Page 39 of Knot That Serious

“It’s nothing. Seriously, just drop it,” she pleaded.

Please, Jack’s voice begged Beckett in her mind.

“Hmm,” Jack hummed. “Nope. No chance. C’mon, tell me,” he teased, tilting his head at her. The collar of his shirt shifted and revealed a bruise the size of her thumb.

Beckett had left his mark.

“Over my dead body,” Eli grumbled.

“Oh, so it's serious, then, whatever it is,” Jack teased. “What could it be?”

When she glanced to him, he’d lifted a hand to tap at his chin, and she fought a smile despite the flutter of annoyance.

“It’s… omega stuff,” she admitted.

Jack dropped the teasing, concern filling his gaze as easily as the donuts she filled that morning. “Are you okay?”

She smiled. “Yes, yeah. Everything’s fine. But…”

Eli shut off the water. “I think it’s time. I should go to the Omega Center today.”

Jack frowned, gaze serious. “Already? Are you sure? Why? Did something happen?”

He glared at the front counter. “Has a customer said something? Who was it?”

Eli couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “No, nothing like that.” Then she narrowed her eyes. “Why would a customer say something?”

Tilting his head at her, Jack waved a hand over her frame. “’Cause you smell a little different, that’s all. I thought maybe someone mentioned it. Woulda hit ‘em for you.”

“Jack, that is not how you run a business—what do you mean, I smell different? Is it that obvious?”

Eli tilted her head to the side, sniffed her shoulder, and frowned. “Aw, man!”

She knew she was perfuming, but it hadn’t been so obvious when she’d come in. Her eyes widened as she glanced at Jack.

The flush on his cheeks was out of character. “You smell sweeter.”

“I do,” Eli grumbled. She glanced toward the counter, imagining the customers she’d waited on that morning. It was nearing eight, so they’d only been open a little over an hour.

“The whole bakery kinda does. Before I came in here, I figured it was something new you were making. In here, though, I can tell it’s just… you.” He cocked his head to the side, a fond smile curling his lips.

Eli’s chest tightened, and she turned the water back on. “Okay, yep. Time for the Omega Center.”

Why was her body announcing to the world that she was about to be perpetually horny for a few days? God, heats sucked.

“You never told me what happened,” Jack said with a pout, turning the water back off. “Tell me,” he begged, turning those big puppy dog eyes on her. “Please?”

Oh, he was playing dirty. She narrowed her eyes. Did he know?

She dried her hands, and decided Jack could finish the dishes. She needed to get out of here.

“C’mon. Tell me. Tell me tell me tell me tell me, please, tell me tell me tell—”

He begged while she gathered her own helmet and coat and snagged the coffee Jack had brought her, finally snapping.

“I-I heard you! Okay?” Eli practically growled, and felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Last night. You weren’t exactly being quiet,” she added.

“Oh,” Jack said, blinking at her across the prep table she’d put between them for his own protection.

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