Page 41 of In Doubt

“Want us to come along tomorrow for moral support?” Dylan offers.

“I can distract her again if you like?” Levi offers.

I glare at him. Poking at this crazy-arsed jealousy of mine would not be helpful. Then again, with them there, their scents diluting hers, all my attention won’t be zoned-in completely on her.

I point a finger at Levi. “You can come if you promise to behave.”

Levi winks at me. “Nah, I can’t come anyway, mate. You know that. Got my physio to run through tomorrow morning.”

I nod, more relieved than I’d admit, and turn to the others.

“We’ll be there,” Aiden tells me. He’s my wingman. He’s always been there when I’ve needed him.

Dylan nods too. “Got nothing better to do.”

“Except sleep,” I tell him. “It’s an early start.”

“Hey, I wanna see this temple – the one that’s given all you nerds such boners.”

“Thanks,” I say, the combination of their reassurance and the warm whisky in my belly calming me. I lumber to my feet, scrubbing my hand through my hair. “I’m going to hit the sack then. I want my head in the game for tomorrow.”

I have a feeling about tomorrow. That it is going to be life changing. An opportunity not to be missed.

It also means spending several more hours in her company. And that scares the shit out of me.

11

Giorgie

Iwatch Jake Grantham practically sprint away from me with an odd sort of disappointment residing in my chest. One minute he’s almost, very nearly, kissing me and the next he can’t stand to be near me.

I touch my fingers to my lips.

At least I think he was going to kiss me. Something in his eyes, the way his gaze lingered on my mouth, the manner in which he leaned towards me.

But perhaps it was the glasses of wine, the floral fragrance in the air, the flickering candle light in the darkness.

Maybe the fantasy in the shower has confused me.

Maybe I imagined it.

Which would be a good thing. I certainly do not need to be kissing Jake Grantham. Or thinking about that calendar photo of him. Or his three hot packmates.

Tomorrow is a big day. A huge day. If my hunch is right and we actually find something of interest, then this could be the difference that clinches that place on Professor’s Weaver’s team for me. I need to be professional. I don’t need to be worrying about some alpha and his intentions and his wandering hands. His electric, skin-tingling hands.

What is wrong with me?

It must be the heat as well as those glasses of wine. I march to the table and pour myself some water, avoiding several men trying to catch my eye.

I’m not interested in hooking up.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Jake has now left. Nothing to do with the fact he won’t be here to see me draped over some other guy. Nothing to do with the fact that I can’t get his stupid picture out of my head, or his scent from my nose. Or stop thinking about the way his eyes seemed to heat locked on to my mouth. Or the way he’d listened to my ideas. Praised my theory. Convinced the professor to let us test my hypothesis.

I slam the water glass down on the table and walk back towards Sia. I’m definitely a little wobbly on my feet. I didn’t drink that much, did I?

I swing my arm around Sia’s neck and plant a big sloppy kiss on her cheek. She hooks her own arms around my waist, helping to steady me.

“OK, there, pal?” she asks me.