Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gwyn
H e had a point. I didn’t need him to remind me of the risk since the worries had been floating in the back of my mind the whole time I’d been at the café before he had arrived. I hated that the threat my son posed made me uncomfortable in the place I’d planned my future, but I couldn’t find a way out that didn’t involve giving up something I didn’t want to lose.
“I understand, I do, but I don’t want to give up any time. After this week and how much we are getting done, I’m actually close enough to opening to start planning for it, and I don’t want to set that back by giving up two whole days over nothing more than a possibility. I’ll already be losing time soon enough.”
I’d gladly give up going into heat, but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.
Carl looked as if he was in pain, and I could feel how hard it was for him to appear relaxed. The omega part of me loved that he was so protective, and I appreciated it, but I couldn’t let him smother the independent side I’d finally found in myself.
“You said you’d prefer the other person put in the window, so what if we asked them to come do it Monday, if they can. That’ll give me at least a couple hours with someone else here. I’ll go to the store and take care of my errands either before or after, work on the floor while he’s here, and then I’ll go home and work on some flyers and announcements on my laptop.”
I didn’t need to mention that the reason I hadn’t made flyers or put up a sign was because I couldn’t come up with one I liked. I’d tried to make so many logos for the café that I dreamed about them some nights, and they were all terrible. None of them gave off the cozy, welcoming vibe I wanted.
Carl’s chin dipped and he sucked in a deep breath, as if he was trying to keep himself calm. He wasn’t the one running the risk of being kidnapped, force bonded, and losing the only thing he’d ever had of his own.
“Okay. And what if I got someone to come over and help on Sunday in my place. Then you wouldn’t be alone.”
I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of another stranger hanging around, likely an alpha since I assumed he meant someone from his club, but I loved the way he was working with me to compromise on something where we could both do what we needed. I didn’t want to be alone any more than he wanted me to be, but I also couldn’t give up the time when nothing might come of Adam telling the others I was close to heat again.
“As long as they’re willing to work, that’s fine.”
The smile that lit his face made my breath catch and my heart fluttered at the soft rumble he emitted. I wanted to lean into him and feel the vibrations work through my tight muscles, but I wasn’t sure how he’d react. After having him in my nest it felt like we’d blurred the line we’d drawn, or that I had drawn, so I wasn’t sure where we stood anymore. My omega was perfectly happy with the idea of wrapping herself in the massive alpha and giving him whatever he wanted, but as sweet as Carl was, I couldn’t give myself up to another alpha until I was sure I’d be standing by his side and not in his shadow. Even if Carl wasn’t the type to force me there, I wasn’t sure I’d reached the point where I wouldn’t slide back into old habits.
Taking my hands, he pulled them up to his mouth, pressing a kiss to my knuckles as his eyes bore into mine.
“Thank you.”
I felt like I should have been the one thanking him, but I held it in, letting the warmth filling my chest push a smile onto my face instead. We basked in the moment longer than we should have before I finally forced my mind to come up with something to move on from where it seemed like his eyes were trying to pull me.
“So, are you ready for me to pay for the order?”
Seeming reluctant to release me, he slowly lowered my hand from his lips, my flesh tingling with awareness everywhere we still touched, before finally letting go of my fingers.
“Sure. Let me just double check it one more time. I can cover it and then invoice you for the amount if you’d prefer that over putting your info into my phone.”
The thought that entering my card number on his phone might not be the smartest move hadn’t even occurred to me. Carl was so easy to trust I had let even basic precautions go out the window with him, and while I would bet anything on it not being a real risk, it made more sense to go with the option he’d offered.
“If it’s no trouble to write me an invoice, that would work. And add on what I owe you for your time, too, so I can take care of it all. I’ll text you the email to send it to.”
“From address, to phone number, to email. I think you’re going at this contact sharing a little backwards.”
Rolling my eyes at him when he shot me a grin, I laughed and headed for the dining room. If he hadn’t been there I’d have still been panicking over the issues with the cooler, but having Carl around seemed to diffuse my anxiety. And despite hating the process of laying the flooring, and the ache it caused in my knees and spine, I was looking forward to getting back to working on it.
My phone pinged shortly after, but Carl said not to worry about the invoice right away, so I kept placing plank after plank of flooring. While not hard work, it was tedious, and the position I was stuck in was less than ergonomic. Carl had been puttering around doing something along the other side of the room before disappearing into the kitchen, and I’d almost forgotten he was there when he came back and pushed the box of flooring away from me, forcing me to stop.
“That’s enough for today. You’re going to turn into a hunched old lady if you stay bent over like that any longer.”
My cheeks heated before I even caught up with my thoughts, and I had to drag them out of the gutter they’d fallen into. My newly awakening libido was exciting, but there was still an ache in my core when it clenched at the suggestions playing thought my head after his words.
