Page 170 of Nobody's Girl

Flattery. Yeah, it still gets to me. Pink has to be staining my cheeks.

“Do you think she’ll get in the car with me?”

How wonderful it will be if she sees me and instantly knows we have a connection, pre-destined to be one.

She pinches my cheeks like she’s done every time she sees me. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but you can drive slowly next to her as she runs if she won’t. Kind of romantic, right?”

I assume some think that might be romantic. To me, it should be love at first sight. Complete trust right from the beginning would be nice.

A sudden knot forms in my stomach as I realize I’m minutes from seeing my mate, my Alyssa. “I’ll find her. This road here, right?”

A nod of her head sends me on my way. After all this time, I’m within walking distance of her. My hands are shaking on the steering wheel. Sweat forms on my brow.

A quick glance in the rear-view mirror shows glistening beads on my forehead. I reach for a handkerchief in the small compartment between the seats, dabbing at the droplets as I roll over one small hill after another. A small form moves on the road ahead of me.

Her long black hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and it swishes with every step. Narrow shoulders swing back and forth as she moves down the street.

I haven’t seen her face and already I know she’s beautiful. Her body sways elegantly with every movement she makes. She’s mesmerizing.

It’s her. My mate!

Everything is going in slow motion. I swear I can see every hair as it moves back and forth. The small ripples of sweat which trail down her thighs shine brightly in the evening sun.

As crazy as this might sound, I can smell her from here, with my windows and top down on my car. A mixture of vanilla and cinnamon, some lavender, and her own distinct light, musky scent.

What will she taste like?

The pounding in my chest almost deafens me. I must control myself or I’ll surely frighten her with my passion for her. She’ll think me a letch, or worse yet, a stalker.

Taking in a deep breath, I slow my car to a near stop, rolling only a bit. A dark shadow falls over me and I look up. Two giant black birds fly over my head. Both shriek at the same time. I have to cover my ears it’s so loud. They fly straight to my mate.

They are magnificent!

As my eyes follow their path just above my head another loud noise fills the air.  A loud honking sound. Then I see where the birds are going and they’re nearly to her.

There’s a truck! No! No! Please, don’t let it hit her!

CHAPTER 9

ALYSSA

It’s dark. Something’s beeping. Who is that I hear talking?

A smooth, velvety voice asks somebody, “Will she be all right?”

A woman’s voice answers, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She should wake up anytime now. There was no bleeding on her brain, just a slight concussion.”

Warmth fills me as someone touches my hand. “Alyssa, please wake up for me,” the same velvet voice says. That voice is beyond beautiful. French, perhaps, with a hint of something else. “Alyssa, baby, please wake up for me.”

Baby?

I have to see. To open my eyes proves harder than it should. What’s happened?

Lips brush my ear. The velvet voice says, “Je t’aime, Alyssa.” The hand on mine squeezes.

What the hell does that mean?

What language is that? Why didn’t I take something other than Spanish classes?