Page 80 of Fourth Base with the Alpha

“The elevator’s out of order. We’ll have to walk up.”

“That can’t be good for your grandmother.”

I smile. “She’s a tough cookie.”

Outside the apartment door, I pause with my key in my hand. “It’s not too late. You can sneak away now if you want.”

He scoffs. “Open the door, Omega.”

I shrug. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I swing back the door and the aroma of cooking hits my nose and music fills my ears.

“I’m home,” I call out as I signal for Hunter to leave my bag by the door and follow me to the kitchen.

“Is that you Isabella?” my mom says.

“It’s me.” I find my mom and my grandma curled up on the sofa; my mom reading a magazine and my grandmother crocheting. They are both tapping their feet to the sound of the music.

My mom glances up from her magazine and her reading glasses fall straight off the end of her nose as she gapes open-mouthed at Hunter.

“Mami, Abuela, this is Hunter.”

He holds out his hand to my mom. “Nice to meet you.”

My mom takes his hand in both of hers and slides off the sofa onto her feet, stepping up close to the alpha and peering up at his face.

“Ay Dios mío! Aren’t you handsome?”

“Thank you.”

She grips his bicep, giving it a squeeze. “And strong too.”

“Errr thank you.”

She stares up at him for a moment, simply admiring his face. I don’t blame her. He is something to behold.

“Mami,” I prompt.

My mom giggles in a way I’ve never heard before, then drags Hunter towards the sofa. “Sit down, sit down. I saved somemoros con cristianosfor Isabella. Let me get you some. You must be starving after your trip. Such a long flight.”

“Hunter wasn’t planning on staying,” I say, offering him a way out. If he wants it.

He lifts his hand. “I’d love somemoros con cristianos.”

“And a beer? You want a beer too?”

He shakes his head. “I’m driving.”

“You’re not staying over?”

“What?” I gasp. This timemyjaw drops open in amazement. My mom has never allowed me to have a guy stay over before. She may have turned a blind eye to the few I’ve smuggled in over the years. But we’ve both mutually agreed to pretend that doesn’t happen.

He looks at me and his eyes blaze, but he shakes his head again. “Not tonight.”

My mom almost sprints towards the kitchen and shaking my head I sit down next to him on the sofa.

My grandma is watching us from the other end, smiling.