Page 29 of Melissa's Mates (Blissful Bets)

“No, she’s not. Our mate has red hair. Why do you ask?”

“No, reason. Look, I’m not going to be home for a while. There are some things I need to take care of. Tell Channing thanks a fucking billion.”

Connor heard the phone disconnect and looked at it while a laugh exploded from his mouth. “Channing, Londyn says thanks a fucking billion. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Oh yes, I’m almost positive. He’ll be thanking us in the long run. How ‘bout you and I go watch our girl? I don’t like knowing I can’t see where she’s at.”

Looking at Channing, he smiled and grabbed his keys. “Great minds think alike. Let’s go.”

They made their way to the truck, and Connor let the pull lead him deeper into the city. He knew exactly where Melissa was staying. It hadn’t been hard to get the lawyer’s home address from Ayden. But he wasn’t being led there. Channing cleared his throat, and he shrugged. “I think they left the house. We’ll find her. “

“She’s not as bad today. I’m glad.” Connor watched him look out of the window. His sad expression affected his wolf like nothing he’d ever felt before. He was used to this feeling when he felt compassion for women, but a man, never. He really liked Channing. If he would have had a brother, he assumed this is what it would have felt like to have him in pain.

“We’ll get her back. Don’t worry.”

“I hope it’s soon. Connor, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’m not sure what to do to make her realize how deep our love goes. God, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do right this moment to get her to see.”

Connor laughed. “Here’s your moment. Look across the light, to the right. She’s going into that restaurant.”

“Do we go in or should we just wait and see where she goes?”

Connor watched her and Julie walk inside. The light turned green and he pulled to the opposite end of the lot. “I don’t know. What do you think? Maybe she needs more time.”

“Yeah, probably. But how much more time?” Channing sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Every minute feels like a fucking eternity.”

“Tell me about it. Listen, I am hungry. I say we go in and act like we don’t even know she’s there. Let’s see how she reacts.”

A smile lit the vampire’s face, and Connor’s heart leaped. Better. He wanted Channing to be happy. And he couldn’t deny that getting a hint of Melissa’s scent would make him feel better. He missed her smell like an addiction – one that drove him to do the one thing that could possibly push her away. Damn, he hoped this didn’t backfire in his face.

Climbing out of the truck, Channing stuck by his side while they walked through the doors. Their bond wanted him to head to the back left. Instead, he walked right. The place was so small he knew they wouldn’t be able to hide from her.

* * * *

Melissa took a drink of her soda and began choking on it the moment she saw her men walk through the door. Julie leaned over the table, patting her back, but she couldn’t even acknowledge her friend, not when she couldn’t take her eyes away from Channing’s. God, they both looked so good. How had they found her?

“Are you okay? Damn, slow down, Mel.”

Julie caught her gaze, and she could see her friend look toward the other side of the room out of her peripheral vision. Still, she couldn’t look away from them. Her body tried to pull her to stand and walk over. It took every ounce of her power to stay rooted to the chair.

“All right. I’m going over to tell them to leave. Don’t move, Mel. I’ll be right back.”

“No, don’t.” Desperation made Melissa grab Julie’s hand. “Please, they’re not coming over here. It’s fine. Let them eat. What if they’re hungry? I’m not even sure if they ate this morning.”

Round eyes stared at her. “If they’re hungry, they can find some other damn place to eat. They did this on purpose. I bet they followed us.”

“I don’t care. They can stay as long as they’re over there.”

Melissa had no clue what she was saying, but she didn’t want them to leave. With them being so close, the pain had eased considerably. She hardly even noticed it. God, she wanted to go to them. The need to inhale their skin or run her fingers down their bare chests had her biting her lip. Heat coursed through her body as she fought her reaction to the thoughts.

“Your face is flushed. Are you feeling okay?”

“Never better.” Melissa turned from her friend and looked back at Connor and Channing. “They’re absolutely beautiful, aren’t they?”

“You love them? Impossible.” Julie’s whispered words broke the spell.

“It’s too early to know that. Even if I did, things like that don’t last.”

“Yes they do. My parents have been married over fifty years, and they love each other very much. They were just as devastated as I was whenever…my ex left me.”

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