Well, that had gone fairly well.
“You’re meeting everyone tonight.” Theteasing voice made me smile as I turned.
“Unfortunately, I’m not making a favorableimpression on some people.” Leaning against a couch on the edge of the crowd, Ismiled at Rowan. “But you’ll never guess who I met here.”
His grin widened. “Big alphas who aren’tshy about flirting? ’Cause that’s who I met.”
Chuckling, I shook my head and dropped myvoice low. “No, I met your favorite erotica author who’s here as his alter ego,so don’t give it away.”
“No!” His gaze bounced around the room ashe stretched up to see over the crowd. “Really?”
I nodded, searching the room for Dakota butnot seeing him. “Yeah, he’s one of the guys who are putting the club together.”
“Did you ask if you got the job?” Rowan wassearching the room but finally gave up and turned back to me. “Well?”
I shrugged. “He was vague, but from whathis rough-looking buddy said, I think I have the job. He just doesn’t like thefact that he’s got the hots for me.”
Rowan laughed. “He didn’t say that.”
“Not in so many words, but the way he waswatching me and licking his lips like I was a lamb chop said enough.” Knowinghis imagination, that was one omega who’d been having some sexy fantasies.
Rowan giggled. “But finding you hot isn’tthe same thing as wanting to work around you or date you.”
Sighing, I nodded. “I don’t need logicright now.”
More giggles escaped as he tried to looksympathetic. “Sorry.”
Rowan had been bouncing between reality andwaiting for us both to find our Mr. Rights since we’d first met several yearsago. Initially, we both thought we might have been perfect for one another, butit soon became clear that we were meant to be friends.
“Do you want me to tell you it’s all goingto work out perfectly?” He grinned when I rolled my eyes.
“I’m good, thanks.” I shrugged as I lookedaround the room, searching for Dakota again. I just couldn’t seem to stopmyself. “I have a feeling it will work out, you know?”
When he nodded, I grinned at him, ready tochange the subject. “And how about you? Any fabulous options?”
It was his turn to shrug, but when heblushed, it ruined the casual movement. “Possibly. I met a few guys who arecurious about that kind of stuff, so we’ll see.”
“I told you that you needed to get out andmeet more people.” I laughed when he snorted.
“This is different. In regular dating, it’shard to tell what people are into. But with this, everyone’s kinky in some way,so even if they’re not into age play or puppy play then it’s still okay.” Hissmile widened. “And evidently some of the guys here came from two hours away,so that’s why so many are new.”
Ah, that explained the number of unfamiliarfaces.
“I wasn’t sure how there were this manykinky people in town without me realizing it.” As I studied the room, Rowangiggled again.
“There are even other littles and pupshere. Even one beta little who has a playroom and invited me over. He’s single,but it might be fun to play together.” His voice made it clear he was talkinghimself into it.
“I think that’s a great idea.” He neededmore little friends even if they just talked as grown-ups. “I’ll come hang outas the pretend Daddy if you want?”
There were lines we didn’t cross, but I didn’tmind hanging out while he colored and watched cartoons. I was usually thedesignated snack and juice provider, and occasionally did things like make himtake a nap when he was stressed out.
Rowan beamed. “Thanks. I’ll talk to him.”
With that seeming to be settled in hismind, he focused back on my fun. “So you really met Dakota Young here?”
“In the flesh.” I chuckled. “He wassearching the kitchen for paper to write on.”
I wasn’t psychic no matter what Dakotamight think when he looked back on our interaction. I’d just seen the sameexpression on too many authors’ faces to mistake it for anything else. They’dget that faraway look then would start patting themselves down or searchingthrough bags and purses.
