Read Online Awaiting Fate by J. L. Sheppard - Free Book Online

of the reasons,” he said then admitted, “Yeah, the main reason…I couldn’t save my family, but I can save other families, other kids from becoming orphaned. I’ve been lucky though. Lucas has been my family.”
    She nodded, and he waved the waitress for the check.
    “How do you feel about doing some shopping?”
    “Shopping?” she repeated, a look of confusion marring her face.
    As the waitress neared, check in hand, Cain pulled out his wallet and handed over his credit card. “Yeah, I need some clothes. I didn’t bring anything with me. You can help me pick out some stuff.”
    “Sure. We should go to Fira, the capital. They have tons of stores there.”
    “Great. Then tomorrow night, I’ll take you dancing,” he promised, grinning widely. For the first time that night, it was a real grin. He knew because the barrier between them melted away.
    “Wouldn’t you rather go dancing alone, so you can meet someone or—”
    Jesus! Was she serious? “No,” he said, firmly. “I came here to be with you.”
    She blushed, then looked away from him. Hesitating only briefly, she smiled and nodded.
    He was familiar with the rosy tint on her cheeks and loved it. It occurred often, anytime he complimented her, flirted with her, or told her a simple truth that expressed how he felt as he’d just done.
    Then she did what she did best, she completely disregarded the compliment. “So my brother sent you?”
    Grabbing her hand again, he squeezed it lightly. “No, I came here to spend time with you . Your brother didn’t send me.”
    Confusion muddling her expression, she asked, “Are you assigned to guard me?”
    Shaking his head, he patiently said, “No. I’m on vacation, remember? I’m not assigned to guard you, and your brother didn’t send me. I came here to be with you .”
    Her piercing blue gaze fell away from his, in thought, then met his again. “I just don’t—”
    Leaning in, placing both elbows on the table, his hand still firmly holding hers, he asked, “You don’t understand why a man wants to spend time with a beautiful woman?”
    Eyes widening, her cheeks turned a rosier shade.
    He bit his tongue so he wouldn’t chuckle. He didn’t find her discomfort amusing, but it was about time she got used to it. She was his. He would have her. When she accepted him, he planned on spending the rest of his life complimenting her.
    The waitress returned with his card and receipt. Releasing her hand, he took both, added the tip, signed the receipt then shoved his copy and card in his pocket.
    “But—”
    “But you don’t want me here?” he wondered aloud.
    “No, I just—”
    He didn’t let her speak. “No, you don’t want me here?”
    Looking flustered, she tried again, “That’s not what I meant. I just—”
    “Good. Let’s go,” he said then stood quickly silencing any other rebuttals.
    Grabbing her hand again, he pulled her toward him and led her to their car.

Chapter 8
    Three and a half months ago
    The end of his shift. Finally.
    It’d been so long. Ten hours he’d been hunting. Ten hours since he’d seen her.
    He hated what he’d come to, but he had no other choice, so he closed his eyes and materialized in Olivia’s bedroom, his gaze gravitating to the bed where her sleeping figure lay.
    His heartbeat pounding at the base of his neck, he sighed in relief, finally having glimpsed her.
    His work had once been his salvation. He’d taken solace in knowing he fought for justice in honor of the family he had lost.
    That all changed with his first glimpse of her.
    His nights became an agony of craving, a countdown. Each night he counted the hours until he saw her again.
    His life became a waiting game: waiting to steal a glance, sometimes even a touch.
    It was the way it had to be because she needed time. Time once seemed to fly, now crawled at a snail’s pace, taunting him. He lived in a hell where his mate was just within reach yet untouchable, so he wasn’t proud of what he’d