Page 72 of Knot a Good Idea

“I did. When you thought no one was watching, you looked around a lot and dropped your smile. And when you were speaking with people, it didn’t exactly reach your eyes. Your real smile is fucking beautiful, and you didn’t show it at the gala.”

She huffs. “Yeah, well that could have just been normal nerves.” She raises an eyebrow, as if daring me to argue with her.

“It could have, but you startle at little things that other people don’t. And your scent changes.”

Her eyes widen. “I see.”

“I told you, I’m observant as fuck and anxiety’s a bitch.”

“I…” She hesitates and looks down at her cards. “Thank you. For noticing, I guess. Or at least trying to understand.”

“Anytime, babe. Now draw the damn litterbox card.”

She laughs and gives me one of her genuine smiles.

Fuck, I love her.

17

APRIL

HavingHunter to myself is more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

Without Liam’s or Donovan’s scent to meld with his, he’s pure pepper and cloves.

It’s damn delicious.

It’s hard to stay mad at him for showing up unannounced when my inner Omega is desperate to devour him.

I want to bury my nose in his neck and inhale him. I want to run my tongue down his throat and taste him.

He looks at me like I’m the answer he’s been waiting for, and even though it’s overwhelming, I can’t help but bask in his attention.

I’m still annoyed at my mom, but this is backfiring on her perfectly.

I want Hunter to stay.

He even booked a hotel for you in case you were uncomfortable,my inner Omega supplies.He cares for us!

But I wonder how much of that would still be true if he found out everything about me.

Would he realize I’m too damaged to be his Omega?

“Hey,” Hunter says, snapping me out of my spiraling. “Where did you go just now?”

He’s moved his chair next to mine at the table.

“Nowhere,” I say. “And you’re too close. You can see my cards.”

“No, I can’t,” he says as the corners of his eyes crinkle. His irises shine, and up close I can see flecks of gold in them.

“You’re lying.”

“And so are you. You were thousands of miles away just now,” he says. “You can’t hide from me, sweetheart.”

His pet names make my stomach flip and my cunt flutter.

I want to believe that Hunter sees me. I want to believe hegetsme.

---