Page 9 of Fourth Base with the Alpha

“Well, duh? It’s this week.”

“Right.” My head swims. The Stellar Music Awards. I’ve watched them every year since I was a kid. Sneaking the TV on down low and watching when I was meant to be in bed. But to go? As Hunter Larsson’s date? I think I might pass out.

I take several big gulps of air, Hunter’s scent making the mating gland on my neck tingle like crazy.

“Any more for any more?”

“We need a story,” Hunter pipes up, “of how we met. Those boys are going to grill the crap out of me and I need a reasonable story to feed them.”

Kim waves her hand about dismissively. “Easy. You got to know each other working together the last few months. There was an instant attraction. You asked her out. You’ve been dating for two months. It’s early days but you’re crazy about each other. And now seemed the right time to go public.”

It does sound sort of plausible.

“Who asked who out?” I ask.

Hunter chuckles. “I asked you out obviously.”

“Obviously?” I say, with an arched eyebrow. “Girls can ask dudes out, you know.”

“But you’re an omega–”

“Omegas can ask alphas out and–”

“Plus you’re an assistant and I’m in the band.”

I glare at him. Hunter has a reputation for being a grumpy asshole. I wonder if that was well earned.

“How about nobody asked nobody out? It was a sort of mutually agreed thing?” We both stare at Kim skeptically. “Fuck it, I’ll write you some notes on your back story and email it to you both along with this contract.”

“There’s something else we’ve missed?” I say.

“Shoot,” Kim says.

“Pet names. We need to agree on pet names for one another.”

Hunter groans.

“She’s right.” Kim wags a finger at Hunter. “So what should they be? Hunter?”

He looks at me, gaze sweeping down my body and leaving a trail of warm tingles.

“Cupcake.”

‘Cupcake’? I frown. What the hell kind of pet name is that?

“What are you going to call him, Isabella? Sorry, I mean Cupcake.”

“Only I’m allowed to call her that,” Hunter growls causing Kim to throw him a ‘what the fuck?’ look.

“Hmmm …” I give him the same treatment he gave me, running my eyes down his form as he stands there letting me size him up and puffing out his chest. Shit, the man is really, really fine. Fake-dating Hunter Larsson will probably screw over my love life. Every mere mortal will be intimidated by my so-called ex-boyfriend from here on out. “Let me see … I think … maybe … Dumpling.”

Kim cracks up laughing and ‘Dumpling’ scowls at me like I just threw salsa all over his crisp white t-shirt.

Hey Sis, if you’re watching, this is going to be a lot of fun!

3

Hunter