Page 30 of Heat & Deceit
“No, I think this is great. Thank you for asking.”
She smiles, but it’s dripping with pity. “Okay. I’ll be back around in a bit.”
Minute after minute ticks by. The more time that passes, the more I begin to suspect the worst. After ten full minutes and another comment or two from the alpha, I know Matthew has left, though I’m not sure how. Maybe there’s a back door.
I’ve been ditched. My face heats. There’s so much sushi, I can’t eat it all alone, not to mention afford it. I had every intention of paying for my half, but this meal will be at least one hundred dollars. That’s a lot of money for my failed attempt to get laid. I drop my gaze to my lap for a second and squeeze my hands together until it hurts.
Matthew’s chair scrapes across the floor, and relief floods my system. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.
“You’re back.” I put on a grin and glance up, only to immediately drop the mask and scowl at the big tattooed alpha. “What are you doing?”
“I’m hungry.” He picks up the smallest roll and pops the whole thing into his mouth. It should be disgusting, but he’s so big, the roll is like a little bite to him. His cheeks don’t even puff out.
Is it crazy to have non-puffy cheek envy?
He watches me while he chews, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. His olive-toned skin and dark eyebrows have me wondering if he’s of Greek origin. It would explain his god-like complex. He probably thinks he’s a direct descendant of Zeus. Cocky philandering bastard.
“Are you going to eat?” He reaches for the sushi I’ve been eyeing, and I grab his hand, lightly pushing it aside and taking the roll myself.
He’s not going to take the food I want.
“You’re paying for your half,” I say with lifted eyebrows.
“I’m paying for all of it, darlin’.” There are so many people here, it’s hard to pin down the exact notes of his scent, but asshole is part of it.
“Don’t darlin’ me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not your darlin’ and you’re not very nice.”
He smirks. “Never claimed to be nice. Your date probably did, though, huh?”
Matthew’s profile had the self-proclaimed nice guy tag. That probably should have tipped me off, but I was blinded by needing to get laid. At the very least, I need to come, so I can stop thinking inappropriate thoughts about Javier.
“Figured as much. Did you guys meet on a dating app?”
“Yes. Did you meet your date on an app?” I ask and take a bite of the sushi.
“Something like that, but as a seasoned pro, I should warn you. Dating sucks and the apps don’t work.”
“So you’re just trying to get laid.”
He pauses mid-bite and looks me dead in the eye. “And you’re not?” His tone is defensive.
I bristle. “If the apps don’t work, why are you using one?” I take a bite of sushi and look anywhere but at him while he sucks sauce off of his finger.
“I’m not. We have a contract with a dating agency.”
“Like that’s any better. Why are you trying to date at all if you don’t like it?”
“Because my pack and I are trying to find an omega.”
“By sleeping with your dates? You know omegas won’t like that.”
“How do you know what an omega would like? You’re a beta. And for your information, no, I’m not sleeping with my dates. I’m the first test. If an omega can’t get through a date with me, she’ll never fit in with our pack.”
I contemplate shutting up—it’s what Carmine would do—but there’s something about this guy. Maybe it’s that I know I’ll never see him again, or maybe it’s the playful tilt of his lips, but whatever it is, I find myself asking, “So, there are more of you?” I tip my head. “Assholes, I mean.”
