Page 64 of The Knotheads Next Door
"Haven't seen you around before," says a voice to my left.
I turn to find a man about my age smiling at me. He's good-looking in a clean-cut way—sandy hair, nice smile, pleasant beta scent that carries notes of citrus and sage.
"I'm relatively new," I admit. "Moved here a few weeks ago."
"Lucky us," he says, his smile widening. "I'm Ben. I manage the winery tours at Elysian Fields Vineyard."
"Rowan," I reply, shaking his offered hand. "I work at Crystal Clear Florals."
"Ah, so you're the new talent Crystal's been bragging about. She says you have an eye for unusual arrangements."
I blink, surprised. "Crystal talks about me?"
"Only good things," he assures me. "Though she failed to mention how beautiful you are."
It's a cheesy line, but delivered with enough self-awareness to make me smile rather than cringe. And it's... nice, being flirted with by someone uncomplicated. Someone who doesn't make my heart race and my palms sweat and my omega instincts go haywire.
"Smooth," I say, raising an eyebrow. "Do the winery tour lines usually work for you?"
He laughs, a warm, genuine sound. "About sixty percent of the time. Am I batting average with you?"
"I'd say you're hovering around fifty-five percent," I reply, surprising myself with how easily the banter comes. "But I appreciate the effort."
Something crashes behind me, and I turn to see Jasper mopping up spilled coffee with a handful of napkins, his expression thunderous. Wells's knuckles are white around hismug, and even Theo looks less amused than he did moments ago.
Interesting.
"Your friends seem... intense," Ben observes mildly.
"Roommates," I correct automatically. "And yes, they have their moments."
"Roommates? As in, plural?" He glances at the three alphas again, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Ah. That's... an unusual living arrangement."
"It's temporary," I say, the words tasting bitter even as I speak them. "Just until I get settled."
"Well, if you're looking for something more permanent, I happen to know of a charming cottage for rent near the vineyard," he says. "It even has a little garden. Perfect for someone with your floral talents."
Before I can respond, Zeno returns with our order. "Four drinks for Rowan," he announces, setting down a tray.
"Let me help you with that," Ben offers, already reaching for the tray.
"I've got it," comes a gruff voice from behind me. Jasper materializes at my side, his expression closed off, his scent sharp with something that smells suspiciously like... jealousy?
"I was just offering to help," Ben says mildly, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"She doesn't need your help," Jasper all but growls.
Oh my god. He's actually jealous. Over a harmless conversation with a beta who offered to carry coffee.
I should be annoyed by the possessive display. Instead, I feel a perverse thrill at seeing unflappable, standoffish Jasper so clearly bothered.
"Thank you, Ben," I say sweetly, ignoring Jasper's increasingly murderous expression. "It was nice meeting you. Maybe I'll see you at the festival tomorrow?"
"Count on it," Ben says with a smile, evidently braver than I gave him credit for, given the alpha glaring daggers at him. "Save me a dance at the evening celebration?"
"We'll see," I reply, deliberately noncommittal but with enough warmth to make my interest clear.
Ben takes his coffee from Zeno with a nod and heads out, but not before giving me one last smile over his shoulder.
