Catching Him(How to Catch an Alpha #1) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,63
He nods to the side, and I look over and notice we’re standing in front of a restaurant with dark-tinted windows that are painted with large Christmas wreaths made up of hamburgers.
“We are.” Tyler nods.
Eli smiles. “Some of us are hanging out at Bark’s down the block. You should stop by. I’m sure the guys would like to see you.”
“We might do that.”
“All right, have a good night, man.” He looks at me. “It was nice meeting you, Leah.”
“You too, Eli,” I say.
He turns and starts to walk off down the sidewalk, but Tyler stops him by calling his name, and he turns his head our way. “My number hasn’t changed. Call if you need to.”
“Got it.” Eli lifts his chin, and Tyler does the same before Eli disappears down the crowded sidewalk.
“They miss you,” I state, and Tyler shrugs. “Do you miss working with them?”
“I miss the guys, but I don’t miss the bullshit I had to put up with on a daily basis working for Deck,” he explains.
I nod in understanding, then ask, “Do you miss it here?”
“Yes and no. Why?”
“Just curious if you’d want to move back here one day,” I say, and his expression softens.
“I miss having my parents close and the friends I grew up with nearby, but I don’t miss this town or my old job. I never wanted to live here forever, so when Scott offered me the job, I jumped on it. Don’t get me wrong—this is a great town, but I want more for myself and any kids we have. There aren’t a lot of opportunities here. Most of the people I grew up with moved away as soon as they had the chance to.”
“It’s a beautiful place to grow up,” I tell him.
“It is,” he agrees. “But so is Mount Pleasant.”
“You’re right, but just so you know, if you wanted to move back here, I would be okay with that. I think I would follow you anywhere.”
“Do not say shit like that,” he growls, and my heart sinks, startled by his demand.
“Wh-what?”
“Do not say shit like that when we’re not alone or near a bed, where I can show you exactly what your words mean to me, baby. I swear to God, every fucking day, you prove to me exactly why life led you right through my window.” A thrill skims down my spine. “Never—fucking never—did I think I would find a woman like you, a woman who makes me so fucking happy I have to question if she’s fucking real. You, Leah, should not exist.”
“Tyler—”
“Seriously, baby, you’re understanding, accepting, and so damn beautiful that I look at you and can’t believe you’re mine.”
“If you don’t stop, I’m going to cry on the sidewalk in the middle of the perfect Hallmark movie town,” I tell him, swallowing down tears.
“Don’t cry, baby. Just know I appreciate what I have, know what it’s worth, and will do everything within my power to keep it.”
Tears I can’t control fill my eyes, and when one falls, he catches it with his thumb, sweeping it away before touching his mouth to mine in a gentle kiss.
“No more tears,” he says, swiping one off my other cheek.
I pull in a shaky breath. “It’s your fault I’m crying.”
“I know.” He takes hold of my face. “But the longer you cry, the longer it’s going to take me to feed you.”
I shake my head. “I’m not normally emotional. I’m just crying because I’m starving.”
“Right.” He grins. “Are you done now?”
“I think so,” I reply, and he kisses my forehead, then wraps his hand around mine and leads me across the sidewalk into the restaurant. The sign in the front says to seat ourselves, so we get a booth in the back and take off our coats; then we both sit on one side of the booth. “What do you recommend?” I ask. I pick up the menu and look it over.
“My favorite burger is called the Boom,” he tells me, and I find that burger on the menu. It’s two patties, cheese, bacon, and an over easy egg on toast.
“I’m not sure I’d enjoy having an egg on my hamburger.”
“You can have a bite of mine,” he assures me as the waitress comes over to take our drink orders. We both order beer, and when she comes back to drop them off, we place our dinner orders. I stick with my all-time favorite: a mushroom, swiss, and mayo, with a side of seasoned fries and ranch dressing to