Chapter 12
ANITA
“Fuck, against the front door of your apartment?” Nina’s eyes are wide, but she’s grinning like this is the best gossip she’s heard in months. “You know the whole neighborhood probably saw that, right?”
I’m sitting across from her at a corner table in the bakery, dressed as Ash, nursing the best coffee I’ve had in weeks and trying not to die of embarrassment. The almond croissant on my plate is flaky perfection, but I can barely taste it because my face is on fire.
“No, they wouldn’t have,” I protest weakly. “It was late, and everyone was asleep.”
“Girl.” Nina leans forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
“This is a small town. Everyone’s favorite pastime is gossip.
You wait. I bet I hear at least three people talking about it today.
‘Did you see that new girl getting absolutely ravaged by Jasper outside her apartment?’ It’ll be the talk of the town. ”
“Oh God.” I drop my head into my hands. “Great impression I’m making. New to town and already on the rumor mill for being pinned against my door by a hunk.”
“And what a hunk!” Nina is practically bouncing in her seat. “Seriously, you couldn’t do better if you tried. Those four men are literal gods. And mostly untouchable. They’ve made it pretty clear over the years that they’re not interested in anyone in town.”
I look up at her, curious despite my mortification. “You tried dating them?”
She shakes her head, taking a sip of her coffee. “Nah. But I know lots of Omegas and Betas who have, and they all failed spectacularly. Some got lucky with one-night stands, but that’s all those men were capable of giving. Casual, no strings, don’t expect more. But maybe it’s different with you.”
“Why would it be different?”
“Because I’ve never seen them all so captivated by one person before.” She tears off a piece of her croissant, popping it into her mouth. “At dinner, the way they were all looking at you? Like you were the only person in the room? That’s not normal for them. They don’t look at anyone like that.”
A flutter bursts through my stomach.
“Maybe,” I say. “But God, that goes against everything I came here to do.”
Nina’s expression softens. “Sometimes fate has different plans than what we expect. I mean, I thought you were super hot when I first saw you as Ash—before I knew the truth—but instead of whatever that could’ve been, I found an amazing friend.
” She reaches across the table, placing her hand over mine.
“And I’ll be here for anything you need help with.
Okay? Need to break into their homes? I’ll come with you.
Need a distraction? I’m your girl. Need someone to hold your hair back after too much wine? I’ve got you.”
“I love that.” I burst out laughing, the tension breaking. “But breaking into their homes isn’t going to be necessary.”
“I don’t know.” Her eyes spark with mischief. “Imagine spying on them to see if they all sleep naked. Tell me you don’t want to see that.”
Heat floods my face immediately. “Oh my God.”
“Come on! I bet they’re all gorgeous naked. Muscles everywhere. And—”
“Nina!”
She’s laughing now, completely unrepentant. “I’m just saying! If you’re going to investigate them anyway, might as well enjoy the view.”
“I can’t deny that I’ve thought about it,” I admit, my voice dropping lower even though we’re in a corner and no one is paying attention to us. “Have you seen them? Like, really looked at them?”
“Everyone in town has stared at them,” Nina says matter-of-factly.
“They’re impossible to ignore. Mason with that whole golden-boy thing he has going on.
Dylan and his wild energy. Jasper with those intense eyes that make you feel like he can see straight into your soul.
And Slater…” She fans herself dramatically.
“That man could growl at me, and I’d say thank you. ”
I’m laughing so hard I nearly choke on my coffee. “You’re terrible.”
She grins and takes another bite of her croissant. “So what’s the plan now? You going to keep investigating while simultaneously falling for all four of them? Because that sounds like a recipe for disaster. A sexy, complicated disaster, but still.”
“I don’t know.” I slump back in my chair, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders.
“Last night was supposed to be simple. Have dinner, observe them, get information. Instead, I ended up making out with Jasper like my life depended on it, and now I can’t stop thinking about him. About all of them, honestly.”
“That’s because they’re perfect for you.”
“You don’t know that. I barely know them.”
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “But I know what chemistry looks like. And you five have it in spades. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“Keep my head down. Focus on the investigation. Try not to get more tangled up than I already am.”
“Good luck with that.” She doesn’t sound convinced. “You’re already tangled, honey.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, both working on our croissants and coffee.
