Chapter Twelve
Oakley
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the cargo truck parallel parking outside the shop. The walls were painted. The black-and-white checkered flooring was in and looked amazing. The freezers were ready.
Auburn was in the back cooking up a crazy new top-secret flavor.
But I smelled chocolate. The man knew the way to my heart.
“What’s what?” he asked, popping his head out of the back.
“That big truck? Is that for us, I mean, you?”
“We don’t have any deliveries scheduled today, but maybe. Let’s go find out.”
Let’s. We. Us. Ours. Those were common words between us lately. We walked outside as the driver got out with a clipboard in hand. “Auburn James?”
“That’s me. What is this?”
A white box truck with no signage, there was no indication of who they represented. “I’m here to deliver four signs and two neons. That’s what the order says. I’m not with the company, just the delivery driver.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Auburn helped the man unload everything and signed for the delivery.
We stood in the shop, which smelled like chocolate and something else I couldn’t put my finger on.
Auburn had his hands on his hips, and I really wanted them to be my hands instead.
The more time I spent with Auburn, the more I wanted him. Part of that was pure biology. My bear.
But most of it was just him. He was so damned easy to love. And there was something about his hard work, his discipline, and control in all things that was sexy as hell.
“Aren’t you going to open them?” I asked, standing next to him.
“You know what’s weird? I’m scared.”
That shook me. This big, gorgeous, solid alpha was scared? “Why?”
“Because this makes it real.”
I realized then that the alpha was shaking. I reached out and wrapped my arms around his middle. “Doesn’t scared mean you’re stepping into something real? You’ve got skin in the game. This means something. Something big. Scared means you’re headed in the right direction.”
“Do you think so?”
I nodded as he pulled me in tighter against his side. “I do.”
“You know, I think I could do anything with you by my side. You make me feel ten feet tall.”
Snorting, I snuggled in even closer. “That would make this hug really awkward. You’ve worked so hard, alpha. Come on. Let’s see it.”
He opened the boxes. The first two were the menu.
I honestly expected spelling errors. No one was perfect, but there were none.
Ten flavors would always be available. The rest were up to the chef, Auburn.
He would create recurring flavors and seasonal favorites but for the most part, whatever he wanted.
He called it the fun part.
The neon signs would hang in the front window. One stated the hours the shop was open, and the other was the cutest ice cream cone that flashed in all the colors of the rainbow.
“This is exciting. You’re doing this. You’re a business owner on your own terms. You’re amazing, Auburn.”
We had migrated to the kitchen where he had his newest creation in the flash freezer. “I think you’re pretty amazing, Oakley. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He picked me up by the waist and sat me on one of the metal counters.
I squealed. “What are you doing, Auburn?”
“I’m about to kiss my mate.” Standing between my knees, he tugged on my hips until our groins met. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pressed myself harder against him. He rocked with me, and we both groaned in pleasure.
“I thought you were going to kiss me.”
“I am. I just want to remember this moment. I’ve got a beautiful omega. I’m about to open my own ice cream shop. There are only a few things in life I could think of that could make this moment better.”
“Kissing would make this better.”
“It would, but first, ice cream. I made this flavor for you. Sit tight.”
I threw my head back and growled, making him laugh. He got the container out of the freezer and came over, two spoons in his other hand. “We have time, Oakley. I don’t want to rush you.”
There was nothing more I wanted than for him to rush me.
“Tease.”
That earned me a chuckle. Did nothing to slow down my naughty thoughts. Nothing. “This is my triple chocolate sweet potato brownie flavor. For my chocolate fiend of an omega.”
“Sweet potato chocolate brownie?” I asked. “I’ve never heard of that.”
“Good. Try it.”
I took a big spoonful and brought it to my mouth. Auburn’s eyes traced every motion. His mouth moved as I closed mine around the spoon.
Goddess, it was good. Dark chocolate. Milk chocolate. Pure cacao, maybe? The sweet potato was subtle but added an earthy, solid base that gave a mildness to the other strong flavors.
“It’s perfect, Auburn.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, taking his own spoonful. “Oh, you’re right. This is going on the permanent menu.”
I knew he was talking about ice cream, but there was a hidden message there. About me and my flavor being permanent.
Like I hoped we were.
“What are you going to call it?”
“That’s for you to tell me.”