She must have come into the diner while I was already at the counter, talking to Winston Gabriel, AKA Win, my good friend and roommate, through the kitchen hatch. I definitely would have remembered the gorgeous brunette with large, chocolate brown eyes walking in, and I for sure will never get the scent of lavender and peach out of my mind.
“You’re not good at this,” Lina says dryly as she uses the cash register on the front counter.
“Good at what?” I frown.
“Subtly asking if she’s single.”
She’s not wrong, so I wait for an answer.
Lina prints out a receipt.
“So, is she?” I lean toward her, whispering, “She has a claiming bite.”
The faint grooves of a long-healed bite were clearly visible on the right side of her throat, just above her white V-neck shirt.A bite that noticeable can only mean she’s a bonded omega, though I didn’t catch a scent of her alpha on her. And I definitely would have if she were bonded.
“Yes.”
That’s it. That’s all Lina gives me. A whole lot of nothing.
I glare at her. “You’re doing this on purpose.”
She grins at me. “Yep.”
I growl.
She laughs, her light brown eyes sparkling, but her amusement soon fades. “Don’t, Joel. You’re a good guy, and I get why you’d be interested with that hero complex of yours.”
My eyes narrow. “I’m not sure if I should be offended by that last accusation.”
“A little,” Lina teases with a smile.
We turned thirty this year, and we grew up in the same town, going to school together, so she always knows which buttons to press to get a reaction out of me. Her husband, Frank, a beta like her, is a great guy, and I’m the godfather to their son. That’s likely why, out of anyone in the diner, she asked me to watch out for Rose’s son while Rose was in the restroom.
“I just want to help her and her son.”
She says quietly, “Her alpha died six weeks ago. I found her throwing up in the bathroom, where she just realized she’s pregnant. Likely with his child, so maybe hold off on the flirtatious behavior.”
Damn.
I look at Rose and note the sadness in her gaze as she watches her son eating, wishing I could wrap both of them up in a hug.
As a firefighter, I haven’t always been able to save everyone who needs help, but I’m lucky to have never lost family. Rose is a few years younger than me, and even if she were older, I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy. A bonded omega losing her alpha and having to raise her son alone musthave been devastating. Now she’s in Rios, likely knowing no one… yeah, I have to do something about that.
I sit up, determined. “She’s too sick to be on the road. We have a big backyard and plenty of room in our place. Could you subtly weave into your next conversation with her that she can stay with us for as long as she wants? She’ll be safe, and her son will have more space to run around than in a motel. Win won’t mind. Neither will Murph when he’s back from Wyoming.”
“Don’t mind.” Win sets down a plate of BLT and fries on the hatch between the kitchen and the front counter.
“Do you even know what you’re agreeing to?” Lina turns around to ask him.
“Nope.” He wanders away with another ticket he picks up from the hatch.
“So?” I ask Lina. “Will you drop a couple of hints about Rose and Ben staying with us?”
“I’ll just weave it into the conversation, shall I?” she asks dryly.
I silently plead with her to reconsider. I know Lina. Once she’s made up her mind to do something or not do something, no amount of arguing will convince her of anything. Doesn’t matter that I’m an alpha with the dominance that would have any omega soon agreeing. Betas aren’t as sensitive. Lina has towantto do that thing, or you’d better put your hands together and start praying because it would take an act of God to get her to bend.
She blows out a gusty sigh. “Look, I’m not the wonder waitress you take me for. She’s wary and has a right to be. That little boy is her world, and she won’t want to move out of her motel room and into a house with a bunch of strange men, even if it's for a couple of days.” She glances over her shoulder toward the kitchen, where Win has reappeared. “No offense, Win.”
