Page 83 of Forget

Me:

Eat Sweet is the name of the restaurant. They’re very nice, Dad.

Dad:

I plan to show my appreciation that they helped you, my daughter. I’m glad you’re okay.

Amusedthat he wasn’t more up in arms, I finish my food and drink my juice. Time to get this show on the road. It’s only eleven in the morning, and I’m already stabbing people.

Hopefully, the day chills the fuck out.

Chapter 15

Caelin

I’m sitting inBrewed Awakeningwaiting for Wren and Aisling to arrive, and I’ve already had the owner glare at me twice. I have my laptop open, and I’m going over my proposal again, in order to ignore the steely eyed gaze of the grumpy alpha standing just behind the counter.

My tattoos are all covered by my green hoodie under my peacoat. I could take it off, but it’s still cool in the coffee shop, despite the warmth given off by the espresso machines.

My glasses give me the nerdy vibe that you’d expect from someone who creates websites, and I appear to be the least lethal alpha in my pack, despite the gun I have at the small of my back.

I also have a knife at my ankle, because we still have enemies. This is considered light self defense in my world. Aiden and Evan are usually more heavily armed whenever they leave the house.

Taking a sip of my London fog latte, I sit back, noticing that there’s another alpha next to the owner. They have similar tall, bulky builds, though they look very different. The one who’sjoined the owner has colorful tattoos crawling up his arms, his brown hair and green eyes sit in stark contrast to the other man.

Are they related? They seem to stand similarly as they talk to each other too.

The door to the coffee shop opens a few minutes before four o’clock, which is when my appointment is with the founders of Omega’s Haven. I wonder if she’ll recognize me from when she ran into me.

Despite the cold last November, my tattoos were on display. I’ll pivot on the fly if she does recognize me, it’s not a crime to walk on the sidewalk.

Wren and Aisling walk into the shop with Ambrose bringing in the rear, and I notice how the owner straightens as his gaze lasers in on my girl. What the fuck?

“Aisling?” I swear the alpha’s voice sounds like a gunshot across the quiet din of the coffee shop. Turning, Aisling gives him a huge smile.

“Hey, Mr. Lars!” she says sweetly, glancing around quickly for me. I angle the orchid sticker on my laptop toward her and she beams at me, holding a finger up as she walks over to the owner.

“Hey, yourself, stranger,” the owner growls, stalking out from behind the counter with the other alpha behind him. The predatory way that they move mark them as related, but she doesn’t look scared as they both crush her into hugs.

Relaxing a small amount, I force back the growl that’s growing in my chest. If I’d been told at some point that this was the coffee shop she’d worked at, I definitely have forgotten. It makes sense that Aisling would choose a meeting place where she felt comfortable.

Has she seen the owner since she went to live with the boss?

Certainly doesn’t look like it.

Is the other guy the bar owner? I have too many questions and not enough answers. Fuck, and now I have to reel in my crazy because Wren is walking over here.

“Hi, Caelin?” she asks. Standing, I nod with as soft of a smile as I can muster.

“That’s me. Are you Wren or Aisling?” I ask. Since I work behind the scenes, I’m not someone that the families know well, despite how long I’ve worked for Cian.

Ambrose doesn’t give me a second glance as he grabs a chair at the table next to me. It’s clear he’s going to stick around, but not interject unless needed. That’ll work for me.

“I’m Wren,” she says with a nod. “Aisling will be by in a bit. It’s been too long since she’s seen the owner and his brother. Can you show me some of the ideas you have for us?”

Moving closer to her with my laptop, I ignore Ambrose’s growl, though I keep plenty of space between us. I get it, man, I do. I still have to get this done though.

“It sounds like you need something with clean lines that will show all of the services you want to offer. Maybe also an area discussing things that are coming soon?” I ask, toggling through the mockup I made.

---