Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
Kady
“He bought you a freaking star?” I hold the phone away from my ear before Sabs’s squeal deafens me.
Faye’s back from Clover Hollow, and I am on speaker while she and the other Stellas have breakfast together to catch up. “Yeah, he kinda did.”
“That’s so romantic,” Faye gushes. “Riven sounds really sweet.”
“He is.” I sigh.
Riven is adorable. His thoughtfulness is unparalleled. Being around him makes me feel special, like the sun has decided to shine its light on me.
“That sounds like the perfect date,” Delilah gushes. “I’m going to need to tell the book club that book boyfriends are real. The love interest we’re reading about now has to up his game to compete with Riven.”
“Yeah, I guess it was pretty special.”
“Pretty special?” I imagine Sabs shaking her head. “The guy named a ball of gas in the sky after you! Did you mount that Viking or—”
“Shh!” I hiss. I don’t know how thin the walls are. I pad through to the bathroom to make sure we’re not overheard. “Actually, if you must know, it was a PG-13 date. Riven hasn’t been with anyone before, so it should be special for him—not rolling around in some muddy field.”
Riven’s and my date ended amazingly, and sleeping in separate rooms was definitely the right decision. It was hard enough being snuggled up in his arms and not progressing to the next level.
“That pretty much describes my first time.” Delilah makes what sounds like a combination of a snort and a chuckle. “Hidden in the corn field.”
“No way!” Faye giggles. “A corn field?”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Delilah promises. “But losing your virginity is a big deal.”
“I know that,” I huff. “That’s why we didn’t do it. He’s so sweet, and I… I still don’t know what I want yet. This whole scent match—”
“Kady?” I jump at the light knock on the bedroom door. “Are you ready?”
“Shit!” I almost drop the phone. “I gotta go. It’s Hale.”
“Ooooh!” Sabs sings. “Your second date! Tell us all about it when you get back.”
“Have fun, Kady,” Faye choruses.
“Send pics when you can,” Delilah says before I quickly hang up and check my reflection.
Paired with my trusty tan trench coat, I’m wearing a button-up blouse and a high-waisted blue skirt, creating a French-chic vibe.
“Kady?” Hale knocks again. “Everything okay in there?”
“Coming!” I hurry to apply a quick coat of nude lip gloss before opening the door.
Wearing a faded denim jacket over a gray tee and jeans, Hale looks suitably relaxed, leaning against the door frame in a way that accentuates his muscular physique.
He eyes my outfit. “You’re definitely going to turn heads in Rose Harbor.”
I look down self-consciously. “I can change?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that.” He raises his hands, showing me open palms. “You’re stunning. You always look good.”
I smile at his compliment, although part of me still doesn’t quite believe him. Compliments have always felt so cavalier to me—something thrown around at dinner parties to massage egos or to make connections—but the way Hale looks at me makes my insides glow.
“Did you have a good date with Riven?” Hale asks as we head downstairs.
I’m surprised to see that Larry is already sitting in his cat carrier, considering I heard no fuss from upstairs.
“It was amazing. Really special.”
“I’m glad. Riven deserves the best.” Hale’s love for his packmate is clear in the way he talks about him.
“Although I don’t know anything about stars, I do know a mean place to grab breakfast. It’s also right next to the vet, so we can drop Larry off to get checked over then grab a bite if that works for you?
He looks like he’s healing up fine, but I want to be sure he doesn’t need any antibiotics to prevent infection. ”
My stomach grumbles. “That sounds good to me.”
We get into Janice—which I’ve now renamed “the death mobile”—Larry balanced in his carrier on my lap as we trundle down the bumpy path into town, Hale pointing out sights as we go.
We pull to a stop at the harbor and Hale takes the cat carrier from me then we walk along the boardwalk, admiring the boats while Hale tells me about how he used to pretend to be a pirate here when he was a kid.
We cut down a side alley, coming out at the vet’s office.
The bell jingles over the top of the door as we step inside.
“If it isn’t Hale Valen.” A short man with oversized spectacles that are as thick as bottle caps pops his head up from behind the counter. “I heard you were back in town.” His beady gaze sweeps over me next. “With an omega.”
“News travels fast, huh?” Hale chuckles. “Dr. Otto, this is Kady.”
I wave awkwardly. “Hi.”
“And who do we have here?” Dr. Otto peers into the cat carrier.
“This is Larry.” I lower my face to Larry’s carrier as Hale puts it on the counter. “He cut his paw the other day.”
“I patched him up, but I’d like you to check him over to see if he needs any antibiotics,” Hale explains. “We don’t know exactly what he cut himself on. He got out and was rummaging in a garbage can.”
