Page 49 of Sunshine

I sent back yes and spent the rest of the time till I needed to go chatting with Talia.

She gave me advice on dating packs, not that her strategies would help me. All of her flirting tactics were really on the nose, and I preferred to be sure there was mutual attraction.

If I made a pass at Pack Kahele and they weren’t interested, I would ruin everything.

Julian, Luca, and Logan knew me better than most of the rest of the world except my family and Talia. If they didn’t want to date me, they wouldn’t just be casually rejecting a person they weren’t interested in.

They would be rejecting me, and I knew that would be a wound I wouldn’t get over easily.

I left Talia with a hug, hoping things with her were finally on the upswing.

Chapter 15

Logan

Something had changed.

Watching Sunshine climb into the ice bath with my omega had made my heart pound. Sunshine was a breath of fresh air. She didn’t expect me to talk incessantly, and she understood food in a way few people did.

When I first met Julian, I knew he was mine. His pineapple and coconut scent made all my alpha instincts drive me to court him as best I could. I wasn’t outgoing and so I expressed myself through food. I made sure to cook everything he craved, that he didn’t have to worry about things like his laundry while he was studying to be a firefighter and anything else I could do to make his life easier. I thanked whatever forces of the universe were at play that Julian chose me.

Luca was a happy accident. When we met Luca, our scents locked together, and I knew we were supposed to be together. It had been years since we considered adding someone to the pack.

Until Sunshine.

The blonde beta kept the three of us captivated. She was funny, sarcastic, and smart. In short, she was perfect.

But she was hesitant, and no matter how many times I told Julian she might not be ready, it didn’t sink in. We wanted her to be ours.

It had been almost a year since Pack Beneventi broke her heart.

She was crazy about Julian. She grinned every time he was around. It had taken more time for her to connect with me and Luca, but I thought she was interested in us as well.

I wasn’t the best person at reading body language, but even I knew she wouldn’t snuggle with us on the couch for hours if she wasn’t comfortable. Comfortable as friends or yearning for more. That was the big question.

My phone buzzed.

Julian:

Sunshine is already there

I’m hung up at work, but I’ll be there in a few minutes

I texted Sunshine to come in through the back door. She could have walked in through the front but going through a crowd of people she didn’t know would just embarrass her.

I opened the door for her, and Sunshine gave me a small wave.

“I hope it’s okay we bother you at work.” She smoothed her hands down her cotton t-shirt and jeans. I rarely saw her dressed down, and the effect was stunning. She looked soft and comfortable, like we could curl up together on the couch and stay there. Forever.

“You’re never a bother. Besides, I invited you.” I stepped back. “Service is almost over.”

The country club was a venue I worked at often, and when they updated the kitchen, Mrs. Braxton asked me for input.

Sunshine took in the expansive, rustic kitchen. Cream and blue backsplash tile made the place look homey even though there were four industrial sized stoves and ovens.

“Retirement party,” I said. “Small service, elegant menu.”

“Nice.” She shifted, looking like she wasn’t sure where to stand. It was a marked difference compared to when she was in the kitchen with me during an event.