Page 42 of Broken Ice
The Alpha laughed even though it hadn’t really been funny. “If drinking it makes you an expert, I think I’m the most qualified person in the world.”
Beau had to smile at that. “Honestly, same.”
The guy stuck his hand out. “Frank.”
Beau shook his hand. “Beau.”
Frank took the introduction as an opening to ask Beau question after question after question. Where was he from? Did he like it there? Why was he in Miami? Was it hard being away from his family?
The friendliness took him a little aback. Not that people in Miami wereunfriendly, but…this was a bit much.
“Okay, well.” Beau stood up. Honestly, he wanted to return to the team.
“Oh,” Frank said, seeming honestly surprised Beau wasn’t up for just chatting the whole night.
“Yeah, sorry, got to get back to my friends. It was nice meeting you, though,” Beau said cheerily, moving away.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
Beau made his escape, sliding into a booth with Don, Pez, Tinny, and Korpi. “Holy fuck, that guy wasfullof questions,” Beau complained.
Pez snorted. “The guy flirting with you? Yeah, we saw. He looked like he was about to kidnap you.”
Beau reared away. “What? He was just friendly.”
Everybody stared at him.
“Beau…” Don said slowly. “Are you serious?”
“Uh, yeah? Just because he’s an Alpha and I’m an Omega doesn’t mean we wereflirting,” Beau argued.
“I mean, sure. Buthedefinitely was.”
“You weren’t even there,” Beau huffed.
Tinny butted in. “Dude, it was the body language. He was like…puffing up and shit. Shielding you from the rest of the room. He touched your arm a couple of times. He was one hundred percent into you.”
Beau wrinkled his nose. He hadn’t noticed any of that, but then again, it hadn’t even crossed his mind that the guy may have been trying to score.
Don leaned in. “Can I ask you a question? It’s about your scent, so, like, if that makes you uncomfortable, totally say no.”
Beau frowned. Well, now he had to know. “Sure.”
“You know that you smell really good, right?”
The ever-churning gears in Beau’s head screeched to a halt. He could almost see the sparks shooting out from the friction. “I…what?”
Tinny glanced from Beau, to Don, to Beau. “Dude. Obviously you know that.”
Beau spluttered to life. “What are youtalkingabout.”
Pez face-palmed. “Oh, my God.”
“No,” Beau protested. “Seriously, what? That’s not how it works. Everybody likes different scents and stuff.”
“Sure,” Don agreed. “But it’s like physical looks, right? People are attracted to different things, but there are certain individuals who are just universally regarded as good-looking.”
Beau blinked.
