Chapter 8 #2
“Look, I’m just going to say what’s on my mind,” he says, and I snap my gaze back to him.
“I figured—” He pauses to swallow, then continues.
“I’ve waited this long, and I’m not going to mess it up now.
” His voice wavers a bit, and he sucks in a breath.
“I want to tell you exactly how I feel. Is that okay?” I catch a rare flicker of vulnerability in his dark, expressive eyes.
“Of course,” I breathe, my chest tight with anticipation.
He lays his hands on the table, palms up, and his eyes blaze into mine.
“I like you Maeve, a lot,” he murmurs. “I’ve liked you for so long it’s ridiculous.
” He laughs to himself and shakes his head.
“I want to date you. I want to court you, win you over. I want to buy you so many books that our book club never ends.”
My eyes widen and my face splits into a huge smile. “Really?”
My hand fiddles with the straw wrapper on the table, and he reaches to take it in his, his fingers gently stroking my knuckles. “Really, gorgeous.”
“You want to date me?” I repeat, my head spinning with excitement.
Part of me already knew this, of course. We had danced around the idea for months, just enjoying each other’s company and inhaling our scents whenever we could.
But to hear it in Ivan’s sweet, low timbre makes my thighs clench together, and I squirm in my seat while he continues to caress my knuckles.
“Absolutely. I want to take care of you. Be with you, however you’ll have me.” He brings my knuckles to his mouth, not breaking eye contact as he kisses each of them.
My inner Omega swoons. Despite the mixture of scents and pheromones in the bar, I still can home in on Ivan’s delicious aroma.
Summertime. Happiness.
A sunset that never ends.
I remain stunned at his declaration.
“I would be honored to be part of your pack,” he adds, and a weight is lifted off my chest.
He wasn’t jealous of Logan at all.
He wasn’t trying to keep me to himself.
“You don’t…you’re okay with—” I start, but he simply shakes his head.
I’ve heard horror stories of Alphas trying to hog an Omega to themselves when the Omega yearns for more than one packmate.
I didn’t think that would be the case with Ivan, but hearing him say it makes my smile lighter and my breath come easier.
“Babe, if you want a thousand people in your pack, I don’t care. Just let me be in it.”
I snort, my face flaming. “A thousand is a bit much,” I tell him. “I don’t even have a pack yet. It’s just you.”
“Which means you’re saying yes?” Ivan adds hopefully. I squeeze his hand and nod earnestly.
“Of course. Are you kidding? I get a book club and a boyfriend in the same day?” I say. “It’s every girl’s dream.”
He barks out a carefree laugh, and it’s the best first date I’ve ever been on.
Our entrees arrive, a steak salad for me and short ribs for him, and we continue to chat just like we do on our lunch breaks at work.
I find out he’s the only male in his immediate family—he was raised by his mom and three older sisters.
His dad isn’t in the picture anymore.
“So, that’s why you’re so understanding,” I say over a bite of salad. “You grew up with women all around you.”
“I like to think they taught me empathy,” he says. “And patience, and how to be understanding with people.”
“You’re really good with people. You can win anyone over.” I’ve seen the angriest, most stressed out pet owners immediately soften with Ivan there—he’s an excellent communicator and is able to relate to others without trying to solve their problems for them.
“I only try to win over the important people.” He looks at me pointedly. “Hopefully, it works.”
I shrug. “Eh. We’ll see.”
“There’s a certain Omega that works next door to me that I try to win over every day.” There’s a sparkle in his eye as he says it.
“Really?” I play along. “What’s she like?”
He places his fork down and keeps his eyes on mine. “She’s beautiful, kind, smart, and has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve met. Sometimes, she wears a skirt that drives me fucking crazy to the point where I have to splash cold water on my face to calm myself down.”
I know exactly what skirt he’s talking about. It’s faded black denim with a frayed hem, distressed but still tasteful when paired with a black cardigan.
“She sounds nice.” I smirk.
“She’s my best friend, but kind of a tease, too. And I’m pretty sure she’s my scent match, and I can’t wait for the day that happens.”
That catches me by surprise, so much that I’m rendered speechless.
I open and close my mouth, unsure what to say.
I had hoped, I had wondered if maybe that was the case.
But I had no idea he was waiting for it to happen, too.
This night couldn’t be any better.
I’m on the same page with Ivan, metaphorically and physically, if you count starting our new book together.
“I’ve had a long time to think about what I would do when it happens,” he adds lowly.
“Oh, yeah?” I squeak. I take an obnoxious gulp of my soda, the carbonation burning my throat.
Was the restaurant always this hot?
Were my palms always this clammy?
But still, there’s a quiet but steady voice of doubt in the back of my mind.
What if he doesn’t want to deal with you worrying all the time?
What if he sees you break down over something that no one else would?
Yet those worries are quiet, barely a whisper over the squealing of my inner Omega, who is doing a backflip and high kicks.
“Yup. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” he adds.
His caramel apple scent grows heady, almost stronger than the rest of the aromas in the restaurant.
I haven’t truly been alone with Ivan, ever.
I’ve never had him to myself, where I’m only breathing him in and not the extra scents of people around us.
That’s likely what has stopped the scent match from happening.
“I can’t wait,” I tell him. “Bring it on. Do your worst.”
His smile is devious. “I will.”
I breathe him in again, wondering if it’s too forward to just ask him to follow me back to my apartment.
I have the urge to nest, to throw my best blankets on my bed and burrow under them while Ivan joins me.
He could rub his scent on my mating gland, which aches for attention underneath my shirt.
But dessert is first. My sweet tooth must be satiated before my other sweet parts are.
“Do you want—” I start, but frown when I see Ivan turn his head slightly to look past me.
“No way,” he says, amused. “What is he doing here?”
“Who?” I follow his gaze and have to do a double take at what I see.
That’s when the scent hits me. It’s faint, mixing with the other aromas that the restaurant carries, but it’s still there.
Vanilla and bourbon, warm, dark, and tempting.
Sitting alone in a tiny booth in the corner is Logan, his brow furrowed as he reads to himself. He mouths words quietly, and I’m enamored by the sight.
He’s in a light blue button-up today, his dirty blonde hair falling haphazardly into his eyes.
“Holy shit,” Ivan laughs. “He’s reading a medical journal.”
“He is?”
“Yes. He was reading it on his lunch break, too.”
“What is he doing here alone?” I ask, still watching him in shock. There’s an untouched basket of fries in front of him and a glass of water.
Wait. Maybe he has a date, and they’re in the restroom or stepped outside.
My stomach sinks.
Sure, he’s cute, and I’m attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean that—
“You want to find out?” Ivan asks, and I turn back to him. “Poor guy looks like he could use company.”
“You don’t mind?” I ask. “I can’t stand him just sitting there by himself.”
“Absolutely. You should invite him to join our table,” Ivan says, looking delighted.
“Are you sure? He’d be crashing our date,” I add.
Not that I mind, of course.
I want Logan with us. I have the urge to grab him by his sleeve and yank him away from that lonely corner and force him to share his fries with us.
“Babe. What do you want? I’m not going to dictate how this goes,” Ivan adds, and I’m pleased that another pet name has been added to the rotation. “I’m just along for the ride.”
His kind smile is all the confirmation I need.
“Be right back,” I say quickly.
I’ll be damned if that handsome Alpha spends his meal alone.