He allows me to change the subject. “I have not.”
“Sofia’s pack mate, Devon Hart, runs a fishing charter out here. He can take you out if you want.”
“I’m happy with you,” Fox says succinctly.
My heart slams into my ribcage, and I stumble, but he just grips my upper arm, holding me up until I’m back on steady ground. I was not expecting him to say that or for it to hit that hard.
“Are you all right?” And the concern in his eyes is so real and compassionate that I want to throw myself at this alpha and just be hugged by him. Why am I reacting so strongly to him?
The wind shifts and his scent, subtle and mild, hits me. Sage, lemon, and browned butter; my mouth waters. I’ve been fighting to ignore it, but it is impossible. It’s warm and makes my mouth water. My stomach clenches, and I have to fight every single cell in my body to stop from plastering myself to him and licking that scent into me.
“Yes, sorry, just tripped,” I mutter and put space between us. What is wrong with me? “So, tell me about this author.”
“Oh, you’re direct. I like that.”
I don’t want to care what he likes, but it’s hard because he’s adorable, and I feel like I could tell him anything. I feel like I want to tell him everything.
Except…who I am.
“Well, it’s the most interesting thing. Apparently, this author knows us or something because she wrote this book, an, ummm, romance book, and it just so happened to be my life with Katsu. Even the names of the characters are similar. So when it went semi-viral, we started getting people come up to us,” he pauses, and I catch a flicker of distress that ignites a streak of protectiveness in me that surprises me. “It was weird and not right. And it just kept going. They found out where we livedand our numbers; they went to our families. These people were everywhere.”
I can’t blink, I can’t look away.
I don’t know them, I’ve never seen them before in my life. Distress tightens my chest, and I wring my fingers before I force myself to stop. I’d never heard of him. I literally made them up in my mind. How is this even happening?
“So, you think this author is using your life to make a living?” I ask carefully. The salty ocean air smacks us head on, and when I look, I see we’re getting close to the jetty, thankfully.
“Yes, and it can’t continue. Katsu is very important; he’s going to take over his father’s gaming empire.”
I blink and force myself to turn away, looking at the beach and grey skies. Is this really happening? The most perfect alphas ever, and they are here to destroy my career. It’s ironic.
“Did the author embarrass you or make you look bad?”
“Not at all. In fact, the books are very well written.”
Oh, lord.
“You’ve read them?” I squeak out.
“Of course. I like to tease Katsu. With the words, and, um…”
He trails off, and suddenly, I make the connection, my face burns. I feel the sudden intense rush of arousal that is normally reserved only for Sebastian and I almost trip over again. “Oh!” I clear my throat, keeping my eyes fixed on everything and anything but him. “So, if you like them, and it seems you do, what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that people are noticing us, and we can’t go out in public. We’re just asking for a name change or to have the books removed.”
I think of book three, which is almost finished and about to go to the editor. I can’t change their names, and I certainly am not well enough off to cancel the books completely.
“So, you’re going to find this author and ask nicely?” I probe, hoping he gives me a nice answer.
“Or settle a lawsuit on them.”
I freeze, my brain blistering into ice-cold panic. “A lawsuit?” I stutter.
“Yes, a cease and desist. But first, we have to find them, but don’t worry, we will.”
“So, you’re telling me that if you can’t find this author, you can’t-”
“Slap them with an order? No, even our private investigator failed to come up with information. This author is a complete ghost. But we will find them.”
