Page 8 of Alpha’s Sunflower Smiles (Sweet in Silford #8)

Chapter 8

Pete

“ H ow does the new door look?” I asked as I entered Sunflower Smiles.

Wilfred beamed at me.

“It looks brilliant. And it’s really easy to use!”

I could feel my chest puffing up, even though I knew it was ridiculous to feel proud of a door, especially since I wasn’t even the one who had installed it.

My instincts were congratulating me on having protected my man.

“Let me take a look at it.”

I set off towards the workshop but Wilfred darted out from behind the counter and blocked my path.

“Oh, uh, you shouldn’t go in there.”

“Why not?”

His cheeks were starting to go red and I spent a moment admiring how hot he looked like that.

Then I wondered what he was hiding from me.

I waited for him to answer my question but he just continued to blush and I decided to simply look for myself.

He let me move past him and push the door open.

Instantly, I saw why Wilfred hadn’t wanted me to go in there.

Richard was standing in the middle of the room and he was clutching another omega close to his body and kissing him rather passionately.

At the sound of the door opening, they broke apart and I closed the door before I could get into another weird discussion about who had been busted how often.

Instead, I raised my eyebrows at Wilfred.

“You knew what they were doing in there?”

He looked sheepish.

“They’re young and in love.”

“So you let them sneak into your workshop for some make-out time?”

“They didn’t sneak! Gui was bringing Richard his lunch. It’s just that, if I happen to be out here, and they happen to be alone in there…”

“I’m borderline starting to think of this place as a brothel instead of a shop, what with the amount of people who get it on out there.”

His forehead crinkled adorably.

“Who else was getting it on out there?”

“An alpha called Ty and his omega, Ronnie.”

“Oh, yes, they would. At least Alder wasn’t here. He’s much more imaginative about what he can get up to and where, and I don’t want them using any of my equipment for sexy stuff.”

My reflex to ask about that was hindered by the door opening and Richard walking into the shop, glaring at me.

Wilfred peered round me.

“Where’s Gui?”

“He snuck out the back door because this one ,” he gestured at me with his thumb, “scared him away.”

Wilfred beamed.

“He’ll be back.”

I decided to chip in.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be necking in the back room and then you wouldn’t be caught.”

“Maybe you should learn to read signs that say ‘staff only’ and stay in the shop where customers belong.”

“I’m not a customer,” I pointed out.

“Then what are you doing here?”

Ah, he had me there.

Basically, I was there to see Wilfred because it turned out that any day where I didn’t see him sucked balls.

I couldn’t tell this pushy omega that, though.

Which is how I ended up buying three candles and a wooden bowl that, I was assured, was perfect for salads and could be a feature on my table.

Richard really knew how to upsell Wilfred’s stuff.

He left to go back into the workshop, telling Wilfred he was going to work and to call him if anyone was difficult.

On the basis I was currently the only other person in the shop, I assume he meant me.

“What does he think I’m going to do? Smash all the ornaments?”

Wilfred gave a little chuckle.

“Oh, don’t take offense. He’s just very protective of me. He thinks I don’t stand up for myself enough.”

“No? Why not?”

“Oh, um, well, you see he’s still not convinced you weren’t shaking me the other day. I did tell him you were helping but he’s a bit sceptical.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Half of me was annoyed that Richard clearly thought so little of me, but the other half was glad that at least someone was looking out for Wilfred.

He was so generous that he’d help and help and help other people until he’d given away everything he owned.

Wilfred settled the large bowl in front of him on the counter.

“Would you like this gift-wrapped?”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“Are you sure? It’s not a bother.”

“No, there’s no need. I’ll only unwrap it when I get home.”

“You’re not going to give it to somebody?”

I shook my head.

“This is the one I’m going to keep for myself. The candles can go. I-I didn’t mean—”

Wilfred waved a hand.

“Don’t worry, I know what you meant. You don’t care about candles. Don’t let Richard hear you, he loves my candles.”

I figured, since Wilfred liked his employee so much, I couldn’t afford to lose brownie points with Richard.

“Tell him I lit every one of them.”

Wilfred nodded and wrapped the bowl in some tissue paper, just to protect it in transport.

He moved slowly, and he looked like he was thinking, building up to something.

At last, he said, “Do you want me to gift-wrap one of the candles?”

“Um, no?”

I couldn’t think why he would.

I’d only unwrap that, too.

Although where I was going to put them, I didn’t know.

I’d find room for them somewhere.

He looked up at me, his face serious and compassionate.

“You could give one to your omega.”

My lungs seemed to freeze.

I couldn’t take a breath in.

The moment must only have lasted a second or so but it felt like minutes.

It was the shock.

I hadn’t thought about an omega as a romantic prospect in over a week, since I’d walked out of my papa’s house.

I hadn’t had to because I hadn’t spoken to Papa since.

The familiar feeling of inadequacy washed over me.

I was an alpha.

I should want an omega.

The fact that it was Wilfred asking me, so casually, made it worse.

He thought I should be with an omega when the one man I wanted more than anyone was him.

My throat felt tight as I said, “I don’t have an omega.”

Luckily, my voice came out fairly normal.

I didn’t think he’d notice anything off about it.

“Oh? Was your date casual then?”

“What date?”

“With your omega. The one you bought the rose candle-holder for.”

Finally my lungs started working properly again.

I gave a shaky laugh.

“No, that wasn’t a date. I bought that for my papa.”

Was it me or did Wilfred’s expression clear as I said that?

“Did he like it?” he asked.

“Ah. Yes, he did like it.”

Wilfred was looking at me in the way that he had, focusing on only me.

I’d noticed that he always gave his full attention to whoever he was talking to and wondered whether everyone felt like the centre of his world while he was with them.

I supposed they must.

I couldn’t be that special.

He tilted his head to the side, studying me.

“I get the feeling that there’s more to that answer.”

I sighed.

“It’s a bit of a long story.”

He stood up straight and looked directly at me, waiting.

I took a deep breath and said, “I bought it for Papa and he did like it, but he didn’t keep it. He had me give it to somebody else. An omega man. He was setting me up on a date.”

Wilfred’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly and, if I hadn’t been paying such close attention to him, I wouldn’t have noticed it.

But I was watching his body carefully and I was almost sure I’d seen it.

Almost.

“I didn’t want to be set up, especially with an omega. So I gave him the gift and left.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Me too. I… I don’t want to be set up with anyone,” I confessed.

“There’s someone I’m really interested in.”

“Oh.”

This time I wasn’t imagining it, Wilfred’s shoulders actually did sag further.

He didn’t quite meet my eyes as he picked up my bag and handed it to me.

“I wish you luck asking them out. If you need a gift, you know where to come.”

It looked like I’d been dismissed.

Wilfred wasn’t interested in my attentions.