Page 17 of Knight With Benefits

It took a moment to remember what we’d been discussing before the interruption, but I took his cue and tried to pretend like nothing had happened.

“Umm, not really. I supposed I should figure that out.”

I chewed my bottom lip before taking a drink of the vodka and pickle juice, trying to ignore the flutters in my belly over the way he looked at me. His laugh didn’t make me feel stupid like Anthony’s had. Carl’s amusement wasn’t at my expense.

“Well, I can build the bookshelves into the walls, which will make them sturdier and safer than freestanding shelves that can fall over. If you’re only going to have a couple of chairs it’ll need less space than if you want a full seating arrangement, and that would leave more room for dining tables. They’re what will be bringing in the money, so you don’t want to short that side, but the front of the building has enough space to be generous with both. Maybe you should find some chairs or tables you like so we have measurements to use.”

I nodded, the weight that had been hanging on me finally lifting from my shoulders. Talking with someone willing to listen and make useful suggestions was novel, and it didn’t help the pull I already felt toward the big alpha. Being good-looking, protective, and thoughtful, on top of his divine scent, was doing things to my ovaries I hadn’t planned for. I had thought I’d had my fill of alphas, but Carl was chipping away at the wall I’d wrapped around myself.

“That’s a good idea. I can do that over the weekend.”

We discussed a few other projects, the lighting in the dining area and installing the kitchen equipment, as well as building a display case for the baked goods I planned to have, and a counter for the coffee maker, before I got a chance to talk to David. He’d disappeared into the back for a bit after the incident with the betas before being called out to handle other customers who’d arrived, but once I’d finished my drink he came and leaned on the bar across from me.

Just seeing him reminded me of the previous night, and my cheeks heated remembering the way he’d had to help me.

“Thank you for last night. I’m sorry for whatever happened when you tried to walk me home.”

His chuckle eased the tension that had grown along my spine, letting me know it hadn’t been anything too serious.

“I’ll pay for whatever was broken.”

He dropped the rag he’d been wiping his hands on, resting his elbows on the counter.

“Don’t worry about it. I already made the idiots take care of it. And if I hadn’t, Carl would have.”

I shot a glance at Carl, wondering what the dynamic between him and the others in his motorcycle club was. Everyone I’d seen wearing their vest had been an alpha, and it didn’t seem possible for that much testosterone to be in one place without leading to fights. I vaguely remembered something between Carl and another alpha when David had walked me out the night before, and David’s implication made it seem like Carl had some kind of sway over the others.

For some reason, my body liked the idea that Carl was the most dominant alpha, and my core clenched. As annoying as it was sometimes, I was still an omega, even if I was‘past my prime’as Anthony had put it. The fact that my heats had slowed to the point where I hadn’t had one in the year before he died had made me useless to him, and it was probably why I’d been forgotten about by the others after he was gone instead of being claimed by one of them.

“Are you sure?”

I liked David. He’d become the closest thing I had to a friend in the time since I’d started coming to The Hangout, and part of me had been scared I’d ruined that by getting too drunk. It was a relief to know he wasn’t upset.

“Yep, it’s all good. Did you want another?”

His tone changed a little with the question, and the caution wasn’t unfounded, but I shook my head. I hadn’t come in for a drink. I still had an echo of the hangover headache and was in no rush to repeat my foolishness, even if it had served its purpose.

“No, I only came in to thank you. Oh, and maybe to get some of your nachos?”

I added a hopeful smile, and he laughed, straightening and tossing his rag over his shoulder. I hadn’t bothered to go home to shower and change first because I hadn’t planned to stay, but I’d seen him bring out a plate piled with cheesy goodness and my stomach had rumbled, protesting the neglect I’d shown it. I could have made another sandwich at home, but the thought was depressing, and I was willing to suffer the indignity of sitting there with paint on my shirt and smelling like sweat for something more appetizing.

“Sure thing.”

I had just turned back to Carl and parted my lips to speak when another alpha came up behind him, clapping a hand to his shoulder as he leaned on the opposite side of him. I immediately clenched my lips shut, but the woman behind him and the crescent scar on her neck eased some of the automatic fear the sudden nearness of another alpha caused.

“Hey Carl, you want to head to Jason’s with us? He’s going to grill.”

The new male had dark hair like Carl, but not buzzed as short, with longer hair on top that flopped forward. When he tilted his head to wave at David, I spotted a scar going around his throat that explained the rough quality of his voice, and I couldn’t help the curiosity over what had caused it, even as my chest clenched in sympathy.

My attention turned to the woman, her scent telling me she was an omega like me, and I wondered if they’d been bonded when it happened. Both her mating scar and his were still pink and fresh, although his looked a little more healed. Shifters were lucky like that. Nothing about them made me think his claim on her had been forced, joy practically radiating from her, and I couldn’t imagine the fear and pain they’d have shared if they had been bonded when he’d received the injury.

Motion caught my eye, and I saw Carl glancing at me.

“Don’t say no because of me. We’ve planned about as much as we can, and I’ll be heading home once I eat.”

Carl’s lips twitched.

“You could always come with us?”

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