Page 31 of Knotting Hill
“Hi, Franco,” I breathe like an idiot, getting lost in his dark eyes.
“Are you free later, Storm?”
I blink and splutter, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Uhm…”
“There’s this cute little bar down the road. Seven o’clock?”
Wow. Okay. He is forceful. And hot. And so fucking sexy.
“Sure,” I say, deciding what the fuck. I’m free and single, ready to mingle and all that. Why not with the super-hot barista who says my name in a way that makes me think of rolling thunder and flashes of lightning, with rain pounding down around us as we get drenched, locked in a kiss that heats us up?
I frown at the low growl I hear behind me. Franco glances over my shoulder, having heard it as well.
His eyes narrow. “Boyfriend?”
I shake my head, mortified. What is Russell doing? He can’t be growling at me, surely?
“Jealous alpha. You sure he’s not yours?”
“Not mine,” I grit out. “I’ll see you at seven.”
He smiles seductively, and I feel that drinks might not be the only thing on the menu. I turn and stride out of the coffee shop quickly, not trusting myself to say another word to Franco, and needing to get out of the suddenly stifling atmosphere caused by an alpha with a cloud over his head.
I’m several paces down the pavement when I hear my name.
“Storm.”
I turn and then really wish I’d carried on walking. “What?”
Russell gives me a curious look. “You should be careful around him. He asks out all the hot omegas.”
“What’s it to you?”
He hesitates. “Just a friendly warning.”
“Coming from a St. Luc?” I scoff. “I feel this is more like a competition.”
“Do you want it to be?” he asks, coming closer so that scent swarms me like bees in a hive. He drops his tone to one that is husky and sexy. “I have a feeling he would lose.”
I splutter. “Says you. Leave me alone. I can take care of myself.”
Spinning quickly, I hurry along as fast as my full cardboard cup of coffee will allow.
“Storm, wait.”
I ignore him, but I can hear him behind me.
“Storm.”
“Go away. I don’t need your warnings or your advice.”
“Be careful,” he says woefully. I know he’s stopped chasing me as his voice is coming from further away.
I falter and blink, coming back to reality from the hot sexy kiss in the rain, that hasn’t happened and probably never will. Russell has no right to tell me what to do, which makes me want to do it just to spite him. But spite him, why? Why would he care?
I shake my head, shoving all men out of my head in case I start thinking about Joshy’s kiss again. It’s time for work, and everything else can wait.
Twenty