“Lucky for you, I have a quiet morning,” Dr. Otto says. “I’m free until Mrs. Barkluski’s Pomeranian comes in at eleven.”
Hale wrinkles his nose. “Yikes. I don’t miss Buster.”
“Yikes indeed.” Dr. Otto shudders before turning back to me. “If Hale’s seen to Larry, I’m sure he’s just fine. I taught him myself, you know. It really is a shame that he didn’t continue—”
“Anyway!” Hale cuts him off. “Are we okay to leave Larry here with you? We’re just going to head over to Pearl’s for food.”
“I have his insurance details somewhere.” I rifle through my purse.
“Don’t worry about it.” Dr. Otto smiles. “This is on me. I’d never charge a friend of Hale’s after the amount of help he’s given me over the years. He’s saved me a small fortune.”
“Thanks, Dr. Otto.” Hale beams. “You’re the best.”
“Be careful.” I need to warn Dr. Otto about what he’s getting into. “Larry has a bit of a temper.”
“Don’t worry.” Dr. Otto twirls his wrist. “It’ll be nothing compared to Buster, the Pomeranian. I’m sure Larry and I will get on just dandy.”
From the hissing going on, it appears Larry isn’t quite as taken with Dr. Otto as he is with the Valen Pack alphas. Maybe he’s starting to feel like himself again. I was beginning to think that he’d developed a whole new personality.
After leaving Larry in Dr. Otto’s capable hands, we head across the street to Pearl’s.
It’s a kitsch diner that looks like it hasn’t been decorated for decades, with a sparkly tiled floor, shiny pink booths, and glittery tabletops.
A buttery-sweet aroma wafts over from the delicious-looking selection of freshly baked pies and goods in the glass counter.
“Hale Valen!” A plump woman races to greet us, throwing her arms around Hale to give him a squeeze that leaves him gasping for air. “You know, you look thinner than the last time I saw you.” She pinches his cheek. “Have you been eating properly?”
“I’ve been eating just fine, Pearl.” A pink flush colors Hale’s face.
She looks at me with curiosity. “And this must be your omega.”
I pull on the strap of my purse, not sure what to say.
She doesn’t wait for me to gather my thoughts before continuing.
“When I got a call last night from Mrs. Barkluski saying that she saw you driving in, I was tickled pink. It’s about time the Valen Pack found an omega.
I’ve been saying it for years.” Pearl links arms with me.
“They’re good boys. They couldn’t be more helpful around town.
Everyone in Rose Harbor misses them when they’re gone.
Do you like it here? This is my place, by the way. I’ve run this diner for years.”
“Give her a second to breathe, Pearl.” Hale steps in to rescue me, a hand on my lower back, leading me to a booth. “We just arrived.”
“Sorry, sorry. Take a seat. The menu is on the table.” Pearl rifles around in her apron for her notebook, barely giving me a chance to glance at the menu before she asks, “What can I get you?”
“Let’s start with a coffee.” Hale slides in opposite me. “And your special pancakes. With all the toppings.”
Skeptical, I narrow my eyes at him.
“Trust me,” he chuckles. “You won’t want anything else.”
“Guess I’ll take your word for it.”
“Coming right up.” Pearl clip-clops away in her kitten heels.
“It seems like we’re the talk of the town,” I state the obvious.
He shrugs. “Not a lot happens here that people don’t know about.”
“Everyone seems to love you guys.”
“Maybe I briefed them ahead of time to make a good impression,” he winks.
Pearl returns with two cups, filling them with piping-hot black goodness.
“Dr. Otto mentioned that you used to help him out?” Although Hale shut him down earlier, I’m hoping that he’ll open up to me.
“I always wanted to be a vet.” Hale adds creamer to his coffee. “I love animals and helping them.” His eyes light up. “I worked with him when I was in high school.”
“And you went to college after that, right? I remember someone saying you dropped out.”
“Life happened.” His shoulders sag. “Sometimes we don’t always get to live out our dreams, so we have to make new ones.”
Judging by his expression, it’s not something he wants to talk about, so I let it go for now.
“What are our plans for the rest of the day?” I change the subject. “After the pancakes?”
“Well, I thought we could maybe go up to my parents’ fruit farm. I can show you around.”
I splutter on my drink. “You want me to meet your parents?”
“Don’t worry.” He laughs, hastily wiping up my coffee spill. “Even if they are home, we can avoid them; the property is huge. Fifty acres.”
I instantly relax. I’ve never met the parents of anyone I’ve dated before, and the thought of meeting Hale’s family makes me extra nervous. I doubt any decent person would want their son embroiled with the daughter of a man like Richard Sinclair.
Pearl totters over with our piled high plates. “Enjoy, sweet peas.”