Page 156

“Maybe I’d be less annoying if you hadn’t stolen my girlfriend all fucking day,Travina.”

They snipe at each other as I try to hide my smile in Connor’s chest.

My alpha’s fighting over me. Also,Travina called me her friend. HER FRIEND.

And make no mistake, sheneedsfriends outside her pack. The woman’s seriously lacking.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Valentino says. “Travi, say goodbye so we can feed you. Erin’s losing her fucking mind right now.”

One mention of her omega is apparently all it takes to melt that steel backbone. “Fine, fine. Whatever. Daphne, I’ll let you go if you promise to come back.”

“Absolutely. Not only did I learn a lot, but I had so much fun.”

“Same. Tell the boys I said hi. We miss having them around.” She swoops me into a hug, stealing me from Connor one last time as we head for the door. “Hey, Daphne?”

“Yeah?”

She offers me that same warm smile she gave Connor. “All my friends call me Travi.”

My eyes burn as I try not to let my emotions overwhelm me. “All my friends call me Daph.”

“Good luck, Daph.”

“See you later, Travi.”

Connor wraps my hand in his, pulling me into his arms with a smile for me and adon’t try your fucking luckwarning glare for our friend as she shuts the door.

The moment she’s out of sight, I gush. From gusset width—the standard is way too fucking small—to ideas for new collections we brainstormed, I unload absolutely everything that happened. Connor listens to it all with a smile on his face, bemused and entranced at my word vomit.

When I finally stop, I’m breathless. “I love her.”

“Not more than us, I hope.” When I throw him a teasing smile, he rushes me, hauling me into his arms and propping my ass against the hood of his car. His mouth drops along my neck, giving ticklish kisses over every inch of skin he can find. “Tell me you like us more.”

“Yes!” I laugh, pushing him away. “I like you more.”

“Good. Food?”

“Please,” I groan. “I’m starving.”

Connor shakes his head, long hair falling into his eyes. “I fucking knew I should’ve interrupted sooner. You two are menaces who refuse to do basic care tasks like eating on time.”

“Okay, rude.” I cross my arms and look away, trusting he’ll hold me up. “My eating habits are none of your business.”

“Only when you’re trying to starve yourself.”

This little asshole. “I was distracted!”

“Exactly.” Connor drops me to my feet, keeping me caged against the metal. “I’m not trying to pry and if you want me toback off, I will, but I enjoy taking care of you. It makes me feel like a good alpha when I can provide for you.”

“Even little things like food?”

“Especially that,” he whispers hoarsely, eyes locked on my mouth. “Watching you eat whatever I give is unexpectedly arousing.”

“You get horny when I eat?”

“I get horny when you breathe, angel.” For a moment, I think he’s going to spread me across the car, but my stomach growls, and he pulls away laughing. “Dinnertime.”

After I’m tucked into the car with Connor’s hand firmly on my lap, I let my mind wander. Today was perfect and as much as I want to share it with my friends, I wish they’d been here. I can see Travi and Mellie becoming the real menaces. Her melting over Lacey’s sweetness and posturing with Kai until one of them breaks. I just feel like she’d fit in so beautifully with us and from what she said about Erin, she would too. And they already know the guys.