Page 16 of Tawny Omega
“I didn’t say that, just that you don’t let all the bad past stuff ruin your future. You have this beautiful store and friends and a whole fresh start. Also, in this town, we care for each other, so if there’s any nonsense from your past, you will have a lot of support.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy. But it’s doable.”
“I don’t know…”
“And no need to cry.”
“Cry? I wasn’t—” Oh! Shoot. “I still have mascara around my eyes, don’t I? I have these sneezing fits, and my eyes water. Oh man. Did everyone out there think I was crying?”
“Probably not everyone.”
Which meant everyone.
“How embarrassing.”
She grinned. “Let’s wash your face. There is a sink somewhere, right?”
We chatted a little about books, book clubs, and things while she helped me get presentable with what we had at hand. Somehow, by the time we approached the door, I felt like one of those rom-com humans getting ready for a date.
Way better than scared of my own shadow.
Chapter Sixteen
Craven
We found ourselves loitering in front of the sheriff’s office, and Holt couldn’t help but comment about it.
“You’re loitering, too,” I said, my eyes flicking to the bookstore with every word.
“I’m the sheriff. I don’t loiter. So, what exactly was the plan here, boys? You were going to try and meet Tawny? Court her? Spill all the tea.”
Rork choked on air. “Spill the tea? Why are you talking like a social media post?”
Holt smoothed down his hair. “Karissa says it. Rubbed off on me. Answer the question.”
Flint bobbed from foot to food. This was embarrassing. Not because we were pursuing our omega. That was the only normal part of this thing. But turning a simple meeting into a town drama gathering with the addition of law enforcement, well, it wasn’t our best moment. “We came to meet her. It was supposed to be an easy introduction.”
“And so you could scent her,” Poe said. All three of us growled a bit. He put up his palms. “Hey, I’m speaking the truth. That’s all.”
He wasn’t wrong.
“Maybe. Yes. Yes, we were.” No point in denying it. The way alphas and omegas knew if they were scent-matches was by, of course, scenting each other. Especially shifters.
We shared a laugh over that. I almost had the inclination to go home and start over with her. Without an audience and town gossip.
Maybe we’d jumped the gun in our haste.
Maybe we’d ruined everything.
My wolf was close to rabid. No, I hadn’t met her face-to-face but knowing she was inside, scared and crying, well, his instinct had kicked in full-force. Forget the scent. Forget any kind of introductions. Hell, I didn’t even how she laughed.
Biology and Fate knew what they wanted.
We talked about mundane things while we waited. The longer we did, the more anxious we all got. I could feel my brothers through the bond.
“Today might just be your lucky day.” Vaughn ticked his chin in the direction of the bookstore.
