Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Alex was in fact the image of determined, cricking his neck, his gaze focused on the burger with lethal accuracy.
“Well, my guy’s very competitive, as you all know,” said Bree. “He’ll be furious at himself if he loses.” She looked at Isaiah. “You think he will, though, don’t you?”
“Yep,” said Isaiah. He’d allowed his mate to think he wasn’t so sure, but only to mess with her. “Wolverines are big eaters mostly because they’re greedy. Quinley’s not greedy—her metabolism is just freakishly fast. She can eat and eat and eat without ever really getting full. Biology will win over greed.” Alex would hit a “wall” at some point. She wouldn’t.
“My money’s on her,” Bailey piped up, leaning into Deke. “But I think Alex will be a close second.”
Bree winced. “He won’t take that well.”
“Just give him a blowjob afterward,” advised the mamba. “He’ll get over his snit quick enough. It works with Deke.”
The enforcer frowned down at her. “I don’t get in snits.”
“Of course you don’t.” Bailey gave an exaggerated wink.
With a slow shake of his head, Deke faced forward again. Which was right when Quinley looked their way, a pretty smile gracing her lips, and gave them a little wave.
Isaiah returned the smile, his cat nudging at him to head over to her, not liking the distance between them. The feline was starting to become a clingy little shit. But as Isaiah didn’t like being apart from her either, he really couldn’t judge.
“Luke would have loved to watch this.” Blair sighed, clearly wishing he was here. But he, Farrell, and Camden were absent—all back on the hunt for the Vercetti Pack.
Isaiah had expected to find at least one of the pack hanging around. Of course, it wasn’t easy to be sure that none were loitering about, because not every pack member’s picture had been circulated online. But none of the pride had noticed anyone or anything suspicious.
Bailey caught Blair’s eye. “You should take a video for Luke so he can watch it when he gets home.”
Her eyes lighting up, Blair whipped out her cell. “That’s a great idea.”
“I’m full of fabulous ideas,” claimed the mamba.
Aspen slid her a sideways, dubious look. “I wouldn’t call them ‘fabulous.’”
“That’s because you’re boring,” Bailey told her plainly. “I feel so sorry for Camden. No wonder he never smiles. You must make his life so dull. So. Very. Dull.”
Deke’s eyelids fell shut, a tired sigh easing out of him.
Aspen’s face firmed as she angled her body to face the mamba. “My mate is perfectly happy, thank you very much.”
Bailey’s brow dented. “Why are you thanking me?”
“I’m not—ugh, stop being a pain in my ass.”
“Learning new habits is hard,” stressed Bailey. “And boring. Like you.”
Her face reddening, Aspen made a move toward her.
Havana slammed up her hand. “Leave it.”
The bearcat’s brows drew together in frustration. “Oh come on, getting slapped around would do her some good.”
“It would amuse her, nothing more,” stated Havana. “And Deke will only get between you anyway. Let’s not make him pay for her sins again.”
“Sins?” echoed Bailey. “I’m an honest to God’s angel.”
Deke actually snorted at that.
Havana cast the mamba a disbelieving look. “They don’t call us the unholy trinity for nothing. You are far from angelic. And you really need to stop pushing Aspen’s buttons.”
“Why?” It appeared to be a genuine query. “And how is pointing out a character flaw triggering for her? We have to know these things or we can’t grow as a person.”
Havana’s eyelid twitched. “Don’t play innocent.”
“But I like that game.”
Deke curved his arm around the mamba’s neck. “I think maybe it’s time you paused the game, though. The eat-off is about to start anyway.”
Bailey brightened, turning her attention back to the table. “Awesome.”
Isaiah looked over to see one of their pride mates Archie standing behind Quinley and Alex’s chairs. His inner cat slinked closer, not wanting to miss a thing.
The older male clapped to get everyone’s attention, nodding in satisfaction when the chatter died down. He cleared his throat. “Okay, contestants, prepare yourselves.”
Alex plucked off both the top bun and first patty at once. He squeezed them together as if to make them thinner and then held him near his mouth.
Casually, Quinley removed the top bun but put it to the side of her plate. She grabbed the first patty, along with the toppings splattered on it, and positioned it in front of her lips.
Just then, Isaiah’s parents appeared at his side.
“I think I’m more nervous than Quinley,” said Andaya, putting a hand to her stomach.
Koen’s lips quirked. “I don’t think the girl’s nervous at all.”
She wasn’t. She was completely confident that she had this in the bag. And as her gaze leapt to his, Isaiah gave her a slow and encouraging nod.
Archie lifted a finger. “Ready. Set. Go.”
Alex stuffed his food in his mouth, eating it in only five bites.