Page 68 of Knot What She Seems
I’ll be ruined.
Worse.
Teddie will be ruined.
I might puke.
“How about this?” Luka’s tone is nothing like I imagined, and it makes me glance at him. His gaze roams over my face as if he’s carefully selecting every word, and I’ve never seen him so hesitant or thoughtful. It’s almost as if he’s a completely different person right now. “I know you aren’t supposed to be out of Darling right now.”
I tense up, my hands rising to the straps on my bag as I prepare to run, heels or no.
“But, I know a thing or two about breaking rules. And a thing or two about how bad the cafeteria food is.”
Forcing a tiny smile, I latch onto his idea that I’m just out scavenging for something decent to eat and nod.
That encourages him enough to add, “I could probably forget about this little jailbreak if you let me buy you dinner.” He tilts his head toward the diner.
Part of me wants to say no because he’s an asshole. Another part of me wants to say no because the omega genes within my veins are suddenly purring like a newly rebuilt engine ready to race around the track. My scent match wants to buy me dinner.
I take a deep breath and open my mouth to refuse him, but he steps forward, into my space bubble, sliding a hand gently over my arm. Slightly stunned, I simply watch him take my hand from my backpack strap and place it into his own. His warmth immediately sinks into me in a way that’s utterly unnatural and utterly comforting.
“Please?”
It’s thepleasethat breaks my stubborn will. The soft request that’s so un-alpha-like. So undemanding and vulnerable. So not Luka.
My eyes meet his, and I slowly nod.
I’m whisked inside before I can protest.
“Back so soon? You alphas definitely work up an appetite!” An older beta hostess with cropped hair teases Luka in a motherly way.
“Actually, I ran into someone.” He pulls me closer into his side, his fingers squeezing my hand once before letting go and gesturing toward a booth. “Mind if we sit near the back?”
“It’s all yours, sugar.” She grabs two menus and leads us toward our table.
There are other patrons finishing their meals, but it’s late, and the dinner rush is definitely over, which I’m grateful for. I’m already regretting my impulsive “yes” and running through escape plans in the back of my head.
“Here, let me help you.” Before I can stop him, Luka’s lifting the backpack from my shoulders. “Whoa, what have you got in here? Weights?”
Shit.
I go along with his conclusion as I slide my arms out of the straps. “Kind of. Preparing for a camping trip next summer.”
He raises an eyebrow as he sets the pack beneath our table and gestures for me to slide in first. “What kind of trip? With who?”
The second question is a little sharper than the first, and an elated charge sizzles up my spine hearing his tone.
Coyly, I shuck off my cloak and grab my napkin, placing it on my lap before lifting the menu to hide my smile as he puts down his takeout and slides into the booth beside me. “Oh, just camping near the river with friends.”
“Hmm.” His tone is disapproving, but he doesn’t press too much. I can almost feel him folding the information up like it’s a square of paper and tucking it into his pocket—something to follow up on later.
“What’s good here?” I ask. “And what about your takeout?”
With a wave of his hand, he dismisses the bag. “It’ll reheat. And, if you like spicy, then there’s this cayenne chicken with avocado salsa…” He reaches across and taps the item on my menu, using that as an excuse to press the plastic coated page down and make me meet his eyes.
His stare is…unnerving.
I squirm in my seat, slick trickling into my panties just from his proximity.
