Chapter 48
Lucy
I was walking down Main Street toward the community center when a golf cart pulled up beside me.
“Your slightly late chariot awaits!” Leo declared. He looked way too good in a dark green suit and white shirt that was unbuttoned enough to be deliciously slutty. “Unless you just want to stand there and eye-fuck me?”
I pursed my lips at his cocky grin and rounded the cart to hop into the passenger’s side. “Just making sure you weren’t a serial killer.”
He curled a lock of my hair around his finger. “That’s good, pretty girl. Safety is very important.”
His floral cardamom scent was strong, practically hypnotizing me as I swayed forward. “Hi,” I murmured.
“Hi.” He ran his nose down the side of my cheek. The tension and uncertainty I’d carried with me since we last parted melted away. Leo’s arms felt like home.
His hand shifted to my neck, his grip firm and confident as his lips found mine.
The evening air filled with my perfume until we were a perfect blend of wildflowers, cardamom, and berries.
I’d considered wearing de-scenting deodorant tonight, but the vain part of me wanted my guys to be taunted by my perfume all night.
That might also have influenced my outfit decision—a floral miniskirt paired with a blue sweater that hugged my curves.
Leo’s fingers trailed up the bare skin of my thigh and he groaned. “Are you trying to kill me, joonam?”
I didn’t know what joonam meant, but his voice was low and reverent and I wanted to hear him say it again.
“Maybe,” I said against his lips. “Is it working?”
His hand squeezed my leg and I was moments away from begging him to move it higher when he pulled away.
“We have an event to go to.” He shifted in his seat and I smirked when I realized he was subtly trying to adjust his cock.
“Or we could skip it.”
He shook his head as he pulled away from the curb. “I’m pretty sure Wilder and King would hunt us down and kill me, which would leave speed dating night without any hosts.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You’re hosting?”
“I’ve learned not to question the wisdom of the tea leaves,” he said, just as we passed Marisol and Carmen standing outside the market. They gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Leo was all smiles, seemingly unbothered by the town’s shenanigans or my hesitancy.
My quickly crumbling hesitancy.
His warm hand surrounded mine for the entirety of the drive, which was about three times longer than usual with Leo’s snail pace.
“You drive like Ivy,” I said as he finally turned into the community center parking lot.
“She must be an exceptional driver.”
I snorted. “I was going to say boring, but sure. Exceptional works, too.”
“Just let me know who in town drives like you and I’ll make sure to never get into a vehicle with them.”
I fixed him with a glare, but he just grinned as he grabbed his cane and got out of the golf cart.
I hopped out after him. “Thanks for picking me up.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against his chest. “I’ll steal Stanley’s cart for you anytime, azizam.”
How did he make that sound so romantic?
The second we were through the community center door, King and Wilder were on us. I laughed as they squeezed me between them.
“What took so long?” Wilder grumbled.
I pressed my face into his neck, breathing in deeply. “Did you miss me?”
“So much, sweetheart.”
“I missed you, too,” King said, sounding incredibly disgruntled as he tried to steal me away from Wilder.
I spun out of their reach. “No fighting over me. I have to get in there and find a date.”
I laughed as their growls followed me into the main room.
Tables were set up in a horseshoe shape. Some attendees were at a coffee station in the corner, but most were already seated. There seemed to be an unusually high number of firefighters in attendance.
“We have to get things started.” Leo’s arms surrounded me from behind and I leaned back into his firm chest.
“I guess I’ll find a seat, then.”
King crossed his arms, a glint of murder in his eye. “Or you can stay here with us.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” I laughed as I headed to the tables, making sure to add an extra swing in my hips.
Ezra caught my eye and gestured at the empty chair across from him.
“Hey, Lucy.”
Before I could respond, Leo called everyone to attention.
“Welcome to speed dating night.” The sweet florist glared at Ezra as he spoke. “We’re going to get started.”
He nudged King, who sighed and started reading off a piece of paper in a dull monotone. “We are thrilled to have you all here tonight. Love is like a song’s gemstone.” He turned to Leo and Wilder. “Who the fuck wrote this?”
“Just keep going,” Leo urged.
“We invite the wisdom of the universe into this room to ignite sparks of loving mystery…Okay, no,” King said, shaking his head.
I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.
“Here’s what we’re doing. Everyone has five minutes to talk.
After the time is up, the gong will sound.
