Page 4 of Pack Coffey

I'm nodding along and smiling in all the right places, all the while wondering how in the hell, I'm going to survive hours alone with a guy that is making my belly flip every time he looks at me.Professionalism, Darci Levine. That's how.

Chapter Three

When Friday night rolls around, I'm a nervous wreck, but it's more to do with Lawrence than it is my first shift at the station. I've never been one to be boy or scent crazy. Even when all the other girls, specifically omegas were. I can't explain the feeling to anyone since I'm not sure I completely understand it myself currently. Like the way my belly did loops the other day every time he smiled at me. Or the way the deep baritone of his voice made me squeeze my legs together and count back from ten more than once. How am I going to make it hours with him tonight? Guess I'm about to find out as I walk into the station.

He's already sitting at the desk inside the studio. I drop my bags at the door, taking only my phone which I immediately silence.

"Hi," he says, spinning in his chair to face me as I walk in.

"Hey," I say, trying my best to keep the tremor out of my voice. Isn't going to do much for my scent, though. I know my normal warm, buttery popcorn is probably going to smell like someone left it in the microwave for a few seconds too long. It's what normally happens when my emotions are running high.

He doesn't seem to notice as he spins the seat around next to him for me and I take it. Probably has a lot to do with him being a beta. I'd thought the other day with how strong his scent came onto me that he was an alpha, but there's a subtleness to it today that speaks otherwise. It still grasps at me, but nowhere near as bad as the other day. His deep, deep voice, however, still has the exact same effect.

My toes curl in my shoes as he explains how everything works. Then my brain shifts to business as he sits back and lets me take the lead. After a few songs, he flips the switch to call out to the listeners, and I realize just how many nights I've listened to him talk as the radio played in the background while I was doing work for class or research on a case. Every single nightsince the first one of tuning in, and I think he might be the reason why.

"So, what do you think?" he asks at one point, leaning back in his chair and stretching his long legs out in front of him.

I have to unglue my tongue from the roof of my mouth before I can answer, "Seems pretty straight forward. As long as there aren't any surprises, I think I'll be fine."

He nods, "It's easy peasy, baby. I made you a list of things to remember and put my number down at the bottom. You can call me if you run into anything you need help with."

Pausing for a second, he adds, "Or, if you just get lonely. The night shift can suck sometimes if you're a people person."

"I'm not that kind of omega," I divulge, not digging into the pet name he was trying to rhyme. I'm sure I'll overthink it later. "I've always been kind of a loner. I might be broken."

His eyes give me a once over before he shares one of those lopsided smiles. "Or you just hadn't met the right pack yet."

Hadn't? Haven't? Mistake or purposely phrased that way? I'm already overthinking. Count, Darci.

I don't get a chance to respond, which is probably a good thing, because he flips the switch again, sending out a quick message to the listeners.

Hours later after we set the autoplay in the studio and are locking up, I apologize, "Sorry you had to sacrifice your Friday night being here."

He shrugs. "I would've just been sitting at home anyway. I'm not really a people person either."

"I find that hard to believe," I find myself saying before I can stop it.

Grinning down at me, he asks, "Why's that?"

Damn the consequences of my unfiltered brain. "Because you're so open and friendly."

Figuring what the hell, might as well go for broke sinceI'm already riding the awkward train. "Plus, you smell amazing."

"Sorry," I spout instantly. "That was so rude. Sometimes when I get nervous, I say things that I shouldn't."

He laughs, and holy panties fighting for life over here, if the deep sound doesn't hit me in improper places.

"Would it make you feel better if I tell you that I like your scent, too?" he asks. "Reminds me of going to the movies, which used to be one of my favorite things to do with one of my pack mates."

I can't explain the hardcore desire to preen, but it's there all the same. Deep down, I absolutely love that he shares that with me. "You say that like you guys don't go anymore."

"Does anyone?" he retorts, guiding us to the one car parked in front of the station. "Everybody streams from home these days, don't they? Besides, Henry, my packmate, has been spending more time at work lately."

"Come to think of it," I admit, "you're right. I haven't been to a movie in a long time."

We make it to his car, and he leans on his elbows toward me as one side of his lips pull up. "Want to go with me sometime then?"

"Sure," I respond, not even having to stop and think about it.

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