“Too long,” I admit. “I won't make that mistake again. Seeing your smile is like a hit of happiness to my system.”
She blushes, her cute freckles darkening adorably at my blunt words. Shaking herself out of it, she fishes her order pad out.
“What can I get for you today?”
“All of today? Or just lunch? Because I have some ideas—” I trail off suggestively and am rewarded with another perfect blush. How far would it spread? My gaze dips to her collarbone, down to the curve of her shirt that clings to her breasts.
Slowly, I drag my eyes back to hers, taking in all the details of her face as I do. From the dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose to her lashes that are the same color of her hair. As they drop and caress her cheeks, they hide the brilliant sky blue of her eyes from me.
Damn, she makes my heart race.
“So, just lunch, got it,” I say when she stares at her order pad. I’d be lying if I didn't acknowledge the slight pang of disappointment. But she doesn't owe me anything. “I'll have a soda and cheese burger with fries.”
She scribbles the order down then brings her curious gaze up to me. “What about later?”
Her soft words have butterflies waking up in my stomach as I suppress a smile. “How about a few hours of your time?”
She grins then sinks her pearly white teeth into her lip again as she nods her agreement. When she spins away from me, I catch the slightest hint of blueberries. Mouthwatering. Is that a natural perfume or a spray? Not that it matters, either way I want…no,needto smell it again.
Five hours later,I pull up outside of an upscale apartment complex not far from Main Street, and seconds later, Lakelyn appears from the door and excitedly bounds down the stairs. In simple tennis shoes, a comfortable-looking sweater, and jeans that hug her curves—she’s able to do the one thing that no other female could…make my perfume bloom in the small space.
I slip out of the Bronco and make it to the passenger side door before she does. Pulling it open for her, I gesture at the leather seat. “Your carriage awaits.”
Her smile lights up the growing darkness, and I can't help my answering one as I secure her inside the vehicle. She inhales deeply but doesn’t mention the fact my pheromones are bleeding from me so strongly that even she could smell me. I only hope she doesn’t hate my scent, because I didn’t take a blocker, and I don’t plan on taking any for a long time.
“Where are we going?” she asks as I slide behind the wheel.
“I've been back over a week, and I haven't made a single stop to Mountain Mama's coffee shop. I heard they moved. And I have a craving for a Peanut Butter Chia. Unless you want to go somewhere else?” I look over at her and lift my brows in question.
“Sounds good.” She settles her hands in her lap, and instinctively, I reach over and tangle my fingers with hers.
The distance to the coffee house is so short we probably could have walked. But she’s been on her feet all day. So I didn’t bring it up. Once parked, I slip out of the Bronco and meet her at her door as she pushes it open.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that—” she says as her feet touch the ground.
“Do what?”
“Open doors for me. I’m just a beta.”
I pause, catching her eyes as they widen slightly. "Doesn’t matter to me what you are," I say, my voice low but firm. "I want to open doors for you."
Her lips part, and she blinks up at me, clearly taken aback. I don’t give her a chance to respond, sliding my hand into hers, my fingers brushing her skin lightly before curling around her palm. "And I want to hold your hand too," I add, my voice softening. "And get to know you. More than just a coffee shop visit."
She stares at me, uncertainty written across her face, but she doesn’t pull away. The hesitation lingers, though, and I know why. I’ve felt the uncertainty of not belonging before. But she belongs. I’ll make sure of it.
As we step into the cozy warmth of the coffee shop, the scent of roasted beans and cinnamon filling the air, I gently guide her to a small booth in the corner. The soft lighting casts a golden hue on her skin, and I can’t help but notice how she looks around like she’s trying to avoid the weight of what I said.
Her voice comes out in a whisper, almost like she’s talking to herself. “Omegas don’t date betas.”
I lean forward, resting my arms on the table between us. "I’m not really a rule follower, if that were a rule. It’s not by the way. Besides, I want to know you." My tone is blunt but not harsh. “If that means opening doors, holding hands, and seeing where this goes, I’m all in. But that’s only if you want it too.”
Her fingers fidget with the edge of the menu, her eyes avoiding mine. “I just… I don’t know. People don’t?—”
I cut her off, leaning a little closer. "Forget people. This is about what you want. What do you want?"
She lifts her eyes to mine, her cheeks burning with that blush that’s becoming my favorite thing to see. “This. I want this.” Herwords come out steady, but there’s a softness to them, like she’s still figuring out how to handle the moment.
A real smile spreads across my face, the kind I don’t have to hold back. “Yeah?” I lean in just a little, enough to close the distance between us but not push her too far. “You wantthis?”
