Page 81 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
I can practically see Lauren’s thoughts racing behind her keen eyes. She opens and closes her mouth a few times, eventually settling on a muttered, “Fuck.”
“Yep,” I say again, popping the “p”.
“That’s…” An indignant scowl forms on her lips. “That’s so unfair!”
I snort, shrugging weakly at her anger on my behalf.
“You meet a doctor who is your damn scent match, who just so happens to be in the same pack as the heat clinic worker who banged your brains out. And the third member of their pack is your smoking hot tattooed alpha boss who is completely off limits. Shit, no wonder you’re upset.”
A strange choked wheeze comes out of me at Lauren calling River “smoking hot”. Guess I was the only one who hadn’t noticed how appealing he was until today. Or maybe I did, but I’m not enough of a masochist to have a crush on someone who treats me like crap.
“What? Come on, he’s gorgeous. Plus, he’s got that whole slightly nerdy but also mysterious vibe. I may be mated, but I’m not dead.”
Lauren laughs when I sputter again and my cheeks grow furiously hot.
“He’s… fine.”
Lauren rolls her eyes at me, and I let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay, he’s gorgeous. God dammit.” Tears well in eyes as I admit it, and therefore also admit to myself that a part of me is upset that the gorgeous alpha doesn’t want me.
“So what was going on in his office? Was he asking you to quit so he can court you? I swear, I’ll go tell him off about it right now, if he had the nerve?—”
“He didn’t!” I interrupt. “He’s not interested in me.”
Lauren scoffs. “I doubt that.”
“He’s not. When he arrived at dinner on Friday, he could barely look at me. I went to see him this morning because I was worried about him telling everyone in the office that I’m an omega.”
She opens her mouth again, undoubtedly to threaten yelling at our boss on my behalf, but I keep going. “He said it’snot his place to disclose that. Then, he told me his packmates wanted to keep courting me. It’s a technicality I’m not sure I want to risk, but there are no rules against me being romantically involved with them. Just him. So he wants to keep things as they are between us while I date Ambrose and Jackson.”
“That’s…” Lauren lets out a low whistle. “Complicated.”
“Way to state the obvious.” I don’t mean to be so snarky, but luckily it makes her laugh.
There’s a minute of silence as Lauren’s laughter trails off and she takes some time to think now that she’s fully up to speed with my drama. The waiter comes with our checks and while we’re waiting for him to return, she speaks again. “So, are you going to try it?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I sigh and scrub a hand across my face. “Would it be crazy if I did?”
I appreciate that she doesn’t reply instantly, taking a moment to consider things even more as she taps her bright acrylic nails against the side of her glass. “Maybe a little.”
My stomach sinks at her words, and she grins at my reaction.
“But I think that right there is your answer,” she says, gesturing to my deflated posture. “Life is a series of weird, random, and crazy shit. I say, go for it. What have you got to lose?”
“Other than my job, my dignity, and my heart?” I reply drolly.
Lauren shrugs. “Eh, you can handle losing those because you’re tough and experienced enough to find them again.”
Damn, she’s right. I’ve had my heart broken and dealt with embarrassment and job changes plenty of times. I’m not fragile, as much as my newly discovered omega likes to make me act weak.
Also, I don’t know if I can afford to not give this a try. Idoubt there are more romantic opportunities anywhere near as good as this waiting on the horizon.
“Yeah. Okay. I guess it won’t hurt to try.” Or rather, it will, but I have to trust that I can handle the pain.
“That’s the spirit!” She taps a finger on her chin thoughtfully, and her smile takes on a cheeky bent. “Besides, I give it one heat before Mr. Marlowe ends up quitting so he can be with his pack’s irresistible omega.”
“What? No—he wouldn’t—he?—”
My spluttered protest earns a giggle from her. “Never underestimate the power of an omega. We’ve brought the toughest alphas to their knees with the bat of a lash. Add in his pack getting a piece of you while he has to sit on the sidelines, and the fact that you’re stunning, and Mr. Marlowe will be begging at your feet in no time.”
