Page 24 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
Luke squats down, tightening the screws in place. "Have you canceled her match in the system?"
"No, of course not. I'm not a monster. I intend to very quietly court the hell out of her before her intended alphas even arrive." I adjust my vest. It's a terribly annoying nervous habit.
"Right," Luke says, wiping his hands off on his jeans. "I'll bring her up. She knows not to leave her room without me. If you're ordering dinner, I want steak and a loaded baked potato."
I scoff. "You wait for the food, I'll bring Everly up. Order whatever you'd like."
I aim for the door before he can question me. I need to see my omega and ensure Connor didn't ruin everything before it can begin.
"Archer," Everly says, giving me a shy smile.
"I hear you're helping us decorate?"
"That's what I heard, too," she says, stepping around the door.
My mouth goes bone-dry as I get a good look at her. She's wearing a maroon dress that fits every delicious curve to perfection. The dress falls mid-thigh and has a black mesh overlay with silvery speckles. Her waist is framed with a belt that accentuates her hourglass figure.
My cock throbs in response to her delicate scent, or maybe it's the enticing view. I wipe my palms off on my pants as I blow out a breath.
"You look lovely. Do you have everything you need?"
She pats a small bag I missed on her shoulder. "Yes, I'm good."
We head toward the stairs. "There's an elevator, but it's a far bit away. Would you like to head for it?"
"No, the stairs are fine."
The conversation is stilted. I'm smoother than this. This omega throws me off my game.Think, Archer; make simple conversation.
"Are you enjoying your stay with us?" I ask. She's a few steps ahead of me on the stairwell, and it puts her ass at eye level. Good God, I want to bite that curvy ass before burying my cock in it.
"It's great. I'd never heard of The Omega Exchange. Not until my final meeting with my OPA coordinator. I'd just been denied by the second pack, and my spirits were low. A very kind older man offered me the card, but I didn't think I'd actually come." We reach the landing for the next floor, and Everly spins around to face me. "Your accent, is it Scottish?"
"It is," I confirm. My hands have a mind of their own as they land on her luscious hips. "Why do you ask?"
Everly bites her lip. She takes a few long seconds before she answers. "The man in the elevator had an accent very similar to yours."
My brow furrows as I frown down at her. "You were in New York City?"
She nods.
"My Uncle Kiernan is a chubby old man with a thick white beard…"
"Oh my gosh." She giggles, her small hand flying to her mouth, and I have to physically hold myself back from bending down to kiss her. "I seriously thought I saw Santa Claus, and he gave me a card for The Exchange."
A bark of laughter escapes. That old fuck has some explaining to do. He texted to say he had a gift on the way, but I never went so far as to guess the gift would be a bubbly, soft-spoken, doe-eyed girl.
"You're absolutely precious," I say, smirking at her. "Do me a favor, will you?"
Everly licks her lips. She studies my face intently. "What's that?"
"I know you have a possible match, but don't automatically accept them…" I try to find the words to express what I'm thinking without scaring her. "They're not here. I guess I'm saying don't be afraid to explore other options. You're absolutely lovely, and…" I blow out a breath. My heart feels like it might pound out of my chest. "Make sure you end up with a group who deserves all you have to offer."
Everly's nose scrunches. "I'm the one likely to be rejected. Connor gave me a bunch of files this afternoon for other packs. I don't think anyone, including me, has much faith..." She laughs, but it's forced.
My heart throbs painfully at her words. What the fuck was Connor thinking? We're the pack she should be considering. My uncle said the gift would come from Eileen.
Why the hell would she set Evie up with a pack that isn't mine? My secretary has some explaining to do. That's not the proper way to give a gift. She tried to deliver it to thewrongbloody pack.
