Chapter Thirteen
Ches
Alias was right. If I had left and not gone back to work, none of this would be happening.
It was hard to wrap my head around.
“This is all really hard to believe,” I said and took one of the muscat grapes from the board. They were so crisp and flavorful, it was hard to resist.
“I know. For me too.”
Sweet alpha. I’d learned since coming to his room that he’d purchased the resort and was now my boss, but that was the least of it. I could barely hear what he was saying over the constant thunderstorm of my wolf telling me that this was his mate.
No question about it.
I shook my head. “This week has been crazy, and that’s putting it mildly.”
“I understand. It’s a lot. I never really believed in Fate and perfect timing, but that has changed.”
“It seems like you walked into my life at all the right times.”
I reached over to pat his arm, but he took my hand in his and rubbed the back of it. “I’m glad I did, omega. I’m so glad I did.”
Okay, I wasn’t the only one feeling something here. All I wanted to do was throw myself into his arms and let his presence make it all go away.
“Tell me about yourself.” I didn’t let go of his hand. “You’re a hero, a businessman. You have very good taste in food…”
He chuckled. “You flatter me, Ches. I’d much rather learn more about you.”
“There’s not much to tell.” I said those words and then proceeded to tell him all about my life. The pack I came from. My time on the streets and how I came to work here. It felt good to tell him everything about me, even the bad parts.
“No wonder you were so scared of losing your job,” he said, once I was done.
“I don’t have anyone to rely on but me. I learned that a long time ago.”
Grant’s expression morphed into a sweetness my wolf and I could feel. It wasn’t so much his face as the atmosphere around us evolved. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, Ches. I can put it in writing if you want. Have my lawyers draw up a contract.”
Gosh, that would be nice, but also… “No, that’s okay. I don’t trust many people, but I trust you, Grant.”
“Do you? I trust you as well.”
We talked about all kinds of things until my phone rang, bursting our bubble. “I have to get this.”
“That’s okay. Go on.”
It was the kitchen manager asking what was taking me so long. “I delivered the order to one of the villas and…” My brain went blank. I couldn’t exactly say that the delivery was to my mate and the new owner of the whole freaking resort and we were chatting and eating cake.
“Here, let me.” Grant took the phone from my hand. “Hello, this is Grant James. I’m the owner of this resort. Ches is off for the night. He is helping me with a special project tonight. Find a replacement, please.”
Then he hung up.
That was the moment I cracked. Laughter bubbled out of me, and I took the phone back and tossed it over my shoulder. I wasn’t on duty anymore, thanks to the alpha beside me. Who cared? Not me.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You know what they think a special project is, right?”
He blanched. before his ears turned red in the most adorable way. “Did I just start trouble for you?”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, there will be new gossip. Preferably about someone else. I’ve had about enough of my own.”
Grant looked at me and worked his bottom lip between his teeth. “Omegas stay with alphas in their rooms sometimes?”
I nodded. “It happens. We get hit on constantly. Some offer money, like we’re prostitutes.”
“This is none of my business, but do you ever take them up on it?”
We hadn’t talked about it, but this man being sweet and incredibly generous was my mate. Of course, he had a right to know if I was…partaking of offers. “I don’t. I’ve been waiting for my mate.”
I left out that the wait was over.