Page 20 of A Mate Betrayed

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The crisp evening aircaused goose bumps as it blew across her skin.Payton had told her to wear something warm, but the long-sleeved shirt she wore wasn’t great protection.Kinleigh glanced through the crowd of about two dozen people, searching for Daire.He’d run late on a house he was working on and told her he’d meet her there.

When their gazes locked on each other, happiness caused her to jump to her feet and meet him halfway.The blankets and pillows he carried fell to the ground as he pulled her into his arms.Kissing her like he hadn’t seen her in days, instead of just a few hours.Kinleigh wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing back with fervor.

“Missed you,” he murmured against her lips.

“Missed you back,” she replied.

He grinned down at her.“Brought us blankets, as you can see.”

“Brainsandbeauty,” she said with a giggle.“I hit the jackpot.”

“Those were supposed to be my lines, Miss Smooth Talker.So ...ditto.”

“And so eloquent.You make my heart flutter.”

Daire pressed another sweet kiss against her mouth.“Mine too.”

He released her so he could pick up the stuff he dropped then walked with her to where Jericho and Payton sat.

“Evening, Alpha and Luna,” he greeted.

“Hello,” Jericho said.“We’re off the clock.You can drop the honorifics.”

Daire laid a thick blanket on the grass.As the projector movie started to play, he moved the pillows into place and they laid down.He wrapped Kinleigh in his arms and they snuggled together under another blanket as she burrowed into his warmth.She felt the soft kiss he placed on top of her head.

Contentment filled her.This was the life she’d always wanted.Surrounded by pack.Cherished in the arms of the man she loved.The glimpse into what her future could’ve been made her heart ache.

“Can I tell you something without you freaking out?”he asked, his voice low and intimate.

“Mm,” she replied.

“I like this.I like having you in my arms.”

“I like this, too,” she admitted.

He placed another kiss on the back of her head, and she knew she had to be honest with herself.

She was falling for Daire.

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