I watched Plum and Kai date for three years, hating every second of them being together, even though he clearly made her happy. When I heard they finally broke up, I thought I might have a chance with her eventually, but she was heartbroken in a way I don’t think anyone expected.
It didn’t help that Sable had already left town for school, and I was really worried about Plum being so alone.
Thankfully, my sweet saint of a sister quickly swooped in to comfort Plum. The two of them got really close, really fast. For a while, I thought maybe their friendship would make it easier to get Plum to look my way, but the beautiful omega wasn’t interested in anything to do with men. At least, she wasn’t until, to my complete fucking surprise, she started flirting with my oldest brother, Nick.
He’s ten years older than her, and at thirty, he wanted nothing to do with a twenty-year-old omega.
Nick has been single my entire life. Not one girlfriend brought home to meet the family. Not even rumors of him dating anyone. There have been rumors of him having one-night stands, but not many, and over the last nearly four years, I haven’t heard anything.
So, from where I stood, it looked like Plum decided to crush on the most emotionally unavailable alpha in town after having her heart broken by her first love. For a long time I couldn’t tell if she just saw him as a challenge, but now I think she must have seen him as a safe option. The unavailable older grump can’t break your heart if he never takes it to begin with.
Either way, I tried flirting with her every time he shot her down, hoping she might notice me. Really notice me. I don’t think she ever did, though. Maybe my desire for her was too obvious or just too much for the girl who wanted to avoid the risk of another heartbreak.
The closest I’ve ever come to getting her attention was last month. The night she found me walking on the side of the road, half-naked and beyond drunk.
She’s barely acknowledged my existence since she helped me out, so when she turned to me for help at the Halloween party, I was shocked but immediately on board. There was no way I was going to deny her, even if I knew it wouldn’t lead to anything between us. I didn’t spend years yearning for her attention just to reject it the second she looked my way.
Then, the most fucking incredible thing happened. Her scent changed when I looked down at her. She stared back into my eyes, her peppermint scent sweetened, and for a moment, it was like Kai wasn’t even there. For that one moment, I thought maybe she was finally seeing me.
She took my hand, leading me out of the bar, and like a lovesick puppy on a leash, I followed her.
The second the night air washed over us, it was like the spell broke, and she left me standing in the parking lot, wondering if I imagined the connection between us. I spent the entire night and all of yesterday replaying it all. Did I imagine that look in her eyes, the way her scent turned into peppermint candy?
I’ve been wondering if I’d lost my one and only chance to show her I can be what she needs. Until now.
“About the other night,” she murmurs.
She’s staring up at me like I’m her only hope. Her beautiful silver eyes lock on mine, plush pink lips parting as she watches me. There’s a hint of desperation in her peppermint and evergreen scent, but there’s also something sweeter. Her scent lights me up from the inside, and her cheeks flush bright pink as she swallows, clearly struggling to get the rest of her words out.
Every instinct screams at me to throw her over my shoulder and drag her to the barn so I can knot her until she’s mine forever…
I ignore them. That would be too much and way too fast for an omega like Plum. For any omega, if I’m honest. I’ve got to take my time with her. I need to make her fall in love with me, and I have to do it before she realizes it's even happening.
“I need you to be my fake boyfriend for a little longer,” she finishes, wincing at her own words.
“Why’s that, Sugarplum?” I lift one brow, trying really hard to hide my shock and, more importantly, my excitement. I should thank Kai for coming back to town so early, or this moment might have never happened.
“Kai,” she growls through gritted teeth, like she hates saying his name. I can’t blame her. Their breakup was brutal and very public. I didn’t witness it myself, but I heard all about it. The whole town did.
I was surprised to see him at the Halloween party. It was something Plum clearly wasn’t expecting either, to say the least, but I’m sure fucking thankful he was there. Plum wouldn’t be looking up at me like this right now if he hadn’t been.
“Ah.” I grunt, tilting my head as I step closer to her, hoping her scent will cling to me all day long. “So you want me to beyour fake boyfriend to keep Kai away from you?” I ask, smirking when she props her hands on her hips.
“Pretty much,” she huffs, swallowing thickly as she takes in my scent. She has to know by now that I want her. I’ve never tried to hide it. In fact, I’ve been doing the opposite for months now, laying on the flirting thicker and thicker. Before last night, she never looked at me like this, like maybe she’s starting to want me just as badly. Physically, anyway.
“Can’t do it.” I shrug, turning away from her and back to the broken post I was fixing when her angelic voice called my name. I don’t miss the wide eyes or the way her jaw drops open.
“W-what!? Why not?” she stutters, leaping forward into my path, not letting me take another step as she pushes herself against my chest, arms crossed defensively as she stares up at me. Fuck, she’s so cute when she’s flustered, but I need to know how much this means to her.
How far does she want to take this? How serious is she about avoiding her history with Kai? If I lock in, only for her to change her mind in a few days, I might never get a chance to make her mine, and I don’t want to fucking blow this. Somehow, I have to turn a fake relationship into a real one, but to do that, I need time with Plum.
Does she only want to do this long enough to fake a breakup, or is this something she wants to do until the wedding that’s nearly seven weeks away?
“You want me to give you boyfriend perks?” I ask, and she nods, squinting like she’s trying to read my thoughts.
“Fake boyfriend perks,” she mumbles.
“Fake or real, you still need me to be the same guy.” I shake my head, then shrug. “Boyfriend perks, but this involves my entire family. If I’m keeping your ex off your back, the town is going to talk.Everyonewill talk, Sugarplum,” I point out,watching as she nibbles her bottom lip some more, getting that faraway look in her eyes.
