Page 111 of Knot So Social

Ah. The wrapped plate in the refrigerator and the way her thoughts drift now and then. It all makes sense now.

“Alessandro?”

She pulls away from me, eyes wide. “How did you know?”

I smile and cup her cheek, losing myself in the sky depths of her eyes. How did I know? Hard to tell. Maybe it’s the traces of an alpha’s scent lingering in this very room, or simply the fact he came looking for her while she was in heat.

Willow shakes her head. “Um, we’re friends. For now. I mean . . .” She sighs and picks at her fingernails. “I don’t know what we are. But he was supposed to come around this morning and he didn’t turn up. It’s not like him.”

I capture her hand in mine to rescue her cuticles. “Maybe he just slept through his alarm or something. Want to try calling him again?”

Her gaze flicks up, her pale lashes brushing her upper lids. I understand the question written there but before answering, I lean over and press a kiss to her forehead. “Above everything, I want you to be happy, Willow.”

I’m still waiting for the jealousy to rise, but if it does, it comes so faint that I don’t register it under her intoxicating scent, and the wonder that creeps softly through me every time I gaze at her face. She likes Alessandro, and she’s not sending me away, and now she’s scent-matched with Joel.

Maybe there’s room in her life for all three of us.

Willow drops her gaze. “Happiness? Not sure I even know what that is anymore.”

I release her hand to squeeze her knee. “Try calling him. Let’s start with that.”

She nods and digs her phone out of her pocket. His name’s saved in her phone, along with an actual photo that glows white as the line rings out. She shrugs and sets the phone on the bed.

“At least you tried,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Nothing more you can do for now. What else might make you happy?”

She presses her lips together, cheeks tinting a pretty pink. The way her scent thickens tells me everything I need to know.

“Any time, darlin’,” I reassure. “I can’t stop thinking about your heat either.”

Her gaze flits up, full or surprise.

I laugh and stroke one finger across her delicate cheekbone. “Do you not know how fucking sexy you are? This has been the best week of my entire life!”

“But you broke your groin,” she protests.

“Sprained. And I’d make the same choice if I had a do-over.”

Her answering smile makes my heart beat harder and my cock wake right up.

A male voice coughs outside the bedroom door. “Um, Jeremy?”

Willow stiffens and I waggle my brows at her. “What’s up?” I call.

“Is Willow with you? I fixed the light, but most of her gear hasn’t been tested and tagged. I can do it now, if that suits?”

“Well?” I whisper.

The omega chews on her bottom lip, thinking. “How long?”

I relay her question more loudly.

“About an hour. Depends on if she wants me to look at everything.”

Our gazes meet, and I see the same heated desire blazing in her eyes as the one coming to the boil in my chest. But she’s also got other things on her mind.

“Do I need a confidentiality agreement?” She whispers to herself.

Pain throbs in my heart. That’s how she protects herself, always, which means it’s also one of the reasons she’s open with me.