Chosen Mate: Lion Shifter Romance (Cybermates Book 5) by Candace Ayers (top 100 books to read txt) 📗

world. I don’t know how I gathered enough strength to walk away that night, but a hundred times or more in the last two months, I wanted to run back to her, and beg her to forgive me.

Fix it.

Thanks, Patton.

I wasn’t sure I could fix it.

I wanted our baby as much as I wanted Elin, and I’d never let her go through a pregnancy alone. I knew she wouldn’t make it easy to get close to her, and for that I didn’t blame her. I’d just have to work extra hard to protect and care for her. For them.

Because I was going to be in their lives. Both of them.

A smile unfolded across my face.

A Baby.

12

Elin

The only reason I stopped at Mann’s Grocery so late at night was because I needed a few items for the private cooking lesson I’d scheduled in the morning. One-on-one lessons were another one of my business ideas to help build my brand and make some extra cash on the side. I had a new client who wanted to surprise her husband by baking him a birthday cake from scratch.

Fortunately, I’d been able to avoid Dylan for the past day and a half. We would need to talk eventually, but I hoped we could wait a few weeks.

Barbie Mann was working the register when I walked in. I waved and headed toward the dairy aisle. Running through the checklist in my head, I grabbed butter and then heavy cream, tucked them both in the crook of my elbow, and headed to the baking aisle. I wasn’t paying attention and nearly plowed down another customer as I emerged from the aisle.

Jumping out of the way, I stumbled and almost fell. I would have fallen if a pair of strong arms hadn’t caught me before I hit the ground.

“Whoa there, NASCAR. Save your speed for the track.”

The air left my lungs when I realized the man staring down at me, whose strong arms were wrapped around me, and whose panty-melting grin was enticing me, was Dylan.

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. Did the universe hate me?

While I was busy cursing the universe, he righted me and made sure I was again steady on my feet. His arms remained around me. He was still touching me. He was just as drop dead gorgeous as the last time I’d seen him, and my body reacted instantly.

Annoyed, I wriggled away.

He took a step back, his megawatt grin unwavering. “Funny meeting you here.”

I was so shocked that, instead of responding, I silently stepped around him and walked away. I instantly regretted the snub. We needed to get along if we were going to co-parent in the future, but the ache in my chest was painful. I continued down the next aisle, determined to play it cool.

Chocolate chips, a new jar of cocoa, and a five pound bag of sugar later, and I had everything I needed for the cake. I headed to the produce section to pick up some healthy food for myself.

As luck would have it—bad luck—Dylan was standing in front of the display of salads, exactly where I was headed. I shifted the things in my arms awkwardly and held in a sigh.

Don’t be a dick, Elin.

Holding my head high, I strolled over and stopped next to him. “I promise I’m not following you. I just need a salad.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you were.”

I felt his eyes on me as I leaned forward to grab one of the prepackaged salads. Balancing while leaning forward and holding an arm load of groceries wasn’t the easiest thing. I managed to scoop up a Caesar salad without falling over, but dropped the butter and the carton of cream in the kohlrabi display.

Dylan snatched up both items before I did. “You should’ve gotten a cart.” His velvety voice gave me tingles. “Let me hold some more of that.”

I looked down at the things clutched in my arms and shrugged. “I didn’t think I’d need one. I mean, I don’t need one.” I balanced the salad on top of the other things and snatched my butter and cream from his hand. “And I don’t need help.”

“Can’t I help anyway?”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” I forced a brittle smile, hoping he’d take the hint and leave me alone. It seemed to work.

He nodded stiffly. “Well, maybe I’ll see you back at the house later. If not, sweet dreams.” When his eyes met mine, they were hooded and what I saw in them stunned me.

I spun on my heel and ran for the checkout without looking back. I dropped everything on the conveyer belt and shook out my arms. Barbie was her usual talkative self, but I barely listened to her. I wanted to get out of there and get home before Dylan finished his shopping.

While I knew I needed to make an effort to get along, it was hard to just forget that he’d treated me like a leper for the past two months. I wasn’t ready to make nice with him yet. The only reason he was even speaking to me was because I was pregnant.

Yes, I’d have to control my anger and have a rational conversation with him eventually, but not today. I gathered my shopping bags and quickly left the store, confused by what I’d seen in his eyes—caring, concern…desire.

“Elin?” I turned when I heard the male voice behind me.

“Hi, Mac.” Mac was a shifter, a firefighter with the Sunkissed Key Fire Department, and hands down one of the handsomest men on the island. We met when Parker tricked us both into a blind date. If not for Dylan, I would’ve thrown myself at Mac. As it turned out, neither of us were interested in dating, but Mac was sweet and funny and we became insta-friends. Parker had gotten something right, at least.

He held out his hands for my grocery bags. “Hand them over. Please don’t make me walk empty handed next to a woman carrying groceries. That would be