Page 60 of Puck My Life

“Of course, I hired them. I should know everyone’s names, shouldn’t I?”

He’s literally the perfect alpha.

Why is life so cruel?

“Try these little crab cakes; they are delicious. My grandma gave me the recipe, and I’ve had them prepared at every event I host. It’s my secret comfort while I'm standing here in a penguin suit, wishing I was at home in my robe, drinking hot chocolate instead of red wine.”

“Hot chocolate?”

“Don’t knock it! I like early nights and movies, hot chocolate, and those little ball things, you know, the ones that are fruit covered in chocolate.”

I grin at him. “I like the little fairy cakes.”

“Oh, yeah, they are great, too. What do you do, Vae?”

“I serve,” I say and gesture to the wait staff. “But I want to open a little cake store. That’s my dream.”

“A cake store! I love it! You have to make something special for me.”

I laugh at his enthusiasm.

“Okay, tell me what cake is the hardest to make?”

“Ooh, there are lots. I don’t like dealing with ice-cream, but I love working with chocolate.”

“You are an alpha’s walking dream.” He groans sensually.

My cheeks heat, and I glance sideways, looking for them because I have to.

“I’m not, though.”

“Oh, you are, Vae. Don’t sell yourself short. And if people have not noticed how wonderful you are, then that’s on them, because you are amazing.”

He turns away, grabbing another tiny morsel from the plate.

“Try this one. My chef swears by it, but I’ve come to realise it’s one of those you either love it or you hate it foods.”

He holds it to my mouth. I can refuse. I can turn my head away, but this is the alpha who is going to save me, and I like him. He’s nice.

Even though this feels so weird.

I open my mouth, and he pops it in. No part of his fingers touch me at all.

But it feels like he has, and I don’t like it.

And that makes me want to cry.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Deacon. He’s laughing. I turn in his direction, unable to look anywhere else.

Mal is on his right, looking resplendent in his tux. On the other side is Raynor, smiling politely but with much more reservation.

They are behaving. None of them are drunk.

Will wonders never cease? I should go to them, say hello.

My heart thumps in my chest, but then it stalls. Indy steps up beside Deacon, her hair in an elegant coil on her head. The dress is skin tight and ends high up her thighs, and her heels make her look like those legs go on forever.

She matches them perfectly, laughing and smiling.