Page 21 of Pack’s Pledge
“She was busy,” Conall said, and my heart warmed. He’d spent the night, and asked her to fucking brunch. The man was smitten. Good for him. And…
“Do you know if she works tonight?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
“No, Ardor’s closed Mondays,” he said, then his eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I was thinking about taking her out,” I tossed out, then raised my gaze to his. Conall’s eyes were dark, his jaw set.
“Ooh, alpha,” Beau said, but his sarcastic smirk was undermined somewhat by the subtle scent of sweet mint that suddenly drifted through the kitchen. “So protective. That’s hot, you know that, right?”
Conall rolled his eyes and set his jaw. “Shut it, Beau. I’m not in the mood.”
“But I bet you were last night,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
“He’s not saying,” I said.
Beau booed.
“Your name’s pronouncedboh, notboo, man, Jesus. You forgot your own name? I know I’m good, but I never knew I was that good,” I said, stealing back my coffee.
“Fuck, you’re right. It’s a goddamntragedyyou’re keeping that incredible cock from Britt, A, you better fix that.” My phone was on the counter, and he slid it toward me a few inches. “Call her. Ask her out.”
I noticed his eyes flick to Conall and back, and grinned. Conall appeared to be too busy glowering to see what was going on, but Beau knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t, despite my teasing, stupid. Not at all. There was a reason he was one of very few omegas in charge of successful startup companies.
“You’re right, boo, you’re right,” I said, and flicked open my phone, navigating through my contacts. “Bethany, Brianna, no… ah,hereshe is,Britt–”
“Hello,” Conall said, a gentle smile on his lips even as his brows were furrowed. “Yeah, I didn’t think I’d be calling so soon, either.”
Beau low-fived me under the counter, out of Conall’s sight, and winked.
Conall had his phone pressed to his ear tight, his voice low and gentle. “I was wondering if you might want to come to dinner again tonight, I know it’s last minute, but…” he hesitated, glancing over the counter at Beau and I and frowning. “Seven?”
I didn’t need to ask if the answer was yes or no: it was obvious on the other alpha’s face, which had cleared into a soft expression I’d rarely seen on his serious features. Damn, the man was totally gone for this girl. I didn’t blame him; I had been, too, even after only seeing her in her bar uniform and her tee shirt. If Conall had seen her in that lingerie… well, I’d fucking give anything to have that vision behind my eyelids. I wished momentarily that our bond stretched to visuals.
Although… I shuddered, thinking of all the other shit I’d be forced to endure. Conall watched far too many documentaries.
Better that it didn’t.
He hung up.
“So?” I asked, the picture of innocent curiosity.
“She’s busy. With me.”
He strode from the room–presumably to start getting ready, it would take him all twelve hours until then to school his expression back into that of a serious, no-bullshit alpha–and Beau smiled at me, stealing my coffee once again. I stood, got another mug from the cabinet, and poured myself a replacement cup.
“Great job, team,” Beau said, and I nodded.
“We’ll make an alpha of him yet,” I agreed, and the omega burst out into loud laughter.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Britt
I was surprised–butpleased–that Conall had invited me out again so soon after our date. I was even more pleased that he invited me back to his place, afterwards.
I’d half-thought I’d scared him. I still couldn’t remember my forwardness after our first–first, Britt,first–date, when I’d shimmied out of my dress and dropped to my knees. He had to be used to that, by now, right, as an alpha? But then again, he was mated–it wasn’t like he was picking up omegas at clubs.
No, they’d been trying to pick up an alpha, I thought, marveling at the strangeness of it all. Conall had been at my club, trying to pick up another alpha for his omega.