Chapter\u00a0677<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha\u00a0Landry,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0hostess\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0polite\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cYour\u00a0Beta\u00a0just\u00a0dropped\u00a0your\u00a0children\u00a0off.\u00a0They\u00a0are\u00a0already\u00a0seated\u00a0at\u00a0their\u00a0usual\u00a0table.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0escort\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0motioning\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0patio.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0necessary,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0an\u00a0arih around my\u00a0waist,\u00a0keeping\u00a0me\u00a0pinned\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0side.\u00a0The\u00a0hostess\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0tensed;\u00a0she\u00a0cleared\u00a0her\u00a0throat,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0forced\u00a0a\u00a0tight\u00a0sile.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cEnjoy\u00a0your\u00a0meal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without\u00a0another\u00a0word,\u00a0Gavin\u00a0put\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0guided\u00a0me\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0patio\u00a0entrance.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0space\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0tables\u00a0spaced\u00a0apart\u00a0with\u00a0white\u00a0umbrellas.\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0Matt\u00a0sat\u00a0at\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0tables\u00a0closest\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0edge,\u00a0overlooking\u00a0the\u00a0harbor.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0to\u00a0spot\u00a0us.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0running\u00a0towards\u00a0us\u00a0and\u00a0hugging\u00a0both\u00a0his\u00a0father\u00a0and\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHope\u00a0you\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0waiting\u00a0long,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said\u00a0he\u00a0running\u00a0his\u00a0fingers\u00a0through\u00a0Matt\u2019s\u00a0shabby\u00a0brown\u00a0hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0we\u00a0just\u00a0got\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0said,\u00a0guiding\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0table.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0ordered\u00a0yet?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0yet.\u00a0Irene\u00a0told\u00a0them\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0arrive,\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0explained.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0stood\u00a0up\u00a0when\u00a0we\u00a0approached,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0met\u00a0mine,\u00a0they\u00a0widened.\u00a0She\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0from\u00a0head\u00a0to\u00a0toe,\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0agape.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0design?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0brows\u00a0shooting\u00a0up.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0you\u00a0liked\u00a0my\u00a0designs.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0skepticism\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0\u00e0\u00a0cheery\u00a0smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0kidding\u00a0me?\u00a0This\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0best\u00a0design\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0ever\u00a0seen.\u00a0I\u00a0love\u00a0the\u00a0bright\u00a0color\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0frilly\u00a0skirt,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0loudly\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0smoothed\u00a0the\u00a0skirt\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0that\u00a0so?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0maybe\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0use\u00a0you\u00a0as\u00a0my\u00a0model.\u00a0I\u00a0created\u00a0some\u00a0new\u00a0designs\u00a0recently\u00a0that\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0look great\u00a0in.\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0burned.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0anything\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0model.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0use\u00a0some\u00a0actual\u00a0models\u00a0for\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0waving\u00a0off\u00a0her\u00a0suggestion,<\/p>\n
\u201cNonsense\u2026\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0rather\u00a0someone\u00a0who\u00a0genuinely\u00a0loves\u00a0my\u00a0designs\u00a0and\u00a0would\u00a0wear\u00a0them\u00a0every\u00a0day\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0my\u00a0model,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0glint\u00a0of\u00a0humor\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0could\u00a0tell\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0smile\u00a0that\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0teasing\u00a0me.\u00a0She\u00a0knew\u00a0damn\u00a0well\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0like her\u00a0style\u00a0of\u00a0clothes,\u00a0and\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0totally\u00a0against\u00a0my\u00a0typical\u00a0wardrobe.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0heating.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax,\u00a0Judy,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0lightly.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0this\u00a0about?\u00a0Why\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0deciding\u00a0to\u00a0change\u00a0your\u00a0style\u00a0all\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0sudden?