6. Adrien
Ihad just finished ushering out the last customers, complete with to-go containers of a few extra bon bons, when I saw the red curls that had haunted my dreams for months, ever since I first laid eyes on the omega.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, determined to help Claire in any way she needed. She had called me for help, and that had my instincts rising quicker and faster, ready to provide and protect in any way I could.
Her hair was still damp and she was dressed in what appeared to be one of her shop t-shirts, there was both a sense of determination and trepidation in her step.
“Hey,” she said somewhat shyly, before she looked back over her shoulder at the retreating patrons.
“I closed the shop for the afternoon,” I said, answering her unspoken question.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she rushed out, her face paling slightly.
“Let me take those from you,” I said, reaching for the large bags in each of her hands. “Do you have anything else in your car we need to grab?”
Her blue eyes turned a bit glassy and I swore I saw her bottom lip quiver.
A growl slipped through my lips and I moved, taking the bags from her and placing a hand on the small of her back, ushering her into the shop and flipping the sign to closed.
I set the bags down, quickly turning to give her my full attention.
It was then that her scent fully hit me, ripe sun-kissed peaches with freshly whipped cream. If it wasn’t for the tart bite of worry that was laced in, my self-control would have been seriously challenged.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to disrupt your business, I really just thought maybe I could use one of the ovens.”
“And you can,” I assured her. “You can use every last one of them, mon chou. It sounded like you had quite a bit to do. With the store closed I’ll be able to help as well. That is, if you’ll let me? I know some chefs are quite particular about that.”
“I’m not some stuffy chef,” she said with a laugh, before taking a look around. “And I don’t make all the fancy stuff I’m sure you do. You have a real nice space here, your display case looks gorgeous.”
“I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to pull together here,” I told her sincerely. “It’s the first time I’ve had a shop of my own that just felt right.”
She blew out a breath, some of the tension slipping from her shoulders. The spark in her eyes burned brighter, a sight that had my breath catching slightly.
“I know exactly what you mean,” she said, nodding, her curls bouncing slightly. “I almost feel like the cafe is my second home.”
“It’s a rare pleasure to find something in life you enjoy doing with your whole heart. I can tell how much passion you have for it, how much it means to you.”
She looked at me then, giving me her full attention. I was wearing my black chef’s coat per usual, which she noted with a twitch of her lush lips.
“Well, you definitely look legit,” she said with a laugh and a faint hint of blush on her cheeks at having been caught. “If the offer for help is still on the table to help me bake I’ll gratefully accept.”
“Oui, chef,” I said with a nod, the blush on her cheeks darkening even further, almost making her freckles disappear.
They reminded me of Vance’s, and the image of the two of them tangled together came to the forefront of my mind much as it had the other night.
“I have a few more bags in the car,” she said, interrupting my not so chaste thoughts.
“How about I go get them while you go try whatever you want in that case you were sizing up?” I offered, thrilled at the prospect of her tasting my craft.
She all but threw her keys at me as she went over to croon at the display case, a sense of pride filling me at her excitement. I retrieved the bags of supplies as quickly as I could, making it back in time to see her walking around to the back of the counter as she slid open the door.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to pick. They’re literally all mini pieces of art,” she said under her breath.
She grabbed one of the earl grey and lemon macarons, bringing it to her lips and taking a healthy bite. A moan left her lips that had me shifting my stance.
I mostly focused on chocolate, but I was counting my blessings that I had included those as one of the few patisseries I made.
“Good?” I asked, my voice thick with desire.
“So fucking good,” she said, before popping the second piece in her mouth.
As much as my instincts were riding me to push her up against the display case and claim her now, I knew that I couldn’t do that.
I wanted to get to know her.
I needed to trust her.
Well, her and Riley who I still had yet to meet.
His mother and sister had come in the shop a time or two, but the enigmatic man I’d heard so much about never had.
“What kind of chocolate do you prefer?” I asked, walking closer to her.
“What kind of question is that?” she asked seriously. “I can’t pick just one.”
My lips twitched at her response. “Let me suggest one for you?”
“Oh, yes, a recommendation from the chef himself,” she said happily. “But then we need to get to work if I have any hope of making my plans tonight.”
My heart beat faster at her words. Had she decided to come over for dinner with Riley? The last I’d heard from Vance is that she was still on the fence.
“Big plans?” I asked, aware that I was fishing for information.
“Dinner,” she said. “A semi-quasi important dinner that I’m half terrified and half excited about.”
“Are you always so transparent with others?” I asked curiously, joining her behind the display case as I took out a tiramisu truffle.
“More or less,” she said with a shrug as she accepted the truffle. “Although it could be some of the residual adrenaline running through my body.”
Watching her consume the chocolate, the little sighs and moans had me using all my strength to pick up the bags and move them back into the kitchen.
She followed after me, her eyes taking in the set up. I had the ovens all preheated and staples ready to go just in case she needed them.
“Good, no?” I asked, moving to the sink to wash my hands.
“That’s an understatement,” she breathed out as she spun in a small circle, taking it all in. “This kitchen is the stuff of dreams.”
Again pride swelled in my chest. Having her like the space I put so much of my heart and soul into filled me with a sense of satisfaction I wasn’t expecting.
“The ovens are preheated, you just need to make sure it’s on what you need. Whatever I have is at your disposal, just tell me what I can do,” I encouraged her.
