Page 16 of Such a Sweet Omega

“Only because he doesn’t want you to miss a meal.”

“I won’t if you won’t,” he sassed then gulped.

I couldn’t suppress my chuckle even if I had wanted to. “That’s a deal I will hold you to.”

His smile made my heart beat harder and louder. And my wolf settled down, although he was still not happy about thehungry-omega thing. We’d feed him as soon as possible, no matter who paid for it.

We arrived at the little bistro I had picked out and found street parking, but no sooner were we walking into the place than my phone buzzed. Oh hell. I read the screen and sighed. “Omega, I have to go to work. There was another healer covering for me, in case of emergency, but he fell and broke his leg an hour ago.” That would put him out of commission for at least the night, depending on how bad it was. Shifting would help, but it could only heal so much so fast.

“Is it him you need to take care of?”

“No, he’s handling it, but I have one of those emergencies he was supposed to cover—and now I have to do it. Let me take you home first, though.” I squeezed his hand. “We can drive through somewhere on the way and get you dinner.”

Chapter Fourteen

Beale

On the way to the alpha’s car, I stopped walking and tugged on his hand. “Jabez, if someone needs you at the hospital, you need to be there right away, right? Why don’t you go on, and I can get a ride. Every second counts.”

“I’m not ready to let you go,” he said. “I can get you that burger or whatever you like then drop you off on the way. It won’t take that long. There are other healers at the hospital.”

Sweet alpha. I wanted to go on this date, but I’d never be able to live with myself if someone didn’t get the treatment they needed all because I was selfish and wanted this alpha to myself. “I have an idea, but let’s get walking again.”

He nodded. “What’s the idea?”

“I’ll come with you and wait in the car. I’m not ready for this date to end either. I want more time with you. I’ve become greedy.”

He chuckled and opened the door for me. He got in the driver’s side and turned the car on. “Are you sure? It might be hours. I don’t even know what’s going on with the patient. There might be tests and procedures. Hell, I might be there all night.”

As he pulled out of the parking spot, his anxiety pulsed between us. Just like the other night at the club, the alpha, my alpha, was torn between those who needed him and his responsibilities and me. Flattering, sure, but I hated that he had to choose.

“I don’t care. I’ll take a nap or play on my phone in the car.”

“A parking lot isn’t the safest place,” he grumbled.

“I’ll be fine, Jabez. I will.”

Growling, he gripped my hand tighter. “Omega, I swear, every time you say my name, my wolf goes nuts. It’s like you’re speaking directly to him.”

I looked out the passenger window, sure I was blushing like a teenager. “I bet he’s beautiful.”

“He’s eager to see your wolf as well.”

I turned back, watching him as he drove. He took the turns with such care and ease, driving the car with control. His clenched jaw made me wonder if he was tense because of the emergency or because of me. Selfishly, I hoped it was me.

A few miles later, we arrived at the hospital. It was small in comparison to the big campuses of most human facilities, and nothing about it announced that it was anything more than a small private hospital with no ER. Of course, they had emergency accommodations, but that kept humans from showing up for services, he’d explained. Jabez reached for the placard in his glove box and retrieved it, brushing my thigh. He glanced at me with darkened eyes as he put the piece of plastic on the rearview mirror. Yeah, he knew the effect he had on me.

“I have a better idea,” he said. “But only if you agree. I don’t like the idea of you staying in this parking lot alone. There are security guards, and I doubt anything would happen, but I wouldn’t be able to focus on my patient, knowing there was even a slight chance you were in danger here.”

“What’s the idea?” I asked as he had earlier.

“How about you stay in my office while I work? I have a couch in there. Snacks in the drawer. No one will bother you.”

“Are you sure? That’s not against some rules?”

“Not at all.”

He came over to open my door, and we walked hand in hand into the hospital. The security guard gave me a sticker ID to put on my jacket. We speed-walked to the elevator and inminutes were in his office. He had a nameplate on his door and everything.

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