Page 152 of Knot Like Other Girls

"I thought I heard voices!" she exclaims, setting the tray down on a nearby table. "You must be our special visitors. I'm Maggie."

"Bella," I reply, moving to greet her. "And this is Cole and Savva."

Maggie's eyes take in Cole's scars without the slightest change in her friendly expression. "Welcome to Soft Spot, gentlemen. Beth taking good care of you?"

"She's been very helpful," Savva says smoothly.

"Excellent! I've brought some refreshments—my lavender cookies and our special calming tea blend. Perfect for pre-heat jitters." She turns to Cole directly, tilting her head as she studies him. "You look like a man who appreciates craftsmanship."

Cole blinks, clearly not expecting to be addressed so directly. "Ma'am?"

"I know an artist when I see one," Maggie says with a wink.

Cole's expression softens slightly at her praise. He doesn't seem to know what to say, so he doesn't speak at all. Fortunately, Maggie is already moving, setting the tray down on a counter.

"Now, Beth is wonderful," she continues, "but she'll talk fabric until you're cross-eyed if we let her."

"I heard that," Beth calls from where she's measuring out lengths of velvet.

"You were meant to, love," Maggie returns cheerfully. She turns back to Cole and me. "Come, sit for a moment. Shopping for heat supplies can be overwhelming to say the least."

She leads us to a small seating area near the fabric section, gesturing for us to make ourselves comfortable on plush armchairs arranged around a low table. The cookies are arranged on a handmade ceramic plate, golden-brown and smelling like wildflowers.

I admittedly wasn't sure about lavender when she first mentioned that was the ingredient, but I should've trusted the process.

They smell delicious.

"Be a dear and tell those other alphas the cookies are ready," Maggie says to Savva. "Beth and I made plenty."

Savva inclines his head in acknowledgment and moves toward the front of the shop where Roman, Liam, and Troy are waiting. Cole hesitates, then sits in the chair nearest to me, his posture still stiff as always but more relaxed than before.

"So," Maggie says, pouring tea into delicate cups. "First heat with a new pack? That's quite an adventure."

I accept the tea gratefully, inhaling the soothing herbal scent. "It's a little terrifying," I admit.

"All the best things usually are," Maggie says with a wink. She turns to Cole, offering him tea with the same casual ease she showed me. "Sugar? Honey?"

"Black is fine," Cole murmurs, accepting the cup. I notice he uses his left hand rather than his scarred right. "Thanks."

"A man of simple tastes," Maggie says with an approving nod.

Cole's head tilts slightly, clearly at a loss for words again.

Maggie just laughs. "Now, tell me, how are you holding up in all this? Alpha partners often get overlooked in heat preparations, but your comfort matters, too."

Cole looks genuinely startled by the question, blinking at her. "I'm... fine."

The exchange makes me giggle, but I stifle it, biting my lip.

"Mmhmm," Maggie hums skeptically to him, pushing the cookie plate toward him. "Try one. They're good for anxious energy."

To my surprise, Cole actually takes a cookie, turning it over in his hand before taking a cautious bite. He blinks in surprise.

"Well?" Maggie prompts.

"Very good," he says hoarsely.

I've already finished my first cookie, and I'm having to fight the urge to lick my fingers in mixed company. "Those might be the best cookies I've ever had," I say, and I'm not exaggerating to be nice.

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