Page 19 of Alpha's Secret Baby
Dylan’s low voice cut through the awkward moment. “I’m honored that you’d even consider designing for us, Cherry. I know how talented you are. Didn’t you win the MUSE award?”
My eyes flew to Dylan, whose scowl at Lucy told me he was offended by his fiancé’s comment. Finally, I managed to nod and get my mouth working. “Yes, that’s right.”
My emotions felt jumbled as I registered that Dylan had kept up to date with my work. At least enough to know that I was an award-winning designer. Awkwardness tumbled through me as I observed, too, that he had protected me from his mate.
I was almost done with Lucy’s measurements and just had to take the length of her instep when she stepped on my hand as I stooped down.
I bit back my complaint, eager to get this over with.
Lucy exclaimed, “Lord, sorry, Cherry. I find it hard to stay still. You see, I’m always doing something, aren’t I, Dylan?”
Lucy turned around, mucking up the measurement of her instep yet again as she chided, “Dylan, are you listening?”
Dylan made a non-committal noise from where he sat watching us… or me, I sensed. I couldn’t be sure as I kept my eyes firmly glued to my work, but I felt as if his eyes were on me.
Finally, I said, “That’s you all done, Lucy.” I resolved that I’d happily bear any number of fittings with my high-maintenance celeb clients instead of fittings with Dylan’s mate.
With the she-devil done, Lucy slipped her heels back on before ushering Dylan over to me.
As she did so, she commented amusedly, “Lord, you two look so funny. You managed to reach me, Cherry, but I don’t know how you’re going to get Dylan’s measurements.”
I knew she was making a dig about Dylan and me being an ill-fitting couple, but I simply commented, “Don’t worry, I know all the tricks of the trade. A client like Dylan requires specialist equipment.” Moving a dining chair from the edge of the room, I stood on it so that I could reach Dylan’s neck easily.
I felt Lucy’s gaze lingering on me, but as I settled steadily into the rhythm of measuring Dylan’s shoulders, she grew bored. She retreated to the desk where her mate had sat before, and her attention fell to her phone screen.
A smile threatened as I reflected that itdidfeel kind of novel to be towering over Dylan like I remembered him always doing with me. My smile didn’t go unnoticed, and his lips quirked with a question. He didn’t voice it, but I felt as if it was on the tip of his tongue.
Don’tthink about his tongue, I inwardly reprimanded myself. A flash of our night together sang through my thoughts, and my ridiculous, foolish mind raced to remember the feel of his tongue investigating my mouth, his hot breath, his teeth grazing my lips.
Trying to quicken the process, I quickly pulled my tape across Dylan’s chest. I straightened the tape over his torso before I realized that I’d laid my hand against the hard muscle there as hard as it had been when I felt it seven years ago. When my hands had gloried in its sculpted surface, and then later when my breasts had heaved against it. Feeling lightheaded as these memories assaulted me, with difficulty, I read the numbers off of my tape, my eyes burrowing into the safety of my notepad.
I almost froze as I dismounted the chair and realized what was coming next. I needed to take his instep. The measurement from his ankle all the way up to his… crotch. Flustered, my eyes flew to Dylan’s face, and I saw from the spicy smile painting his face that he knewexactlywhat I had to do next and where my thoughts had gone to.
I thanked Nuu-Chah himself at that moment as Lucy looked up from her phone, and I was happily reminded of the presence of Dylan’smate.
“Lucy, would you come and help me with the tape measure? You’re so lovely and tall, and I am finding it a little tricky.”
Lucy came over and held the tape measure at Dylan’s crotch, and I dragged it down to his ankle. I popped back up, thanking Lucy, and told them both briskly that I just had a few more, and then we’d all be done.
Dylan’s mouth seemed strained as if he was disappointed, but I caught the hint of amusement still dancing in his eyes as if to say that he knew where my memories had transported me to as I’d touched his muscular body, taking its trim measurements.
Just then, Lucy’s phone rang. She answered it, a spike of annoyance entering her tone, “No, it’s the bigger house, the barn at the end of the dirt track.” She rolled her eyes. “Wait a moment. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Okay?” Her exasperated voice faded as she hurried out of the room and down the stairs, leaving Dylan and me alone.
Chapter 13 Dylan
She was even more beautiful than I remembered. Her heart-shaped face was as flawless as it had been seven years ago. But in the fitted blue dress she wore, I couldn’t help noticing that Cherry’s hips and bust had swelled. She moved with the same grace she always had but now exuded more of a womanly confidence.
I’d been impressed by how she handled Lucy’s jealousy-fuelled comments. Instead of rising to the bait, Cherry had gone about her task with a professional air. She’d even tried to engage my fiancé with relevant questions. As soon as I’d heard that Cherry would be designing me a suit, excitement had coursed through me. I’d stayed apprised of her career, always looking out for mentions of her in the press. Lucy was oblivious to the many accomplishments that encircled Cherry or pretended to be.
I had, however, been oblivious to my fiancé over the last half hour. Time seemed to have passed in a blur, and I’d struggled to notice when Lucy was talking, too aware of Cherry’s quiet but demanding presence and her teasing fingers moving down my body. Every minute I spent in my ex- mate’s presence seemed to make everything and everyone else unimportant. She eclipsed all.
Suddenly, all the intense feelings I’d fought to keep at bay surged.
I noticed Cherry’s body stilling in front of me as if she was equally aware of the charged feeling between us. The one that had caused her cheeks to flush as her hand laid itself on my chest. Her sudden motionlessness reminded my wolf of a deer stiffening in the forest. As Cherry reached out toward me with that damned tape measure, my wolf rose in me, scenting her sweetness. The beast within me rumbled with want. It needed to capture what it smelled.
With blinding need, I pushed Cherry back against the wall, my arms wrapping around her waist and dragging in a heady lungful of her scent. As her sweet, grassy perfume filled me, it was as if I’d taken the first proper breath in years. I felt more alive than I had in forever. My wolf agreed, vibrating with rich satisfaction.
But Cherry’s hands were against my chestpushingme away. I backed off with a sheepish expression on my face.