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

“Why are you interrogating me?”

“It’s called having a conversation.”

I glare at him, ready to bite his head off, and then I realize what I am doing. Once again, I’m going on the defensive. Shutting him out before he can shut me out.

“Sorry.” I move my shoulders awkwardly. “I just don’t understand why you want to talk to me. You clearly don’t like me.”

It sounds like a childish accusation, but that’s the only reason I can link to his behavior toward me. He did save my life, but any good Samaritan would have done the same. Right?

For a moment, I see a strange emotion shift in his eyes. His voice is tense as he says, “That’s not true.”

I give him a tight smile, not bothering to contradict him.

He takes another bite out of his sandwich, and we sit in silence. However, I’m painfully aware of his every breath. Even though we’re sitting so close together, the distance between us seems enormous. He’s gazing at the ocean, and I take the opportunity to sneak a really good look at him. He’s not conventionally handsome, but his looks are striking. A sharp nose, intelligent eyes, thin lips, and a prominent jaw line.

As I observe him, I feel my heart skip a beat. I look away immediately.

My fingers go to the side of my neck, and I rub the tingling skin absentmindedly. Suddenly, the gravity of my action hits me; my eyes widen as I recall Drew’s words. Slowly, I turn my head and look at Alex, who is watching me.

I don’t know whether it is fear or exhilaration that is making my heart go pitter-patter in my chest.

No. I’m imagining things. Drew put these thoughts in my head.

But Alex’s eyes are pinned to the spot on my neck that I was just rubbing, and he’s got a strange look in his eyes. My mouth turns dry.

He knows.

He knows, and he’s not saying anything.

I lower my hand nonchalantly.

“How long are you and your friends here for?”

I hold his gaze, trying to sort through the emotions raging within me. If I feel this attraction to him, he can’t be immune to it, can he?

“We don’t know yet. We’re here on business.”

“What sort of business?”

Alex’s expression goes blank. “I’m afraid I can’t share the details of that with you.”

Oh, I bet you can’t, I think to myself wryly.

At least I don’t say it aloud this time. I just nod and shrug. “Sure.”

He searches my gaze as if not satisfied by something and then suddenly asks, “So, what do you do when you’re not waitressing?”

I smile at him, a saccharine sweet smile, and echo his words back to him. “I’m afraid I can’t share the details of that with you.”

For a moment, Alex stares at me, and then he grins. “Fair enough.”

This man confuses the hell out of me. I can’t wrap my head around what kind of person he is. It was easy to despise the guy who was so rude to me, but this man sitting next to me is different. I want to relax around him, but I know how dangerous he is to me.

Once again, I can feel that same spot on the side of my neck tingling.

It’s your imagination, I tell myself firmly.

“What about dinner spots? This town doesn’t have much of a variety of cuisine.”