Chapter 30
My phone buzzes with an incoming text alert for the third time, the screen lighting up with a pop up displaying Ambrose’s name.
“Do you think you can handle that?” A gruff voice snaps, and I tear my gaze back to the video call.
Shit, I missed the end of what he was saying. “Hmm, uh—”
The massive meathead of an alpha in the top corner of the call window scoffs. “Are we boring you, sweetie?”
I bristle at the diminutive, but plaster on my most placid, professional expression. “I’ll absolutely be able to handle that. Alex, could you send me the fine details once this call is over? I don’t want to waste any more of Mr. Diaz’s time.”
Like I expected, DesigNation’s douchey CEO puffs up and nods. “Yeah, I’ve got a meeting after this.”
He doesn’t. Unless you call ogling omegas at a strip club and soliciting sex from omega staff at the gym “meetings”. In which case, I should probably try to keep him on this call as long as possible. The man is a walking PR nightmare and makes my job almost impossible.
At least there’s no chance of him cancelling our services anytime soon.
With his ego stroked, we finish up the call without too much more inane commentary from the CEO. In the back of my mind, I’m freaking out a little about what I agreed to handle, but I didn’t want to ask them to repeat it and appear distracted.
It’s difficult to focus on work when my head is filled with thoughts about my date with Ambrose tonight. Him texting me during that call and being unable to read his messages right away was more torturous than interacting with that chauvinist CEO.
Alex, the actual person in charge of things over at DesigNation, pings me immediately, and I let out a soft groan when I see all the work and the deadline that I absently agreed to.
I was hoping for a slow Friday, but now I’ll be stuck working late and maybe even some over the weekend in order to meet the Monday morning deadline.
Making a mental note to hide my phone and get rid of any other potential distractions during future calls with DesigNation, I push back from my desk and stretch, groaning at the tightness in my shoulders.
Rick spins his chair to face me, the unpleasant squeak of the movement making me bristle a bit.
I like Rick, but now that I’m an omega, I’ve realized how damn loud he is.
I wish I could ask for a private office like Lauren has, but then I’d have to give a reason for the request, and I’m still solidly in the camp of not telling anyone at work about my new designation.
He gives me a concerned frown, misreading my reaction. “Rough call?”
“Eh, not any worse than usual. Just need a coffee break before I tackle all the last-minute work they dumped on me.”
My friendly alpha coworker grimaces in sympathy, and I feel guilty for getting so easily agitated by him. “Damn, good luck with that.”
“Thanks, I’ll need it. That and a vat of coffee.”
He chuckles as I scoop up my phone and wave to him before heading to the break room.
It’s empty, which is nice because I won’t look rude staring at my phone rather than making small talk as I wait for the fancy little espresso machine to spit out my latte.
My pulse quickens as I read my texts from Ambrose.
Ambrose: I can’t wait to see you tonight. It’s all I’ve thought about since you messaged me.
Ambrose: Jackson has been completely insufferable. He won’t stop rubbing it in my face that he got the first one-on-one date with you.
Ambrose: Not that I’m upset about that choice! All I care about is that you’re willing to try this out with us.
Ambrose: Oh shit, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bugging you at work. Don’t worry about replying, I’m sure you’re busy. I’ll see you tonight at 7.
I smile down at my phone, delighted by his bumbling, sweet messages. The alpha is so cute, my heart can’t take it.
“Your drink is ready.”
I startle, almost dropping my phone as I look up and find River standing behind me, his arms crossed over his chest.
God, where did he come from?
“Ah, sorry!” I grab my mug from the machine, almost sloshing some of the scalding liquid onto my hand in my hurry.
I think that’s the end of our awkward encounter, but he speaks again. “How is your day?”
I blink back at him. It’s not a deep question requiring intense consideration, but he’s never once made small talk with me.
The corner of his mouth twitches. I can’t tell if it’s in distaste or he’s trying to hide a smile. The man is so damn inscrutable, he should be a poker player.
“Fine,” I eventually croak.
His eyes narrow behind his glasses. “You’re a terrible liar.”
Again, I can’t tell if he’s trying to be teasing or giving me a blunt assessment. Is that his way of trying to get me to give him details about my day? Why would he care?
