Page 15 of The Omega's Secret Baby
“I need to talk to you.”
“So you waited for me in the parking lot?”
“I was going to go in.” He shook his head. “I got a migraine.”
“Oh. I'm sorry.” He'd gotten those every now and then when we were younger too. I'd hated seeing him in pain, but sometimes, I could take it away. I wasn't quite sure how I did it myself, but he told me he found my presence soothing. 'That omega thing you do helps me,' he'd said, although I was never aware of doing anything special. I simply held him and massaged the back of his head with my fingers. What anyone would do, really. “Are you feeling better?” I asked, because I was tempted to go to him even now, my anger over Harold's stupid comment all but forgotten.
“I'm fine, thank you,” he said. I wasn't sure that I believed him, but he changed the topic on me. “Are you off work now?”
“No, actually, I should probably go back in.” I glanced at the entrance to the shelter behind me and rubbed my arms. Ireallyshould go back in.
Matt took a step toward me and shrugged out of his coat. “I understand. I'm not going to keep you long, but we do need to talk.” And then he draped his coat over my shoulders without even asking me whether I wanted it--and in doing so, he came so close to me that the alpha scent he gave off nearly overwhelmed me. It was like I hadn't aged at all and I was still that stupid college freshman who'd fallen for him in the first place.
“What is it that you want to talk about?” I made myself ask, focusing on the present.
He looked around the parking lot. “I'm not sure we should do this here. How would you feel about having dinner with me tonight?”
I grimaced. “Do you want Jake to be there? Because I can't just leave my kid alone for a night.”
“You can't find anyone to watch him for an hour or two?”
I licked my lips. “Imightfind someone, but where would you want to have dinner?” Matt had never taken me out to dinner. At least not in public. He'd sometimes ordered meals from fancy restaurants and we'd eaten them somewhere in a safe place, in a cabin in the woods or on one of his family’s boats that never got any use. We’d gotten good at hiding away from the eyes of the town.
“Wherever you want,” he offered.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “That's easy for you to say since you won't have to live with the rumors that'll be flying around after.” No, he'd just leave again. And I shouldn't have dinner with him in the first place. Nothing good could come of it.
It didn't matter that he was everything I wanted.
Not when I knew that I couldn't have him.
I'd been naive eight years ago, thinking I could enjoy my time with him while it lasted and then move on as if nothing had happened. I hadn't known how much leaving him wouldhurt.
“Okay,” Matt said. “No dinner then. What do you suggest?”
I thought about it for a moment. Part of me was tempted to simply deny him outright, but then I did want to know what he had to discuss with me. “I walk my dog every night at nine,” I said. “I don't always go to the park, but sometimes I do.”
“Got it.” Matt gave me a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” I said, sighing, because I hated the way a simple smile from himstillmanaged to make me feel warm even while I was positively freezing.
I could only hope that he left town again before I got any really stupid ideas.
8
Matthew
Ihadno idea whether Eli was really going to show up, but I hoped he would--and not only because it was freezing out here tonight. I also hoped he was bringing his own coat this time, because I'd hate to part with mine again, although I would. Nothing made me more uncomfortable than seeing Eli uncomfortable. Especially when there was something I could do about it. I hadn't even thought about putting my coat on him earlier, as if we were still an item. It had just felt like the right thing to do.
And getting so close to him, I'd almost leaned in for a kiss too.
Stupid.
Just because Eli wasn't mated didn't mean he was available, or willing to start anything with me again. And I still had duties to my family, even if I didn't like them.
I rubbed my hands together and looked at the swing set across from me. I hadn't come to this park very often as a child. Mostly, I'd been confined to our property. And then when I'd finally ventured out into the world, I'd done exactly what my mother had always warned me of--I'd fallen for the first omega I'd met.
Not because he was the first, though.
