2. Riley
“So how long have you been in love with Claire?”
The words had me stumbling over the cobblestone sidewalk of Main Street and Vance moving quickly to take my arm. The alpha gave me a sheepish look but he didn’t let go right away, just gave me a moment until I found my center again.
I was rarely thrown off my game, and let me tell you, I prided myself on having fierce game, but something about Vance had me slightly out of sorts.
While he was hot as fuck and there was no doubt he was an alpha, his physical presence wasn”t overwhelming, but the way he paid attention and his genuine curiosity was. The way Claire and I had been his sole focus in the coffee shop had been a heady feeling.
“I’ve known Claire since grade school,” I said, answering his question as we made our way to the cantina just down the way. “I’m pretty sure I’ve always loved her. She’s my best friend and I literally don’t know what I’d do without her.”
The way Vance nudged me with his shoulder as he gave me a knowing look sent a surge of adrenaline down my spine.
“I’m not talking about love in that way and you know it, Romeo.”
Damn it, if this alpha I had just met could see it written all over my face, did everyone know?
It wasn’t until we were seated in a corner booth in the restaurant, chips and salsa and drinks between us, that I realized Vance was still patiently waiting for me.
He didn’t look put off in the slightest, just a curious heartfelt expression in those ocean eyes that made my shoulders finally relax. I should probably worry how quickly he was breaking down my usual defenses but for some reason, I couldn”t find it in me to care.
“I didn’t realize it was that obvious,” I said, taking a drink of my beer.
“Maybe not to most, but I make my living on details,” he said, with a tilt of his head. “I’m a writer. Plus, I know what it’s like to be in love with your best friend. I ended up marrying mine.”
My beer sprayed out of my lips and all over him, mortification settling hot and fast into me as I felt my cheeks flush hot.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry!”
“Geez bro, and you wonder why you’re still single,” my sister said, coming quickly back to our table with extra napkins. Apparently this moment could get worse.
“Brother?” Vance asked, picking up one of the napkins and wiping himself down before taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his sweater. He had the most lovely smattering of freckles along the bridge of his nose.
“You didn’t even warn him?” my older sister Maria asked, throwing her hands up in the air. “What am I going to do with you? It’s a good thing you have Claire or you’d end up dying all alone with just your hair products.”
“Stop being a brat or I’ll tell mom exactly where you were on New Years Eve,” I warned, leveling her with my best serious brother look. “Now please get us the special and a number seven before he decides this is an epic failure and walks out on me.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time!” My sister called playfully over her shoulder as she went to place our order.
“Family restaurant?” Vance asked.
“Married?” I countered.
A moment of tense silence stretched between us as we stared at each other, before he took a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes, I am married to my best friend like I mentioned. It’s not something we usually advertise, but I saw a commonality between us and I thought it important to be upfront with you.”
“But you just met me…”
A full grin settled on his face, those damn dimples popping out once again. “Yes, but I’ve seen you around before and…well, I don’t quite know how to say this, but there’s something about you and Claire, whether it’s your delicious scents or the way you gravitate towards each other and the love you radiate, but it just resonates with me. Like you’re both the next chapter in my own novel.”
My suspicions melted slightly at his words and I felt myself opening up in turn. Vance seemed a mix of interested and cautious, and hell, the alpha was still sitting there with a smile on his face after I sprayed my drink all over him so the least I could do was open up a bit in return.
“I didn’t realize I was in love with Claire until after high school and by then I may have already had a stint in being boy crazy. She was my rock when I was figuring myself out, but by the time I realized that what I was missing in my relationships was something I had with her, well, I wasn’t sure how to explain that.”
Vance laid his hand palm up on the table in invitation, a gesture I quickly took as I threaded my fingers between his, noticing that he didn’t wear a ring.
“You can ask me more questions in a minute, promise,” he said, noticing my attention. “So after all these years, you’ve never said anything?”
“I didn’t want her to think I was wishy-washy in my feelings and between putting in long hours at work and choosing all the wrong people, I haven’t had the best track record with making relationships last,” I admitted. “Plus, there’s the fact that she’s a woman and I wouldn’t know the first thing about them and oh my god I need to shut my mouth fast.” Embarrassment washed over me. My sister was right, I was a dating disaster.
His hand tightened on mine as I finished off the last of my drink.
“That’s nothing to be ashamed about, Riley. If anything, it just speaks to how much you truly care about her.”
“You know back before I realized I was in love with her, we used to talk about being in the same pack together? Both of us finding alphas who were best friends too and getting to stay together forever,” I said, remembering the dream I’d held on to fondly.
“Who’s to say that dream won’t come true?” Vance said with a smile. “Who’s to say it won’t be better than you both imagined, both of you and your pack together as well.”
“That would be the life,” I said with a sigh, my free hand going to play with the necklace Claire had given me on my sixteenth birthday. It was a simple gold chain, nothing exceptionally flashy, but I wore it constantly, my way of having her with me all the time.
For Hollows’ sake I was hopeless.
“I don’t know if it’s my place,” Vance started, leaning closer to me, “but I’m hoping you’ll put in a good word with her for me so I can take both of you out next time, but the way you’re feeling about Claire now? I’m almost positive that she feels the exact same way about you.”
The sincerity in his eyes couldn’t be faked and I felt a spark of hope rush through me.
“If you’re sure, then I may need to recruit you in Operation Win Over My Best Friend in the Whole World who you also seem to adore so she can be the delicious filling in our delectable date sandwich.”
A laugh tumbled from Vance’s mouth. “Why don’t we just call it Operation Cupid? We might not have any fully grown men dressed up as cherubs, but I’m not opposed to doing what it takes to get to know you both better. I meant it when I said there’s a connection here.”
