Chapter 27
chapter
twenty-seven
“Bee? You okay?”
Jesse’s hazel-green eyes shine at me from the rearview mirror’s reflection.
I duck my chin and swallow, smoothing clammy palms over the sunflower-yellow sundress Adrian selected for the occasion.
It perfectly matches the gold piping on the guys’ uniform shirts, a stark contrast to their sky-blue pinstripes.
His question replays in my head. Am I okay?
Aside from making my first public appearance as their fiancée since the media uncovered our secret?
Not to mention the fact that Dante’s been awkwardly avoiding me all week, and my little stunt to help Colt realize his full capabilities somehow made their injured catcher hate me even more … ?
And then there’s Adrian, who’s continued to be a perfect gentleman, even after our dirty, delicious moment in the nest store.
Despite my spike and the way I shut down afterward, the pack leader has still offered me his seat at breakfast each morning and insisted on talking with me after dinner every night.
He always makes sure I’ve eaten, takes care of every household task and expense before they even register in my mind, and ends each day by scent-marking my hand before I crawl into my nest.
Which looks like something out of a GD magazine, by the way.
He oversaw all of that, too. Apparently, on Tuesday, he actually left work to supervise the all-beta team of installers.
They set up the new nest-room and didn’t leave a single trace of scent behind.
When he got home that evening, Adrian simply handed me a new set of keys to the room and told me to lock his pack out whenever I wanted.
It’s just chivalry, I’m sure. The same as him helping me during my meltdown at L’abri and lifting me into Dante’s enormous Escalade today.
The alpha is a gentleman. That’s it .
Under the three layers of scent-neutralizer I dutifully sprayed on, I’m sure I smell like an atomic bomb. The longer I contemplate Jesse’s question, the more Dante shifts in his seat next to me, clenching his fists and grinding his jaw as Colt leans as far back into the third row as he can.
“Yep,” I finally reply. “Totally fine.”
Blocking out their reactions—and the way they make my stomach scrape—I focus on the city blurring by my tinted window, running over our plan in my mind.
We’re going to the Kings’ first spring training game. Adrian, Dante, and Jesse will go to work while Colt and I share the pack’s special box to “spectate.”
Joy .
Still, Adrian’s logic is sound. Spring training draws a smaller crowd and less press coverage than a regular-season game. It’s better to start here than with one of those. Or—God forbid—their season opener.
No, this is better. We’ll be photographed arriving together. They’ll each “kiss me goodbye” for the cameras. And then three-fourths of them will disappear, and I’ll just have to deal with Salty for a couple of hours.
A few hours.
Why are baseball games so damn long , anyway?
Someone better get me a hot dog. And a churro.
I swear to God, Adrian is a mind reader. He casts me a soft, amused glance as he maneuvers Dante’s huge SUV into the team’s special parking lot. His deep voice has an instant steadying effect, as if my body has started to associate the sound with relaxation.
Stupid Omega .
“I’ve made some improvements to the stadium since the last time you visited, little blue. I think you’ll find the box very comfortable. You’ll have an attendant checking in and bringing you anything you want. I’ve made sure our best guy is on the job today.”
Alright, so maybe my Omega isn’t that stupid. This alpha is pretty amazing. Whoever ends up being his mate is the luckiest person in the world.
The rest of these fuckers may be sorry sons of bitches, but Adrian? There’s no doubt in my mind that this man has a scent-sensitive mate out there waiting for him. That’s the way karma works—he can’t put this much good, solid energy into the world without attracting a perfect counterpart.
And when he or she arrives? I’m going to be long gone .
Lest I attempt to scratch their eyes out .
The thought is startling and unacceptable . None of your crazy bullshit , I tell my Omega, burying the swell of desperate longing she pushes into my diaphragm. Everyone is watching us today. We have to woman up.
She pouts at me, but I ignore her.
She’ll get over it.
Just like Adrian promised, the Kings’ stadium looks amazing. He’s completely updated the worn facade—every white concrete wall is freshly painted and brand-new blue flags snap in the breeze. Hot pretzels and toasted treats leave the spring air even sweeter. Not to mention Jesse and Dante’s scents.
The crowd of photographers gathered outside is smaller than I expected. Adrian leads us from our designated lot to a walkway lined with metal barriers, flanked by security. His hand lands on the small of my back as we step onto the runway.
Cameras start flashing. He keeps his face straight behind his Armani sunglasses, but bends closer, dropping a kiss onto my crown.
Just for show , I remind myself. Not real .
Repeating those words helps me keep my lungs working when Dante jogs up to my other side and winds his arm around my shoulders. The succulent sweetness rising from his exposed throat is enough to make me woozy. Mortifying memories flood my mind.
“You gonna let me in this little pussy whenever I want? Or should I enjoy this time like it’s my last?”
Dante’s forehead nuzzles the side of my face. “Long time no see, cupcake,” he husks. “Did you have fun avoiding me all week?”
I scoff, leaning back to show him my outraged expression. “ Me ?! What about you ?”
Lord, he is handsome. Especially this close up. I don’t think I’ve ever been this near to him in the daylight. Dark eyes glitter, full of afternoon sun. A perfect balance for his bright white smile.
“You know what, querida ?” he rumbles, roaming those coal-hot irises over my features.
I only barely manage not to gasp, covering the flustered flutters in my stomach by cocking an unimpressed brow. “What?”
His grin widens until it’s almost painfully gorgeous. “I think you and I have much more in common than we think.”
And— damn it —I want to argue… but I’ve had the exact same thought all week. I used him and wounded his pride by turning it into a secret. He gave me a taste of what it would be like if he actually wanted me, then took it away.
We both reacted by awkwardly—and unsuccessfully—pretending the other didn’t exist.
Which sort of proves the bastard’s point.
I roll my eyes, unable to keep from smirking at the cocky delight filling his face. “God help me.”
Jesse practically jumps on Dante, slinging an arm around the shortstop’s neck in a chokehold. They wrestle briefly before Jesse somehow knocks Dante back and takes his place, reaching for my hand.
His grin is as kind as Dante’s was flirty. He also scent-marks me, but he’s much shyer about it. His voice drops into a near-whisper. “Thanks for doing this, Bee. I know it’s a lot.”
I don’t think he intends to remind me about our charade at every turn, but that’s exactly what this alpha seems best at. Except when he was on his knees ? —
I try not to let my answering smile look too tense. “Of course! It’s no big?—”
A hand cups the side of my face from behind, covering my mouth at the last second. I recognize Colt’s salty skin instantly.
Thank God he finally showered.
“None of that,” he grumbles, already retracting his touch and wiping his palm on his shirt. “If I have to sit in a box with you for three hours, we’re not starting the perky lying all the way in the parking lot .”
He has a point, and I’m still feeling all kinds of smug about him using his left arm, even if he only did it to shut me up.
“Fine.” I shoot all four of them pointed looks and offer my best queenly nod. “ You’re welcome .”
A firm slap to my ass sends me forward a step. When I whirl my stunned face to Adrian’s, he cocks a thick brow behind his aviators. “Brat,” he says without heat.
I slant my own look up at him. “If you say so, Boss.”
Adrian halts us on the walkway, reaching over to grasp my chin. I inhale sharply, and he takes full advantage, pressing his chiseled lips over mine for a brief, soft kiss. When he pulls back, he flashes a glimpse of his bright blue irises over the top of his shades. His deep voice rumbles.
“While we’re here, you can call me ‘King.’”