Page 44 of Sweet Whiskey
I blush at the implication, and glance over at him. A small smile twists on his lips when he looks my way before returning his gaze back to the road.
“I will say you and your pack are very persistent.”
His expression falters, and then he clears his throat. “We’re not coming off too strong, are we? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
I shake my head. “No, I…uh, I like it. Back home, I feel like alphas have a never-ending pick of omegas, so it’s easy to be overlooked.” I don’t mean to sound self-pitying, and honestly I didn’t mind it. Becoming part of a pack has never been on my agenda, not for a few more years. I had wanted to graduate from the academy and then find my father. My heart aches at the thought of having no family. As an omega, the loneliness can be overwhelming. Brielle is the closest thing to family for me, but she doesn’t count in my omega’s heart and doesn’t settle the ever-present need for more.
Colt frowns, reaching over the console to grab my hand. Warmth shoots up my arm as he squeezes, and I look up at him. “There are multiple omegas in town, Kinsey. I’m not infatuated with you because there’s no one else. Don’t think that.”
I blush. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Just making sure because that first night, you were the only one who caught my eye.”
My heart bursts at the seams, and I give him a soft smile. “You were all I saw too.”
He winks and nods toward the road. “It’s a bit of a hike, but I promise it’s worth it.”
He grabs the fence, swings his leg over it, and then hauls his body the rest of the way before his boots land with a soft thud on the dirt. His arm ripples with the effort, showing off his muscular body, and a flash of heat settles in my lower body.
Colt adjusts his hat before grinning up at me, tapping the wood at shoulder height. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s take ya for a ride.”
My cheeks heat as I shake my head at him. “You know that it can be a dangerous thing to tease an omega.”
A dimple forms right above his chin as his smile stretches. “Dangerous for who?”
I bite down on my lip, trying not to succumb to the desire now humming under my skin. My fingers dig into the rough wood as I put my foot on the lower panel and hoist myself up. Straddling the top of the fence, Colt holds out his arm.
“Swing your other leg over and I’ll catch you.”
I do as he says, letting out a small shriek when I crash into his chest. He steadies us with a laugh.
“A little warning would have been nice, but I appreciate the trust.”
I giggle. “Sorry, I was just following directions.”
Colt sets me down, grabbing my hand again to pull me to the shade of the trees. “Come on, let’s get some energy in us before I attempt to get you on a horse.”
Pulling a blanket out of the large basket, he waves it in the air and drapes it over the ground. He sitsdown, pulling food out of the basket as I watch with a grin, my heart filled with the gesture.
Colt looks up at me with a raised eyebrow, patting the spot next to him. “You gonna join me?”
I nod and kneel on the blanket. He studies me for a few more seconds.
“You okay?” he asks.
I scrunch my nose. “Sorry for acting weird. This is like my first official date, and I’m absolutely giddy over it.”
He blushes now. “If I’m honest, this is my first date too. And I’m honored you agreed to go with me. I know I withheld some information?—”
I wave a hand. “I was mad at first, but you didn’t deserve it. Actually, it made me like you even more that you’re willing to protect him. Maverick told me that you view Levi like a father.”
Colt nods slowly, opening the tupperware of grapes to plop one in his mouth. “Yeah, he is. My own father… He wasn’t the nicest man. And he messed around on my mom a lot. She was a beta, and he’s an alpha. He never took their relationship seriously.”
My heart aches for him. “I’m sorry. My mom was a beta too. Besides Levi, she was never really in any relationships after that. You know how everyone is…”
Colt scowls. “Yeah. I can assume the shit those pricks said to a single mom beta. Can I ask why she never tried to seek out Levi before?”
I sigh, taking a few grapes for myself. “I don’t know. I think at first, she didn’t really have the money to travel, especially with the aid we got from the association. It required her to work so much. Then I showed the signs of presenting as an omega. She worked harder to get me into the academy.”
