Page 18 of Such a Sweet Omega

“I never thought…do you work today?” If I’d made him stay up most of the night and then he had to try to do his job? That would be a very irresponsible alpha indeed.

“No, I am off until tomorrow. No need to worry, but I still owe you dinner.”

“Beale, you did eat some of the snacks in my drawer, didn’t you?”

He shook his head. “I forgot they were there, and then I fell asleep.”

“Oh, omega, you must be starved.”

“And you, Jabez? Did you find time for a meal?”

Gods, he had me again. “No, in fact I did not.”

“Then we’d better head out to a restaurant somewhere for breakfast.” He was on his feet and smoothing a hand through his hair. “What do you feel like?”

“How about the cafeteria here? I think you’ll be surprised at how good the food is, and frankly I’m too hungry to wait very long.” Even if I was willing to allow him to do so. Which I was not.

“If you like. But aren’t hospitals known for bad food?” His little grimace was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.

“Human hospitals.” I stood up and started for the door, grabbing his hand along the way. “If you hate it, we can eat just enough not to faint from hunger and then go anywhere else you want.”

We weren’t even off the elevator when the scents of bacon frying and brewing coffee met my nose.

“I didn’t think a hospital would serve bacon,” Beale marveled. “Let’s eat.”

Chapter Sixteen

Beale

Despite the rumors, the hospital cafeteria breakfast was very good. Hot, fluffy biscuits. A loaded omelet made fresh. Fresh fruit bowls. I hoped every patient there got the same breakfast, though I knew that was impossible with dietary concerns and varying ailments.

Still, I usually opted for a couple of boiled eggs with my coffee, so it was a treat for me.

“I saw what you did there,” I said as we walked out of the hospital. Jabez was still in his scrubs and carried his other clothes in a duffle he kept in the office.

“Me? What do you mean?”

Fake innocence. The alpha pulled a fast one on me but there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it. He paid for dinner since we were in a hurry and then this morning, paid for breakfast under the guise of the employee discount.

“I still want to buy you a meal,” I whined. I pushed out my bottom lip in a pout for good measure.

He shook his head, laughing. “Maybe you can pay me back another way.”

“Maybe.”

After he drove away and I was safely inside my apartment, I immediately felt the loss of his presence. I was sure he was my mate, but we hadn’t said the words, only danced around them.

Next day, I worked my regular shift at the coffee shop but the whole time, my thoughts were filled with the healer alpha and how I missed him terribly. All of our dates had been cut short or accidental in nature, but what I wanted was him, all to myself, preferably naked. To strip away the titles we held and the social gap that was probably only in my mind and be with him,in the darkness. To learn all the things about him only a lover would know.

Even though I was tired and needed a night at home, I couldn’t deny the pull to go see the alpha that dominated my thoughts. He texted me a few times during the day and said he would be at the club that night but didn’t offer an invitation.

I knew what I wanted and it was him.

I showered the day away and got dressed for the club. I didn’t have a lot of options for club attire, but I picked out my best outfit and put my coat over it. Tonight, Jabez was supposed to do another demonstration, according to his texts.

He hadn’t asked me to be his demo partner and that sucked.

Just the thought of him being there, watched by others, with another omega made my skin tingle and my face flood with heat.

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