Page 2 of Kiss Me for Christmas

“I might go,” I finally say, giving the alpha a friendly smile.

Dr. Enoch’s eyes widen slightly, as if pleasantly surprised.What is happening here?But before I can ask, the main door to the ward clicks, then pops open. I take a quick step back as it swings open.

“Bennet?” Director Spanner eyes the alpha next to me. “You aren’t allowed to be in this ward.” Her stern glare narrows as she places her hands on her hips. Spanner is fierce about no alphas in this ward.As she should be.

“My apologies.” Dr. Enoch gives a quick bow of his head to Spanner. He’s always so respectful to the higher-ranking betas. Not many alphas are. “I was very concerned about one of my patients. Beta Marin was just?—”

“You can check the system like everyone else,” Spanner says firmly. I swear her sleek brown hair throws off a vibrant sheen as her lips pull into a tight line. “This isn’t a dating pool. You can’t wander around where you don’t belong just to flirt with pretty betas.”

I immediately glare at Spanner, absolutely mortified. I have never once said I was interested in Dr. Enoch, but based on the way she’s talking, he has to be convinced I’m obsessed with him.

“Go.” Spanner steps to one side to let Dr. Enoch leave.

I want to look up at him and see if he’s angry, but I can't. I might never be able to look the alpha in the eye again.

“Beta Marin,” Dr. Enoch says to me and I lift my head, but I keep my gaze down. “I’m sure we’ll speak soon.” His voice is tight. Probably angry.

I nod, waiting for the doors to shut behind him. The second they do, I turn on Spanner, enraged. “What the hell?” I snip at my boss.Thank goodness she likes me.“Why on earth would you say something like that?”

The middle-aged beta shrugs one shoulder almost as if she’s bored with this conversation. “He’s not allowed in here, and he knows it.”

“And I was getting rid of him.” I motion at the door. “And now he’s going to think I like him.”

Spanner snorts loudly before giving me a firm look. “That alpha would love nothing more than for you to like him.” She begins to walk, her heels tapping loudly against the tile floors. “I’m sick of seeing that look on his face every time you're near.”

For a second, I’m too confused to move. “Wait? What?” I rush up next to her. While Kassidy would tease me night andday about finding a pack, Spanner and I don’t have that kind of relationship.

“How many omegas are on the ward right now?” Spanner asks as she walks directly toward the nurses’ station.

“Three.” I stop just next to her, suddenly very aware of two nurses walking slowly past us. There are only a handful of employees on this floor, but it suddenly feelsverycrowded. “What look does he have on his face?” I whisper.

“What?” Spanner’s face scrunches up with confusion as she looks up from the chart in her hand. “Who’s face?”

It takes everything in me not to snarl. “Dr. Enoch,” I say softly. “You said you are sick of the look on his face…” I pause as Kassidy strolls past me. She gives me a coy smile before drifting toward the other end of the hall. “What did you mean by that?” I whisper to Spanner.

The beta lets out a very annoyed sigh, before dropping the chart onto the counter. “Look, Scarlett. I get it. Every beta that works here is hopeful they’ll catch the eye of an alpha. Packs don’t take on that many betas, so it’s completely understandable that a beta might flirt at work.”

My mouth falls open, shocked. “I havenever?—”

“I know.” Spanner holds up her hand, stopping me. “But it’s also completely understandable that an alpha might find a good beta for his pack at work.” Her dark eyes narrow as she waits for me to understand what she’s saying.

“What the hell does that mean?” I shake my head, not getting it.

“Bennet Enoch likes you,” she says flatly. “He’s shit at hiding it.”

“But I’m not exactly the kind of woman alphas go for,” I scrunch my face, trying like hell to figure out what he sees in me. “I’m over thirty, have dated before, and I’mnothinglike an omega.”

Spanner lets out a quick laugh. “Thirty-two is not over thirty,” she gives me a hard look. “And packs take in betas of all kinds of ages and temperaments. The fact is,” she continues. “That alpha likes you. Everyone knows it. We all see it. And I want it off of this ward.” She gives me a firm look before grabbing her chart and walking off.

I’m frozen in place, not sure how I feel.

I do like Dr. Enoch. He’s smart, calm, and very handsome. He’s the kind of alpha a beta dreams will sweep you off your feet and whisk you away to live in a big house with a proper pack. Maybe even an omega. I’d love nothing more than to care for my alphas, and to protect my omega. It’s what every beta dreams of.

My heart quickens and my face warms as I begin to think of all the wonderful ways I could be useful to a pack, but then an alarm goes off and I jerk from my thoughts.

These kinds of fantasies are dangerous to fall into. They only lead to heartache.

There are packs with three or four alphas in them, and most only take in one beta…if that. The thought that Dr. Enoch might be interested in me like that is just too good to be true.

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