Chapter 18
Lexi
“Should we wake them?” I whisper to Aiden, smiling at the two men snoozing away on the couch. Emmett is on one end, curled up, while Sloane is on the other, snoring away.
“I don’t know. I think they look pretty cute.” Aiden takes out his phone and snaps a photo. He looks down at it and smiles before clicking the favorite button.
Why does that make my heart flutter? He looks over at me, and it’s hard not to feel warm and fuzzy any time I have his attention.
Aiden is sweet and gentle, even though he looks like someone who can kill you with his bare hands. I don’t get any negative vibes from him, though. Maybe it’s stupid of me, but I believe he and Sloane are good people. I just need more proof of that with my own two eyes.
“It’s a nice day out. Any chance you’d be able to show me around town? I’d like to see the place before the snow falls.”
My stomach twists in knots, nervous butterflies taking control. It’s not fear, exactly, but maybe it’s a little excitement.
“On one condition.”
“Name it,” he says without hesitation.
“No weapons. If you have a gun or anything, leave it behind.”
“I do have a gun, but it’s back at the hotel,” he says. “Anything else?”
“I drive.”
Aiden reaches into his pocket and pulls out his keys. “You know how to drive a truck?”
I grin, raising a brow. “My boyfriend drives a truck, and I use it all the time, so yes. Kind of have to learn if you want to get anywhere around here or outside of town.”
“Good point,” he chuckles. Why do I feel like I want to explode when he looks at me? I’m all hot and flustered. There are so many new urges and emotions rushing through me.
Things I never thought I’d feel. Like, I want him to touch me, to take care of me. It’s a normal Omega’s instinct that I’ve never felt before now.
I’m going to try to do what Emmett said and let things flow naturally. Do what feels comfortable and don’t run.
“Okay,” I say, clearing my throat. “Let me go grab my coat.”
Aiden waits for me as I run upstairs. My coat isn’t there, it’s on the hook next to the door, but I need a moment.
Heading into the bathroom, I pee quickly, wash my hands, and grimace when I see the state I’m in.
“Fuck,” I groan, then quickly wash my face, paint some mascara on, brush my hair out, and throw on some jeans and a cute sweater.
Lately, I’ve been too depressed to give much thought to how I looked, but for some reason, I want to feel pretty around Aiden.
“Sorry about that. This pregnancy has made me have to pee every five minutes.” Not a lie. I’ve never used the bathroom so much in my life.
“No problem,” he chuckles. “Ready?”
“Ah, yeah.” I grab my phone and purse, then head to the door.
“Can I help?” Aiden asks as I reach for my coat.
“Oh. Ah, sure.” I blush. Since when do I blush? He takes my coat and helps me put it on. “Thanks,” I murmur, slipping on my Uggs.
“Any time.”
I’m aware of his eyes on my back as we walk toward his truck.
“Shit,” I groan when I realize both mine and Emmett’s vehicles are back at the club.
“What's wrong?” Aiden asks with a look of concern.
“Would you mind taking Emmett and me back to the club later to get our vehicles? We have work tomorrow night.”
“We don’t mind giving you a lift anywhere you need to go, but yes, of course. When the guys wake up, we can go over.”
“Thanks.” I smile and get into the truck. “So, what do you wanna see first?” I ask as we pull out of the driveway.
“Anywhere you wanna show me.” He grins over at me.
It hurts to look him in the eyes. He’s too pretty for his own good, and god, I feel like a schoolgirl with a crush right now.
“You've been to the club, so no need to go there. Although it is open during the day.”
“Emmett said you own the club. That’s pretty impressive.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “Not just me, though. My sister, Lark, Aries, Briar, Luna, and I all own it. Same with pretty much most of this town. Silva mans the front, and Briar sings most nights. I serve most nights, do the bookkeeping, and I used to perform.”
“Perform? Like you sing too, or dance?”
“Dance sometimes. Mostly acrobatics. Like the silks, trapeze, hoops. Stuff like that.”
“Wow,” he says, sounding impressed. My cheeks warm under his appreciation. “That's amazing. Why don’t you anymore?”
“The baby.” I cast a look his way. “I’m not far along, so right now it’s probably not a big deal, but it’s not a risk I want to take. I’m good, but there’s always the chance I could fall and hurt myself. And it’s not one I want to gamble with.”
“Makes sense.” He nods along. “Maybe after the baby is born, you can show Sloane and me what you can do.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Maybe.”
A giddy feeling slowly creeps over me. He talks like there’s no issue with me being pregnant with another man's baby. Like this is his life now, too, without being overly assertive. I appreciate it a lot.
