Page 59 of Knight With Benefits

“Mmm. I have to. No one else is going to make sure this place gets opened.”

My eyelids had fallen shut but I peeled them up when he turned me within his hold before pinching my chin and making me look up into those gorgeous green eyes.

“I will. You can be strong and independent without carrying the whole load yourself.”

If felt like there was weight behind his words, and the walls I’d spent so long hiding behind tried to rise between us. Carl was a great alpha, a great man, and he’d made his interest clear, but I wasn’t ready to acknowledge the pull that kept drawing us closer. I needed to focus on one thing at a time, and the café took precedence.

“Well, Iampaying you to help me. I think I’ll have to give you free cookies for life for that suggestion.”

He huffed a laugh and released my chin, but not before I saw the hurt he tried to hide away. The omega part of me wanted to soothe him and give him reassurances that I was just as interested as he was, but that would only complicate things more.

“You might not want to do that. You have no idea how many cookies a bear can eat.”

Holding onto the fake lightheartedness, I chuckled as I stepped away from him and shrugged.

“I’ll have to limit you to one a day, but you’re welcome to a free cookie anytime you want to stop by. I’m sure I’ll still see you driving by when you head to The Hangout.”

Part of me held my breath, waiting for him to confirm. My omega didn’t want to face the idea of there coming a time when I wouldn’t have him at the café with me, even though he’d only been here a couple days. He’d placed a stamp on this place that would never wear off, but once everything was finished, he’d have no reason to stay.

“Yeah, that’s true. I could always eat dinner here since David’s menu isn’t exactly extensive.”

Deciding to leave everything where it was instead of cleaning up since I’d only have to drag it back where it was in the morning, I walked along beside him as he started making his way toward the door. It was a matter of moments before the door was locked and I was standing in the last of the sunlight with him, forcing myself not to beg him to put his hands on me again.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I probably won’t be serving dinner. At least not at first. I’ll be focusing on breakfast and lunch items since there’s only one of me, so I figured I’d make my business hours five to two.”

The look he shot me was full of disgust.

“Five? A.M? You’d have to be here at least an hour before that to prep! That’s still the night before!”

I found myself continuing to walk beside him as I laughed, the bright lights next door drawing us forward.

“I take it you’re not a morning person?”

He’d seemed fine that morning when I’d woken him, but it made sense that he wasn’t really a morning person since he seemed to spend a lot of time at The Hangout every night.

“Sure I’m a morning person. After the sun is well above the horizon. I rarely go to sleep before five.”

My brows jerked up as I eyed him. He’d come by the café early the morning after I’d met him, and I couldn’t help wondering how he functioned if he was only sleeping a couple hours each morning.

“I’m so used to getting up and taking care of people in the morning that even sleeping until six is sleeping in for me. My body won’t let me stay in bed much longer than that.”

Flushing at the realization that I’d already proven that to him, I paused when he reached for the door to the bar. I wanted to go in with him, to let go and throw my arms around him and end the night with him in my bed again, but that little part of me that still hid behind the wall said it was a bad idea. I had to be responsible, and I didn’t want anyone judging me, and by extension my café, based on being seen at the bar too often. It was already later than I’d usually stop by, and the parking lot had enough vehicles in it to make me wary of how many people were inside.

“I’ve always been a night owl, and I’m lucky I do well with less sleep. Did you want to come in and have a drink?”

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, tempted despite what I’d just told myself. It wasn’t that I wanted to be there so much as I wanted more time with Carl where I wasn’t distracted by working, but I couldn’t give in and let my focus be split.

One thing at a time.

Plus, my core clenched again and reminded me of the workout it had already gotten, and how unused to that kind of stretch I was. More, and it would only make working more painful. I might be willing to enjoy Carl’s benefits, but I couldn’t jeopardize my goal.

“Not tonight. Unlike you, I’m an old lady and need my sleep.”

His lips tipped up, but I had the feeling he was as reluctant to let me go as I was to take a step back before angling for the road past him.

“Be safe, Gwyn, and sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Chest warm, I thanked him before making my way into the dark.

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