Page 23 of Single Omega Dad
Tybor had not done anything more than talk back to me and disobey when I told him to go wash his hands if he wanted to help me prepare dinner. I was tired of my day, and tired of high energetic boys who always wanted something. I snapped at him and he began to cry.
Of course I immediately regretted my harsh tones toward him, but I still had to put him in a time out. Those were the rules.
Sighing, I rubbed my hand over my face, pressing away my fatigue. Two nights in a row tossing and turning and two rambunctious boys had taken a lot out of me.
Just as I opened the freezer to see what I might fix for dinner, my cell went off.
I picked it up, not recognizing the number.
“Hello?”
Silence on the other line made me think it was a spam robot, until I heard breathing.
“Hello?” I said again.
“This is Mathias.” A pause. “From the bank.”
Mathias?“Uh, yeah. Hello. Is anything the matter?”
“I have a line on a home equity refi I’d like to talk over with you. It would save you a substantial amount of money in monthly payments.”
Disappointed for a moment that he called about a mere loan, I kicked myself for the thought, then glanced at the clock. It was nearly five. The bank closed at five.
“Now?”
“Well, I have time now.”
“But the bank closes in a few minutes.”
“No, I meant I have time. I could, uh, meet you somewhere for dinner and we could discuss it. On me.”
I leaned back against the fridge and opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. An Alpha was offering me dinner. But not just any Alpha. A rich and spoiled Alpha with the last name of Vandergale. An Alpha who barely cracked a twinge of a smile and showed little emotion toward me and my kids. The Alpha I’d been dreaming about for two nights.
I cleared my throat. “I’ve got the kids, though.”
“Bring them. We’ll meet wherever you want that has a kid’s menu.”
“Uh, okay. Then I guess how about Duprees. It’s a diner off exit 29 on the 5.”
“I’ll find it. Half an hour, then?”
“I can do that.”
I hung up. I glanced at Luke who had stopped his coloring and was staring at me.
“Are we going somewhere, Daddy?”
“Yep. I’ve decided we’re going out to dinner tonight.”
“Yay! Can I go tell Tybor?”
I took a deep breath and barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “Yeah, kiddo, go tell your brother to get ready. Don’t forget your jackets. Both of you. Hear me?”
“Yes, Daddy!” Luke gave a whoop and ran off down the hall. “Tybor, Tybor,” he called. “Your time out is over! We’re going out to dinner!” I heard the door to his room open and their excited voices mingle.
My own body both tensed and heated at the thought of seeing Mathias again so soon. All the warning bells went off in my mind. No regular financial guardian offered to take a client to dinner. Not unless they had more invested in their proceedings than simple advice. Or there was something more between them than business.
The idea that Mathias might be interested in me had me hot and cold. I wanted to rebel. Show the system out there I could take care of myself. Yet, I wanted to see those dark eyes again, like distant space waiting for the light of a star. A challenge. I’d have to travel a long, long way to reach the source of life behind those guarded gazes of his. I loved a challenge.