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0like\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0confessed,\u00a0lifting\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0shoulders.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0raised\u00a0her\u00a0brows.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0care\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0like?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cAren\u2019t\u00a0we\u00a0already\u00a0friends?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0speak,\u00a0but\u00a0was\u00a0interrupted\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0waiter.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u00a0evening,\u00a0Landry\u00a0family,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0waiter\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCarlton,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0greeted\u00a0in\u00a0retur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0decided\u00a0what\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0like\u00a0to\u00a0drink\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0evening?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0martini,\u00a0please,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0sweet\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cWith\u00a0an\u00a0extra\u00a0olive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0usual,\u201d\u00a0Carlton\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0Coke,\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0said,\u00a0and\u00a0Carlton\u00a0nodded\u00a0again,\u00a0writing\u00a0that\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0notepad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0scotch,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso,\u00a0the\u00a0usual,\u201d\u00a0Carlton\u00a0said,\u00a0checking\u00a0something\u00a0off\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0notepad.<\/p>\n
Suddenly,\u00a0all\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0just\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0water,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him. \u0327<\/p>\n
Carlton\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0to\u00a0meet\u00a0mine\u00a0and\u00a0frowned.<\/p>\n
We\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0drink\u00a0menu\u00a0with\u00a0various\u00a0selections.\u00a0Have\u00a0you\u00a0not\u00a0found\u00a0anything\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0liking?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0heated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0the\u00a0drink\u00a0menu\u00a0is\u00a0great.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0just\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0mood\u00a0for\u00a0water,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0avoided\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0curious\u00a0gaze;\u00a0whenever\u00a0we\u00a0go\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0eat\u00a0together,\u00a0we\u00a0both\u00a0always\u00a0get\u00a0martinis.<\/p>\n
Carlton\u00a0opened\u00a0his\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0something\u00a0more,\u00a0but\u00a0Gavin\u00a0cut\u00a0him\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0asked\u00a0for water,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0pouring\u00a0into\u00a0Carolton\u2019s,\u00a0his\u00a0expression\u00a0and\u00a0tone\u00a0leaving\u00a0no\u00a0room\u00a0for\u00a0arguments.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0Alpha.\u00a0My\u00a0apologies,\u201d\u00a0Carlton\u00a0said,\u00a0clearing\u00a0his\u00a0throat.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0get\u00a0right\u00a0on\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without\u00a0another\u00a0word,\u00a0he\u00a0hurried\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0water?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0raising\u00a0her\u00a0brows.\u00a0\u201cSince\u00a0when\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0just\u00a0drink\u00a0water?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0my mouth\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0up\u00a0with\u00a0some\u00a0excuse,\u00a0but\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0words\u00a0stopped\u00a0me\u00a0dead\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0tracks,\u00a0keeping\u00a0my\u00a0words\u00a0stuck\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince\u00a0we\u00a0found\u00a0out\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0expecting\u00a0a\u00a0baby,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0so\u00a0boldly\u00a0stated\u00a0without\u00a0missing\u00a0a\u00a0beat.\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0addition\u00a0to\u00a0the Landry\u00a0family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0silence\u00a0that\u00a0followed\u00a0his\u00a0words\u00a0was\u00a0deafening.<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 677 Chapter\u00a0677 \u201cAlpha\u00a0Landry,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0hostess\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0polite\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cYour\u00a0Beta\u00a0just\u00a0dropped\u00a0your\u00a0children\u00a0off.\u00a0They\u00a0are\u00a0already\u00a0seated\u00a0at\u00a0their\u00a0usual\u00a0table.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0escort\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0motioning\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0patio. \u201cNot\u00a0necessary,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0an\u00a0arih around my\u00a0waist,\u00a0keeping\u00a0me\u00a0pinned\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0side.\u00a0The\u00a0hostess\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0tensed;\u00a0she\u00a0cleared\u00a0her\u00a0throat,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0forced\u00a0a\u00a0tight\u00a0sile. \u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cEnjoy\u00a0your\u00a0meal.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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