Page 12 of The Alpha Option
Jace noted with approval how Cassidy left her feet and arms free to kick or punch as necessary. A rush of lust hit him, and he wallowed in the sensation.
A sexy, sexy woman who knew how to protect herself and others? He was so fucking gone. It didn’t matter that it had been only hours since he first laid eyes on her.
Such was the power of fated mates, he realized.
She was glorious, and he would do anything for her. Including save her from bruising her knuckles on his uncle’s face, because that seemed to be next on the agenda and closing in fast.
Jace resumed his position close to her side but clearly left her in charge. “Cassidy, our uncle Lenny. His son owns the restaurant. Uncle Lenny, meet Cassidy. She and her friend Steph are the new owners of Auntie Rachel’s lodge. Blue and I are working with them to help get the place up and running again.”
“You’re working with—” Lenny choked off, then took a deep sniff. He rolled his eyes before glaring at Jace, finally clueing in that Cassidy and Steph were human. “Well,hell.”
Cassidy folded her arms over her chest, disapproval oozing from her as she examined Lenny. Then she pointedly ignored the older man and turned to Jace. “Is there food planned soon, or should I go shoot something?”
Imagining her going out to hunt for herself turned him on all over again. “We’ll sit. My uncle was just leaving.”
Only, the table in the corner was now occupied.
There was no use in being secretive anymore. Jace pushed past his uncle and pulled out a chair at the table in the exact center of the room. Like teamwork, Blue held out a chair for Stephanie.
The two women sat smoothly as if there weren’t dozens of eyes staring from every direction.
“Jace. Sit here,” Cassidy requested, tapping the chair beside her. The one that put him with his back to the door.
To hell with it. He sat.
Blue’s eyes widened, but he quickly took the other chair next to Stephanie.
Cassidy met the gazes of the pack members in the room as she leaned slightly toward him. “Interesting place.”
“It grows on you,” Jace said evenly.
“So does mold.”
He laughed, twisting to face her. “It’s the best food in town, though. And so you know, there are no menus. We’ll get served whatever Pete is cooking today.”
“And we’ll like it?”
Blue was nearly drooling, his gaze following someone who approached the table from behind. “You’ll be begging for seconds. I promise. Hey, Pete.”
Pete himself stopped beside the table, an enormous tray balanced on his shoulder as if it weighed nothing. “I heard there was trouble in the room. Blue, always good to see you.” He shifted his gaze, danced it over Jace, then examined the women. “Cassidy. Stephanie. My apologies for my dad. He’s all piss and vinegar.”
“Though hopefully not in the kitchen area,” Stephanie offered with a straight smile. “Is that the food we’re supposed to like or else?”
“Bonus points for speed,” Cassidy muttered. “Hello, Pete. Jace said this was the place to be. We’re ready to be dazzled.”
“Dazzling is what they do at the art shop. I feed the soul.” Pete examined them again. “Allergies?”
“None,” Cassidy and Stephanie said in unison.
Pete lowered the tray and began dispensing food. “Good. Then if there’s anything you don’t want, tough. Try it anyway.”
The entire place could blow up any minute if Del or any of the other leaders of the pack showed up, but right now, Jace decided to hell with worrying. Pete was handing out food, and his cousin was a magician in the kitchen.
The apocalypse could wait. Jace had lunch to devour.
Noneof this day had gone to plan, but by now, Cassidy was struck by a strange sense of satisfaction every time she dealt with another twist.
Naked man in her new house? No biggie.
