Page 14 of Such a Shy Omega

“We know!” Jabez patted his shoulder. “That’s why you’re the one in charge of all the landscaping out there. It’s going to be fantastic.”

Hirsch gave him a big kiss and rested his head on his chest. “My alpha has the greenest thumb in Christendom.”

“He what?” Talon laughed.

“We’ve been watching a lot of Arthurian-legend type movies,” Liam explained. “They are all right, but they don’t have capture the gardening techniques from the era.”

“So, Erik,” Jabez asked. “Were you talking about natural beauty?”

“Not me.” I reached for a skewer of veggies. Apps were for sharing, always, and I hadn’t had any dinner. No sense in having a growly tummy when I picked up Heath. “I have a black thumb, can’t keep a cactus alive, so I don’t think a whole lot about plants except to appreciate their beauty. And eating them is good too.” I popped a chunk of zucchini in my mouth and chewed.

“Okay, if not landscaping, what were you thinking?”

I shrugged. “Tech stuff. I am not Mother Nature’s friend, but I am pretty good at wiring things. If the outdoor areas were open at night, then we’d need lighting and sound, but set up in such a way that the neighbors wouldn’t get us shut down. I know you’re building sound walls and there aren’t any other buildings this tall close by, but it could be an asset or a problem depending on the techniques employed.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were applying to fill Grant’s job.” Talon arched a brow. “If we could only afford you.”

“Or if you had time to fit us in and be our next investor. We all have our specialties here.” Jabez piled a few tiny dumplingsonto a small plate. “But you’ve been too busy to come at all, so I guess that’s a no go.”

Chapter Thirteen

Heath

Walking down the stairs, I saw him get up and come over.

“Hey,” he said, once I’d reached the bottom. “Ready?”

I sighed. “I’m not sure.”

“Second thoughts about me?” Erik asked. That look of sadness was back on his perfect face.

“No. Not you. It’s the drinking part.”

His eyebrows rose. “Ah.” He shoved his hands into his pocket and rocked on his heels. “Something else, then? Are you hungry? I could eat.”

“Yeah.” My stomach repeated my answer with a growl. “Great. I have a car here, or we could walk somewhere if you’re not ready to trust me to drive you yet.”

He was looking out for my interests. Non-pack alphas were a breath of fresh air. “We can ride in your car,” I whispered.

“Good. I promise I’ll get you home safe and sound. Let’s head out.”

He retrieved his clothes from a locker, his phone from the front, and his car was already at the curb when we exited the door. “Valet is nice.”

“It is.”

He opened the passenger door for me, even though the valet driver tried to do it first. Once I was inside, I watched as he walked around the front of the car, his eyes on me most of the time. Damn, this alpha had a way about him.

He got inside and turned to me. “Where should we go?”

“Anything. I’m not picky.”

“Good to know, but I don’t want to go somewhere you don’t like. Our options are a bit limited since it’s the middle of the night…or the morning, rather.”

I sighed and tried to think of somewhere I’d seen in my few outings. “There’s a diner.”

“The one on the other side of town?”

Shit. “Oh. We don’t have to go if it’s too far away.”

---