“I already feel like a hunched old lady. I’m going to need a massage by the time I finish this place.”
I hadn’t meant it as an opening, but Carl took it anyway, sliding behind me and smoothing his warm palms over my shoulders before digging his thumbs in along my spine in a way that had my legs turning into Jello. I’d have been embarrassed by the moan I let out if he hadn’t already heard more the previous night.
“Oh. My. That feels so good!”
My brain had gone fuzzy, tingles rushing through my body as he worked his way down my spine before kneading just above my tailbone, releasing so much tension I almost collapsed.
“See. You push yourself too hard,” he said as he caught hold of my hips, keeping me upright. The heat of him radiated into my back, relaxing the muscles almost as much as the lungful of s’mores scented air.
“Mmm. I have to. No one else is going to make sure this place gets opened.”
My eyelids had fallen shut but I peeled them up when he turned me within his hold before pinching my chin and making me look up into those gorgeous green eyes.
“I will. You can be strong and independent without carrying the whole load yourself.”
If felt like there was weight behind his words, and the walls I’d spent so long hiding behind tried to rise between us. Carl was a great alpha, a great man, and he’d made his interest clear, but I wasn’t ready to acknowledge the pull that kept drawing us closer. I needed to focus on one thing at a time, and the café took precedence.
“Well, I am paying you to help me. I think I’ll have to give you free cookies for life for that suggestion.”
He huffed a laugh and released my chin, but not before I saw the hurt he tried to hide away. The omega part of me wanted to soothe him and give him reassurances that I was just as interested as he was, but that would only complicate things more.
“You might not want to do that. You have no idea how many cookies a bear can eat.”
Holding onto the fake lightheartedness, I chuckled as I stepped away from him and shrugged.
“I’ll have to limit you to one a day, but you’re welcome to a free cookie anytime you want to stop by. I’m sure I’ll still see you driving by when you head to The Hangout.”
Part of me held my breath, waiting for him to confirm. My omega didn’t want to face the idea of there coming a time when I wouldn’t have him at the café with me, even though he’d only been here a couple days. He’d placed a stamp on this place that would never wear off, but once everything was finished, he’d have no reason to stay.
“Yeah, that’s true. I could always eat dinner here since David’s menu isn’t exactly extensive.”
Deciding to leave everything where it was instead of cleaning up since I’d only have to drag it back where it was in the morning, I walked along beside him as he started making his way toward the door. It was a matter of moments before the door was locked and I was standing in the last of the sunlight with him, forcing myself not to beg him to put his hands on me again.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I probably won’t be serving dinner. At least not at first. I’ll be focusing on breakfast and lunch items since there’s only one of me, so I figured I’d make my business hours five to two.”
The look he shot me was full of disgust.
“Five? A.M? You’d have to be here at least an hour before that to prep! That’s still the night before!”
I found myself continuing to walk beside him as I laughed, the bright lights next door drawing us forward.
“I take it you’re not a morning person?”
He’d seemed fine that morning when I’d woken him, but it made sense that he wasn’t really a morning person since he seemed to spend a lot of time at The Hangout every night.
“Sure I’m a morning person. After the sun is well above the horizon. I rarely go to sleep before five.”
My brows jerked up as I eyed him. He’d come by the café early the morning after I’d met him, and I couldn’t help wondering how he functioned if he was only sleeping a couple hours each morning.
“I’m so used to getting up and taking care of people in the morning that even sleeping until six is sleeping in for me. My body won’t let me stay in bed much longer than that.”
Flushing at the realization that I’d already proven that to him, I paused when he reached for the door to the bar. I wanted to go in with him, to let go and throw my arms around him and end the night with him in my bed again, but that little part of me that still hid behind the wall said it was a bad idea. I had to be responsible, and I didn’t want anyone judging me, and by extension my café, based on being seen at the bar too often. It was already later than I’d usually stop by, and the parking lot had enough vehicles in it to make me wary of how many people were inside.
“I’ve always been a night owl, and I’m lucky I do well with less sleep. Did you want to come in and have a drink?”
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, tempted despite what I’d just told myself. It wasn’t that I wanted to be there so much as I wanted more time with Carl where I wasn’t distracted by working, but I couldn’t give in and let my focus be split.
One thing at a time.
Plus, my core clenched again and reminded me of the workout it had already gotten, and how unused to that kind of stretch I was. More, and it would only make working more painful. I might be willing to enjoy Carl’s benefits, but I couldn’t jeopardize my goal.
“Not tonight. Unlike you, I’m an old lady and need my sleep.”
His lips tipped up, but I had the feeling he was as reluctant to let me go as I was to take a step back before angling for the road past him.
“Be safe, Gwyn, and sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Chest warm, I thanked him before making my way into the dark.