“The DesigNation account is a pain in my ass, but what else is new?” As soon as I say the flippant words, I tense. River is my boss, and he’s already taken me off of one account. I shouldn’t be complaining about anything in front of him.
River cocks a brow at me, surprised by my candor. Or upset by it. Shit.
“I can handle it. It’s fine!” I add quickly, trying to bail myself out of this sinking ship of a conversation.
The stern alpha gives me a sharp nod. “I know you can.”
My skin flushes at his vague praise.
God, I’m pathetic.
I sip my coffee so I can break his intense eye contact, wincing and spitting it back out into the mug when it burns the shit out of my tongue.
River’s eyes widen and he takes a step closer, like he’s going to snatch the coffee away from me so I won’t be a dumbass and hurt myself again, but he freezes when I tense at his proximity.
I don’t mean to, but my omega is always on edge around this alpha. She’s waiting for him to assert his dominance, forcing me into submission or claiming my body.
It’s absurd. He’s not going to do either of those things. Why would he bother when he has no interest in me beyond making his pack happy?
We linger in the tension until I can’t take it any longer. “This is so awkward,” I blurt.
A surprised, deep laugh punches out of him. “Yes, it is.”
My breath stutters as the laughter transforms River’s face into a man I barely recognize. He looks younger with his carefully crafted guard down. Younger, and even more handsome.
Fuck, that smile is dangerous. It has my omega pushing me to move closer and see if I can catch his scent. Has her wanting me to rub myself against his lithe body and beg him to ease the ache building between my thighs.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me going out with Ambrose tonight?” I ask tactlessly. It’s a bid to ruin the moment so I can escape his brilliant smile and go back to the familiar weight of his cool indifference.
River’s smile grows tighter. More guarded. “I’m sure.”
“If you aren’t, it’s okay. I have a lot of last-minute tasks to get done and will need to work late anyway, so maybe it’d be better for me to cancel.”
His smile drops entirely, sucking all the air from the room as he glares at me. “Don’t cancel on Ambrose. He needs this.”
Despite the bite in his tone, I want to ask River what he needs. Press against the sore spot of me being courted by his romantic partner until he breaks and finally is honest with me. But we’re not friends and he’s an adult. If he’s uncomfortable, it’s not on me to pry that from him.
I smile weakly. Appeasingly. I hate that my omega trembles around this alpha, but I can’t stop it. “Okay. Just wanted to double-check.” I glance down at my phone, pretending to look at the time. “I should get back to work.”
River nods. “Alright.” He turns away from me, ending the conversation by literally giving me the cold shoulder.
So much for small talk and tentative pleasantries. Lesson learned.
I head back to my desk, disappointment and concern making my stomach ache.
How am I supposed to be courted by this pack when River and I can’t even have a normal conversation?
“Fuck. Shit. Fuck.” I curse as I check the time on my phone again.
Ambrose is going to be here any minute. I ended up staying way too late at work, and then my building’s elevator was out, so I had to climb eleven flights of stairs.
I was a sweaty, frizzy mess by the time I got into my place, so I showered as quickly as I could, but I’m still rushing around in my panties and ratty robe trying to put myself together.
Dammit, why didn’t I pick out an outfit before I went to work?
Under any other circumstances, I would’ve called or texted to ask if we could reschedule, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that after River’s insistence I don’t back out.
The intercom by my door buzzes.
“Shit, he’s early!” I race over to answer it, almost tripping over the heels I’d discarded by the front door in my hurry to get inside and ready for our date.
“Ambrose?” I wince at how out of breath I sound.
“Hey, sweetheart.” His buttery baritone washes over me, sounding far too alluring even over the shitty intercom speakers. “Sorry, I know I’m a few minutes early.”
“Oh no, that’s okay!” I squeak, even though it is most certainly not okay because I’m not even dressed yet. But that’s not his fault and if I’m being honest with myself, it would’ve taken me more than a few minutes to pick something out and put it on.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll buzz you in.”
“I can wait down here if you’d prefer. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
God, he’s so damn considerate. I take a deep breath, reminding myself that Ambrose doesn’t seem like the type of guy to be an ass about me running late.
“No, please come up. It’s going to take me a bit to finish getting ready, and I don’t want you to have to stand out on the street for fifteen minutes. Or maybe twenty. Fair warning, I’m a bit of a mess right now because I got home a lot later than I’d planned.”
