Page 8 of Elusive Alpha
“It was quite the night,” I agreed, feeling Rook’s stare.
My face filled with heat. I hadn’t blushed like this since I was in the vicinity of my first crush.
Franklin didn’t miss a beat. If he noticed my blush, he didn’t say anything about it. “I set up a day date of sorts for you. There will be a car to pick you up in a few hours. After the activity, you’ll be taken to a restaurant. Reservation is already made.”
“What’s the activity?” I asked Franklin.
“A corn maze. And the pumpkin-pie tour.”
Rook reached for my plate. He could’ve easily passed the serving dish to me but instead, he put some on my plate. An alpha with manners who kissed me senseless. “What is a pumpkin-pie tour? I’ve never heard of that,” he asked.
Franklin chuckled. “There’s a bit of a competitive nature in town this time of year. Everyone claiming to make the best pumpkin pie or pumpkin pie-ish dessert. So, they came up with the tour. You will go around to the various businesses and restaurants and get a small piece of pie. There’s a scoring card. It’s all very organized and serious.”
I laughed. “Pumpkin pie is serious business.”
“Agreed, Idris. You’ll also have lunch provided as a picnic at the corn maze.”
“Sounds like a great day. Thank you for planning all of this. I didn’t know what to expect but this is above and beyond.”
Franklin paused. “My mate planned the best dates. It’s only fitting that I do the same for the couples who come here. Love deserves a beginning to remember.”
While we finished breakfast, Franklin talked more about his late mate. How he designed the house and they intended to livethere for the rest of their lives. His chin quivered at several points in the story. He truly loved his mate. I wished that Fate would smile on him the way it had on me.
We helped Franklin clean up, even though he fussed about it, then hung out on the porch until our ride arrived. I took in everything I could about my mate. He took his coffee black, which was offensive, but I would learn to forgive him. Well-traveled, he spoke of places I wished I could visit, many of them noted in my journal.
His clothes were high-end, and his shoes likely cost more than my rent. But there was no hint of snobbiness about him. Not even a whisper. He was down-to-earth and asked about my work. I told him some things but left out the boring details. He expressed concern about me overworking, but what else could I do? Times were tough, and I had dreams to follow and a career to build. It was nice of him to be worried. Cute too.
“The car is here,” Franklin said, popping his head out of the screen door.
“Thank you,” we both answered at the same time.
“Ready for a fun date?” I asked.
“Absolutely, omega.”
Oh, damn it. Now I couldn’t move my legs again.
Chapter Nine
Rook
I offered to drive, but Franklin insisted that having a car and driver was included in the weekend package. The free package…but pointing that out seemed pointless. As did arguing with the man whose pleasure in life seemed to derive from helping mates find the joy he once had with his.
Not many people were that kind.
The town car waited in front of the Victorian, driven by a local in a casual jeans-and-polo shirt ensemble. He didn’t get out to open the door for us, but I didn’t want him to. Instead, I opened the back door and allowed Idris to precede me inside.
“Shouldn’t one of us ride in the front?” he whispered. “It feels weird to sit back here together while he’s alone in front.”
“No, it’s fine. Like a taxi.” I slid in next to him. “And this is much nicer than having to sit apart, don’t you think?”
He looked up at me through long, thick lashes. “I cannot disagree, alpha.”
“You keep that up and I’ll have to kiss you again.”
Idris glanced toward the driver and shrugged. “Is that a good idea with…”
“I’m not looking,” the man in the front seat said. “I get paid to mind my own business, so that’s what I do.”
