But it’s his face that holds my attention. He’s staring at me like I’m the only thing in his world.
His eyes darken when he looks down at me.
“See that?” he says quietly. “This is how I always feel when I look at you.”
His hand curls around mine, squeezing gently as I try to catch my breath.
This pack is going to be the death of me. I’m feeling more and more certain about it.
I disappear to get ready for work, but not before sliding the photo off the table.
Nate says nothing, but I can feel his eyes on me as I leave. Back in my room, I place the photo of us carefully in my nest, positioning it until I’m happy.
Then I peel off Axel’s shirt, adding it to my little pile of alpha-scented clothing.
Hmm. I prod it at, irritation prickling at me.
Not right.
Notenough.
Poking my tongue into the side of my cheek, I push away the feeling as I get ready.
Just a typical omega thing. It doesn’tmeananything.
ChapterThirty-Nine
Hudson
After fucking up the fourth order of the day, Veronica not-so-gently shoves me away from the serving station. Wincing, I rub at my arm as she pins me with a dark look.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” she asks. “You’ve been off your game all damn day.”
“Sorry.”
I don’t offer her an explanation even as I throw down my serving towel, stalking away and pushing open the back door to grab a deep breath of fresh air.
Truth is, I can’t concentrate. Gabrielle is in there, working her ass off at her station and determinedly avoiding my gaze.
It… hurts. And I get it completely.
I was so eager to have her here, close and safe, that it didn’t even occur to me that I’m her boss, for fucks’ sake.
I don’t blame her for keeping a distance, even though all I want to do is eat up the space between us, stop her from having to scrub those massive fucking pots that are almost as big as she is, and make sure everyone in this restaurant knows exactly who I belong to.
But I’m guessing that’s exactly what she doesn’t want.
So I stay outside, trying to clear my head of sweet, hot butterscotch until the lunch rush is over, mulling over the best way to approach this. When I finally stick my head back inside, Gabrielle’s shift is over.
“She went up a while back,” Veronica says shortly as she passes me. “Don’t think she was feeling well.”
That’s all I need to bolt from the kitchen area. Too impatient to wait for the elevator, my steps pound up the stairs. I’ll give her all the space she wants at work, but I’m not staying away if she’s not well.
“Gabrielle?” I call when my feet hit the wooden slats of the hall.
Listening, I pick up the faintest noise from the living room. When I push the door open, I’m not prepared in any way for a weeping omega, Gabrielle’s face tear-stained as she covers it with her hands.
I’m dropping down next to her in a second, my hands reaching for her automatically, the need to comfort her hitting me like a brick. When she flinches, a low whine in her throat, I stop short, my heart in my mouth.
