It was survival. Self-preservation. A panic response.
The fact that his mouth was perfect and his hands felt amazing and his scent made my omega biology light up like Times Square on New Year's Eve iscompletely irrelevant.
The fact that I can still taste him? Also irrelevant.
The way my body is still humming with arousal, slick and warm and wanting? Definitely, absolutely, one hundred percent irrelevant.
I spot Ben near the kettle corn booth and make a beeline for him, desperate for cover. He takes one look at my face and his eyebrows shoot toward his hairline.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing. This is my normal face."
"Your 'normal face' is currently the color of a tomato, and you smell like..." He sniffs. His eyes go wide. "Bea. Why do you smell like the town's deputy?"
"I have to leave. Immediately. Possibly forever. Tell Mom and Dad I've moved to Alaska."
"Whathappened?"
"Terrance showed up. I panicked. I kissed the nearest alpha. It was Seth Monroe. The entire town saw everything. Maeve Bennett witnessed it. I need to leave the country."
"You—" Ben's mouth opens. Closes. Opens again. "You kissed Seth Monroe."
"Yep."
"Deputy Seth Monroe."
"That's the one."
"Who helped Mrs. Henderson find her cat last month."
"Is there another Seth Monroe?"
"Volunteers at the elementary school giving safety talks to kindergarteners."
"Yes, Ben. That exact Seth Monroe."
He stares at me for a long moment, then takes a sip of his beer. "Seth Monroe. Really."
"Don't start."
"Tripped over his own feet walking to get his diploma at graduation."
"He was eighteen and going through a growth spurt!"
"Brought a scientific calculator to prom."
"Ben—"
"Wore a bow tie to every school dance." He's grinning now, clearly enjoying himself. "Helped Mrs. Peterson organize the library card catalog for fun."
"Are you done?"
"Just trying to picture it." He takes another sip, eyes dancing with amusement. "Lanky, awkward Seth Monroe. Getting thoroughly kissed by my baby sister. In front of the entire town."
"He's not lanky anymore. He's built. And tall. And—" I realize what I'm saying and stop, heat flooding my face.
Ben chokes. Beer goes down the wrong pipe and he's coughing, eyes watering, while I pat his back with absolutely no sympathy.
