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“Your cook wanted to do something nice for us,” she said and had to make an effort not to look at the gift bag on one of the chairs.
Gavin fingered the petals of a flower. “Nice.”
They sat and he immediately dug into the meal. Lyla examined him furtively. He wasn’t the same man she fell in love with as a teenager. At eighteen, how could she have prepared herself for a life with him? They had their highs and lows and now, here they were, expectant parents. She tried to imagine Gavin holding a baby and the image tugged at her heartstrings. He was such an alpha. If he loved their baby as much as he loved her, their daughter would never want to leave home. It might not be a girl, she reminded herself.
“How was the dog shelter?” Gavin asked.
“Um, it was great,” Lyla said and forced herself to eat. “I want to volunteer there regularly. Carmen does too. She bathed dogs and I took them out of their kennels and walked them on this path. There was this cute Pit bull, Beau, that I walked—”
“Awhat?”
Lyla frowned. “A Pit bull.”
“Pit bull’s are one of the most aggressive dog breeds in the world.”
“He’s not aggressive. He’s a sweetheart. When I fainted, he just stayed with me until someone found me—” She broke off when Gavin dropped his fork. “What?”
“Did you just say you fainted?” he asked in a quiet, icy voice.
Oh, shit. “Oh, um, I felt a little dizzy and I had a spell, but I’m fine now.”
“Why the fuck didn’t Blade take you to the hospital?”
Gavin looked murderous. Things were spinning out of control, as usual. Lyla splayed a hand on his chest, which was hard as a rock.
“Gavin, I’m fine.”
“Will you stop saying that? People don’t pass out if they’re fine. And you were walking a Pit bull that could have mauled—”
“Gavin!” Lyla braced her hands on his shoulders. “Nothing happened.”
“Something sure as fuck did happen. You lied to me,” he growled.
“But I’m fine now.” Lyla jumped with her hands in the air. “See? I’m fine.”
“But you fainted.”
“I didn’t eat. I was stupid and it’s not Blade’s fault. He tried to tell you, but I took his phone. I’m sorry.”
“You realize you hold my sanity in your hands?” Amber eyes probed hers. “Take care, baby girl.”
“I will,” she said and leaned into him. She didn’t want to tell him about the baby when he was pissed off. She needed to calm him down. God, he would be an absolute pain in the ass when he found out she was pregnant.
“You’re not allowed to walk any dog heavier than ten pounds,” Gavin snapped.
Lyla sighed. “I’m telling you, this Pit bull was adorable. When I passed out, he stayed right by my side.”
Gavin ran a hand down his face.
“What, Gavin?”
“He could have killed you!”
“Don’t be dramatic,” she chided as she sat on his lap, one arm draped over his neck. “I know how to deal with beasts.” She wagged her eyebrows at him, but he wasn’t amused.
His hand squeezed her hip. “Lyla, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“What?”
