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Now, it was Claire’s turn to roll her eyes. “Mr. Technically over here correcting me. Yes, smartass, I guess they are. But still, you have a lot to risk. You’re alpha, and what if someone is trying to get at you by talking you into doing this?”
Gabriel leaned forward on his desk. “I think there are quicker, better ways to attack me or the pride than through a surrogacy agency. No one would even know I did it until I had already been matched anyway. There’s nothing to worry about.” His green eyes were growing dry, trying to win the stare-down with his mother.
Right before he blinked, she gave up. The silver-haired woman sighed, stood, finished her glass, and set it on Gabriel’s desk. “You’re right. I just worry about it. I know how often you seem to be under fire, no matter how peaceful the outside appears. Just like your father …” She trailed off with a momentarily sad look in her brown eyes. She quickly shook it off, just as she always did, and smiled at Gabriel.
He rose and stood in front of her, knowing she was on her way out.
She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, signaling that she was fine. “You just keep me posted because I want all the details. Especially if this person is going to be the mother of my future grandchildren.” She stopped before exiting. “How long does it take to find a match?”
“Probably a bit. I just submitted it before you stopped by.”
There was a ding from his phone.
His mom looked at him curiously as he pulled out his phone.
It was an email from the agency saying they’d found a match for him.
“Huh. That was faster than I anticipated.”
THREE
LILY
Lily couldn’t stop biting her nails.
She had never been a nail-biter, but the jitters were creating a new habit.
She sat in her car staring at the café where she and her match were set to meet. It was an odd feeling to be so nervous, even knowing where this could go. But it was all based on this first date. Lily was definitely starting to feel the pressure.
She looked through the windows of the small café, relieved to see he wasn’t there yet.
So far, it was only a couple of older men, a trucker, and a couple highly engaged in their own activities in the privacy of their public booth.
She wanted to be seated before he arrived to avoid the risk of mistaking him for someone else.
Lily looked in her rearview mirror and stared at her reflection, steadying her breathing. She looked into her hazel eyes and gave herself a quick once-over. Satisfied, she stared herself down.
“You’re a badass. You’ve got this. He’d be lucky to have a kid with you. If anything, you should wonder if you like him, not the other way around. Maybe he’s not all he’s cracked up to be.” She nodded in agreement with herself and got out of the car.
It was early evening, and the street lights were starting to flicker on.
She breathed in the fresh air, remembered her pep talk, and headed inside to grab a booth and wait for her suitor.
“What can I get for you?” the young waitress asked, never really looking at Lily.
“Just a coffee, please.”
The blonde turned to leave.
“Actually, decaf, please. And water.” The last thing she needed was to add another reason to be in hyperdrive right now.
“Gotcha. Will that be the only water you’ll be needing?”
She didn’t know why, but the question caught her completely off guard. She wasn’t even sure how to answer it.
“I, uh. Yes. No, I mean, I’ll need another water. Please.”Oh my God, why am I so awkward?she chastised herself.
The waitress was Heather, according to her name tag. She nodded without comment and turned away once more.
