Page 5 of The Alpha’s Addiction (Night Grove Falls: The Alphas #1)
FIVE
Adeline
What the heck is going on?
Rhodes seems normal one minute and crazy the next. I’m not sure what to make of him or this interaction. My body is going haywire. I feel hot and achy. I can’t seem to tear my gaze away from him, and I think he feels the same way.
Rhodes is so intense. He’s so focused on me, like I’m the center of his universe and he can’t look away.
“What now?” he asks me.
I blink. “What?”
“Do you have more deliveries?” he clarifies.
“No, that was the last one. I’m headed home now.”
He steps closer. “Where do you live?”
“Um…” I hedge, retreating until my back hits my car.
He lets out a rough breath and scrubs a hand through his hair in agitation. “I’m sorry. I’m messing this all up.”
“Messing what up?”
His coat cocoons me, his scent wrapping around me like a hug. I take a deep breath, my body relaxing and lighting up as I breathe him in.
“This,” he says, waving a finger between the two of us.
I have no idea what he’s talking about. My brain works overtime, trying to piece together everything that has happened in the last fifteen minutes. “I’m sorry, but what are you messing up?”
“This. Our romance.”
“Romance?” I squeak. Oh my gosh. He’s crazy. That’s the only explanation.
No one has ever shown an interest in me. I’m the chubby, shy girl who always has her face buried in a book. No one notices me or asks me out. Certainly, no one ever walks up to me and tries to romance me.
“Is this a joke?” I blurt.
He frowns. “What? No? What would the joke be?”
“Well, uh,” I stammer, motioning between the two of us.
“What?”
“Guys like you don’t go for girls like me,” I finally spit out.
“And what kind of guy am I? What kind of girl are you?”
“Are you serious? Open your eyes!”
“They’re open,” he says, growing angry.
“Then it should be perfectly clear.”
“It isn’t, so why don’t you lay it out for me?”
“You’re hot!”
“Thanks,” he says, inching closer.
“And I’m… not,” I finish, all of the steam leaving me in an instant.
“Fuck that,” he snarls. “You’re gorgeous. Fucking perfect. Did someone tell you otherwise? Give me their names,” he demands, his hands fisting by his sides.
“I—”
Yeah, I have nothing to reply to that.
I shake my head, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. “What romance?”
“Ours. We’re meant to be together,” he says matter-of-factly.
I stare at him in shock for a beat. “Well, I better get going,” I say carefully.
He frowns. “Who made you feel less than stunning?”
I shake my head. “No one.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he growls.
I sigh. “It’s not one person. It’s just… society.”
“Well, they’re idiots.”
“Got it,” I say, my head spinning from this whole conversation.
“I’ll fix it,” he promises.
I snort. “Uh huh.”
“I will.”
“Right.” I nod. “Well, I better get going.”
“Wait, let me take you out. We can grab some lunch. You need to eat.”
“No,” I reply before I can give myself a chance to think it over.
Rhodes blinks at me, and I use his surprise to open the car door and slip inside. I close the door and start the car with shaking hands. Rhodes knocks on the window, but I refuse to roll it down. He knocks on the window again, and I shift into reverse, swallowing hard as I pull out of the spot.
“Adeline!” he barks, his voice filled with frustration and something that sounds like fear.
I don’t answer him, but I can’t resist peeking at him one last time as I drive away. He’s staring at me intently, and I know this isn’t over. He’s not letting me go without a fight.
I shiver in my seat, realizing I’m still wearing his jacket.
I’ll have to see him again when I give it back.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach at the thought.
Holly is never going to believe this.
Heck, I can barely believe it myself. I mean, most guys ignore me or look right through me. I’m used to that.
But I’ve never met anyone like Rhodes. We only spent a few minutes together, but my body is still buzzing from the experience.
The buzzing doesn’t stop for a long time.