I’m shaking my head before the denial even forms on my tongue. “No. I don’t want to watch it.”
“You don’t want to watch them fall in love with you?”
“Ashlyn, I can’t.” My heart pounds inside my chest, and I’m positive it’s going to bust out and run away screaming.
“You can, Lilah. You can’t lose what you have with them. Trust me, you’ll never recover.”
Her words thrum inside of me as silence falls between us.
As much asAshlyn attempted to get me to watchOmega in Paradise, I had dodged that bullet. When the camera crews descend on her apartment, everything comes back in clear focus. Shelly breezes in, greeting my sister and I with hugs.
“The pack will be arriving soon. We will film some family time. Then we have a big date planned with a stay in the penthouse suite of the Four Seasons.” She presses her lips together in an excited smile as if she hasn’t mentioned the best part yet. “What you do in the suite is between you and the pack, no cameras will follow you.”
My stomach sours with nerves as my perfume shouts to the whole room how I’m feeling. It’s probably soaking into my sister's drapes and the couch. I’ll owe her a whole new couch after this meet and greet is finished.
I watch her clock tick the seconds by, then minutes as the crew prepares around me and Ash and Shelly make small talk. Then she answers her phone and has a short conversation before she moves off to the side and filming starts.
A knock on the door announces the arrival of the guys. I wipe my palms down my jeans and cross the space to let them in. The smile that pulls at my lips comes as naturally as breathing as I tug the door open, although the latter stutters to a stop, catching in my throat at the sight. Elliott stands in front of the other two, but each of them holds a bouquet of roses.
Blood red. The color of passion.
Words escape me as they step forward. Searching my memory of the show, I can’t remember any season where the pack brought flowers for the omegas. And the happiness that hits me square in the chest from not only me but Miles and Elliott’s bond is enough to have me accepting the flowers long enough to pass them off to my sister. Then I’m throwing myself into their arms. They haven’t even made it inside, and I can’t help myself.
I'm surrounded by their warmth on all sides, soaking it in while I can. They hold me until I pull away. A blush climbs the sides of my neck, over my ears, and across my cheeks as I turn to face my sister. Her eyes shine with what look like unshed tears before she’s welcoming them into her apartment.
As far as family visits go, this one’s small. It’s just the two of us. Well, besides extended family; they are scattered all over the midwest. And I’m sure none of them want to be on a show.
We settle on the couch, and Ashlyn sinks into an armchair. Owen thankfully opted out of this meet and greet. We fall into easy conversation. Introductions weren’t even needed because she knew each of them in some capacity. And it’s easy to imagine my life with them. Of having weekend dinners with my sister, and it being this simple and comfortable.
After a bit, Ashlyn clears her throat and says, “Can I have a moment to talk to Rafe?”
I glance at him, and he’s nodding already, getting up. They head to the other room, a cameraman following to get their conversation, I’m sure. But I’m almost positive I know what she wants to talk to him about. Me and his intentions with me.
She knows he didn’t claim me, and I really hope she doesn’t mention that on TV.
Running my palms over my knees, I watch the hallway. Elliott covers my hand, his thumb stroking my skin, sending tingles of awareness skittering over up my arm.
“We missed you,” he says as he lowers his voice, ensuring his words are only for me. Not for the show.For me.
He holds me in his gaze. His other hand cups my cheek, and I can’t help nuzzling into his palm. My eyes drop shut, and I let myself soak up the feel of him through the bond. He’s bright and pure. And everything I could ever want in an alpha. Then there’s Miles, with a kindness and protectiveness that makes my heart sing. Do they feel my heart as clearly as I feel theirs?
“I missed you too,” I whisper back, my soul talking to him.
Miles rubs my back, leaning forward. His nose tickles the crook of my neck as he brushes against me, inhaling deeply. “Once this is done, we are locking ourselves away from the world for a few months. I’m looking forward to enjoying having you all to ourselves.” He drops a kiss to my throat, and I shiver as goosebumps spread over my whole body.
I don’t bother denying his words. There will be time to explain it tonight, in the privacy of the penthouse. Away from the cameras. For now, I’m going to absorb every moment I can.
CHAPTER 45
Rafe
Ashlyn leadsthe way into a small room full of books from floor to ceiling and turns to face me. She props her hands on her hips and pins me with a serious look, and I swallow hard.
“Are you playing with my sister’s heart?” she demands. Direct and to the point, just like the Ashlyn I remember.
Shaking my head, my eyebrows pull together. She doesn’t know about the deal? It isn’t like I can ask with the camera pointed directly in my face. And the last thing I want to do is damage Lilah in any way after this is done.
“No. I wouldn’t do that,” I say. Lilah might not want my heart, but the stupid organ thinks it belongs to her. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”
