I nod dazedly, unsure of what to say next. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”
Laz winks. “For now.”
“We hope to see you again soon, Faye,” Cole says as Ren takes my hand to lead me out.
He pauses at the front door and kisses my cheek, sending an electric shock through me.
“I’ll text you later, if that’s okay?” He doesn’t give me the chance to respond before continuing. “I hope you don’t mind, but Sabs gave me your number.”
With serotonin flooding my brain, all I can do is nod before stumbling down the path to their waiting car, where an older man—presumably Frank—is waiting for me. He’s in his late sixties or early seventies with plenty of wrinkles and twinkling eyes. He’s a beta who smells faintly of peppermint and Old Spice. He’s the opposite of what I expected the Silverwood’s driver to be like, yet I instantly like him.
“You must be Miss Faye!” He bows when he sees me. “I’m Frank, at your service.”
He rushes to open the car door. I’m about to tell him I can get it myself, but he seems so excited that I stay quiet.
“Get yourself comfortable, little lady!” He has a thick, warm Southern accent. “I’ve been given strict instructions to get you back to Stella House safely. Miss Sabrina will be pleased to see you.”
Once we’re all buckled in, Frank sets off, launching straight into conversation. “I’ve known Miss Sabrina since she was real small. A talker, that one. She’d take on any alpha in a fight. Oh, ho! And I’ve seen her fight. Scrappy young thing she was growing up in a house of boys. She’d beat ‘em all!” Frank has an easy way about him; I could listen to him talk about nothing all day. I also get the sense that he’s incredibly perceptive, that he’s talking to put me at ease, which is working. “Oh, the fights they had! Let me tell you!”
“It’s so cool that you’ve known Sabrina and Laz for such a long time.”
“Cole too.” The skin around his eyes crinkles when I meet his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Laz and Cole were best friends in school. Thick as thieves, those two. I never had my own family, see. I worked for the Mavericks for years, so when Mr. Silverwood—Cole—started college, he offered me a new position. I was ready for a change. My wife died a few years back—some painful memories in that place, you know? I wanted a fresh startand, between you and me, who else would hire an ancient fossil like me?”
Hearing Frank’s story only makes me think more highly of Cole. He could have hired anyone, but he wanted to help this sweet, old widower.
“You’re only as old as you feel,” I say. “Or so my gram tells me.”
“Your gram sounds like a wise woman, little lady!” Frank flashes me a toothy smile, drumming his hands on the steering wheel. “I don’t feel a day over thirty when I’m behind the wheel. You know, you’re the first girl Mr. Silverwood has asked me to drive anywhere. Unless you count Miss Sabrina, that is.”
“Really?” I shouldn’t be digging for information, but I’m surprised. “None?”
I saw how other women reacted to them at the club. The Silverwood alphas are gorgeous. I assumed they had women falling at their feet.
Frank chuckles. “There’s more to the Silverwood Pack than meets the eye, little lady. They have kind hearts. Loyal to the bone, they are. Couldn’t find a better pack anywhere. You’re lucky to have them.” He winks at me. “And I’m not just saying that because they pay my wages either.”
“Oh, we’re not…” I turn my head to look out my window, avoiding the inquisitive eyes that when not on the road, are studying me. “I mean, we’ve just…”
Frank laughs, a hearty laugh right from his stomach, as we come to a stop at the Omega Village gates. When he lowers the window to have a quick chat with Margie, sparing me from having to explain, the muscles in my shoulders loosen.
“Even an old fruitcake like me needs special permission to come through here,” he says as we pass through the open barrier. “Look there.” He points at Stella House. “It’s Miss Sabrina!”
Sabs races down the steps to greet us and wrenches the door happen.
“You’re in safe hands now, little lady.” Frank turns then tips his cap at me. “You take care of yourself. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you.”
“It was nice to meet you,” I reply as Sabs hauls me out into a hug.
“Faye!” She squeezes me so tight that I can hardly breathe. “I’ve been worried sick! Laz called me in a panic, blathering about towels or something. I’ve never heard him like that before. I barely understood what he was saying! Are you okay?”
“I… I think so,” I squeak. “The heat patches worked. Thank God.”
She finally releases me, enabling oxygen to flood into my lungs.
“Do you want to be alone?” she asks, leading me inside. “Kady and Delilah are both upstairs in the den. We thought you might want some company. I know whenever I’m coming down after a heat, I’m exhausted but want to be close to people.”
Prior to SVU, I’d have thought being alone would be my preference. However, being surrounded by the Stellas is exactly what I need right now.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