If you’re on the inside line of the tables, stay where you are.
If you’re on the outside edge, you’ll move one spot to the right. Everyone got it?”
Wilder, whose expression looked exactly like Felix when he was denied dessert, hit the gong.
Ezra choked out a laugh. “This is priceless.” He pulled out his phone and snuck a picture of his boss. Wilder caught him and flipped him off, but when his eyes landed on me, his face softened.
I blew him a kiss.
“Everyone clear on what’s happening?” King asked. “Okay. Go.”
I turned to Ezra, grinning. “I think they have a future emceeing events.”
The firefighter shook his head. “At least the boss didn’t have to speak. He might have to string together two whole sentences in a row. I’m pretty sure he got through an entire shift last year with just grunts.”
Hmm. Wilder certainly couldn’t be described as chatty, but he talked plenty with me.
“What are you doing here? Is it firefighter night or something?”
Ezra’s eyes glinted with mirth. “Nah, but a little birdy told us the boss was leading speed dating night and we had to see it for ourselves.” He leaned in across the table. “Also, we have a betting pool.”
“Betting on what?”
“On when you and the boss will make it official. So if you could hold off for another two days, that would be great for me.”
I pressed my hand over my mouth to stifle my laugh as I glanced over at Wilder. He looked seconds away from killing his entire team. “I should be offended by that, I think.”
Ezra stretched, showing off his muscular arms. He was cute and charming, but he didn’t give me butterflies. I hoped he found someone soon. He’d make a great partner.
“Nah, it’s all in good fun. But seriously, make him wait for two more days. It’s good for him.”
“What makes you think he’s even interested in me?” It didn’t sound like Wilder was chatting about romance at the fire station.
Ezra snorted. “I’m very smart, Lucy. The signs might have been subtle—how he guarded the cookies you brought with his life, how he’s taken time off for the first time since he started so he could do things for you, how he almost beat me up when I mentioned your name…”
A throat cleared, and Ezra’s smile widened. “Subtle, subtle hints.” Wilder stood behind him with his crossed arms and a menacing expression on his face.
“Time’s up,” he snarled.
Ezra leaned back in his chair, the picture of ease. “I haven’t heard the gong.”
Wilder’s scowl deepened and he waved at Leo, who immediately clocked what was happening and rang the gong.
“Now fucking move.”
I shivered at the command in his tone, but Ezra was unaffected. He locked eyes with me, smiling widely as he grasped my hand and kissed it.
Wilder shoved him out of his chair.
“That was rude,” I scolded. “Are you okay, Ezra?”
Wilder gripped my chin. “You don’t look at him. You look at me.”
“Don’t worry about me, Lucy. I’ll survive.” Ezra grinned as he sat down in the next seat. The alpha who was supposed to take the spot in front of me started to say something, but at Wilder’s expression, he fled across the room.
“I didn’t know the hosts of speed dating also participated.” I tried to sound stern, but in reality, I was melting on the inside at my alpha’s show of possessiveness.
“I’m not participating,” he said, sounding distinctly disgruntled. “I’m just preventing these assholes from getting any ideas.”
I grinned. “And what ideas are those?”
He leaned forward, his scent washing over me, all wild and earthy and hypnotizing. “That they have any chance with you.”
I shivered at his dominance. My omega wanted him to throw me over his shoulder and carry me away from here to ravage me.
But instead of begging him to do just that, I forced myself to lean back in my chair, creating space between us.
I’d already forgiven the guys for craft night, but the vindictive part of me wanted to draw out his suffering just a tiny bit more.
I looked around. “Don’t they? There are a lot of attractive options…”
Wilder’s growl was partly obscured by the loud ring of the gong.
I glanced to my right to see who my next partner was and laughed when I saw King blocking the way.
Aggression rolled off him in waves, turning his scent bitter, and it made me feel…
secure. Cared for. My exes’ jealousy never felt like this.
If we went out and they thought someone was looking at me, I was the one who got the blame.
Of course they’re looking. You look like a slut in that skirt.
How had I ever thought the way they spoke to me was okay?
It started with sly “jokes” and passive-aggressive comments that left me feeling confused and guilty.
I’d carried around shame that I had done something wrong for so long, but Wilder’s and King’s current scowls didn’t make me feel that way at all.
Instead, I was bubbling with happiness and feeling distinctly wanted.
Wilder leaned over the table and kissed my forehead before letting King take his seat.