Page 8 of A Baby for the Firefighter
“Sure, go ahead.”
Seeing my grumpy cousin smile after taking a bite was my second favorite part of baking. Just last year Shane’s omega spouse had passed away, leaving him to raise their two children and manage the business they’d started together on his own. I’d figured I’d stay with him for a while to help him get back on his feet. I’d wanted to get out of Portland anyway, after that last job, and returning home had seemed like the perfect way to do that.A whilehad now turned into several months, but my cousin seemed to be coming out of his shell a bit more lately, and that was good.
“Did they turn out all right?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said, leaning against the counter. “Still won’t get you into that omega’s pants, though.”
I barely kept from rolling my eyes. “I’m not trying to get into anyone’s pants.”
“Sure, sure. So you’re not going out to see him tonight?”
Busted. Iwasgoing to see Griff tonight, but I hadn’t made these cupcakes to get into his pants. No, I’d made them because seeing Griff’s face light up when he ate one? That was mymostfavorite thing about baking. He was freaking adorable when he was happy. That was reward enough. “So what if I made some of these cupcakes for Griff?” I put two aside. “Give these to Conner and Mary later.” Shane’s kids. Conner was eight and Mary was almost two, and the two of them loved cupcakes almost as much as Griff did.
“Thanks,” Shane said.
“Where are they, anyway?”
“Mary’s down for a nap and Conner… Well, you know Conner.”
I nodded, because I did know what he meant. Whenever I looked for Conner, nine times out of ten, I’d find him sitting in a quiet corner of the house, nose stuck in a book.
“I don’t know where he gets it from,” Shane mumbled, then he shook his head. “But anyway, we were talking about your date.”
“It’s not a date.” Even if Griff had kind ofsoundedlike he was asking me on a date, I’m sure that couldn’t have been his intention. He’d mentioned more than once that he wasn’t interested in any romantic relationships at this point in time.
Shane gave me a look that was almost thoughtful. “You know, I’ve heard things about Griff.”
“What kind of things?”
“Things that make me thinkno one’sbeen in his pants.”
“Can we please stop talking about Griff’s pants?” I was so annoyed at the thought of other people discussing my friend’s virginity over a few beers. They only did that because he was an omega, and omegas were universally expected to ‘put out.’ An omega no one had been to bed with? Scandalous. Surely something must be wrong with him.
I despised that kind of talk. Especially since Griff was almost as sweet as the sugar he loved so much. He shouldn’t have shit flung at him.
“You can’t tell me you’re not interested,” Shane said.
“Okay.” I exhaled in exasperation and ran a hand through my hair. “So I’m interested. So what? What alpha in their right mind wouldn’t be interested? He’s fucking gorgeous and he smells like heaven. Does that mean I’m going to bone him when he clearly doesn’t want me to? Hell no. I’m not going to put any pressure on him.” I had few enough friends as it was, and I wasn’t going to lose Griff because I couldn’t keep my hormones under control.
“Sheesh, calm down.” Shane ate the rest of his cupcake and licked his fingers. “I’m only teasing you. And honestly, you’ve been doing the cupcake thing for months now, so if youweretrying to get with him, maybe you need to step up your game or try something else.”
“I’m not trying anything. He likes cupcakes. I make him cupcakes. That’s all.”
Shane sighed. “You’re hopeless.”
“Hey, friendship is better than nothing.”
“Is it?” Shane seemed skeptical.
I ignored him.
“You know you could have any omega in town if you wanted. They’re all salivating at the thought of a night with the hot firefighter.” Shane laughed just a little.
“I don’t want justany omega.”
Shane shook his head. “Hopeless,” he said again. He turned to leave the kitchen, but then he stopped. “Daniel called earlier, asking for you.” I looked up at that. Daniel was the director of the local fire department, and I'd successfully avoided talking to him for the last couple of days. “Yeah?” I asked. “Did he say anything?”
“Not really. Just that you should call him back.”
