The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 346

Chapter 169-2

He’s not?”

“No. Apparently he’s taking her to Hawaii for her birthday in January, and he got her some diamond

earrings for Christmas Day.”

“Nice. Way to go, Mayhem.”

“I know, right?”

So you got the go-ahead on the scarf?”

“I sure did.”

“Look at you, being so darn sweet,” I tease. Then I stop dead in my tracks as my eyes land on the top shelf of the stuffed animals section. “Oh. My. God. Locke, look.”

Sitting right on the top shelf, surrounded by standard brown bears and gray bunnies, is a ridiculously fluffy, neon-pink alpaca. It has long, absurd white eyelashes, a tiny golden bow tied around its neck, and an expression of pure, smug happiness.

Locke looks up at the shelf, then looks down at me. A deep rumble of laughter escapes his chest, attracting the attention of a mother holding a toddler nearby.

“Zara,” Locke chuckles, shaking his head. “That thing is aggressive,”

“It’s perfect,” I whisper-shout, jumping up slightly to get it. But even on my tiptoes, the shelf is just

out of my reach.

Before I can ask, Locke steps up right behind me. His warm, broad chest presses against my back. He reaches his long, tattooed arm right over my head, easily grabbing the fluffy pink alpaca off the shelf and bringing it down.

“Here you go, baby,” he whispers right into my ear, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver straight down my spine. “One disturbing pink alpaca.”

I take the alpaca from him, hugging it against my chest. “Do you think Mayhem will cry tears of joy, or just have immediate flashbacks to that chaotic afternoon with the flatbed pickup?”

Locke snorts, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “If you really want to bring back those memories, you need to buy a tube of craft glue and toss half a cup of neon-pink glitter all over its face. Make it look like it just survived the great parade float explosion.”

“Oh, that is brilliant,” I giggle, tracing the alpaca’s ear. “It’s not a true homage to how he earned his road name unless it looks like it was stampeding down the main road covered in event confetti.”

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Chapter 169-2

“Cobra would probably kill us both if we brought open glitter into the clubhouse. He still claims he finds pink glitter in the floorboards from when Mayhem pulled into the driveway with those three panicked alpacas in the back of the truck.”

“It’s his own fault for naming him Mayhem right on the spot,” I say, holding the fluffy stuffed animal

up to Locke’s face. “Admission of guilt.”

“Mayhem’s going to hate you for this. Which means he’s going to love it.”

“He’s soft, like that,” I say as we wait in line to pay.

“He is when it comes to you,” Locke says, leaning down to press a quick, warm kiss against the top

of my head. “We all are.”

My heart swells, a tight, sweet warmth spreading through my chest. I turn slightly in his arms, resting my hand against his broad, solid chest, feeling the steady thud of his heart beneath his

shirt.

“Okay,” I say. “The alpaca is secured. Now we have to execute phase two of the day.”

Locke tilts his head, his eyebrows pulling together. “Phase two?”

“Separate shopping,” I say. “You need to go buy whatever you’re hiding from me, and I need to go buy your main Christmas present.”

Locke smirks, a dangerous, flirtatious glint entering his eyes. “Who says I’m hiding something from

you?”

“I know you, Locke,” I say, poking his chest with my index finger. “You love your secrets…”

Locke doesn’t deny it; he just gives me a huge grin.

“Okay, so one hour,” he says, his voice dropping into that toe-curling, intimate tone that always makes my knees go a little weak. “We meet at that little Thai noodle place on the corner of Fourth Street. The one with the quiet booth in the back.”

“One hour,” I agree. “And no sneaking a peek into my bags!”

“Deal, baby,” he whispers, leaning down to press a firm, sweet kiss against my mouth before letting go of my hand. “Now go spend my money.”

“I’m spending my own money!” I call out as he turns around, watching his broad shoulders retreat through the crowded store. I smile to myself, clutching the pink alpaca, before turning on my heel to head toward the main street shops.

I have a second very specific, very important mission to accomplish. This one on my own.

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