Page 19 of Heat & Deceit
“No.”
“About earlier—”
“I should have been paying attention. Thank you for saving me.” She doesn’t meet my gaze as she says it. “I should probably go help Randal.”
“Of course.”
I’m tempted to tell her no. To sit here with her and figure out what makes her tick. But I don’t. Not today. I need to talk to Randal and make sure the shop doesn’t lose more employees.
She stands and moves toward the door, not sparing me a second glance.
“I’ll be here for the rest of the day if you need me.”
That makes her pause. Her fingers curl around the knob of the door, and speaking at the door, she says, “You’re staying?”
“Disappointed?” I ask before I can stop myself.
She looks over her shoulder, responding with a soft, “No.” But her face saysyes. On any other person, the scrunched lines wouldn’t look good, but on Carmine, they’re adorable. She’s trying so hard, and failing, to hide her true feelings.
“You know Tabitha was wrong, right?”
“You’ll have to be more specific,” Carmine says.
“You’re not ugly. Not even close.”
Carmine stares at me for a moment, then turns without another word and leaves.
I walk to the door and shove my hands into my pockets, letting my gaze rove over her as she walks away. Full hips and ass, thick thighs, a little extra around the middle. Perfect in every way. Gorgeous. Clenching my jaw, I force myself to look away from temptation personified.
Five
NOVA
Disappointed?
Not in the slightest, which is exactly why I’m worried. Javier watched me like I’m someone to figure out, his easy smile disarming me. I wasn’t sure how to handle his quips. The old me—and I mean the me before all the bad—would have fired back with something snarky. I’ve yet to figure out how the new me should act.
I want to be forgettable, but an increasingly loud voice in my head questions whether it would be so horrible to be remembered by an alpha like Javier. He has no idea I’m an omega. No one in this city knows that. My fake identity gives me anonymity. Though the scent-blocking lotion and heat suppressors hide my true nature, there’s no magic pill to change the way my brain is suddenly seizing on Javier and replaying every word he said.
I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him.
With a groan, I scrub at a particularly stubborn lipstick stain on one of the white mugs. He wasbarelyflirting with me, and I immediately got defensive. I know why I said what I did. It doesn’t matter that it’s been years since my old pack betrayed me. And no matter how long I’m free of Curtis, I can’t shake what I experienced while being forced to work at his strip club.
The alphas who came to Twisters wanted more than a few lap dances. I heard every type of come-on while working, felt every type of entitled, grabby hand, and experienced things I’d never wish on anyone. Sometimes I forget I’m making decisions for myself now.
There’s no one threatening me. No one drugging me to keep me compliant.
“Oh shit, Carm.” Randal appears at my side. “What the hell is going on?”
I glance up from the mug I’m scrubbing. Lipstick is so hard to wash off. “He didn’t tell you?”
“He told me,” Randal whispers and leans closer. “Everything. Tabitha, the fucking thief.” His eyes light up with excitement. “I’m glad he canned her ass. She was always a bitch.”
“Randal.”
“What? You know it’s true. She was a total jerk to you for no reason. Well, not for no reason. You’re hot as hell, and she was jealous, but that doesn’t excuse how nasty she was.”
“Please don’t call me hot.” I dunk the mug again and grab the serious scrubber.
