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“Confusion on both our parts.” He held out a hand. “Can we start over? It’s Rue, isn’t it?”

When our palms touched, I didn’t know what my name was for a second. Electricity shot up my arm all the way to my shoulder, and my heart rate doubled. My raccoon’s happy dance was not helping.

“Do I have it right? Rue?”

I pulled my hand back and rubbed it against my side, the tingling slowly abating. “Yes. I’m Rue.”

“And you are the owner of this establishment?”

“Right.”

“Good. Then you’re the one I want to see. I understand you give a portion of earnings to a very worthy cause?”

“Omegas in Need, yes. They do great work.”

“Then, if it’s all right, I’d like to give a monetary donation? I’m sure I have things in the house to give as well, but I haven’t had a chance to go through the closets and the attic yet.”

“Of course.” I pulled an envelope from the stack under the counter. “You can just put it in here, and we set it aside for the organization.” We’d begun doing that when a number of people added a few extra dollars when they paid for their purchases. Each was placed in the envelope and the name of the giver and any other info if they wanted a tax receipt.

“Perfect.” But instead of taking a ten or twenty from his wallet, he retrieved a folded check and smoothed it on the counter. “Who do I make this out to?”

“The organization. Any money we get for them goes directly to their representative when they stop by.”

“Thanks.”

He filled it out, and I was still expecting that twenty-dollar maximum, but before he tucked it into the envelope, I spotted the zeroes after the two. Not twenty or two hundred… Two thousand dollars.

“Oh my goodness. That will do so much good. Thank you again, Pascal.” Any anger or embarrassment was gone when I thought of the omegas who would receive needed help from his generosity. “Would you like coffee or a cookie?” We’d kept the station up after the grand opening, although it was now a modest plate of store-bought treats and a coffeepot and pitcher of water.

“No, I have to get going.”

“How will we ever thank you for your kindness?”

“You could let me take you to dinner?”

Chapter Nine

Pascal

I couldn’t believe it. I was going on a date with the omega of my dreams. Never thought I’d find him in Oliver Creek, but Fate was tricky.

Table for Two, on the outskirts of town, was upscale, the closest to fine dining in our town. Located inside a Victorian home, I thought it was the perfect place to bring Rue. He didn’t seem like the fancy type, but I thought he might enjoy it. In the summer, they had outdoor nights where dinner was served picnic style.

I hoped that would meet his expectations.

My bear wanted to impress this omega. He called him ours, but my human side had to make sure.

I would be so lucky if Rue were mine.

Leaving a few minutes earlier, I got in my car and drove over to Rue’s home to pick him up. His cottage was a coral, peachy color with bright-blue shutters. Flowers were everywhere. In beds. In hanging pots. The place looked right out of a fairy tale.

Seconds later, I knocked on the door and he answered. “Hello,” he said, ducking his head slightly. Sweet omega. So damned shy. I wondered if he would get over that in the bedroom or if I could coax him into being more vocal about what he wanted.

Too soon, Pascal. Too soon.

“Hi, Rue. Are you ready to leave?”

He nodded. “Is this okay? I know Table for Two is fancy but…” He wore a pair of black pants with a pale-blue shirt.