Page 13 of Alpha Games
“Will you ask me one of them?” He leaned back against the chair like he had all the time in the world. I guess if he could pay for it, he did.
I glanced at the paper I’d already memorized, trying to give myself a second to calm my racing heart. All these questions were dumb. What was his hobby? Killing people? He couldn’t even answer what he did for fun.
“What’s your idea of a perfect mate?” I blurted out before I could think it through. I didn’t want to know. Not really, seeing as how I could never measure up to some…
“You.” His tone left no room for argument.
It was so cheesy, I had to laugh. “You don’t even know me.”
“Why do you think I’m on this date with you?” he quipped.
I shook my head in disbelief, looking around at the other contestants who were talking with the cameras filming them. “This isn’t a real date.”
“No, it’s not.” Ranger’s deep voice drew my focus back. It was hard to look at him too long. Likestaring at the sun. Though my wolf had no problem with her eyes. It was her mouth that was broken and she kept drooling.
“What’s your idea of a perfect first date?” he asked. His tone was so serious that I smiled again.
“That’s what you’re going with?”
“It was on your list.” Ranger was cute when he frowned. “Or did you want to ask me that?”
I folded the paper, creasing it perfectly in half. “Honestly? I hate small talk.”
He huffed a breathless laugh. “I hate small talk too.”
“You could have stood up an hour ago,” I pointed out as the bell rang. “Or you can stand up now.”
“I have a better idea,” he said. “Why don’t you tell me something big?”
“Are we diving into our deep, dark secrets? What do you want to know?” I asked, mostly to stall while my brain started racing.
Could we do that? I wasn’t sure what the rules were when dealing with insanely powerful Alphas who had family connections with one of the most dangerous criminals in shifter society. Do you just come out and ask what their plans are?
Is there a code word I needed to use?
You’d think working in the prison would make me a little more worldly, but I never fit in there either. Thank the Goddess Clara was around to help me with the lingo.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?” Ranger smiled. Okay, that was definitely just as cute as his frown.
“Why don’t you go first?” I leaned closer to the table, trying to flirt.
I wasn’t expecting it to work, but his nostrils flared in response as the breeze moved in his direction. I couldn’t have planned that better if I tried.
“I was here to deal with some old family problems,” he said, confirming my worst suspicions.
I wet my lips. “And now?”
“Now it doesn’t matter as much as it once did.” He said the words calmly, yet I could see the flash of frustration in his eyes.
“But it still matters.” Abort mission. Retreat. I tried to think quickly on my feet, wondering if I could beg him to spare my papa or if I should throw Derek under the bus.
“Nothing matters as much as convincing you to leave this show with me.”
“With you?” My wolf’s ears perked up and my heart took off on a gallop.
“Do you want to leave with me?” Something like hope made his eyes wider, more boyish than I’d think possible on his face.
“I don’t even know you,” I stuttered, suddenly feeling like this was bigger than I could handle. Too deep. Too fast. It could all be a trick. I needed to remind myself of who I was dealing with.