Page 14 of Such a Sweet Omega (His Alpha Desires #5)
Beale
On the way to the alpha’s car, I stopped walking and tugged on his hand. “Jabez, if someone needs you at the hospital, you need to be there right away, right? Why don’t you go on, and I can get a ride. Every second counts.”
“I’m not ready to let you go,” he said. “I can get you that burger or whatever you like then drop you off on the way. It won’t take that long. There are other healers at the hospital.”
Sweet alpha. I wanted to go on this date, but I’d never be able to live with myself if someone didn’t get the treatment they needed all because I was selfish and wanted this alpha to myself. “I have an idea, but let’s get walking again.”
He nodded. “What’s the idea?”
“I’ll come with you and wait in the car. I’m not ready for this date to end either. I want more time with you. I’ve become greedy.”
He chuckled and opened the door for me. He got in the driver’s side and turned the car on. “Are you sure? It might be hours. I don’t even know what’s going on with the patient. There might be tests and procedures. Hell, I might be there all night.”
As he pulled out of the parking spot, his anxiety pulsed between us. Just like the other night at the club, the alpha, my alpha, was torn between those who needed him and his responsibilities and me. Flattering, sure, but I hated that he had to choose.
“I don’t care. I’ll take a nap or play on my phone in the car.”
“A parking lot isn’t the safest place,” he grumbled.
“I’ll be fine, Jabez. I will.”
Growling, he gripped my hand tighter. “Omega, I swear, every time you say my name, my wolf goes nuts. It’s like you’re speaking directly to him.”
I looked out the passenger window, sure I was blushing like a teenager. “I bet he’s beautiful.”
“He’s eager to see your wolf as well.”
I turned back, watching him as he drove. He took the turns with such care and ease, driving the car with control. His clenched jaw made me wonder if he was tense because of the emergency or because of me. Selfishly, I hoped it was me.
A few miles later, we arrived at the hospital. It was small in comparison to the big campuses of most human facilities, and nothing about it announced that it was anything more than a small private hospital with no ER. Of course, they had emergency accommodations, but that kept humans from showing up for services, he’d explained. Jabez reached for the placard in his glove box and retrieved it, brushing my thigh. He glanced at me with darkened eyes as he put the piece of plastic on the rearview mirror. Yeah, he knew the effect he had on me.
“I have a better idea,” he said. “But only if you agree. I don’t like the idea of you staying in this parking lot alone. There are security guards, and I doubt anything would happen, but I wouldn’t be able to focus on my patient, knowing there was even a slight chance you were in danger here.”
“What’s the idea?” I asked as he had earlier.
“How about you stay in my office while I work? I have a couch in there. Snacks in the drawer. No one will bother you.”
“Are you sure? That’s not against some rules?”
“Not at all.”
He came over to open my door, and we walked hand in hand into the hospital. The security guard gave me a sticker ID to put on my jacket. We speed-walked to the elevator and in minutes were in his office. He had a nameplate on his door and everything.
Goddess, I was out of my league. This man was a healer and a successful businessman with omegas probably lining up to be with him. Strike probably. There were tons of omegas who watched him at the club with desire in their eyes.
“Come in. Please. Make yourself at home.”
The office was all clean lines and no extraneous items, just like his office at the club. The only frames on the walls held his accolades from various trainings and some honors from the hospital itself.
“I’m going to change.” Jabez went into the bathroom while I read over his achievements. The alpha was talented in all ways. From what I could tell, he was as close to perfect as I could imagine anyone getting.
That only begged the question louder. Why in the world was an alpha like him interested in an omega like me?
He came out of the bathroom in dark-blue scrubs. The top was tucked in, and the thin material gave his body virtually no protection.
I could see his abs. The thickness of his thighs. All kinds of thickness going on under the blue fabric.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’ll never get to the patient.”
“You’d better go then because I’m having a hard time not drooling.”
Chuckling, he walked over and put his hands on my shoulders. “There is a pillow and a blanket on the couch and snacks are in the bottom right drawer. Water—in the fridge.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m having a very hard time leaving you right now.”
“You have to. People need you. Go on. Do your job and then come back to me. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded and kissed my forehead and then my lips—twice. “I’ll be back.”
As the door shut behind him, I let out a sigh. Not the way I wanted to end this date but at least I wasn’t home alone. He would come back once he’d finished up.
I got on my phone and read some of my latest book until my eyelids drooped. The pillow and blanket smelled like Jabez, and I pressed it to my face, inhaling the vanilla and brown sugar goodness. Lying with my legs curled up on the short couch, I took a moment to let myself dream about what it would be like to be mated to Jabez. Would this be my life, waiting and hoping he was okay, not a lot of time between his two jobs?
Still, it would be worth it to have even a few moments with him.
I sighed as sleep took me. Jabez would be the best dad.