Page 28 of Priceless

No one moved, and I almost sighed because they weren’t taking the hint. Micah stepped in before I could snap at him. If there was one thing I disliked about people like Frank, it was their utter lack of awareness.

“We’d like a few minutes alone with Ocean, please.”

Laura scoffed. “Like we’re just going to leave her alone with you?”

The softest sound came from beside me. Whether it was a laugh or a gasp, I wasn’t sure. But something about that statement made Ocean react. I tilted my head and looked at her aunt. “Yes, we would like to speak to the woman who’s agreed to marry us. Alone.”

Laura was now pink too, but with an entirely different kind of embarrassment. Her husband had the grace to look sheepish. “Right. We’ll just… go speak to the lawyer. Come on, Laura.”

They all retreated, and where Ruby still stood outside the door, I caught the smile on her face before she shut it, leaving us alone with our Omega.

11

WILD CARROT

(QUEEN ANNE’S LACE, LACEFLOWER)

MEANING: FANTASY; HAVEN; SANCTUARY; DO NOT REFUSE ME

OCEAN

________

Where my voice had disappeared to, I wasn’t sure, but I would love it to come back right about now.

The three Alphas from the gala were the last people I expected to walk through the door. Cameron, the one who’d danced with me, Micah, and Everett.

The flowers they’d given me— there was no way they could know what they meant, right? Because…

I shook my head as the door closed behind Ruby and I was left alone with three Alphas who were far more appealing than they had any right to be. Their scents filled the space, drawing me in, and my same thoughts from that night came back. They were so handsome they were almost beautiful. And I was going to marry them.

As soon as the door closed Cameron smiled, shoulders easing. “Much better. Felt like we were all suffocating a bit.”

A strangled laugh came out of me.

Everett, closest to me, kept those piercing blue eyes on my face. “Before anything else, I need to ask you, Ocean. Are they forcing you to do this?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again. There wasn’t a clear answer to that, was there? Because yes, they’d made it clear that they thought this was going to happen. And yet no, they weren’t, because I was making an agreement that benefitted me. I wanted this, and I was glad I didn’t have to find out what Frank would do if I’d continued to say no. “No,” I finally squeaked out.

“But he didn’t tell you who we were?”

Shaking my head, I finally relaxed, but I winced. “I didn’t ask.”

The three of them looked at me with such a blend of emotions on their faces that I couldn’t decipher them. Nor did I want to, because it meant I could keep looking at them. No one had a right to look that good simply standing there in a suit. Not when I had to stuff myself into a dress like this and feel the ache with every breath.

“Then why?” Micah asked before smiling. “Not that I’m trying to talk you out of it. We were happy to hear you said yes. But why did you say yes?”

That was a conversation that would take longer than Laura would be willing to leave us alone. “I’d rather not talk about that tonight,” I admitted. “Not never, but it will take time. But I can promise you I’m not being forced. I agreed, and I have my reasons. We can help each other.”

Micah’s gaze dropped down to the flowers in my hands and then back at me. “That’s what it is,” he said, taking a step back. “Orchids.”

“What?”

“Your scent. I couldn’t figure out what flower it was, but with that one,” he gestured to the beautiful orchid mixed in with the flowers, “I understand.”

My lips popped open. “It’s rare that people notice or figure it out,” I admitted.

“It’s stunning,” Everett said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear it. He was still staring down at me, and for a brief moment, it didn’t feel like he was talking about my scent.

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