Page 13 of The Alpha Option
A lodge that needed repairs after years of neglect? She could see a path forward on that one.
This restaurant with an odd greeting committee, far too many curious onlookers, and no menu? Okey-dokey.
A caretaker who had been absent for most of the past years—okay, that one she was going to hold Jace’s feet to the fire for eventually.
Right now, though, she was obsessed with the mass of food Pete had dropped onto the table with a seemingly casual attitude but an intense gaze that screamed he was more interested in her reaction than he wanted to admit.
No problems there. She was tempted to shovel in giant mouthfuls as fast as she could, and only years of being a grown-up stopped her from being that rude.
Macaroni and cheese with mixed chunks of bacon cooked so perfectly, they melted on her tongue. A grilled cheese sandwich with a layer of a spicy-sweet jam. A soup spicy enough to make her sweat. And that was only what was in front of her.
Jace didn’t blink when she reached over and stole another of his fries.
“Truffle oil and gorgonzola cheese,” he told her after swallowing a bite of his enormous burger.
“So good,” Cassidy said. Screw even attempting to be polite. She caught him by the wrist. “Can I try your burger?”
His pupils went huge. Instead of passing the burger over, he held it out and waited as she took a bite. His gaze fixed on her lips, and she got hit by hot and cold flashes even as the taste of the perfectly cooked burger exploded in her mouth.
She pulled back, but before she was out of reach, he lifted his other hand and wiped at a spot near her lips. Instinctively, she turned and caught his finger in her mouth, licking the drip clean.
The hot and cold inside her swelled to volcano and iceberg status. His gaze never drifted, and all she could think about was kissing. She’d kissed him. Could kiss him again if she wanted.
Yes, please, with cherries on top.
Okay, that was an easy choice. Shewouldkiss him again in the future because it was something she wanted. But for now…
“Try my pizza,” Stephanie demanded, thrusting forward a piece.
“Try my onion rings,” Blue offered.
Cassidy was going to have a food orgasm right there at the table. “Your cousin is amazing,” she told Jace and Blue after accepting all the samples.
“Does this mean you’ve forgotten the issues with our uncle?” Blue asked.
“What issues?” Stephanie shoved Blue’s hand away as he tried to snag another piece of her pizza. “Touch that and die.”
“Trade you for a spicy meatball,” he countered.
They were cute and obviously headed for a food coma.
Cassidy met Jace’s gaze again. “Okay, as ideas go, Pete’s place was a spectacular one. I forgive you for all the things you’re not telling me. Or I will if you hand over the rest of your donair.”
Jace’s grin lit her up inside. “You may have my donair and my apologies for the secrets. I promise I’ll tell you what I can, when I can. It’s…complicated.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“Sometimes it’s even the truth.” Jace scooped the rest of the deliciousness that was his donair onto her plate and then leaned closer. “Here’s one truth I won’t make you wait for. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”
Oh, please. Did he somehow know she planned to kiss him senseless at some point in the future? “Thanks. But I’m not giving your donair back.”
He grinned, those deadly dimples flashing again, and her heart gave a weirdthump-thumpthat was over-the-top and outrageous. So be it. Food now. Renovations and lodge plans after. Seduction, or at least lip locking, later.
That was the extent of Cassidy’s agenda until the unfamiliar blonde beauty walked up to their table out of the blue and sat herself on Jace’s lap.
“Hey, darling. I heard you were back and rushed over to tell you how much I’ve missed you.” The blonde pressed her hands to his cheeks and made a move to kiss him.
It had been one weird day. Cassidy admitted that readily. But for some reason, this was a step too far.
