Page 14 of Claiming Their Omega

“I always am.”

That’s Hendrix’s problem. He is a gentleman. And a flirt. It’s how he gets all the women.

There are a few main restaurants that everyone goes to and treats as the usual watering holes: a steakhouse, a Mexican place, and an Italian place. If you want something else, you need to go out to Denver, so good luck if you have a craving for sushi.

When it comes to bars, however, you’re never really out of luck.

The one the men take me to looks like a small white cinderblock building, tiny windows, just one bare room. It’s the place we would all go as teenagers because nobody carded you at the door. I grin as we step inside, and we’re hit by a wall of heat and noise.

There’s a jukebox, and a couple pool tables, and various tall, elbow-height tables for putting your drink down. It’s packed, as usual. I’ve never been here when it’s not packed.

“What do you want?” Hendrix asks, his hand at the small of my back and his head bent low so we can speak above the noise.

“A rum and coke,” I say. “Please?”

Hendrix winks at me and shoulders his way to the bar.

In a crowd like this, I’d get swallowed up, but with three large, strong men around me, I have a veritable entourage as we make our way through and grab one of the few rickety tables you can sit down at.

I end up sitting in between Easton and Cade, half on Easton’s lap, just so that we can all fit around the table. It makes my heart race, but I don’t feel uncomfortable. In fact I feel safe.

Hendrix brings me my drink, along with some beers for the men, then leans in on the table with his elbows. He has a conspiratorial air about him. “All right. I’ve gotta know. Where the hell did you meet that guy?”

I burst out laughing. Out of all questions I thought I’d get, that wasn’t it. “At a work party.”

All four Alphas boo. I laugh. “He was charming! Or I thought he was at the time!”

“The man smelled like Wall Street,” Jesse says.

“He smelled fine.”

“A ringing endorsement,” Hendrix points out. “Just what every Alpha wants to hear from his girlfriend.”

I wince, but I suppose it’s true. Honestly, the smells of these four Alphas give me so much more than William’s smell ever did. Being surrounded by the four of them, and the heady mix of their scents, has me feeling almost dizzy but in a good way. Like we’re in a bubble away from the rest of the world.

“I guess I just thought he was successful and sophisticated.” I don’t know how to add, and that’s how I wanted to be.

It’s like Easton can read my mind, because he says quietly, in that soft tone of his, “You’re plenty sophisticated without him.”

I stare at him. “You really mean that?”

I don’t want to sound small and young and vulnerable, but I can’t help it after the night I’ve had.

Easton looks at the other three like I just spoke French. Hendrix grins. “You’ve always been sophisticated, Grace. Just ’cause you’re from a small town doesn’t mean you have the quaint vibe. I bet you fit right in, in the big city.”

“You’ll make me blush,” I say dryly, even though I really do feel a flush creeping up my neck. “And here I thought we were shaming me for leaving?”

“No, we moved on,” Jesse says. “Now we’re shaming you for picking that guy, of all the Alphas out there.”

“Well, I suppose that’s a slight improvement.”

“We appreciate the growth,” Jesse says, deadpan.

“And I appreciate the honest feedback,” I shoot back, just as deadpan.

“Seriously, why did he rent that car?” Hendrix muses. “It was way too fancy for the area. Did it even have four-wheel drive?”

“He insisted.”

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