Page 8 of Such a Sweet Omega (His Alpha Desires #5)

Beale

I was losing it. Right there in the damned restaurant. I just had to come here. Bring myself on a date.

What a stupid idea.

Sweat trickled down the length of my spine as I tried to read the menu. There was a small stain on the parchment-like paper, and I focused on it with every ounce of presence I had left while I planned my exit.

I looked up, desperate for that water the waiter promised me.

That’s when I saw him.

Jabez. I shook my head, thinking I was daydreaming. Either that, or I had passed out right there at the table. I reached down and pinched at the side of my thigh, trying to wake myself before someone else had to. The last thing I needed or wanted was more embarrassment. Hissing at the pinch, I realized I wasn’t dreaming or passed out.

He was here. At this place. His eyes were on me as he came closer.

My wolf let out a long, low howl. I didn’t recognize that noise from him.

“Jabez,” I choked out, mentally cursing the waiter for failing to bring me water.

“Beale, I thought that was you. Are you alone? Expecting someone?” His hand touched my shoulder and instantly, the world stopped spinning and I was able to breathe again.

“No. I’m here. Dating myself. Taking myself out on a date.” It sounded as lame out loud as it did in my head. Great.

“Oh, and here I was going to ask you to join me for dinner.”

“You’re eating here?” Boy, I was a genius tonight.

“I am. I hate to eat alone though. When I saw you across the room, I thought you might want to join me. But if you’re having a good time alone…”

“No.” I stood, nearly toppling the chair over. “I’m not. I would love to join you.”

“Excellent. I have a booth over there. Not so many prying eyes.”

Did he know how much that bothered me? Sitting in the middle of the room with their stares drilling holes into my back?

We walked over to the booth together. It took everything in me not to reach out and hold his hand. He had a presence. The way he walked. Talked. Owned the room. I’d touched him momentarily the other night, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to sink into his embrace. To melt into his body. Let him hold me. Make me safe again.

“Please, sit.” I sat down and he did the same. One flick of his fingers had the same waiter rushing over to fill a pitcher full of ice water and place a new glass in front of me. “Water?” The alpha was a mind reader. I drained the glass in seconds, but he didn’t flinch.

I wondered for a second what his kink was. Something where he was in control, no doubt. Firm hand. Steady breaths. Goddess, he turned me on. It was a good thing we were sitting on opposite sides of a booth.

“I was surprised it was so chilly tonight,” he said. “May I order for you? I come here a lot. Unless you had something in mind.”

“Please do. Thank you. I’ve never been here before.”

Another flick of his fingers had the waiter returning. “Something else, Healer?” He blinked a little too much.

“Yes. Double my order, please. My new friend is hungry. Bring them out at the same time—”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I interrupted. “Really. You can bring his food out as soon as it’s ready.”

“At the same time,” he told the waiter who soon returned with our meals.

“It was chilly the other night. When I was at the club.” He had started a conversation about the weather so I followed. Not what I wanted to talk about with him but it would do.

Jabez nodded. “You never know with spring.” We talked about other things while waiting for the food. Our favorite seasons. My favorite dessert. He told me he skipped dessert more often than not but partook of a single square of dark chocolate at night.

I could imagine this gentle giant sitting in his bed, naked, covered only by a sheet from the waist down, gently putting a square of luscious chocolate past those full lips.

“Beale?” he asked. “Did you hear me?”

Shit. I’d been fantasizing about him again. Right here. I had to get myself together.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t.”

He chuckled low and deep, doing nothing to weaken my raging hard-on. “Are you enjoying the food?”

He’d ordered us steak and potatoes au gratin. Nothing I would’ve gotten for myself but… “It’s incredible.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The night dwindled and once we were done with our meal, Jabez put his napkin on the table. “I have to get to work but tonight was lovely.”

“It was. Thank you for not making me eat alone.”

“Funny. I was going to say the same thing to you. Next time you want to go out to dinner or lunch or breakfast or anything else, call me. I’m always up for a good meal with excellent company.”

“Okay.”

He paid the check after a little protest from me.

“I have one condition,” I said as he got up to leave.

“Name it, omega.”

The word rolled over me like warm honey. “You let me pick up the bill next time.”

Jabez bent down, pressing his lips to my earlobe. “Of course, Beale. Until next time.”