Not only that, but there was adeliciousscent in the air, and it wasn't the smell of pastries wafting from the kitchen. It was the same one I smelled the night we had sex.
Part of me panicked. I suddenly wanted to get away from this place, but Skylar was still outside toying with the machine and if I bolted, he would know something was wrong.
As if on cue, Skylar’s voice called, “Is it working?”
Then I remembered he wanted us to use the screen inside the booth. I shoved Griffin aside as my fingers flew to the touch screen, trying to figure this out as fast as possible so I could get out of here.
“Hang on a second,” I called to Skylar.
“Here,” Griffin said. “It's this one.”
He touched a button that I hadn't noticed and instantly the menu lit up. I felt like an idiot, because this program wasn't rocket science, and especially because an alpha had helped me with something, which I hated to the core of my being.
“Whatever,” I said. “Where's the button that starts the stupid thing?”
Griffin had a wry smile on his face. “Suddenly in a rush?” he asked. “Or are you just not a fan of technology?”
“Both,” I muttered.
“Here,” Griffin said. He was about to pick another button before I swatted his hand away.
“I can figure it out myself,” I snapped. “I don't need your help to do it.”
“It looked like you needed my help a second ago,” he countered.
“Well, I don't now!” I growled at him. My fingers slammed into the start button and now an automated system popped up, asking us to choose the borders for our photos.
“I wonder if they're going to give us this test run for free,” Griffin mused. “Since the list of rules mentioned it was a paid thing.”
“I'm not paying for some photos with an alpha I barely know,” I grunted. “They can take it out of Skylar's first paycheck.”
Griffin actually laughed. “You wouldn't do that to your friend. I've seen the kind of person you are.”
I whirled around and stuck my finger in his face. “You don't know anything about me. We don't know anything about each other. And if you don't mind, I'd like to keep it that way.”
Griffin stared down at me with no indication of emotion on his face. I didn't know what he was thinking. For a moment, neither of us tore our eyes away, like we were frozen in place.
Then, with mild horror, I felt the same jolt of electricity run down my spine that I felt before when our eyes met at the table. I didn't want to feel this way. I wanted to run - even if there was a deep, dark part of me that begged to stay.
No. I couldn’t give into that desire. I had to get away from this man.
“Let's just get this over with,” I muttered.
Despite my annoyance, Griffin didn't seem bothered by my outburst. He didn't storm out of the booth, or say anything except, “Okay. I'll let you figure it out this time.”
I wanted to be annoyed at his statement, except there was no condescension in his tone. He genuinely wanted me to figure it out for myself because I had asked to do it.
“This one,” I decided, and jabbed my finger into the button with the cat border. Most of the borders had hearts or flowers, or were angel themed like the entire café. Cats seemed like the safest bet. After all, there was nothing inherently romantic about cats.
“That's the one you picked?” Griffin asked curiously. “I wouldn't have pegged you for a cat liking type of guy. Even though you act like one.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” I grumbled. “A guy can like cats if he wants to. Besides, I'd rather have cats than these stupid hearts or these stupid flowers or these stupid angel wings. Cats are vicious predators. Killing machines.”
Griffin was flat out laughing again. My cheeks turned red and warm. I hadn't expected him to laugh so loud. Skylar would definitely hear it from outside.
“Keep it down,” I snapped. “Do you want the entire café to think we're having a fun time or something?”
“God forbid we have fun together,” Griffin said in mock horror. In a whisper, he added, “In a way that's not - ”
