Page 27 of Ruffled Feathers

I’d spent many a heat with nameless heat helpers, imagining they were Truett Heathstone. And Henry Cavill. And Kate Beckinsale, particularly in that vampire film from the 2000s. But you know, an Omega could dream.

He thrust out his hand, and I took it immediately, shaking with as much firmness as you’d expect from an Alpha. It wasn’t a dominance thing. No, it was a confidence thing. The power of a handshake couldn’t be underestimated.

He grinned at me, all teeth. “Glad you could make it.” We both knew I’d backed him into a corner.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I snarked back, then turned toward Otillie-James.

And stopped dead, my lips parting gently. She looked…

Wow.

“Otillie-James, you look beautiful,” I said softly, and I meant it with every fiber of my being. She was in a soft, champagne-colored silk wrap dress. Its pretty embroidered bodice was tight across her breasts, and the skirt skimmed her hips, somehow making her curvier and more delectable. I wanted to unwrap her and eat her for dessert.

She stood and smiled, taking my hand. I shook it only a tad less firmly, because I wasn’t about to treat her like she was anything less than a capable woman, especially when I’d been struggling to fight past my own designation bias all these years.

“You look very handsome too, Strat.” Her voice was husky, and I moved behind her as she retook her seat, tucking her chairback in before she realized just how attracted I was to that voice. Its very physical effects were rapidly becoming an obvious bulge in my pants.

Truett gave me the stink-eye, obviously knowing exactly where my mind went.Whoops.I grinned unapologetically at him and took my own seat. “Thank you for coming, both of you.” If this wasn’t a business dinner, I would have them both coming in a different way. “I’m delighted that your charges are officially dropped, Otillie-James, and that deserves a glass of champagne.” I signaled the waiter. “I don’t know if your Alpha told you, but the detectives have asked you to attend a lineup and see if you can place any other suspects at the garage that night. We’d appreciate your assistance in getting anyone who attended punished.”

The burning sensation told me Truett was glaring at me. Otillie-James raised her eyebrows. “Truetttold me, yes. I’d like to help. Anything to get the ringleaders put away, and the people who profited off the misery of those birds punished.” She didn’t deny he was her Alpha, but she still seemed surprised.

The waiter appeared, and I ordered champagne. A bottle of their best vintage, of course.

Beaming at her, I nodded. “I knew you would, Otillie-James. You have that look about you.”

She smiled. “What look is that?” she flirted back.

“Audaciousness?” Truett suggested sarcastically, and she gave him an annoyed look.

Shaking my head, I held her eyes. “Empathetic. A defender of the weak. That’s why I became an ADA—I wanted to protect the people of the city. It doesn’t pay the best, but I don’t need the money.”

Her lips curled softly at the corners, her eyes dancing. I wanted to steal those small smiles from her for the rest ofthe night. Maybe the rest of the weekend. I gave her my own lopsided grin in return.

As the champagne was poured, I told her that I’d contacted Elizabeth, who’d wanted me to tell Otillie-James that she said hello, and that she was doing wonderfully. I’d happily talk about Elizabeth all night; that’s how proud of her I was. After she’d quit modeling, she’d become a fashion designer with her partner, Alexandra, and they were taking the West Coast fashion scene by storm—part grunge, part sustainable high fashion. I couldn’t be more proud of my sister and her flourishing business venture.

Shaking my head wistfully, I was trapped in Otillie-James’s eyes. “She did it without the support of our parents, or their money, or even mine. She went over there and worked hard, and everything she has, she built herself.” I loved my sister. She was the best person I knew.

Beaming, Otillie-James grabbed my hand. “I knew she’d be amazing, no matter what she put her mind to. Though, I’m not going to lie, I’m glad she went into fashion and not destabilizing governments, like she wanted to when we were seventeen.”

I threw back my head and laughed so loudly that several diners turned toward our table. “I’d forgotten about that. I’m happy she didn’t become a guerilla too.”

When she removed her hand, I tried not to pout. Instead, I looked up at Truett’s hard stare and grinned. “So, how long has Truett been courting you?” I asked lightly. When Otillie-James’s eyes immediately went wide, I knew he’d been full of shit.

“Objection!” he muttered, but she’d already whipped her gaze his way.

“Truett isn’t courting me. He’s in a Pack with my stepbrother.” She frowned. “I’m Unshown.”

I shrugged. “I’m an Omega. Means nothing to me; we can bond with whoever we like without fear of disapproval. If myOmega wanted you, I’d court the hell out of you.” I let my tone be teasing, but I could see that Truett saw the truth in my words.

She giggled self-consciously. “That’s unconventional too, right? Don’t people normally court the Omega, not the other way around?”

I shrugged. “Conventional has never been a personality trait I aspire to embody.” A server came with the first course, a tiny little nibble of food that had crumbs and foam, and I regretted not having this meeting at Bucket’O’Wings night at my local bar. “So, if Truett is being a dumbass andnotcourting you, is there another Alpha in the wings treating you how you should be treated? Or maybe another Unshown? A Beta?” I knew there wasn’t another Omega; I’d have smelled it on her.

She smelled so sweet, like orange blossoms and gardenias, something light and floral and delicious. I wanted to roll in that scent. At first, I’d thought it was perfume, but perhaps it was just her natural scent, given the way my Omega reacted to it. Though it was very strong for an Unshown.

Could Truett not scent it? If he could, how did he resist her?

She shook her head. “Uh, no. Not really. I’ve been busy with my job, with my rescues.”

---