Page 32 of Broken By Her Mate
Tolliver didn’t stop to hear anything else. He dropped the screwdriver and was on his way down the stairs in a blur. He’d be damned if he stood by and listened to another man ask his woman out. He heard Cora’s gasp as he zipped past her and shoved the kitchen door open.
Laila’s eyes widened when Tolliver materialized beside her. The professor stopped talking, and his eyes darted from Laila to Tolliver. Tolliver’s hand slid around Laila’s waist, and she stiffened. The professor’s gaze dropped to Tolliver’s possessive hold on Laila, and his eyebrows crinkled.
“Oh… I thought… I had assumed…” he stuttered. He then gulped when he caught Tolliver’s intense gaze. Tolliver’s expression was so cold it sucked the warmth out of the room, and he radiated menace, which made the professor step back instinctively.
Laila shot Tolliver a sideways glance, a flicker of disbelief in her expression. “Uh, Walter, this is… Tolliver,” she said carefully, her tone colored by a mixture of shock and curiosity. “Tolliver, this is Walter.”
The professor forced a smile. “And Tolliver is…?”
“Her fiancé,” Tolliver replied.
Laila opened her mouth to say something, but Tolliver’s hold on her tightened, and she gave him a dirty look. Tolliver’seyes darkened as he extended a hand. Walter hesitantly accepted. He winced as they shook hands because Tolliver’s hold on him was crushing.
Laila caught the exchange and subtly jabbed Tolliver in the side with her elbow. He dropped Walter’s hand but kept the man in his lethal stare.
“I didn’t know you were taken, Laila,” Walter said, adjusting his tie. “I misread the situation. It was nice to meet you… both.” He carefully glanced at Tolliver before he turned and hurried out of the shop.
This time, Laila used her super strength to deliver another elbow jab.
“Oomph.”Tolliver clutched his side, but he still wore a satisfied smirk.
“You asshole!” Laila glowered at him. “You scared him away.”
“I didn’t say a word to the man.”
“All it takes is a look from you to intimidate people, and you know it. He was perfectly nice and polite.”
“He was hitting on you.”
“Well, duh. I’m single, and so is he. But now he thinks I’m engaged because you’re a liar.”
“Hey, what’s with all the yelling?” Cora came through the door. “Where’s the professor?”
“Tolliver scared him off,” Laila answered.
“What?” Cora frowned. She held up a paper bag. “He left without his order. I’ll catch up to him.” She took off through the door. “Hey, professor, wait up!”
Giving Tolliver another seething look, Laila stomped off to the kitchen.
Tolliver followed. “You weren’t actually thinking about dating the guy, were you?”
She spun around. “What if I was?”
He scoffed. “He’s human.”
“Oh please, as if plenty of shifters don’t have human mates.”
“He isn’t your mate. I am.”
“No, you’re not. Not anymore.”
His jaw clenched. “Breaking up doesn’t mean you’re not my true mate anymore, Laila.”
She could only glare at him because he wasn’t wrong. Their strong connection was still present, and she had to fight it every day since they reunited. “You have no right to play the jealous card, Tolliver. You lost that right when you broke up with me and disappeared.”
Tolliver’s jaw was set in a stubborn line. Maybe interrupting Laila and the professor was a dick move, but he wouldn’t give up on winning her back without a fight. And he had no qualms about stepping on whoever stood in his way. “I’d say I have a right after last night.”
Her cheeks turned fuchsia. “That was a one-time thing.”