Three Hours (Seven Series Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

Jericho is an amazing dad. When he found out she was pregnant, he came home that night with a stuffed guitar to put in the crib. It plays a little lullaby when you wind the key in the back; it’s so sweet,” she said wistfully.
    Jericho was also doing well with his music from what Lexi had told me. His band, Heat, had gained such a following from Internet downloads that the demand for them to perform had grown exponentially.
    My tilapia was so good that it took me a minute to respond. “Enjoy their baby until you’re ready for your own. You have hundreds of years ahead of you to start a family. The bakery is your time to shine, and you don’t get chances like these too often, especially if you’re taking care of a bunch of kids. Enjoy Izzy’s baby, enjoy selling your cookies, and then think about a family. This is one instance where I agree with your wolfman.”
    “You’re probably right. Sometimes I forget I’m going to live for centuries; it’s still hard to get used to the fact I’m a Shifter. Austin said it’s just my instincts kicking in, but I’m serious… I really want children with him. It has nothing to do with hormones or anyone’s expectations—I just want something in this world that’s ours . To look at a little baby and see Austin’s beautiful eyes and my mouth.”
    “Your big mouth?”
    She snorted. “That too. I’m sure he or she would inherit my laugh and Austin’s deranged sense of humor. Poor thing.”
    “Well, as often as Austin runs around shirtless, let’s pray for a boy.”
    Lexi smirked and turned her plate in a circle. “He can’t help it. He’s hot-blooded.”
    “You can say that again.”
    “More wine?” the handsome waiter asked, tilting the bottle toward my glass.
    I smiled fiendishly and sat back, watching his gaze shift direction when I crossed my legs. He poured the wine so slowly that I thought it might turn back into grapes. I had to admit, I loved putting a rosy blush on a man’s cheek. That was in my nature. My instincts ran a different course than Lexi’s, and I didn’t try to fight them.
    “Thank you, darling.”
    He blushed. “My pleasure.”
    Damn, those humans were so sweet I could just eat them up.
    He walked off with a skip in his step, and Lexi shook her head with a private smile. “I still don’t get why you’re single. You could have any man you set your sights on, including one with money. Is it because of your animal?”
    Sly . Lexi was always trying to get me to slip up and reveal my animal in conversation. I didn’t as a means to protect myself.
    “Maybe it’s because of their animal. Ever think of that?”
    Shifters weren’t all united. Quite a few would stand in line to cut my throat if they discovered I was a panther. Centuries ago, even though other Breeds treated us as slaves and outcasts, Shifters had a hierarchy. They would use panthers for entertainment, like the untamed lions in the Roman arenas who would savagely feast upon the soldiers. When a Shifter displeased his owner or committed a crime against another Breed, they were thrown in a pit with a starving panther. Some shifted and fought for their lives. Others tried to escape.
    None survived.
    I loved Lexi to bits, but she had an intimate bond with Austin that complicated matters. She would eventually disclose my secret if I told her, and then the pack would find out. Denver worked at Howlers and might say something to a customer. In life, you have to look out for yourself because no one else will.
    I simply didn’t trust a man not to open his big yapper.
    “I don’t know why you keep it a secret,” Lexi said, twirling noodles on her fork. “You should be proud of your animal. I feel a little insulted you’re keeping things from me when I tell you everything. I thought we were friends.”
    Whenever she insinuated it had something to do with me not valuing our friendship, it made me stir in my seat. “You know how much I adore you, but Shifters are private creatures.