Chapter 8
Fuck, she was shaking her ass just to tease us and I was here for it. There was just something about a confident omega who knew how sexy she was that did it for me.
"Peach, we’re normally gentlemen, but you keep that up and I'm not responsible for what happens next," I warned her. It was only partially a joke. My alpha was ready to claim what was his already. Just one breath of her scent and we were hooked.
Our mate was a literal goddess.
A nervous laugh echoed out as she slowed her pace to let us walk beside her.
"So, I know this little mom and pop place that makes the best sandwiches, soups, and pie. Do you guys eat bread? Sugar? or just all protein?" she asked, looking at each of us. There was no judgment in her voice, just genuinely asking so she knew if it was a place we could all enjoy.
Damn if that didn’t make me even more eager to get to know her. I just wish her hands weren’t shaking and her voice wasn’t quivering. She was trying to hide it under that confidence that felt more natural and I just hoped we could put her at ease soon.
“No need to be nervous,” Jackson soothed, giving her a flash of dimples.
“I know,” she said, letting out a breath. “I’m just not used to being around celebrities.”
“We’re hardly celebrities,” Griff laughed. “We’re just guys who play baseball.”
“And shake their asses for all the thirsty betas and omegas around,” she joked with a little growl. Oh, our girl definitely felt this pull as much as we did.
"Take a breath, sweets. We aren't going to disappear," Jackson reassured her.
Dani was like a rabbit in a cage. I didn't know what to do or say to get through to her that we were all here for her.
So, I pulled her close to my side, hoping that would ease her a little but her breath quickened.
Shit, that backfired.
"Sorry," I muttered as I let her go.
"For what?" she asked, wrapping an arm around mine and taking Jackson's hand. There was that sexy confidence again. "I’m the one being a hot mess. Girls like me just don't usually get guys like you."
"What do you mean?" Griff asked from my other side. He almost sounded offended on her behalf, making her flash a smile.
"Curvy book nerds, don't get the hot jocks. That's usually just in books," she answered. “Don’t take that as me putting myself down. I’m just not the ‘go to the gym every chance she gets’ type of girl. I like pastries and books, long walks and swimming at the lake. I’m active, but that’s about where it ends.”
"Well, you didn't fall into a book and here we are," I teased. “And these jocks love them a girl with curves.”
I made a show of running my eyes over her, making her cheeks flame red again. She was too much fun to flirt with.
She looked ahead again, not stopping until we were standing in front of a cute little sandwich shop.
Griff stepped forward to open the door like a gentleman, earning him a sweet smile.
My chest warmed at the sight, just like it did when she was in Jackson’s arms. I liked seeing my pack with her as much as I liked her attention on me.
The bell rang overhead as we entered. It was warm and inviting in here, with flower paintings hung on the walls, and glass tabletops inlaid with doilies underneath.
“Go ahead and seat yourselves,” a lady called out from behind the counter. She flashed us a smile before turning her attention to the person in front of her.
Dani led us to a table near the big picture window that had a view of the lake.
"Cute, huh?" Dani asked with a smile on her face as if she was showing it off. "I bet you don't find many places like this in a big city, do you?"
"We don't," Griff agreed, but his eyes said more to me.
This was not a place we would have picked, but for her we would. Even with the older women at the next table eyeing us.
"You guys hate it, don't you?" she asked, frowning as she fumbled with her napkin, glancing at us for our reaction. I guess we didn’t hide it as well as we thought.
"What? Why do you think that?" Jackson asked.
"Well, since we entered, Griff has had a look of disgust on his face," Dani answered quietly, pointing at the grumpy alpha. “And Cy seems uncomfortable here.”
“It’s not our usual hangout, but that doesn’t mean we’re not willing to try it,” I explained. “Plus, it’s all down to the food, right?”
Jackson elbowed Griff until he forced a smile.
"Too much, dude, that's a little creepy. Tone it down,” I said, leaning away.
Dani laughed at us, a musical sound that burrowed its way into my chest. It was a sound that I could listen to on repeat.
"Sorry," Griff muttered with a huff. "There’s just a lot more pink and frilly stuff than I'm used to. I’m allergic to all this color."
"I promise that the food makes up for it," she reassured him, reaching out and squeezing his arm that was folded in front of him on the table before letting go. Just a touch and he was melting before our eyes. I always knew he was a softy deep down.
"Any allergies or dislikes?"
"No fish," Jackson told her with a shudder.
"Not too picky," Griff and I both said at the same time.
A teenage girl walked over with a pen and paper, flashing us a smile “What can I get for you?”