“Aww, you didn’t scare him off yet,” my sister chirped as she came to the table, placing a heaping platter of sizzling fajitas for two in front of us with the works, from chorizo to steak to shrimp. The birria tacos were the icing on the cake. I knew what I was doing when I ordered it.
“You know, it may be an alpha thing, but I usually don’t let anyone order for me. But this? This looks incredible,” Vance noted as he pushed his glasses up on his face and gave me a genuine grin that had me relaxing again.
“Claire says you let her choose your drink each time,” I said, intrigued, wanting to know more of what drew him to the shop in the first place.
“Well, I should say there’s only three people I’ve ever welcomed choosing for me,” Vance said, cocking his head thoughtfully before seeming to come to some kind of decision. “I guess that’s pretty telling in and of itself. Welcoming committee or not I’m pretty sure you and Claire just sealed your fate even more, Gorgeous. I’m even more intrigued now.”
“Oh, he’s cute,” Maria stage whispered, still lingering at the table. “I’ll go put in another round of drinks.”
“Thanks!” I said overly enthusiastically. She gave me a strange look before finally leaving us in peace.
“You’re adorable,” Vance chuckled. “It’s always telling to see siblings interact. You’re a good brother, I can tell.”
There was a hint of sadness he couldn’t quite hide but a first date wasn’t the time to talk about trauma. Even I, the king of dating disasters, could recognize that.
“Thanks,” I said confidently. “Now dig in, you won’t be sorry.” The pride in my voice was strong, but my parents and uncle who ran this restaurant were magic in the cocina.
Vance slid his empty plate closer before grabbing a tortilla and compiling a fajita, not being shy about loading it up. Call me creepy but I couldn’t look away as he took a bite and closed his eyes, humming in appreciation at how amazing it was.
I still felt the same and I ate here several times a week.
“This is one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth,” he said emphatically. His cheeks tinted pink as he realized how it sounded and we both cracked up, any lingering tension melting away.
“So, is your husband okay with you being on this date?” I asked carefully. “I’m not exactly here for being the side dude.”
He gave a soft smile. “My partner is very private, but he knows. He’s fine with it and trusts my judgment. You’re not the side dude.”
“Good,” I said simply before digging in. Vance went for the birria next and I paused again, laughing openly as he dipped it in the sauce and took a bite. This time his eyes went wide as he chewed excitedly.
“I take it back, this is even better!”
“Well, I figured we had to go to get the best food in town,” I said smugly. “My mom puts magic in this food, I swear. She’s an amazing woman.”
“I don’t even know her and I’ll have to agree,” he teased. “So, how do they feel about Claire?”
I chuckled. “Our moms are besties. They’re almost more attached at the hip than Claire and I are. She’s their other daughter.”
“That’s great,” he said before diving back in, the two of us absorbed in the feast before us for a moment. You know the food is good when the conversation lags while you eat.
The one thing missing from the date was his scent. Using blockers wasn’t uncommon but I wanted nothing more than to breathe in his scent. I knew it would be one of those unforgettable ones you can’t quite get out of your head.
Kind of like Claire and that peaches and cream scent I’d never get tired of.
By the time we cleared the food Vance was back to his inquisitive questions. It was a little jarring at times, having his attention focused only on me, and I almost wished Claire hadn’t deflected.
“Where do you work? Here?” he asked as I laughed. “I’ve only seen you at Claire’s shop, and I’m pretty sure asking around would have drawn more attention than I was ready for.”
While my family was packed full of phenomenal chefs and my best friend was a pastry chef of the gods, I was the opposite. It was sexy as hell that he was that curious about me though.
“Absolutely not. My parents banned me from the kitchen when I was a teenager and I haven’t been allowed back. Being a server wasn’t my style, I have too much energy to be stuck indoors all day. I am actually a partner at Cedarwick Orchards.”
“The name sounds familiar,” he mused before recognition hit. “That’s the amazing apple butter Claire serves with her scones, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said with a grin. “Autumn Cedarwick took over for her grandparents and she hit the ground running. We’ve been talking about next year and there will be even more on our agenda.”
“Next season I’ll have to go up and see the orchard,” he said. “I didn’t get out as much as I wanted to this past year. I’ve been here that long but I’m a fairly private person. I didn’t go out much until about a month ago. Work ended up keeping most of my attention.”
“Well, we’ll have to change that. You’re missing out on the heart of Holiday Hollow if you coop yourself inside,” I protested.
“I’ll hold you to that,” he said with a heat I hadn’t expected. My cock stirred at just the look he was giving me and tension rose by the second.
I’d never been the type of beta to start swooning over an alpha. I was far too independent and loud for most alphas. Betas were thought to be the quieter, caretaking type but that had never been me. I was unapologetically myself and having this man look at me like he could take a bite… well sign me the fuck up.
Maria walked up then, effectively ruining the heated moment and from her smug smile, it was definitely on purpose. Though how do you turn away someone with dessert in hand?
“Mom heard you were here, so she insisted I plate this. I one hundred percent think it’s a ploy to catch you, so here’s a box. I suggest you take it and run if you know what’s good for your first date,” she hissed. With a worried expression she glanced at her watch, then checked the door. “I’d say you have exactly three minutes. I’ve got the check. Go.”
“You just earned yourself a plate of Claire’s cookies,” I said as I frantically dropped the tres leches cake in the box.
“I know,” she grinned. “Now go!”
“This feels insane,” Vance laughed but his eyes danced with excitement. I had a feeling this alpha needed a bit more spontaneity in his life and I was more than happy to be the one to provide that for him.