Bea
"So," Ben says as he drops me off in front of Brooks Hardware, that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. "How was your NOT-date last night?"
I grab my bag and don't look at him. "It was dinner. Two people eating food. Very revolutionary concept."
"Uh-huh. That why you spent twenty minutes picking out your outfit this morning?"
My hand freezes on the door handle. "I did not?—"
"You did. I heard you reorganizing your closet at six-thirty." He's enjoying this way too much. "For someone who keeps insisting she's not interested in anyone, you sure seemed concerned about your appearance."
"I was picking a professional outfit for my FIRST DAY OF WORK." I shove the door open. "You know, like a responsible adult?"
"Right. Professional." His eyes sweep over my fitted jeans and the forest-green sweater that—fine, yes—happens to bring out my eyes. "That's why you're wearing makeup."
"It's MASCARA, Benjamin. One coat. I'm not—" I stop myself before I finish that sentence, because wherever it's going, he'll use it against me.
"Not what?" Pure innocence in his voice. "Not trying to impress anyone? Not hoping a certain tattooed alpha might walk by? Not?—"
I slam the truck door in his face.
Through the window, I can see him laughing. He rolls down the window. "Have a good day at work, Bea! Say hi to River for me! And if you see Grayson?—"
"I hate you!"
"Love you too, sis!"
He drives off, still laughing, and I'm left standing on the sidewalk trying to calm my racing heart and the heat crawling up my neck.
I did not spend twenty minutes on my outfit.
It was fifteen. Maximum.
And the makeup was just—everyone wears a little mascara to work, right? It's normal. Professional. Has nothing to do with the fact that Grayson's tattoo shop is literally visible from here, or that Seth might patrol past during his shift, or that River has really nice forearms that I absolutely have not thought about.
Not even once.
Liar.
I pushopen the door to Brooks Hardware, and a bell chimes overhead. The smell hits me immediately—wood, metal, that particular scent of a hardware store that's somehow both industrial and comforting.
And underneath it, something else. Something that makes my omega sit up and take immediate notice.
River looks up from behind the counter, and his whole face brightens. "Bea! Right on time."
He comes around the counter, and oh.
Oh no.
I'd forgotten how tall he is. How broad his shoulders are under that navy flannel. How his jeans fit just right, worn in all the places that draw the eye. His dark hair is slightly messy, like he's been running his hands through it, and there's a streak of sawdust across his forearm that shouldn't be attractive but absolutely is.
"Thanks for having me," I manage, proud that my voice sounds mostly normal. "Ready to learn the ropes."
"Perfect. Fair warning though—it's gonna be a lot less glamorous than it sounds." He gestures around the store, and I catch his scent fully for the first time.
Pine. Fresh sawdust. Something warm and woodsy that goes straight to my hindbrain.
My omega responds like someone just rang a dinner bell.
