“I could screw up the timing,” I said. “I have a black belt in screwing up the timing. That’s why they put me on truck duty.”
That got a tiny, genuine smile out of him, which made me feel like I’d just leveled up in a game I didn’t remember starting. I held out my hand. “Burke. My brother owns the Black Butte Ranch, up north.” Well, technically not my brother, but my brother-in-arms.
He didn’t shake, but he did nod. “Danny. I’m—” He cut off. “I work here.”
“Nice to meet you, Danny.” I tried not to stare at his throat, which had gone a little pink. “You always smell this good, or is it just for the plants?”
His blush went up a notch. “I—I think it’s the basil in the greenhouse. You get used to it.” He turned back to the shelf, lining up the bags like they were toy soldiers. His hands shook, barely, but I caught it.
There was something about him. Not just the scent, though that was starting to do wild things to my prefrontal cortex. It was the way he avoided eye contact, like he’d spent a lifetime beingreminded not to draw attention. I knew the type—runts from big families, perpetual background noise in their own lives. Omegas who learned young that silence was safer.
Jojo appeared at the end of the aisle, holding a tray of green shoots and already talking. “I found Brandywines! And the weird stripey ones you like, Burke. Oh—hi.” He ducked his head at Danny, then looked at me. “Did you get the deer stuff?”
“I was just getting an expert recommendation,” I said, waving the spray bottle.
“I could ring you up,” Danny offered. “If you’re ready.”
I let Jojo take the lead, followed them to the register. Danny kept his eyes on the barcode scanner, fingers flying over the keys with a speed that spoke to both boredom and efficiency. He only looked at me once, when I fumbled a twenty out of my wallet. His gaze darted up, met mine for a split second, and then dropped. But the faintest smile was there again.
“Receipt in the bag okay?” he asked.
“Sure. Or you can staple it to my forehead, if that’s store policy.”
That got a noise that was either a laugh or a cough.
I counted it as a win.
Jojo loaded his loot into a box. He lingered, fiddling with his phone, which meant I had a clear thirty seconds to make another move. If I’d been less buzzed by the whole situation, I might’ve thought it through. Instead, I said, “You got any recommendations for keeping raccoons out of a greenhouse?”
Danny’s eyes flicked over my shoulder, then back. “Lock the door. They’re not as smart as people think.”
“Neither am I,” I said, “but I’d love to pick your brain about it sometime. Maybe over coffee?”
He hesitated. I could see him weighing something, trying to decide if I was an idiot or just hitting on him. Probably both. Finally, he said, “I work most mornings.”
“Lucky store,” I said, and it came out softer than I meant.
For a moment, I thought he might say something else. Then a voice shouted from the back—someone calling for help with a pallet jack. Danny straightened, apology in his eyes.
“I should go,” he said.
“Yeah. Sure. Thanks for the help.”
Jojo and I stepped out into the morning glare. I could still feel that scent clinging to my skin, like pollen, like static electricity. I glanced back through the window and caught a glimpse of Danny’s pale neck as he carried a bag of potting mix, head down, moving fast.
I didn’t usually get obsessed. Or maybe I did, but not like this. Jojo jabbered about tomatoes the whole way home, but every time I breathed in, I could taste Danny’s scent on the back of my tongue.
And I already wanted another hit.
If there was a tactical manual for seducing shy omegas, I’d never read it. But in my professional opinion, the trick was knowing when to push and when to shut up and let gravity do its thing. Omegas moved toward warmth if you gave them enough safe space.
That was science.
“Oh, I forgot something.” Jojo shoved his purchases into my arms. “I’ll be right back.”
I struggled to hold everything for a moment then dumped it on the bed of the truck. If Jojo could go back, so could I.
The place was quieter this time, late afternoon sun slanting through the plastic greenhouse roof and making the seedlings glow. Danny was at the back, restocking the watering cans. He noticed me instantly, a faint flicker of something like recognition in his expression. Not quite a smile, but not a grimace either.
