Page 16 of Knot That Serious

“No!” Jack winced, waving a hand in the air as if to erase his words. “I mean, yes, of course, but I mean that this is serious. He wants to be serious.”

“Jack, everything you’re telling me is a green flag. What are you so scared of?”

“I’ve never been serious, Eli, you know this!”

She snorted out a laugh, and her pure amusement at his panic made him roll his eyes. “You’re absolutely no help,” he grumbled.

“I think you should go back out there to that table, woo the pants off this very sweet sounding alpha, and quit overthinking it. Unless you’re getting weird vibes from him?”

Eli was giving him a way out, if Jack wanted to take it.

He sighed. “No, I don’t have any weird or bad vibes from him. He’s just… sweet.”

“Don’t know whether I should be worried that you’ve never dated a sweet guy before, or proud that you finally found one,” she answered softly. “Just—see where it goes. Trust your gut, or whatever.”

Jack sucked in a breath, straightened his shoulders. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be freaking out about this just because he pulled out my chair.”

“He pulled out your chair? Jack, go suck this man’s dick right now.”

Jack barked out a laugh, and slapped a hand over his mouth to hide the amusement. “I fucking love you,” he sighed. “Thanks.”

“Happy to talk some sense into you any time. Don’t forget to wash your hands. Bye-bye!”

Before he could even respond, the call ended after her too-cheerful farewell, and Jack shook his head.

He met his own gaze in the mirror and straightened his shirt, fixed the already smooth collar, and washed his hands like Eli told him.

When he glanced in the mirror again, he felt more level-headed and less panicked over the thought of this nice, extremely handsome alpha.

He could do this. Totally.

In fact, this was going to be the best fuckin’ date ever.

As he pushed out the door, he decided he’d prove it.

4. Smooth as Butter

Beckett

Beckett watched Jack walk away from the table, and once he was out of sight, promptly dropped his head into his hands.

It’s just a date. Quit freaking out.

But that was so much easier to say in theory. In reality, Jack, the hottest, most enticing-scented alpha, was on a date with him.

Jack looked so very deliciously handsome in his worn leather jacket. The scent of it clung to him, the warmth of the leather so sharp against the baked cinnamon. Surely that wasn’t the bakery lingering on him, right?

He’d confirm it in the least creepy way possible when he returned. Beckett could manage that. Not creepy.

Seemed easy enough.

He spied Jack making his way back to the table and tried to look like he hadn’t been staring in that direction, waiting for his return and half-fearful that he’d escaped out the window.

“Is everything alright?” Beckett asked when he sank into his seat.

He was a little flushed in the face, but nodded. Jack slipped his leather jacket off, and laid it over the arm of the chair occupied by his helmet.

Beckett had noticed the shimmer of pink beneath the leather, had felt it beneath his hand as they walked to the table, but hadn’t paid it much mind.

---