Page 172 of Wanted Beta

“He didn’t mark me,” I reassure him.

I remember having a moment in the alley where he could have, and where I wanted him to, but he teased me instead of taking advantage of the opportunity.

“I don’t think he’s as awful as we suspected.”

Gio frowns at me. “He hurt Beth, and he fought with Jack.”

“He broke up with Beth. Break ups always hurt. We don’t know why he did that.”

“You like him,” Gio mutters, shaking his head. “Mio dio. I can’t deal with this.”

“Well, you’re going to have to find some way to deal with it.”

He knows that. He just doesn’t want to face it right now.

“I think I need to lie down,” I admit as I wipe the back of my hand over my brow. “Rourke got me through the first spike of my heat, but there’s more to come and I need some rest.”

I should probably also bathe. I’m sweating my ass off right now.

“I’ll take you upstairs. I should let Enzo know …”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” I cut him off.

He raises an eyebrow. “What was that, freccia?”

“You will not drag Enzo away from Beth while he’s finally getting a chance to spend some time with her. I’m not going to let my heat ruin that. You can text him when we’re upstairs. Tell him we’re staying out of the way to give them a chance to bond.”

“We shouldn’t lie to him.”

“So, you think we should go through there together and tell them I’m in heat, and that you just threw Beth’s ex-boyfriend out after he claimed me as his mate?”

I cross my arms, waiting for his reply.

“Fine,” he says, blowing out a breath. “You can text him when we’re upstairs and tell him whatever you like.”

“That’s better.”

It’s not an ideal solution, but it’ll do.

I’m not about to let my heat ruin everyone’s day.

Beth deserves a chance to get to know all of us.

She may just have to wait a few days to get to know me.

Chapter Eighty-One

Beth

Enzo looks over my list of suggestions for social media accounts and advertising options, frowning a little as he mouths some of the site names. He’s not that much older than me, but I doubt he spends much time online. Considering this restaurant was his dream, and his food is incredible, I’m guessing he spends a lot of his free time perfecting recipes.

“Maybe this is more like something Gio would want to check over.”

I press my lips together, realizing that suggestion might have sounded a little dismissive.

He looks up from the page, and his expression relaxes, surprising me.

“Yeah. This is definitely something he would know more about.”

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