Page 187 of The Alpha

“But?” he prompted.

Pari bit her bottom lip as she pondered her own disbelief. It was still there. Kitty helped her see some things, but it’s not like she was a new woman overnight.

“Pari,” he said gently. “If everything checks out, then have yourself a little adventure. There’s nothing wrong with that. Don’t let fear and your insecurities keep you from living life.”

Melvale’s words from the other night came back to her. Hadn’t he basically told her the same thing, and more? Like, how he wanted to help her heal…

“Pari, I know going out of the country is a big trip, but if you can afford it, have friends to travel with, and they can show you their world, then what’s stopping you? If you don’t go, you might regret missing out on the chance of a lifetime.”

Her eyes widened at his words. “Regret.” She swallowed hard. “I’d hate having to regret anything.”

“Then don’t. If you’ve been offered a chance to have a fun trip to someplace you’ve never been before, then take it. Live a little.”

She smiled. “I… that is, one of them… I… went on a couple of dates with.” Her cheeks heated, and she sank a little in her chair.

“You did?” he said happily. “Why, that’s wonderful.” His smile quickly faded. “He’s not anything like Jeffrey, is he?”

She gave a vigorous shake of her head. “No, the opposite!”

Dr. Merrill sighed in relief. “Thank goodness. So, tell me about this beau of yours.”

She straightened up in her chair. “He’s tall, handsome, sort of a goof. Okay, Uncle Al thinks he’s weird, but really he’s just eccentric.” She smiled. “He’s into fashion. And he bought me…” She stopped. Pari didn’t want to tell him he’d purchased her half a wardrobe. “A nice bag when we all went shopping.”

Dr. Merrill steepled his fingers in front of him again. “Go on.”

“He’s a historian, and… speaks more than a few languages. He has… an exotic pet, and… he can cook…”

“Wow,” Dr. Merrill chimed. “He sounds like quite the catch. Well educated I take it?”

“Very.” Pari’s eyes darted to the door again. “And he’s protective, that’s another thing my uncle’s like about him.”

Dr. Merrill smiled. “You like him, don’t you?”

Her face softened as tears stung the backs of her eyes. “Very much. He… wants to date more.”

“Exclusively?”

She nodded. “He wants to be my boyfriend.”

He sat back in his chair and studied her. “Hmmm, and what do your uncles say about it?”

She laughed. “They already call him one.”

“But you don’t?”

Pari flashed him a guilty look and bit her lower lip again.

Dr. Merrill sighed. “What’s his name?”

She drew in a deep breath. “Melvale.”

Dr. Merrill smiled. “That’s an unusual name, but if he’s European, that explains it.” He leaned her way. “You do realize that Melvale is not Jeffrey.”

Her breath hitched. “Sure, I do.”

“Pari, I want you to say it.”

She swallowed hard and glanced toward the door again. “Melvale is not Jeffrey.” Okay, that was easy. “He’s the opposite.”

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