“Coco’s Thai special,” I say with a straight face. “Extra points if you can guess what went in it.”
“A challenge. I love challenges.”
“I bet you do.” When a silver brow goes up, I hurry to say, “With the job you do. Being in business and all.”
He nods but that beautiful smile fades. He always looks good, and he’s pleasant in a reserved, slightly distant way, but tonight he looks… ruffled? As if a black cloud is hanging over him.
“Is it work?” I whisper.
He blinks. “What?”
“The thing bothering you. Is it work? Is everything all right?”
“Now that you’re here, everything is fine.”
He keeps saying things like that, making my heart flutter, but he never follows through. That’s your final warning, Coco: let go.
Still, I come around the island and set his bowl down. “Wanna talk about today?”
He usually doesn’t. But tonight he hesitates, glancing at me as if to verify I really want to know. “It’s boring business stuff.”
“You can tell me while eating,” I decide and go back to the stove to serve another bowl. Mushrooms, veggies, noodles, my dish has it all. I find myself wanting to make nutritious food for him, worried he doesn’t eat well during the day. Also, delicious food because homemade food is the best.
It’s the omega in me, I suppose, who likes cooking and baking and looking after people. Nothing to do with this specific alpha, this strong, beautiful, sexy man sitting at the table with me for a quiet dinner.
I sit beside him and dig in. I’m hungry after running around all day and cleaning his spotless apartment. Hey, I still clean it even if it’s so clean I doubt he spends a minute here except for this dinner ritual with me.
He grabs his spoon and fork and digs in, too. Then he moans, a deep rumbling sound that has me almost choking on my food. “Fuck.”
“What is it? Too spicy?”
“It’s perfect. So damn good. Never tasted anything better.”
A big smile breaks over my face. “Seriously?”
“Yes. But also, don’t you know I’d eat anything you cooked, even burned toast?”
No, no. He can’t keep doing this to me, saying such sweet, hot things, so I decide I didn’t hear this. “Tell me about your day.”
He groans, putting his utensils down and shaking his head. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“You didn’t sign up for this.”
I give him a steady look. “You must think me very shallow, to accept so much from you and not care if you’ve had a bad day.”
His mouth falls open. It’s funny. I don’t think I’ve ever caught him by surprise before. “Coco,” he whispers.
“Eat your food. It’s growing cold.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He digs his spoon into the bowl, then gives a quiet laugh. “You’re bossy for an omega.”
“So I’ve been told,” I whisper, and my heart aches because I want to tell him that officially I’m not what he thinks. Would he care? Does it matter when he wants nothing to do with me beyond this? “Just know I’m interested in listening, if you think it might help. Even if it’s just to get it off your chest. I’m interested, Ace. I want to know about your day. Deal with it.
“Calm down, kitten.” There’s a growl in his gravelly voice that strokes deep inside me, making me shiver. “I only thought you might find it boring.”
“That’s because we never have meaningful conversations,” I grumble. “You ask me about my day and that’s all. You don’t want to know how I feel or get really involved with me.”
