Free Double Dare (Devil's Fighters MC Book 3) by Evelyn Glass Page A

the city (she was actually from Edmonton), but in that she represented Alyssa’s life in Canada. Her other life, the life that she had come to think of as her real life, the one that had freed her from everything. The one she was jeopardizing by extending her stay in Louisiana and testing her boss’ patience.
     
    She walked up to her friend, actually feeling the stunned expression on her own face. “Anna,” she said, and she couldn’t for the life of her infuse that greeting with enough enthusiasm. “What are you doing here?”
     
    Anna stood. “I thought I’d come to see you—since you don’t seem to want to see us.” There was no malice behind Anna’s words, but in turn, her friend didn’t seem to be able to keep a hint of accusation out of her voice.
     
    They embraced, and if anything, that hug was sincere.
     
    “I’m sorry,” Anna mumbled as she pulled back. “I’m all sticky. It’s so hot here!”
     
    Alyssa laughed. Her friend was wearing denim jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. “You’re most definitely not dressed for it. I hope you have something lighter in that suitcase of yours.”
     
    Anna cringed. “To be honest, I thought this was light,” she said, gesturing to her outfit.
     
    “I’ll get you something you can wear,” Alyssa offered. “Then we’re going shopping. You can’t stay in Louisiana dressed like that.” She fumbled with her keys and went to open her front door. “You’re staying with me, yes?”
     
    Anna hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to put you out. I can find a hotel.”
     
    “Nonsense,” Alyssa said immediately, even though it probably wasn’t the smartest idea to have Anna around at this moment in time. Then again, the woman had hopped on a plane for her; the least she could do was offer her some hospitality. “Come in.”
     
    Twenty minutes later, Anna was dressed in a pair of Alyssa’s denim shorts and a breezy linen tank top. For the second time that morning, Alyssa found herself sitting at a kitchen’s table with a friend. This time, however, she served iced tea.
     
    It was awkward. There was really no other way to describe it. Alyssa didn’t know if Anna could feel it, because she was sure that most of the awkwardness came from her. The last thing she had ever wanted was for her new life in Vancouver and her old life in Pinebrook to cross paths. Pinebrook was too different, too rough and raw. Her friends in Canada wouldn’t understand. Alyssa had never even told Anna about Xavier, and having her friend in her Louisiana kitchen right now was making her incredibly uncomfortable.
     
    She cleared her throat nervously. “Anna, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the visit, but…what are you doing here?”
     
    Anna stared at her with brown eyes that still glinted with a hint of accusation. “I just came back yesterday from Montreal. You know, from that conference you were supposed to attend.”
     
    Alyssa sighed. She would not raise to the bait; she had enough on her plate without adding a fight with one of her best friends on top of everything else. “I know.”
     
    Anna seemed a little put out that Alyssa wasn’t commenting on it, but she shrugged it off and continued, “So I go in to work yesterday morning, and it’s not long before I hear the buzz. Is it true you’d asked Derek for another two weeks?”
     
    Alyssa cringed. “It’s true,” she admitted. “And before you say anything about how selfish I’m being, may I remind you that I have never taken any personal time before.” Okay, so maybe she was getting a little defensive. Then again, she felt she was entitled.
     
    Anna raised her hands in a placating gesture. “I wasn’t going to call you selfish,” she said. “I realize why you did it. If I were you, I would be having trouble rejoining the outside world, too.”
     
    You don’t know the half of it, Alyssa thought grimly. Aloud, she said, “But…?” she guessed.
     
    “But,” Anna began carefully, “Derek is