Page 64 of Slow Heat

Jason tapped the end of the pen he’d been doodling with against his chin. “It wouldn’t be hard to clean up your garden. I could hire a few betas to help me. We could put in a beautiful winter theme for now.” Excitement pierced him. He’d never been allowed to have any say in Pater’s gardens before, though he’d wanted to. “And we could lay in brighter colored bulbs for spring.”

Vale was quiet a moment but eventually said, “It’s almost too late for that.”

“Then I should get started right away.”

“This isn’t a good idea. We haven’t contracted.”

But he sounded uncertain. Jason could hear the longing in his tone. Vale wanted his garden to look nice again, and moreover, he enjoyed the idea of his alpha doing that for him. Jason puffed up a bit. Father always said that omegas respond well to being cared for. “Give an omega some tender care, son, and he’ll be putty in your hands.” Though Jason also recalled that Pater rolled his eyes at that, chiming in with, “Any man likes to be cared for, Yule. Alpha, beta, or omega.”

Regardless of who was right, Vale sounded tempted.

“I’ll start tomorrow,” Jason said firmly. “It’ll be no trouble.”

Vale made a soft noise but didn’t reply.

“There’s no reason not to agree to it. No matter what comes of the contract, my family will owe you an allowance and the care of your estate for the rest of your life.” Vale’s quiet became somehow brittle like Jason had said the wrong thing. “But that’s not why I want to do it. It’s not about any of that. Iwantto make it beautiful back there. I could see the bones of it that day when I spoke to you through the window. It could be so handsome. I want to make it nice again. For you.”

Vale was a tough nut, though. “It wouldn’t do for me to agree to anything without your parents’ approval. After all, it’s their money you’re talking about spending.”

“Not really.” Jason grinned, twirling the pen between his fingers and thumb. “I have an allowance of my own and this won’t make a dent in my trust fund.”

Vale sighed. “You sell this idea quite nicely.”

“All I need to do is talk with the betas who work Pater’s gardens. They’ll be happy to help me.”

Vale was quiet again and then said, “I should tell you that I’m not fond of red tulips.”

“Do you like pink and orange ones, though?”

“They’re preferable by far. Though purple irises are my favorite. Aside from red roses, of course.”

“Of course. They’re my favorite, too.” Wondrous joy swept through him. “And what about daffodils?”

“The ones with the white centers are always sweet.”

Jason started making a list on the paper he’d gotten out to doodle on. They discussed the garden for some time until Pater knocked on the study door and stuck his head in. “Dinner is ready, love. It’s time to get off the phone.”

Shocked to see that over an hour had passed since he first called Vale, he pleaded, “Already?”

“I’ll give you a moment of privacy to say goodbye, but your father is waiting.” His tone brooked no argument. Pater shut the door again and left Jason alone.

“I have to go eat dinner now.”

Wolf-god, he sounded like an infant, being called to the supper table by his parents.

“Oh!” Disappointment laced through Vale’s honey-rich voice. “I didn’t expect you’d have to end the call so soon. Though I suppose we did talk a long time about the garden.”

“Were there other things you wanted to talk about?” Jason asked, his breath coming quick.

“I suppose I thought…” Vale trailed off. “Never mind. It’s for the best that we don’t repeat what happened the other night. It was smart of you to come to this conversation with a level head.”

“Oh, my head isn’t level,” Jason assured him quickly, his skin prickling in excitement. “I just didn’t know if you wanted to—”

Vale cut him off. “You need to get to dinner and I need to find something in a tin for me and Zephyr here.”

“From a tin? That’s awful.” He wanted to ask Vale to come across town and eat with them. There would be more than enough. It was ridiculous that he couldn’t. Not without asking his parents’ permission and they’d have to issue the invitation. Then things would be awkward again.

“I’m accustomed to it,” Vale said. “No use preparing big meals for one person.”