“Really? You think a human wants some random alpha showing up at their motel room? A room at a motel that sounds like a horror movie? You think that’s a good idea?” I could picture the sheriff showing up looking for the sketchy weirdo who wouldn’t leave. Not the way to win a heart.
“Fine, go back to the diner and wait till he comes again.”
It was a ridiculous idea, said out of sarcasm. That didn’t stop me from thanking her and racing over to the diner. Of course, he wasn’t going to be there. Who stays at the diner for hours?
“Wait,” Maggie hollered to me.
I froze in the doorway. “Yes?”
“I hate to be ‘that’ person, but don’t you have another box for me?”
Did I? I hadn’t thought so, but I promised her I would check and ran to the truck. It was empty, but then I checked my clipboard. Suck. She did have a second box.
“Hey, Maggie, I need to go back and grab it. Somehow it didn’t get on the truck.” Could at least one thing go right today?
That wasn’t fair, something did go right…better than right. I’d met my mate. I now had a face for the magnificent scent. He was gorgeous and, even if he wasn’t mine, I’d have noticed him.
“I’d tell you not to worry about it, but it’s the sanitizer for the dishes, and I’m about out. Health codes and all.”
I could see she felt horrible, and it wasn’t as if she was asking me to go above and beyond my position. She was asking for the bare minimum, to get her delivery.
“I got you.” It wasn’t as if my mate was still going to be at the diner.
It didn’t take but a half an hour to grab her box and get it to her. I apologized again.
“Want some chicken?”
Normally, there wouldn’t have been anything between me and her chicken, but I had plans.
“Thanks, but I’m going to the diner to see about a mate.”
“That’s my Lux. Go get him.”
That wasn’t exactly what I planned to do. If he was still there, which he most likely wouldn’t be. Gah, why was this mate thing so hard.
Because it was worth it.
Chapter Seven
Rain
Time passed quickly when building a business in a busy diner. At least, it did for me. Layla kept my coffee fresh and even replaced it with a latte in the afternoon. It was warm and cinnamony and gave me the boost I needed to get more done. I spent the late afternoon polishing up my website. The tantalizing scents around me turned from burgers and fries to meat loaf and roasted pork. That’s when I looked down at the time and realized I’d stayed at the Good Times Diner through lunch and was still here at dinnertime.
My ass had fallen asleep over a half hour ago, but I got a ton done.
I’d learned over the day to ignore the ringing of the bell above the door, but as I shut my laptop, thinking about ordering a light dinner, the bell rang, louder than ever.
And there stood the man I wished had come back in. Layla insisted he would at some point, but it wasn’t until I saw him that I believed the sassy waitress. “Told you,” she said, winking at me and blowing a small bubble with her gum and then popping it loudly.
This time, I waited. Said nothing. The last time, I invited him to sit with me and he acted like I’d put him on stage in front of millions and asked for a show. Maybe he was a shy guy, and that was the end of it. Layla vouched for him, but I’d known her less than twelve hours. Still, there was something about this town and these people that made me want to instantly trust.
Even Bennett.
“Hi,” Lux said, coming over to stand where he had earlier. This time, his shoulders were squared, and he looked determined. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. He was no longer fumbling over words. Maybe working all day drove the nervousness out. There was nothing for him to be nervous about in the first place. I was new in town, yes, but that didn’t make me dangerous. Other than my tendency to follow my whims, I wasn’t special by any means.
“There’s no need to be sorry. Really.” I stuck out my hand. He looked at my arm and then my hand. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, and I took in every movement he made. A bead of sweat emerged from his brow. He was nervous around me? “I’m Rain.”
