“When I’m not working and Emmett is busy, I tend to find myself here for a while so I don't have to sit at home alone. I like it. The smell, the atmosphere. I probably spend more money here a month than most people do on their rent.” I laugh awkwardly. “I just love pretty books.” I shrug.
“Justifiable,” he chuckles. “Well then, how about we head inside and you show me some of your favorites?”
“Really?” I can’t help but smile.
“I want to know everything about you, Lexi. Your likes and dislikes. Your hopes and dreams.”
“But why?”
“Because you’re important to me. That includes everything involving you.” He shrugs.
My stomach twists as my body flushes. Aiden gets out and makes his way around the truck to open my door. I know by the slight flare of his nostrils that he can smell my arousal. But he doesn’t point it out and offers me his hand instead.
Why am I turned on? All the man did was show an interest in me.
Is this how it's going to be? Every time these Alphas prove they’re nothing like the Alphas from my past, I’m going to fangirl over them?
If so, I might have to invest in more panties.
“Thanks.” I take his hand and let him help me out of the truck.
The bell to the door chimes as we enter. The moment the familiar smell of books hits me, my face breaks into a soft smile, and my body relaxes.
“Lexi, it’s been a few days,” Denny, one of the shop workers, greets me. “Glad to see you stop by.”
“Denny, hey.” I head over to him, Aiden following behind me. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Not looking forward to the snow. But hey, that's what you get when you live in the mountains, so I can’t complain.” His eyes flick over to Aiden. “Who's your new friend?”
“Aiden Madden.” Aiden’s gruff voice sends a shiver down my spine. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Denny says hesitantly, returning his attention to me. “Is Emmett back in town?”
“Really?” I roll my eyes.
“What?” he asks innocently.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?”
“The look that says you think I’m cheating on Emmett.” I raise a brow.
“I did not think that for a moment.” He raises a brow back. “However, it is very unlike you to be seen around with anyone but him.”
“Emmett is back in town. He knows about Aiden. And he’s fine with me hanging out with him. Don’t make me tell Baxter on you.”
He narrows his eyes. “You would never.”
“I think he’d like to know his Omega is being nosy.” I grin. I love getting him going. Denny is someone I’d consider a close friend, if I had close friends. We’ve built a friendship over the years thanks to how much time I spend here. We chat, mostly about books, but he does love to gossip, like most people in a small town do.
“Girl, you have a six-foot-tall Alpha god behind you when you’re normally with a six-foot Omega god. Sorry if a man wants to know if he’s taken.” Denny grins up at Aiden.
“Well, he is,” I say that with a little more force than I intended.
His eyes snap down to me, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Well, I’ll be damned. Does Lexi have an Alpha?”
I don’t want to say no and dismiss what we have, but I also don’t want to go around telling people my personal business when I haven't even told my sister yet. It would kill me if she heard it from someone else.
