"I know a thing or two about satisfying thirst, and it isn’t cider I was thinking of,” he replies flirtatiously. My smile widens, realizing he’s as awkward as I am with the flirting.
Laughing, Miles throws back his head with one-hundred percent amusement. "Oh, I bet you do, Chad. But let's keep it PG for the cameras, shall we?"
He’s being playful with him. A strange feeling, a mix of amusement and jealousy, hits me, and I glance at the cameras. They follow our every move, and they are hard to ignore. But if I’m going to follow Chad's crazy plan of being rivals, maybe I should start that storyline now for the viewers.
Miles glances at me, a slightly teasing smile lifting his lips. "Unless, of course, you prefer the uncensored version, darling."
That’s the opening I need. A euphoric warmth spreads through me, reflecting in the curve of my lips. Stepping forward, I touch Miles' arm and blink up at him. A little zip of energy seems to flow between us, and I almost forget the purpose of closing the distance as I fall into his sky blue eyes.They seriously match the vivid cloudless sky behind his head. And they leave me a little stunned for a moment.
“The donuts are actually one of my guilty pleasures, I would love to join you and have a few,” I admit, flirting a little and throwing Chad a covert glance.
Chad suppresses a smile as he sees what I’m doing, while lifting his eyebrows in challenge. Frenemies it is. “Sweetheart, I think you are on Rafe’s group date. Maybe you should have him get you a donut.” He wraps a possessive hand over Miles’ bicep, and the urge to knock it off kicks me in the stomach.
I release Miles' arm and fall back a step, catching my breath from the shock of pure emotion that hit me. That was not part of an act. What was that?
“Of course, how could I forget,” I say, attempting to cover up the purely territorial omega reaction that’s unfolding inside of me. One sniff and my inner omega thinks she owns him. That is fucking perfect.
Down girl.
Rafe approaches us, and I hold my breath, waiting for what he is going to say or do. It could be anything after that kiss in the orchard.
He smiles for the camera, because I know after our conversation, it isn’t actually for me. “Lilah, you disappeared while I was getting the cider and donuts.”
Attempting to play along with the scheme he suggested, I step into him. Forcing myself to relax into his warmth as his arm circles my waist, and he pulls me closer into his heat. “I hope you saved some for me.”
Miles narrows his eyes on us, as if he can sense the lie between us. Chad watches with a calculating look that says we will be talking about this development later. A kiss, I suppose, is one thing, while Rafe seeking me out is definitely something else.
“Of course I did,” Rafe replies. “Miles, Chad, excuse us.”
He leads us away before I can say a word of goodbye to either of them. “What the fuck, Rafe?”
“Flirting with Miles,” he pauses, his voice lowering dangerously when he notices the cameraman trailing behind us. “That isn’t part of the plan, Lilah.”
“Jealous?” I quip, knowing it isn’t true but still wanting to get a reaction from him.
He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “No.”
Disappointment strikes me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. It isn’t as if I actually thought he was jealous. My wires are just crossing or something. I didn’t actually expect to come on this show and meet a pack that I fit with or even alphas I almost instantly crave. And two out of the three is insane odds, really it’s three out of three if I am honest with myself. Because I did want Rafe in that club. And I did lose myself in his arms not even an hour ago.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here for love.”
“Keep it that way,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my temple as we approach the group of omegas who look like they want to murder me.
Rafe wasn’t jokingwhen he suggested I could be a shield. The second we climb back onto our bus, he drops down next to me. A friendly smile on his face and smelling like the freshness of outdoors. Granted, I’m pretty sure all of us smell like the great outdoors after spending the majority of the day in it.
Hailey sits on his other side, plastering herself to him. The cameras zoom onto the three of us, and I scoot over the seat attempting to put distance between us. It’s one thing doing a whole fake rivalry with Chad, but I have a feeling that Rafe’s ex is a whole different ball game.
“I’m so glad they invited me on this show, so I can prove to you how sorry I am,” she says.
Rafe doesn’t shove her away like I want to do, instead he gives her a beaming smile. “There isn’t anything to forgive, Hailey.”
I snort, sounding a lot like my sister. She would be so proud.
“Do you have something to say?” Hailey asks, leaning forward to glare at me over Rafe.
My hackles raise. I’ve never been good at staying quiet in the face of omegas who are obviously pure bitch. “Did you ever stop to think that if you were the one, Rafe would have never agreed to come onOmega in Paradise?”
She gasps as if I have slapped her. Her eyes widen almost comically. “You don’t know anything about our relationship.”
