“Maybe today isn’t the right day,” I said, glancing between a crestfallen Easton and an angry Finn. “We can arrange to come backanother…” I trailed off as Finn spun around and stormed back to town.
“Her phone number isn’t on the information form we got,” Easton said. “But maybe she’s in town and just lost track of time. I’m going to go see.”
Before I could say anything, he was already jogging back down the path.
Well, that went about as poorly as expected.
I didn’t have it in me to follow my brothers, so I headed down to the beach. We’d been so busy the past year with restoration projects that I’d barely had time to justbe. Every step closer to the water soothed me—the sound of the waves, the salt in the air. The coast was rocky here, but still beautiful.
My booted feet hit the hard-packed sand as I strode down to a little cove I used to go to when I was younger. Except, as I approached, I saw someone else sitting on the large, flat rock. As I got closer, I realized it was a woman. She wore a large charcoal gray sweater, her arms tight around her bent knees. Even under the sweater, I could see how deliciously curved she was. I clenched my jaw. I was not going to be a creep and approach this woman with a hard-on. I turned around to leave when I caught a hint of it on the wind—pumpkin spice. I whirled back around, my heart pounding so hard I could barely stay upright.
She was here. The omega from all those years ago.
And she was staring at me.
A strangled sound I was sure I had never made before emerged from me, and she bit her lip, looking anxious.
Fuck.
I needed to get my shit together. Put her at ease.
“Hey there!” I said with a chipper wave.
Hey there??? What the fuck was that? And why was I waving like I’d only just discovered I had arms?
“Um, hello,” she said softly.
She didn’t look like she was going to run away—at least not yet—so I continued my slow walk towards her. The closer I got, the more I could see how perfect she was. Her dark brown hair was amess in the ocean breeze. Her bangs framed her dark eyes and golden skin. My eyes flitted to her plump pink lips before I ripped them away and forced myself to look out at the ocean.
I swung my arms at my side. “Nice waves we’re having today.”
Fucking kill me.
Now I was the one about to run away in fear. I was making the worst possible first impression on the perfect omega who had only been the sole focus of my dreams for the past six years.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Yes, very nice waves.”
I couldn’t stop staring at that little curve of her lips. It wrecked me.Destroyedme. Any other goal in life I’d ever had was gone and was now replaced with the need to see this omega smile every day for the rest of my life.
I cleared my throat. “I’m Lars.” I stepped close enough to extend my hand. Her small one slipped into mine, and a wave of calm washed over me. Then I frowned. “Your hand is freezing.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “They’re always cold.”
My alpha hated that. I quickly took off my light jacket, wishing I’d brought mittens…and a hat, scarf, and blanket.
The omega’s mouth fell open as I wrapped my jacket around her.
“Oh, you don’t need to do that.” She went to take the jacket off, and I stilled her hand.
“Tuck your hands under the jacket.” I tried to keep my tone light, but her slight shiver told me I’d failed. “If you want,” I added in an awkward mumble.
There was a pink tinge to her cheeks as she tucked her hands under my coat. “Thanks.” She chewed her lip, looking uncertain for a moment before she spoke again. “Do you want to sit down?”
The rock she was sitting on was a pretty good size, but I would still crowd her on it.
I sat down.
My thigh pressed against her leg, and I held my breath to see if she would move away or show any other signs of discomfort.
