“It’s not a big deal,” I muttered. I didn’t want to go to a different store. “We’ll pay. Bring them to the cashier.”
Sinclair bristled, and the women exchanged a harried look, hurrying forward.
“What did you do?” the second woman whispered. The BellRose music blaring from the speakers wasn’t enough to block them out.
Sinclair’s hand settled on my waist, and he tugged me close to him. The protective move startled a gasp out of me. Sinclair visibly bristled, his jaw jumping, and irritation settling on his features. His anger flashed through our bond. Oh, he was pissed.
His protectiveness caused butterflies to take flight in my stomach. I pulled my focus off him. Time for a distraction. The electronic section snagged me.
I’d had to sell my laptop a month before I’d run to Greymont Pack. My attention trailed to the stand.
You know what? Fuck it.It wasn’t me spending the money.
“Wait,” I announced, sliding out of his hold, and walked over to the stand.
I grabbed one from the stack and tucked it under one of my arms. I peeked at Sinclair, and a small smirk played at his mouth. He pressed a hand to my back and led me to the cashier, where the saleswomen stood.
The Omega spoke quickly to the male behind the cashier and the other woman Sinclair had dragged into the mess. A privacy screen blocked each section of the booth.
“Hurry it up,” Sinclair ordered, sounding like a douche.
“Yes, sir,” they all gasped, moving quickly. The male scanned, while the women folded everything into felt bags. With each ding, all their eyes grew wider and wider. Once the counter was clear, I placed the laptop on the surface.
He scanned it while Sinclair reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal-looking card. It shimmered as the lights above caught the metal.
The cashier’s mouth dropped open.
“Mr. Greymont,” he choked out, face paling. “I am so terribly sorry for your experience today. We had no idea one of our gold members was here.”
“So only the people with a reputation and money deserve the respect?” I said, crossing my arms.
“I want her fired,” Sinclair announced, jerking his chin at the Omega.
She choked in a breath.
“An apology is fine,” I interjected, putting my hand on his arm.
“I am so sorry,” she apologized, facing me, her body angled away from Sinclair.
I didn’t respond to her, or even look at her, only grunted.
They finished packing the last of our items.
“We’ll have our associates walk these to the car for you?—”
“Not necessary,” Sinclair snapped and grabbed the bags, balancing them in his arms. “Let’s go home, sweets.”
He jerked his chin, waiting for me to walk ahead of him. I moved, and he followed on my heels.
We stayed silent until we reached the outside. I let out a gust of air.
“Elias will handle that bullshite, sweets,” he assured me. “You never have to deal with it again.”
His assurance sparked that warmth again.
I couldn’t let myself get carried away.
The cute gift shop attached to the mall sat innocently a few feet from the store entrance.
