Page 6 of Broken By Her Mate
Focus, Tolliver.
He had a job to do. That job didn’t include getting swept up in old feelings, even if seeing her again made him feel like the ground had been yanked out from under him. He prioritized getting her out of danger and keeping her safe, as he’d do for any other. Yet she wasn’t just another job, was she? Laila was so much more. He sighed inwardly.
“Laila, you’re in danger,” he blurted. Tolliver mentally facepalmed himself. That wasn’t very smooth.
Laila blinked, her expression shifting from shock to confusion. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, her dove-gray eyes darkened to ash. He’d always loved how the intriguing orbs changed with her mood. “What the hell are you doing here?”
His eyebrows elevated at the hostility in her tone. Of course, he hadn’t expected a warm welcome or agreat-to-see-youhug, but he was still shocked because Laila had always been the gentlest soul he’d ever known.
As if she finally registered what he said, her eyebrows furrowed. “Danger? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t have time to explain everything right now, but you have to trust me,” Tolliver said.
After a beat of silence, Laila’s laughter filled the bakery, but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in it. “Trust you?” She shook her head. “You’re kidding, right? This has to be a joke.” Her gaze swiveled around the room. “Someone has decided to play a sick joke on me. That’s what is going on here.”
The pain and the edge of panic in her voice made Tolliver feel bad. Telling her to trust him was a bad move. He broke up with her abruptly all those years ago. Of course, she wouldn’t trust him.
Tolliver sighed as he glanced over his shoulder to peer through the window. He quickly scanned the area. The scent of the mysterious shifter lingered in the air, but it was faint. Nevertheless, he needed to get Laila away from here. “Laila, I’ll tell you what’s going on later. I just need you to come with me.Now.”
She snorted and folded her arms over her chest. “You have some nerve showing up after five years, expecting me to follow your orders. Your lord of the manor act is not cute anymore.” Her face flushed crimson at that, and her eyes skated away from his.
Despite the urgency of the situation and his growing impatience, Tolliver felt a sliver of amusement. It was no secret that Laila didn’t mind hislord of the manorattitude and his penchant for dishing out orders attractive… especially in bed. He used to get her to bend to his will with just one provocative look. But that was because they were meant for each other, and their sexual chemistry was off the charts.
Her expression hardened. “Get out of my shop, Tolliver.”
“Laila—”
“I need you to leave.”
The slight crack in her voice disarmed him. He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration building. Just as he got desperate enough to resort to kidnapping just to keep her safe, a girl waltzed through a swinging door. She was tiny, with short blonde hair and pink tips. She stopped in her tracks when she spotted Tolliver, and then her eyes swung to Laila.
“Um… A late customer?” she asked.
“No.” Laila huffed. “He was just leaving.”
The girl, Cora, as Tolliver had heard Laila call her during his time spying on them, folded her lips. “I see… I detect some tension here.” She turned to Tolliver. “Who are you?”
“I’m Tolliver Sterling, and I’m here to—”
Her dramatic gasp cut him off. “Tolliver? Holy cow! You’rehim! He-who-should-not-be named.”
Tolliver’s eyebrows hiked up. “What?”
“Cora, hush,” Laila hissed, her blush intensifying.
“Oh, wow.” Cora hurried forward, her wide eyes fixed on Tolliver. “Laila, forget about the professor. He-who-should-not-be-named is so much hotter. Are you here to grovel and beg for Laila’s forgiveness? Because if you are, I fully support a rekindled romance between you two.”
“For the love of the gods, Cora.” Laila glowered at her. “Be quiet.”
Tolliver gawked at the rambling girl, wondering if she always talked so fast. She brimmed with energy, and something about her hinted that she was one of them. Not a shifter, but something else. He squinted as he studied her carefully. He’d know that crackling aura anywhere. It was unpredictable and radiated heat in waves. The same energy swirled around his sister, who was a witch.
“Are you a witch, Cora?” he asked, turning his attention to her.
Her eyes sparkled. “Uh-huh, and you’re a wolf shifter.” She gave Tolliver an assessment from head to toe. “Laila’s ex-boyfriend. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Not good things.”
“I imagine…” Tolliver muttered as his gaze shifted from Cora to Laila, who had gone quiet and was staring at him.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Laila snapped as if coming out of her trance. She pointed at Tolliver. “I want you gone, andyou,” she shifted the commanding finger to Cora. “Start cleaning up. We’re about to close.” With that, she stormed off and disappeared through the back door.