Desert Bound (Cambio Springs) Read Online Free PDF

table so she could clean up. “But maybe don’t go out and sleep with a random at the Cave, either, okay?” 
    Or Ollie’s head will explode.
    Allie snorted. Then she broke into a full out belly laugh. Ted laughed too. Eventually, both women had tears running down their cheeks, and Ted’s belly was aching.
    “Can you even picture it?” Allie choked out. “I don’t think I know how to flirt with a man anymore.”
    “You’ll figure it out. If I recall, it came naturally when you were younger.”
    “Yeah, before four kids and all the stretch marks.”
    Ted frowned. “You have stretch marks?” It was unusual for shifters to scar at all, but Allie was very fair skinned. She’d gotten her light blond curls and blue eyes from her mom and had to slather on sunscreen in the desert sun.
    “Not many. I can’t complain. Human girls have it way worse.” Allie looked at her out of the corner of her eye. “You’re lucky. You have that gorgeous dark skin.  Probably won’t get any when you and Alex finally figure things out.”
    “Shut up, Allie.”
    “Do you think you’ll have puppies or kittens?” Mischief lit her pixie face. “Or do you call ‘em cubs?”
    “Seriously.” Ted was getting annoyed. “I’m not talking about Alex.”
    “Why not? I’m tired of talking about me. I’d much rather talk about you and Alex avoiding the inevitable.”
    Ted slammed a drawer. “Why does everyone seem to think that we’re inevitable except me? You and Jena. Ollie. Alex, especially. Does it even occur to anyone that I…”
    Allie waited, a patient expression on her face. “What?” she finally asked. “You what? Still love him? And he loves you? You guys have always been like that, fighting what everyone around you could see. It’s kind of ridiculous.”
    “It’s not ridiculous!”
    “No… you’re right.” Allie’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not ridiculous. You know what it is? It’s wasteful .”
    Ted’s mouth snapped shut.
    “It’s wasteful, Ted. To have someone who loves you like that and hold them at arm’s length. All because you’re holding a grudge.”
    “I’m not holding a grudge!” She was totally holding a grudge.
    “I’ve never had anyone love me the way Alex loves you.”
    Yes, you do. 
    It was on the tip of Ted’s tongue, but she bit it back. It was too soon for that.
    “If I did, I’d grab onto it so fast.” Allie was still talking. “And you just throw it away.”
    “He’s never even apologized.” Ted tugged off the sweater she kept to combat the air conditioning. “Did you know that? He left me. Strung me along for years, interfered with every relationship I tried to have, and he never even apologized for it.”
    “Maybe he isn’t sorry. He did what he had to do.” Allie’s eyes narrowed. “At least he takes care of the people who depend on him, unlike some people.”
    “Fine, he doesn’t have to be sorry for leaving me to work in LA. But hurting me the way he did? Never giving me a straight answer?” Ted bit the inside of her lip to keep from crying. “He broke my heart, Allie. More than once. And I know he’s got you all convinced that he’s back to stay, but he hasn’t convinced me. I’ll believe it when the resort is finished and he still here in six months. As far as I’m concerned, this is just another project to him.”
    Allie’s face softened. “You’ll figure it out eventually.”
    “Figure what out?”
    “Why he’s done all this.”
    “I know why he’s done it.” She did. “I know he loves this place. I know it’s always been home to him.”
    “No.” Allie’s smile was wistful. “You’ve always been home to him. You . Not the town. Not his pack. You.”
    “Allie—”
    “Enough.” Allie’s quiet sigh stopped her. “I’m tired of fighting. Come on, doc. Let’s go to lunch. Jena expected us a half hour ago, and this fox is hungry.”
     
    Allie was sitting with Jena’s mom, Kathy, and her two youngest kids when Alex walked in.