There’s a soft, low chuckle from the other end. “I’m happy to wait however long you need, Camille.”
I appreciate the sentiment, but if we’re going to make the dinner reservation he booked, we need to head out of here in the next twenty minutes.
“Oh crap, the elevator might still be out. So if you don’t want to climb up to me, there’s, uh… there’s a cafe across the street that has free Wi-Fi.”
Ambrose chuckles again. “It’s fine. I could use the workout. Just don’t judge how red my face is when I get up there.”
I smile to myself. “As long as you don’t judge how red I’m going to be from you seeing my current disheveled state.”
“Deal.”
I let him into the building, then mentally calculate if I have enough time to at least throw a dress on before he gets up here.
It won’t take him more than five minutes, so I decide to do a quick tidy of my living room and kitchen instead.
I’m shutting the dishwasher with my hip when my doorbell rings.
My heart leaps up into my throat and I make myself take a moment to breathe before heading over to the door.
The sight of the man in the hall as I open my front door threatens to knock me off my feet.
Wow, he cleans up nice.
Ambrose has traded his usual patterned button down and slacks for a fitted charcoal suit that makes his matching gray eyes pop.
His warm smile doesn’t falter at all when he sees me, even though I’m sure he’s wondering why the hell I’m standing in front of him in a robe.
If anything, his smile grows brighter, the corners of his eyes crinkling with genuine happiness.
His cheeks are a little pink from the exertion of climbing the stairs and if I’d known he was so dressed up, I wouldn’t have asked him to make the trek.
Not only does he look incredible, he’s also holding a damn bouquet like the quintessential gentleman he is.
“Hello! Please come in.” I say, self-consciously clutching at the neckline of my robe as I step back for him to enter.
“Hi beautiful,” he murmurs, his scent washing over me in a rush as he steps in the door. My nipples harden and warmth pools in my stomach, and my omega couldn’t care less that I’m practically undressed. Easier access for this silver fox alpha to put his hands all over me.
Heat floods my cheeks at my dirty thoughts and I barely resist the urge to rub myself against him when he leans down to kiss my cheek, his citrusy scent causing my own to flare.
I step back with a sheepish smile. “Sorry I’m not even dressed! I swear I’m not usually this late. I normally like to be ready early, but life conspired against me today.”
Ambrose reaches out and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “No apologies necessary, sweetheart. I’m just thrilled to see you again.”
“I’m so happy to see you, too. You look really handsome.”
His smile turns a bit shy at my compliment. “Thank you. You look as lovely as ever.”
I want to protest that can’t be true, but he holds the bouquet towards me. “These are for you. I know roses are a bit cliche, but these reminded me of you. You’ll have to tell me for next time what your favorite flower is.”
Next time. It’s silly, but I can’t help the little flutter of excitement I get from his casual mention of future dates. The flutters intensify when I see the dozen pale peach and pink roses.
“Roses are actually my favorite. Not red ones, but softer colors. Like these.” It’s a little uncanny how perfect his selection was, but maybe that’s part of being scent matches. Intrinsically knowing what the other person finds pleasing.
“Wow, lucky guess,” he says with a grin. “Why don’t I put these in a vase while you go get dressed? Unless…”
My brow furrows at his hesitation. “Unless what? I don’t think this ancient robe and a messy bun will be up to dress code based on what you’re wearing.”
“What do you think about staying in tonight instead?” he asks gently. With any other guy, I’d think he was trying to take a shortcut to getting laid without shelling out money for dinner, but Ambrose’s expression is filled with concern rather than lust.
The thought of shoving myself back into heels and an uncomfortable dress after the day I’ve had kinda makes me want to cry, but I shake my head. “I’m fine. You got all dressed up. I don’t want to ruin our night.”
Ambrose takes the bouquet from my hands and sets it down on the counter beside us, then steps in to wrap an arm around my waist. “Sweetheart, all I care about is making sure you’re happy and comfortable. We’ll go out to eat another night.”
I blink up at him, flushing at his nearness and eager to go along with his suggestion. “Are you sure?”
He leans down to brush his lips against mine, before pulling back with a panty-melting smile. “Absolutely. Let me take care of you tonight.”