Dani took charge and ordered for us, smiling the whole time. Was it possible to be this invested already? She made it feel like the rest of the world faded away, my entire being leaning closer, needing to be near her.
"So, tell us about yourself, Dani," Griff said once the server was off to put in our order.
"Not much to tell. Single, part bookstore owner and nerd," she answered. "Oh and a big Knuckleball fan."
That last part had me smiling at her.
"I did notice that you had my jersey on. You can let them down easy and tell them that I'm your favorite," I joked with her.
This got a blush from her again.
Jackson sat forward in his chair and placed a hand over Dani's. "No, you don't have to answer that. Cy is a fan hog. We've had to deal with it for years. He has a big head, let’s not make it worse.”
I gave him a playful hit and winked at Dani. "We both know it's both heads that are big."
"Don't scare her off," Jackson groaned. "We just found her and I want to keep her."
“I actually have a few Jerseys,” she admitted, turning impossibly redder at the admission.
“Knew it,” Jackson sang out, giving me a look. I was honestly just glad he was letting go of his worries that she’d reject him. She saw him right away, and that ‘pretty boy’ comment she made told me she was made for us.
“Look at you acting all innocent after telling us you read baseball romance,” I teased. “Tell us more about what’s in those books.”
"I’ve seen some of those smut book videos on the socials, book girlies can be freaky," Griff told us, eyes locked on our girl.
That earned a belly laugh from Dani. Just when I didn't think I'd find her more attractive, I was proven wrong.
"As true as that is, we don't yuck on someone's yum," Dani shrugged. "My friends took me to your game, because I like baseball. Not just the books."
"I'm glad they did, we may have never have met you otherwise," Jackson said.
"If we were meant to be, we would have. This just sped that up some," Dani said. "It was almost a meet cute at the game like in one of my books, but I was missing two of you."
"So, you want all three of us? Truly?" Jackson asked as if he still couldn’t wrap his mind around it. I guess he was still letting that thought bother him.
"Bro," Griff gritted through his teeth. “We told you. All or nothing.”
Dani ignored Griff as she got up from her chair and slid into Jackson's lap.
Fuck. That was hot. My mind went wild with thoughts of her straddling me like that.
She buried her head in his neck and pulled him close so she could whisper.
"You three. Always."
Jackson wrapped his arms around her, letting his head fall forward so his cheek was leaning against hers. His eyes drifted closed and I pulled out my phone to take a picture for him for later.
They were perfect together. There was no jealousy flaring up at the sight of them, either. My alpha was happy she accepted the pack we created just for her. Even before we knew she was our omega.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, just soaking each other in. A few words were whispered but Griff and I tried not to listen in.
When she went to stand up, Jackson groaned and pulled her back to him. "Give me another minute, please."
"Oh," was all Dani said but she sat back down and said it again as their faces both turned red. She seemed surprised at his reaction to her.
I wasn’t.
Griff and I did our best not to laugh, but I had a feeling that we were all going to have that problem a lot more often from here on out.
"How will this all work? We’re mates, but are you going to move here?
I have my business and I don't plan on giving that up. If I can be honest… I love the slower paced life in Willow Lake. I’ve been here through the town’s ups and downs," Dani started to explain in a stutter. “It’s my safe space, and this town has never let me down.”
She trailed off and now I had questions. Like who let her down before and how did I find them?
I just wanted to have a talk.
Instead, I played it cool. She needed reassurance.
"We have time. There’s no rush on anything right now. Let's just get to know you and go from there. The three of us aren't going to make you do anything that you don't want to, and we will be together. That I have no doubt about," I promised her.
"Sorry, I'm just a planner and like to know details. Sometimes I get a little ahead of myself," She said as Jackson helped her stand and she retook her seat just in time for the food to arrive.
When the waitress walked away, Griff took Dani’s hand, forcing him to look at her. “You don’t have to be embarrassed or nervous about asking questions. Our alphas want to know you’re happy and settled, that includes speaking up when you need to.”
“I’ll try and get used to that,” she said before gesturing to our food with a wide smile on her lips. “Now try it.”
I was skeptical at first, but the first bite of food had me groaning. The sandwich was stacked high with meat and cheese, the sauce on it was just spicy enough to stand out, and the bun was toasted perfectly.
Plus, it had bacon. Who doesn’t love that?
Maybe I would enjoy seeing more of what Willow Lake had to offer. Or maybe I just wanted to watch her light up each time we found something we liked here.
I wasn’t sure how we’d make it work, but I knew—for her—we would.
There was no going back now and I wouldn’t want to.