thigh. She spied his lingering gaze, threw back her head, the starlight shining on her neck, and gave forth a deep, groin-aching laugh that shot straight through him.
    Hopefully it was dark enough she wouldn’t see his blush. Him blushing. At one point, he had had any woman he wanted, but that felt like another lifetime. Keeping to himself had kept him alive, but what kind of life was he living? He needed to spend time with other people, to form connections. It was in his nature as a werewolf. Social beings. That was he was.
    Forget blushing. He threw her a wolfish smile and a sexy wink. “Are you ready?”
    “For anything you can offer me.” Again she laughed. Had ever a laugh sounded more sinfully sensuous?
    He closed her door and took long strides—not quite running—to the driver’s side. The drive to his apartment didn’t take long, only twenty minutes, and they didn’t talk much, just threw each other glances. If he slowed down some, he could put