Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Riley
It’s peak lavender season, so the farm is bustling today with both tourists and staff who are busy harvesting. Luckily, I only have to deal with the gift shop part of that chaos. Neveah is the one in charge of it all, and I don’t begrudge her that responsibility one tiny bit.
Then again, nothing seems to phase my alpha, let alone stress her out. She’s always so poised and in control, it irks me. I guess that’s probably why I like to push her buttons so much.
Customers filter in and out, most purchasing tickets to walk into the fields for photos or lavender picking. More simply want to snag a gift or explore the niche lavender-infused items we have for sale.
I’m checking in with the local teen we hired to work the cash register this summer when my eye snags on the biggest alpha I’ve ever seen.
He looks like the real life version of a bull in a china shop, except it’s an alpha in a flower shop.
My breath catches when he turns sideways to fit around a display, his biceps bulging in a tight t-shirt and a look of fierce concentration on his face.
And what a gorgeous face it is, too. Thick brows and a strong nose, a square jaw with a perfectly trimmed beard framing lips that look far softer than they have any right to. To top it all off, he has unruly auburn hair that is haphazardly pulled up into a knot on the crown of his head.
Dead. I am dead at how hot he is.
I want to see his eyes, but they’re stuck darting between the displays and… I lean sideways to see a petite woman next to him. An omega, I’m assuming. Disappointment blooms and I frown, turning my attention back to the cashier next to me so I can finish restocking the bills in the register.
Alphas with omegas aren’t interested in betas.
“Two tickets for the fields, please.”
The deep voice seeps into my skin, and before looking up I already know who it’s going to be.
“I’ve got this one, Kenny,” I say, shoeing the kid away so I can help the burly alpha. I’m a glutton for punishment.
Then I lift my eyes, only instead of going to his, they catch on the omega next to him. I blink in surprise to see her peeking at me from behind long, wavy brown hair. It hangs past her waist, disappearing below where I can see from this side of the counter.
My eyes flit back up to hers. Big brown doe eyes. So pretty, and so sad.
I suck in a surprised breath, then nearly choke on her scent.
Holy shit.
Is she…? It’s so incredibly rare for betas to scent-match, but I think…
A distressed noise pulls at the back of my throat, but I do my best to swallow it down as I try to tear my eyes away from the stunning, delicate creature in front of me.
The alpha clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him.
“I, you—” I scramble for words, my brain completely blank.
“Two tickets,” the alpha says, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. And such a perfect mouth it is, too. “For the lavender field, if it’s open?”
“Right, yeah.” I cough, then run a hand through my short, blue hair distractedly. “Yeah, uh, that’ll be thirty dollars please.”
The alpha reaches into his pocket, releasing the omega’s hand to open his wallet. Her fingers instantly wind together and twist, turning her knuckles white.
I frown, but pull my attention away when he passes over a ten and twenty. I pop open the till, then hold out a stamp.
“We stamp hands instead of using tickets. Makes it easier for everyone, and that way you can go in and out today as much as you want.”
The alpha holds out his hand, palm down, but the omega looks uncertain. I reach out to hold his palm steady, gulping a swallow when I realize his hand is nearly twice the size of mine. I stamp the back of it, then pull away from his warm touch.
He slowly holds his hand out in front of the omega, palm up this time, and she places a trembling hand in his.
I smile when her eyes rise to meet mine again, and her face flushes a pretty pink.
The alpha holds her hand steady, and I rest one of mine alongside both of theirs, barely skimming her soft skin, but the touch sends a shiver through both of us.
I stare at her, and she stares back in shock. Then I see her nostrils flare as she pulls in a long breath through her nose. I gently stamp the back of her hand, but she doesn’t pull away. She seems frozen, and I take a moment to drink them both in.
They’re beautiful together, such a dichotomy. Not only in their size difference, but in how delicate yet straight-backed she is, compared to his burly brawn. Her light skin and perfect wavy hair, pale blue sundress against his rugged jeans and tight tee, bronzed skin and unruly hair.
They shouldn’t work, but they do.
Far too well.
It’s only after an eternal moment of getting lost in her eyes again that I realize the alpha has an amused look on his face as he glances between us.
“Ah, sorry,” I say, eyebrows pinching. “You’re all set, unless…”
The omega’s eyes widen and she leans forward a couple inches. Her alpha notices the movement, and he smiles down at her, though she isn’t watching him, so she doesn’t see it. She’s focused on me, so intent it almost makes me squirm.
“Unless?” the alpha says, eyes shifting between the two of us, and then behind me for a moment.
“Unless… Maybe, do you want a tour?”
We don’t offer tours, but it was the only thing I could think of off the top of my head to spend more time with them.
“What do you think, Petal?” The alpha brushes the backs of his knuckles down her arm and she startles, tearing her gaze from me to look up at him. “Would you like to take this nice beta up on the offer of a tour?”
Please. Please say yes.