Page 37 of Alpha's Sunflower Smiles

Before I could probe any deeper into this fascinating history, Richard bustled out of the workshop. He looked much more put-together than Gui did, and I knew he prided himself on always looking professional and businesslike. It made him feel in control, which he thrived on.

Richard asked, “Are you talking about Sutton’s bodyagain?”

“Yes, I am. Keep your eyes to yourself. He’s claimed me as his very own and is going to marry me and let me ride his knot every night forever and ever.”

Jared’s eyes went misty and Gui sniggered softly behind his hand.

Richard rolled his eyes. “I think you still need to work on those wedding vows. I don’t think mentioning your bridegroom’s knot is very vicar-appropriate.”

“No? Are you sure?”

Richard shook his head and I tried not to blush. Now I knew what it was like to have an alpha I was in love with knot me, I could see where Jared was coming from. I’d never felt suchecstasy as I had with Pete as he’d made love to me every night this week. Maybe the vicar wouldn’t mind Jared mentioning it?

Jared looked crestfallen. “I suppose I could ask her at Holly’s christening. She’s doing both services, so I can find out then.”

“You’re close to your alpha’s family,” I observed.

Jared nodded and seemed to focus. “Yes, I love them. They’re my family too, now. And baby Holly deserves the best Christening present.”

We walked around the shop together for a while and considered various things. At last, Jared said, “Richard told me you could personalise things,” and that made us take a whole different route. It ended up with me sketching out a whole new design to make for baby Holly.

By the time Jared left, I was excited to get to work on it.

Richard kissed Gui by the shop door before he left, but he kept it appropriate, despite the fact I pretended not to notice. When it was just me and Richard left in the shop, he wandered over to the counter and leaned his elbows on it.

“Do you want me to watch the shop while you get to work on that?” He nodded down at the design.

“Would you mind?”

“Not at all. I can see you want to get started.”

I was so glad I’d hired Richard. It was the best business decision I’d ever made.

I tried to justify my excitement a bit, so I didn’t seem like a kid who wanted to go and play while Richard did all the work. “Jared’s so excited about it. I want him to have something incredible for his niece. It’s nice that he’s so close to his alpha’s family. That’s unusual.”

Richard shrugged. “I don’t know about that. My best friend is really close to his omega’s family and is round their houses all the time. Gui gets on better with my father than I do, now he’s managed to start talking in full sentences. It’s cute, actually,even if they do talk about Architecture, which is boring. Now, you go and get started on that and I’ll call you when it’s time for lunch. You need to remember to eat and I know you’ll forget if you’re invested in making something.”

As I went into the shop, I felt a familiar warm glow from Richard taking care of me. I had long since stopped feeling weird about that, since I was old enough to be his father. He was bossy and took care of people, and I liked that. It worked for us.

However, as I began to gather together everything I’d need, I felt a twinge of unease.

Were people meant to be close to their partner’s family?

I didn’t have any family, so it wasn’t something I could bring to the table. But if I was meant to be getting on well with Pete’s family, first he’d have to actually introduce me to them.

A stone started to form in the pit of my stomach. The sneaky thought managed to slip into my brain and linger there, that Pete didn’t want any of his friends or family to know about me. I couldn’t dislodge the thought. In the months I’d known him, he hadn’t mentioned his family except that he took his papa a gift.

The stone got bigger in my stomach as I remembered that his papa had also been setting him up with an omega. Was Pete attracted to omegas as well? I didn’t mind that, but it did worry me that maybe I wasn’t as permanent a partner as I’d assumed. He’d asked me out, not told me that he wanted us to be long-term.

Alphas often went for omegas, in the end. There were still some social taboos about alphas or omegas not dating each other, something which poor Richard had had to fight against already. Luckily, that kind of thinking was on its way out, but it did linger unpleasantly in certain areas.

Would Pete have his fun with me and then move on? Maybe he wanted children, which I most certainly couldn’t give him.

I managed to worry all morning. Even working didn’t soothe the anxiety away, which it usually did. Normally, I could forget everything once I began work on my crafts.

Distantly, I heard the chime from the door again. It had gone a few times while I’d been out here but I didn’t pay attention while I knew Richard was taking care of the shop.

Only when the workshop door opened did I look round. Pete was standing there, holding up a bag from the local bakery, which made the most delicious fresh sandwiches.

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