Page 26 of Forced Pregnant Mate

“I need to get back to work,” she says, looking around. “If I don’t keep moving, I could get in trouble, and I want to keep my job.”

“Do you?” I ask, reaching for her hand. She flinches when I make contact with her skin, but I hold her hand gently, waiting for her to answer.

She nods, watching me. “Yes, I want to keep my job. I don’t mind hard work, and I should contribute.”

I shake my head. “I just want you to know that you don’t have to. I can support us both without any problems. Was it your pack that made you feel like you always had to earn your keep, or just your family?”

Her face shuts down completely. Her eyes go blank, and her lips press her mouth into a straight line as she pulls her hand away from mine and steps away.

“I have to get back to work,” she says. “They’re waiting for me.”

I watch her turn away from me and hurry out the back to get another tray. The front counter calls my order, and I hurry over to grab the bag of food. I’m tempted to stay and try to talk to Lena some more, but I can tell I’ve made her very uncomfortable, and I don’t want to push.

As I drive back to work, I go over the conversation in my mind. I want to get to the bottom of this. I need to understand why she feels like she has to work her fingers to the bone just to feel safe.

I knew her father was a piece of work, but how deep does this go?

My hands clench tightly on the steering wheel as I remember Peter glaring into my face that day over a year ago. I was so shocked to see the crates of guns and God knows what else that filthy bastard was smuggling into his truck. When I caught him, I didn’t expect him to fight back.

It takes a real slimeball to persist when he knows he’s fucking guilty.

Bae and Decker said they handled it. At the recent meeting, their pack said they had a handle on it. I have to trust that. It’s much easier to do it knowing that I rescued Lena from that situation.

But it looks like she’s still wearing the scars.

I’ll try again to talk to her about this, but in the meantime, the only thing I want is for Lena to feel safe.

Chapter 11 - Lena

The incident at the diner leaves me a little rattled. Even a few days later as I’m finishing my afternoon shift, my feelings are still fresh. While I wipe down tables and stack plates, I go over everything in my mind.

Even though Jack initially said I didn’t have to work, I assumed it was just a nice thing to say and he’d be upset if I didn’t contribute.

When he showed up, I thought I’d read the situation all wrong and that he really didn’t want me at work. After he left, I was more confused than ever but relieved that I could keep the job.

Jack doesn’t know that I use every spare cent to support Sam. He needs all the help I can give him until he graduates high school. Then he’s going to get out of here and make a great life for himself. I just know it.

I wish that I could settle into my new life and relax, but every day raises my stress level another notch. I sleep in the master bedroom, and Jack sleeps on the couch. It makes me feel very lonely and unwanted. But the trouble is, I don’t like being too close to him, either.

When I get near him, I don’t know myself. Warmth sweeps through my body, making my skin tingle. There is a deep, almost painful throbbing inside me that begs to be satisfied. Sometimes, when I’m looking at him, my eyes linger on his mouth, and I actually lick my lips.

Focusing hard on cleaning the tall glass tumblers, I try to direct my thoughts elsewhere, but it doesn’t work. Just thinking about Jack brings back all the memories of his kisses. Even though there have only been a few, they were so hot and passionate, they seemed to burn straight through all my inhibitions, leaving me a shivering mess of lust.

“Lena?” Jack’s voice is low and welcoming, but it cracks through my fantasy world like a blaring siren. I can’t help but give a little jump, and I just pray it wasn’t noticeable. Luckily, I don’t drop the glass I’m attempting to clean, but manage to carefully put it down before I turn around.

“Hi, Jack.”

“Hi,” he answers, smiling. “You’re nearly finished, aren’t you?”

“Yep. Only ten minutes until my shift is over.”

“That’s great! I was hoping I could drive you home? I gave the crew an early mark, just because it’s Friday.”

“Sounds good,” I say, putting away the rags and cleaner. “I’ll be right back.”

I head out to my locker and hang up my apron, saying goodbye to a couple of the other waitresses on my way out. I feel a bit nervous, but otherwise excited to spend the evening with Jack.

If only I was enough for him—the kind of girl he really wants. Then we could be really happy together.

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