She nodded slowly, muttering a list under her breath of what she needed to do. “Okay, I’ve got the ingredients, he’s got the mixing bowls. We need to replace the scones, the loaves…” Claire trailed off as she started pulling everything out and getting started.
When she didn’t give me instructions, I rolled up my sleeves and stepped up next to her. She gave a soft gasp like she suddenly remembered she was not alone. I raised one eyebrow and waited for her to give me something.
“If you could help me knead, that’d be great. I know we have mixers, but I’ve always found kneading myself makes a big difference.” Her cheeks heated again as if that were something embarrassing. It was quite the opposite. It showed Claire had as much love for her craft as I did, and she added her own personal touches to keep it close to her heart.
“I can definitely knead,” I promised. “Should I flour the counters? I’ve already sanitized them.”
“Yes,” she said quickly before throwing ingredients into the mixer and letting them incorporate before turning them out onto the counter. My kitchen that usually smelled of rich chocolate and aromatic flavors, now smelled of peaches, cream, and fresh bread. It was pure heaven and I knew this afternoon would never fade.
We worked in silence for close to two hours, outside of her quick instructions. It was comfortable in a way I rarely felt. Usually when I spent any kind of extended time with anyone outside of Vance inevitably something would arise or frankly they would annoy me to no end.
Soon we had loaves of bread rising and baking, scones cooling and waiting for the final touches, and a few dozen cookies and pastries.
Just as I grabbed a pan out of the oven and sat it out to cool, I turned and nearly knocked her over. The bag of flour she was carrying slammed between us as I steadied her, a cloud of white powder rising in the air, before falling over us both.
Her plush lips formed an oh of surprise as it rained down on us. With her held this close to me, flour or not, I could barely hold myself back. I swallowed hard and licked my lips nervously. Her gorgeous eyes tracked the movement and her scent increased to the point I felt lightheaded. We both moved forward until the door slammed open and we practically leapt apart.
“I’m here for the… oh crap! Should I leave?!” The poor guy’s panic would have been humorous if not for the fact I could still barely breathe.
“Oh god, Corey, I’m sorry!” Claire gasped before pointing to the counter full of breads and pastries ready to go. “This is all for you to take. The last batch for the afternoon is just about to be done.”
“I’ll start loading,” Corey promised, shooting us both an amused look before carrying an armload out.
Claire’s eyes met mine and it was as if the dam broke, both of us cracking up at the awkward and tense situation we’d just created.
But Vance had been right. Claire drew me in just as much as he did, and I couldn’t get her scent, or her smile, out of my head.
He’d told me I’d have to take a leap of faith someday and standing here with her, even in something as mundane and simple as sharing a kitchen, it was hard to remember why I was holding back.
Sure I had yet to meet this beta they both are infatuated with, but that would come tonight. If he was even a quarter as endearing as Vance had raved about then I knew I would be just as ensnared with him as I already was Claire, no matter if I’d spent months trying to not pursue this connection. Plus, she had no idea I was the one she was meeting. It almost felt like a lie to not tell her. And that was no way to start a pack.
Just as my mouth opened to speak, Corey was bumbling in again, interrupting the moment. Instead of leaving him to his own devices, I grabbed a few trays and helped him out, eager for it to be just me and this omega in my kitchen again.
Then it struck me. The afternoon was over, she’d done what she needed to do and was about to leave.
“Thank you so much for this, Adrien,” she said quietly as we watched Corey drive off.
“But your plumber comes tomorrow morning, no?” I questioned. She nodded, her eyebrows wrinkling adorable in confusion.
“Yes?” I smiled at her adorable innocence.
“So would it not be smart to get a head start on morning stock and the items you’re producing for the auction? I cleared my schedule and we still have a few hours before you close. It sounds like it would be smart to get you to use the time,” I pointed out.
Her eyes widened as if that hadn’t occurred to her. I couldn’t blame the omega, she’d disoriented me so much from her presence that I could barely keep it together. And I was not an alpha who easily lost control.
“You’d do that for me?” Those doe eyes stared up at me and my mouth watered for a taste of her. This was the sweetest heaven and hell, having her so close, yet not being able to touch her how I pleased.
“Of course,” I said easily, when I really wanted to say I’d do anything for her.
Merde, one afternoon and I was basically a goner. She was going to ruin us. Hopefully in all the best ways.
Again, time passed far too quickly as we worked side by side. It was seamless. She was sweet and gentle in her teaching and I followed her instructions diligently. It was a constant dance of tense glances and sweet smiles that I couldn’t get enough of. We had different backgrounds and styles in our approach, but that didn’t matter, with each technique and explanation I got to know her more and more. There was so much you could learn about someone from watching them work.
When she was ready and packed up for the next morning, I couldn’t help but finally let the secret slip out.
“Well, we better get going now if we want to make it to dinner on time,” I said casually. That had her breath catching as she spun to face me.
“What?” For a moment I saw her face pale in panic again but instead of backing away I took a breath and decided now was my chance. This was the moment that I had to take a risk and lay it out for her.
“Vance and I are having you and Riley for dinner tonight, are we not?”
“You… and Vance?” There was no judgment, only surprise, and that had my tense shoulders relaxing.
“Yes. Shall we?” I offered her my elbow, barely breathing until she finally shook her head and smiled, sliding her arm through mine.
“Well aren’t you full of surprises?”