“Yikes,” he muttered.
She looked over at his tone and realized she’d sort of shredded the front of his slacks when she’d tried to help him out of them.
“Wait.Here, use this.”She pulled her apron off and wrapped it around his front.“There.That’ll get us out the door.”
“Thanks.”He pulled out his wallet and handed her a credit card.“Use this for my bill.”
“Okay.”She took the credit card, her ticket pad, a pen, and her money, and rushed inside to find Phil.
“I’m so sorry, but I have to bail on you tonight.I’ve got a-a…family emergency.”She hurried past him to the POS station to tab Peyton out and hand off her open checks and tables to other servers.
“What happened?”Phil asked.“What’s wrong?”
She started to make up something, realized she was about to maniacally laugh, and then met Peyton’s gaze across Phil’s shoulder from where her new mate had followed her inside.
Peyton gently rested a hand on Phil’s shoulder and Gillian shivered as she felt the strength of his Prime powers wash through her boss.
“I apologize for intruding on her shift like this, but you know how parents can be.I was ordered to bring her for a cake tasting for our wedding, but I screwed up telling her the date.Youaregoing to let us pay you for the wedding rehearsal dinner, right?I know you tried to say it was on the house but Iinsiston paying you full price as well as paying all your servers and staff a complete full-night’s pay.”
But Peyton’s gaze burned into hers.
Phil smiled.“Of course, eh—”
“Peyton,” she whispered, barely able to talk.That was partially due to the shock now hitting her that she was thefreaking Pack Alpha’smate, and partially due to the fact that her mate was so damned sexy she was about to cream herself.
“Yes, Peyton.Sorry son.And of course!”Phil shook with him.“Let me know as soon as you confirm the date and what you want served.”
“Absolutely.Looking forward to it, and we appreciate your patience with this unintended schedule snafu.”Peyton’s gaze never left hers.
“No worries, son.”
She barely managed to handle everything before hurrying out the door with Peyton.
He grabbed her hand.“Where’s your car?”
“There,” she pointed, then dipped her hand into the apron for her keys and phone, brushing against his considerable erection in the process and forcing herself not to jump him again.
He deftly plucked her keys from her hand and when they reached her car he led her around to the passenger side, opening the door for her and slanting another kiss over her lips before releasing her so she could slide in.
When he opened the driver’s side door he had to fumble for the seat latch to slide it all the way back before he climbed in.Then he started it and sat there for a moment, staring at her.
“I know we have a lot to talk about,” he said, “but right now, all I want to do is go back to your place and get naked so I can do you justice.”
“I’m cool with that plan, but can we take a shower first?”She grimaced.“I really want to wash the smell of fries and alley sex off us before rounds two through infinity happen.”
He laughed.“Absolutely.Now, where are we going?”
“Oh.Oh!”She gave him directions and less than ten minutes later they were climbing the stairs to her apartment.
“I’m sorry it’s not fancy,” she said.
He gently squeezed her hand again.“Doesn’t matter.Besides, you won’t be living here.”
“Whoa.”She stopped right there on the stairs, not releasing his hand so he had to turn and face her.“I still have two semesters left of law school.I’m not quitting.”
“Who said anything about you quitting law school?”
“But you said…” She stared at him, his lips quirking in another smile that sent yet anothersplooshwave to her already drenched panties.“You’re going to make me move to the pack compound, aren’t you?”
