Page 30 of Happy Valentine's Day, Omega

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I don't know. I'm not exactly the type to receive one, and giving is definitely not my style. Buthewill, won't he?

I groan and then chug down half of my coffee.

"You okay?" Cara asks.

I force a smile. "Just tired."

She watches me for a moment, clearly not buying it.

"Okay, but you can talk to me if you need to. You know that, right?"

"Of course I do," I say, and it's the truth.

"Good."

"Great."

"Fantastic."

"Wonderful!"

A silence settles between us, gnawing at me until I break.

"…Okay, so maybe I have a question."

She smothers a grin, schooling her features into something barely resembling seriousness. "Talk to the love guru and tell her your woes."

I pin her with a baleful stare but ask my question anyway. "Do Omegas give their Alpha a gift on Valentine's Day?"

"Some do. Why?"

"No reason."

"Liar," she says with a snort. "Come on, spill."

I sigh and look around, checking that no one's eavesdropping.

"He," I pause and raise my eyebrows so she knows exactly who I'm talking about. "Gives really thoughtful gifts."

"Okay, and this is a problem because…?"

"He's currently the reigning champ of excellent gift-giving. I don't like losing."

Cara's face scrunches up. "Nat, you're doing love wrong. It's not about taking score."

"Who said anything about love?" I splutter, choking on a mouthful of scalding coffee.

I've stopped fighting my growing interest in the secret Alpha courting me, but love? That's a little far, isn't it?

I mean, he's clever and knows exactly how to keep me hooked. The letters we've been sending back and forth for weeks have progressively gotten less hostile on my behalf and more suggestive from his.

He calls me his baby girl, and even on paper, it makes my core flutter.

I have no idea how he manages to sound so suave with only pen and paper, but he does.

He really,reallydoes.

It makes me feel disarmed, like I'm going into battle with a formidable opponent with nothing but my wavering wits.

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