“Well, you’ve also been to the bakery, too. So, no need to stop there.” I smile. “Thanks for the donuts, by the way.”
After we were done eating and talking, Aiden gave me a box of my favorite maple donuts. Even though I still had some left from the day before, it was his apology for the ones he destroyed.
“You won’t go a day without one, Siren,” he chuckles.
Siren. A nickname. Maybe it’s too soon for one, but I like it. I wonder why he chose Siren, though.
“We’ve also been to Lauren’s Diner. Great food by the way.”
“Oh, I love their chicken wings,” I groan. “Fuck. Now I want chicken wings.”
Aiden laughs. “Looks like we know what we’re having for supper.”
I’m smiling again, shaking my head. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Being so sweet. I don’t know how to handle it,” I say it in a playful tone so he doesn’t think I’m being serious.
“Emmett is sweet with you all the time. How do you act when he does it?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “It’s natural. I don’t think twice about it because it’s who he is.”
“Then just think of it like that. It’s who I am too. But if it becomes too much, just let me know. I like to take care of the people who are important to me, no matter who. I know not everyone likes it, though, so it’s okay if it bothers you.”
“It doesn’t.” I keep my eyes on the road as we turn onto the main strip.
We’re quiet for a few more minutes until I turn into a parking lot. “Our first stop.” I park the truck and turn to him.
“A bookstore?” he asks, looking out the window.
“When I’m not working and Emmett is busy, I tend to find myself here for a while so I don't have to sit at home alone. I like it. The smell, the atmosphere. I probably spend more money here a month than most people do on their rent.” I laugh awkwardly. “I just love pretty books.” I shrug.
“Justifiable,” he chuckles. “Well then, how about we head inside and you show me some of your favorites?”
“Really?” I can’t help but smile.
“I want to know everything about you, Lexi. Your likes and dislikes. Your hopes and dreams.”
“But why?”
“Because you’re important to me. That includes everything involving you.” He shrugs.
My stomach twists as my body flushes. Aiden gets out and makes his way around the truck to open my door. I know by the slight flare of his nostrils that he can smell my arousal. But he doesn’t point it out and offers me his hand instead.
Why am I turned on? All the man did was show an interest in me.
Is this how it's going to be? Every time these Alphas prove they’re nothing like the Alphas from my past, I’m going to fangirl over them?
If so, I might have to invest in more panties.
“Thanks.” I take his hand and let him help me out of the truck.
The bell to the door chimes as we enter. The moment the familiar smell of books hits me, my face breaks into a soft smile, and my body relaxes.
“Lexi, it’s been a few days,” Denny, one of the shop workers, greets me. “Glad to see you stop by.”
“Denny, hey.” I head over to him, Aiden following behind me. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Not looking forward to the snow. But hey, that's what you get when you live in the mountains, so I can’t complain.” His eyes flick over to Aiden. “Who's your new friend?”
“Aiden Madden.” Aiden’s gruff voice sends a shiver down my spine. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Denny says hesitantly, returning his attention to me. “Is Emmett back in town?”
“Really?” I roll my eyes.
“What?” he asks innocently.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?”
“The look that says you think I’m cheating on Emmett.” I raise a brow.
“I did not think that for a moment.” He raises a brow back. “However, it is very unlike you to be seen around with anyone but him.”
“Emmett is back in town. He knows about Aiden. And he’s fine with me hanging out with him. Don’t make me tell Baxter on you.”
He narrows his eyes. “You would never.”
“I think he’d like to know his Omega is being nosy.
” I grin. I love getting him going. Denny is someone I’d consider a close friend, if I had close friends.
We’ve built a friendship over the years thanks to how much time I spend here.
We chat, mostly about books, but he does love to gossip, like most people in a small town do.
“Girl, you have a six-foot-tall Alpha god behind you when you’re normally with a six-foot Omega god. Sorry if a man wants to know if he’s taken.” Denny grins up at Aiden.
“Well, he is,” I say that with a little more force than I intended.
His eyes snap down to me, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Well, I’ll be damned. Does Lexi have an Alpha?”
I don’t want to say no and dismiss what we have, but I also don’t want to go around telling people my personal business when I haven't even told my sister yet. It would kill me if she heard it from someone else.
“I can not confirm or deny. Just know, this one.” I point to Aiden. “And his boyfriend are not an option.”
“Boyfriend?” His eyes widen. “Damn. Is he as good looking as him?”
“Denny,” I warn.
“Fine,” he pouts. “Keep all the sexy men to yourself. Lucky bitch.”
Aiden chuckles softly behind me. Okay, so I might be acting a bit like a possessive Omega, and I don’t feel the least bit bad about it.