Page 33 of Can't Be Love

He laughed again, but got up and headed for the bathroom. I couldn’t help but watch how his pants tented.Jesus, how big was he?I wondered, immediately trying to remove that thought from my mind.

He turned at the bathroom door and his eyes locked on mine from across the room. “You’re welcome to join me,” he said, sounding cocky as ever.

“Eww, no way,” I said. “Make it a very cold shower,” I squealed, chucking a pillow at the door as he ducked inside, closing it behind him. I could still hear him laughing when the water finally began to drown him out.

Once he was done, I took my turn getting ready for the day. After I had finished, I went in search of him and found him in the kitchen. Bacon, eggs, and hot toast were waiting for me.

“Did you cook this yourself?” I asked.

“Yeah. I do know how to cook, Lily. This is a farming community. It often means long, hard days outdoors, working with the animals or tending to the fields. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so eat up. We’re already running very late.”

As soon as I was done with breakfast we left the house, driving over toward town. I had promised Thomas I’d spend the day with him. I wanted to get to know the territory, the Pack, and the people. I also wanted to quietly assess just what kind of man and future Pack leader Thomas Collier really was.

I was a little surprised and disappointed when he pulled up in front of the Alpha house.

“I thought I was going to spend the day with you,” I said.

“You are,” he assured me.

“Then what are we doing at your parents’? I thought you were dropping me off to hang out with Maddie or something.”

“Nah. I have a meeting with Dad this morning. I’m afraid you won’t be able to sit in on this one, but I’m sure my sisters will keep you company.”

I stifled a yawn. “Okay.”

“Tired?” he asked.

“Yes. You snore.”

“I snore?” he asked with a snort. “You snore,” he said matter-of-factly.

He opened the front door and stepped aside for me to pass first. I was too busy arguing to notice the show of respect he was bestowing on me. An Alpha never let someone walk before him, except his mate, or an occasional elder Alpha or Grand Councilman. At the moment, all of that was lost on me, as I was embarrassed by his comment that I snore.

“I do not snore, Thomas. Take it back,” I demanded. “You snore.”

“Maybe,” he conceded. “But you definitely snore, too.”

“Do not!”

“Do too! And, you drool in your sleep,” he added.

My hands flew to my mouth as I gasped. “You did not just say that.”

His laughter infuriated me.

“What is going on here?” his mother demanded as we entered the kitchen.

“He started it,” I mumbled under my breath.

“No, I didn’t,” he denied. “You did.”

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

Maddie and Liam were sitting with Oscar at the table, having breakfast. Lizzy was, too, as she held a cooing baby Sara. They all looked to be enjoying the scene a little too much.

“Madelyn, tell him right now. I do not snore.”

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