Page 25 of The Wedding Planner's Manny
“Well, um, what's he like?”
“He reads a lot.”
I nodded, almost a little relieved. I knew that type of omega. Iwasthat type of omega. “You should give him a book. But not just any book. A book you like, so you can talk about it.”
“That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. I have this one book I like.A Journey to the Stars. It has all this cool stuff. Black holes and supernovas and everything.”
“You’re into astronomy?”
“A little! My dad used to take us out stargazing a few times. You have the greatest view from the hill just outside town. All the stars are so bright and clear.” Nathan wore the widest smile on his face as he said that. It was good to see him like that.
I gave him a small smile. “That sounds great. I’m sure your friend would love to get that book from you. I don’t know him, but I like to read too and it would have worked on me when I was that age.”
And to be fair, it would probably still work today.
But I wasn't going to tell Nathan that last part, even though the amused glint in his eyes told me he heard it anyway. Something told me this kid was going to get me in a ton of trouble in the future, and yet, I was somehow looking forward to it.
9
E T H A N
R hys was different when I came home that day. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but something was off. He greeted me with a smile, but kept his eyes downcast the whole time, even as he led me into the kitchen where he'd prepared a cup of coffee for me. There was something almost demure about his posture, as if I was his master and he needed to appease me or something.
“Did you have a hard day at work?” he asked.
“Not that hard,” I admitted. I’d been gone most of the day, attending my clients’ rehearsal dinner, but for the most part the evening had been pleasant.
“I could run you a bath so you can relax,” Rhys suggested as if he hadn’t even heard me—and what made him think he should be running me a bath?
“Did something happen today, Rhys?”
“No, nothing happened.” Still with that fake smile. I tried to think back to the morning. Had he been acting weird then too? I hadn't noticed anything, but I'd left pretty quickly. I'd had a lot to do before the dinner, with the Maden wedding only a week away and Rhys' brother calling with a ton of questions abouthiswedding.
“Why would you want to run me a bath? You don't have to do that. You're not my maid, you know?”
“No, I know.” He looked aside as if suddenly shy, head still tilted downward. “I was only trying to make you comfortable.”
“That's not really your job, either.”
“I know,” he repeated, but he didn't sound convinced. And he still wasn't looking at me.
“Rhys?” Following an impulse, I reached out to tilt his chin up with the tip of my fingers, forcing him to meet my gaze. His eyes were so pretty, he shouldn't hide them away. “What's going on?” The meek omega in front of me was not the man I'd hired. He opened his mouth, but I cut him off before he could speak. “Don't say it's nothing.”
He closed his mouth again, considering his words once more before speaking. “I'm sorry,” he said finally.
But sorry for what? I searched his eyes, but couldn't find anything but confusion there. What had him so rattled? And was he even noticing the way his sweet scent intensified around him? Almost as if he was subconsciously begging me to put my arms around him and claim him.
I forced myself to take a step back, trying to gain a clear head. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I upset you.”
“When did you upset me?”
“Yesterday. When I mentioned your scent. Omegas aren't supposed to talk about such things.”
The way he saidomegas aren't supposed tomade it sound like a cardinal rule. But who had made it?
And who'd told him about it?
