The Alpha’s Fated Choice (Alpha's Fated Encounter Trilogy #1)

“What are you reading?”

“Nothing important.” I close the book, and before I can put it down by my other side, he plucks it out of my hands. “What is your problem?!” I try to snatch the novel back, but he holds it out of reach and reads the back cover.

Finally, looking slightly amused, he lets me have it back. “I didn’t take you for a romance reader.”

I stuff the book inside the picnic basket, feeling flustered. “I’m not! I just picked it up.”

“Are you always this defensive?” Alex asks.

“Yes,” I scowl. “You keep blaming me for things, so don’t expect me to welcome you with open arms.”

He mutters something to himself that I don’t quite catch.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing.” He gives me an enigmatic half-smile.

He clearly has no plans of leaving anytime soon. And I really like this spot, so I don’t want to leave, either. Grumbling under my breath, I take out one of the croissant sandwiches that I got from the bakery. I unwrap it and bite into the fresh bread.

Alex peeks into my basket. “You brought food.”

“For me,” I point out, chewing happily.

He gives me a long look. “Care to share?”

“No.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “And here I thought you would be grateful that I saved your life.”

I am certain he is not my fated mate. Shouldn’t fated mates invoke feelings of love and passion? This man makes me want to stab him with a spoon.

I catch him peeking at me from the corner of his eye, and I wonder whether he’ll leave if I give him something to eat.

“I was grateful,” I tell him bluntly. “And then you told me it was my fault I got attacked. So, you can imagine where those feelings of gratitude went.”

Alex flinches. “I’m sorry about that. I never meant what I said.”

I didn’t expect him to apologize so easily, or for his apology to sound so sincere. In fact, he seems vastly different from the other encounters I’ve had with him. He has always seemed to have a stick up his ass. This is the first time I’ve seen him so relaxed.

“You’re forgiven.” I nudge the basket toward him. “I’ll share my food with you.”

He doesn’t hesitate. As he opens the lid, he whistles. “You plan to finish all of this?”

“I was going to leave some for Tim, my neighbor’s kid. He has a class trip to the beach today. Thought he’d like some snacks to share with his friends.”

Alex is quiet for a moment, and then he takes out the beef sandwich I was saving for my lunch. I don’t stop him, though.

“So, you’re a waitress, huh?”

“Well, gee.” I widen my eyes and gawk at him. “How did you figure that out?”

His lips twitch, and then he bites into his sandwich, chewing slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Have you lived in Oakrest Town your whole life?”

“Nine years.”

“Where were you before?”