Loving the Tigers Read Online Free Page A

Six
     
     
    “She’s finally told Jessi where she is.” Zach ended the call to his voicemail and glanced at Derek.
    “Where?”
    “Jessi didn’t say. I think she wants me to call her back.”
    “Bribery, huh?” The right side of Derek’s mouth kicked up in a half grin. “What are you going to do if she’s bluffing?”
    “What can I going to do?” Zach shrugged. “It’s not as though she doesn’t have two mates who would rip us apart if we attempted to take her to task for lying.”
    “True.” Derek sighed and lifted a brow. “So... are you going to tell them, or should I?”
    “I’ll do it.” After all, they really should tell her best friend that they’d found her nearly eleven weeks ago and had been staying nearby to both protect her and to be close when she finally changed her mind and decided they were right for each other. Zach took a swallow from the drink in front of him and glanced through the window. “Shit!”
    “What?” Derek turned his head to follow his gaze. “Well... I guess your phone call is going to have to wait.” He laughed with a shake of his head. “We’re both going to be too busy explaining what the hell we’re doing here, for the next few minutes.”
    “You got that right.” Zach took another pull from the glass of iced tea and wished it had been something stronger. Unfortunately, the diner across the street from Kelly’s apartment didn’t serve anything stronger than coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
    “What do you think brings her over here, today?” Not once in the last few months had Kelly stepped one foot in the place. In fact, they’d never seen her eat in a restaurant since they’d found her. She’d grown thinner. While still curvy and beautiful, she had lost the fullness they loved. She’d also lost something else. Her smile was different now than it had been before. Maybe she’d lost her joy for life. He pressed his lips together to hide his reaction when her stormy hazel eyes stared into his.
    “Uh-oh. She just saw me and she’s pissed.”
    “Can you blame her? She’s been hiding from us and here we are.” Derek tipped his glass back, draining the contents. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my drink tossed in my lap.”
    “Good idea.” Zach followed suit, drinking the last of his tea.
    The bell on the door jingled as it slammed open and she stalked through the door, her temper clearly written on her face.
    “Ha, ha!” A man at the bar chortled. “Someone’s in the dog house. That’s for sure.”
    “Shut up and mind your own business.” Kelly stopped and glared at the man until he stopped smirking.
    “Just funning around.” Turning back to the bar, he waved to the waitress. “Check, please.”
    It took every ounce of self-control for Zach to remain where he was. Now that she knew they were here, he wanted nothing more than to gather her in his arms and kiss her fears and worries away. Just one sniff of her wonderful scent, sent his heart into overdrive and the mating heat—which had been simmering in his gut for the last three months—turned to a boil, once again.
    “What are you two doing here?” she said as she stopped by their table, her toes tapping against the checkerboard-tiled floor. “You’re not supposed to know where I am!” She stomped her foot. “I can’t even blame Jessi for telling you, can I? Even if she called you right after our conversation, there’s no way you could have gotten here in less than an hour.” She narrowed her eyes, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “How long have you been here?”
    “Not long,” Zach replied and slid toward the window. “We haven’t even ordered yet. Care to join us?”
    “Now you’re being deliberately obtuse.” She waved her arm. “You know what I meant.”
    “If you want to know how long we’ve been in Rhode Island,” Derek replied. “We’ve been here quite a while.” He also slid toward the window, leaving her space to sit.
    “How long is a