The bakery is starting to get busier now, early morning crowd filtering in for their caffeine fixes and breakfast pastries.
The smell of fresh bread and brewing coffee fills the air, and there’s a low hum of conversation around us.
Nina glances toward the counter, where her assistant is starting to appear overwhelmed by the line forming.
“I should probably help her,” Nina says reluctantly, finishing the last of her coffee. “She’s new and still learning the register system. Sweet girl, but not the fastest.”
“And I should get to work.” I stand, brushing croissant flakes off Ash’s shirt. “Can’t be late on my second day.”
She gives me a quick hug and then pulls back with a grin.
“Keep in touch. And we should definitely go out for a girls’ night soon. Real girls’ night. No disguises. Just us, wine, and laughter.”
“Yes. I love that idea.”
“You can tell me all about how good a kisser Jasper is.”
“We’ll see.” I’m laughing.
She’s heading back behind the counter, and I’m shaking my head but grinning despite myself.
I push through the front door of the bakery into the cool morning air. The town is waking up properly now, shops opening, people walking to work, cars driving past on the main street. There’s been snow all over the place since last night.
I walk toward the Wilde Charters office, reminding myself that I shouldn’t let guilt trip me. I reach the office and take a deep breath before pushing through the door. Time to be Ash again.
I’m standing in the office kitchen, staring at the espresso machine like it’s a piece of alien technology that might explode if I look at it wrong.
There are buttons. So many of them. And levers, plus a steam wand that appears vaguely threatening.
I press one button experimentally. The machine makes an angry hissing sound that suggests I’ve deeply offended it.
“Not that one,” I mutter.
“You look like you’re trying to defuse a bomb.” The deep voice comes from behind me, and I spin around so fast I nearly knock over the empty mug on the counter.
Jasper is leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, and my entire body betrays me in the span of a heartbeat.
He’s devastating this morning. In all black again, a Henley that fits him like a second skin, showing off broad shoulders.
His blond hair is slightly damp, like he showered not long ago, and it falls in waves that frame his face perfectly.
Blue eyes fixed on me with amusement, and there’s a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.
All I can think about is how his mouth felt against mine last night. How his hands gripped my thighs. How he tasted—dark and male and intoxicating.
How he lifted me like I weighed nothing and pressed me against that door as if he intended to consume me whole.
My pulse is hammering. Heat floods my face and lower, settling between my thighs with an intensity that’s absolutely inappropriate for this moment.
He’s studying me like he’s trying to figure out what’s wrong, his brow furrowing slightly. “You good, man? You look like you’re about to pass out.”
Right. Words. I need to use words. In Ash’s voice.
I clear my throat, dropping my register to that lower, masculine tone. “Yeah. For sure. Just trying to figure out this machine. Pretty sure it’s plotting against me.”
“It hates everyone, so you’re not special.” He pushes off the doorframe and walks over, and suddenly the kitchen feels about ten times smaller.
He’s close. Too close. His scent of sandalwood, pine, and molasses wraps around me, and I have to actively stop myself from leaning in and breathing deeper.
Get it together. You’re supposed to be a guy right now.
Except I’m absolutely going weak at the knees.
He reaches past me to adjust something on the machine, and his arm brushes mine. That contact, even through layers of fabric, sends electricity racing up my arm and straight to my chest.
“There,” he says, pressing a sequence of buttons with the confidence of someone who’s done this a thousand times. “Should work now.”
The machine hums to life properly, and coffee starts flowing into my mug like magic.
“Thanks,” I manage, my voice slightly strained.
He’s still close, grabbing a mug for himself from the cabinet above my head, and I’m acutely aware of every inch of space between us. From the way his shirt rides up slightly when he reaches… to his muscles flexing. My brain is fogging over.
I need to get out of here before I do something catastrophic like grab him and—
“So,” he says casually, filling his mug. “How’s your sister doing?”
My mind blanks completely. “What?”
“Anita. Your sister.” He glances at me, one eyebrow raised. “How is she?”
“Oh. Right. Yeah.” I’m fumbling through this like an idiot. “She’s good. Fine. Great, actually. I didn’t see her this morning. She was still sleeping when I left for work.”
“Hmm.” He takes a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim. “She mention anything about last night when she got home?”