Baiting Him (How to Catch an Alpha 2)

“You too.” Gus lets her hand go to capture me possessively around the waist, and she gives me an awkward smile before she leaves through the door.

I watch her walk past the windows looking dazed, and I shake my head, and then I tip my head back toward Gus, and his gaze dips to meet mine. “I think for the sake of business and my shop girls’ sanity, I should ban you from my bakery.” At my comment, his fingers curl tightly around the side of my waist, and he lowers his head so he can touch his smiling lips to mine. “I’m not kidding,” I inform him when he pulls slightly away. “My girls can’t handle being in your presence without going all awkward. It’s not good for business.”

“They’ll get over it,” he informs me, still smiling.

“I don’t think they will.” I shake my head in denial. “Aubrey is better than Rachelle at keeping her giddiness locked away whenever you come into the shop, but the two of them still fumble around like newborn baby deer whenever you’re here.” I narrow my eyes on his in mock annoyance. “I don’t even want to imagine the kind of destruction you leave behind whenever you enter your club or one of your bars.”

He laughs at my joke, but I catch the somewhat guarded look in his eyes. I start to open my mouth to ask him what that’s about, but before I can get a word out, he distracts me with a deep kiss that makes my toes curl and my mind blank of anything but him.

“What are we doing for dinner?” he asks, holding me tightly while keeping his mouth close to mine.

I attempt to catch my breath and blink away the haze of desire that has settled over me and admit, “I don’t know.”

“I was on my way to the store; that’s why I stopped by. I wanted to see what you’re in the mood for.”

Him holding me so tightly and speaking with his lips brushing mine, I tell him the truth. “I just want you.”

“You’ve got me.” He brushes his lips across mine. “So what do you want to eat?”

“I can cook.” I rest my hands against his chest, and he lifts one brow. “Don’t give me that look. I can cook more than breakfast, even if I haven’t done it yet.”

“So you’ve said, but I have yet to experience you cooking dinner for me.” He chuckles.

“Whatever.” I laugh, shoving against his chest gently, and he covers my hands with his, holding them against his shirt. “Fine, I won’t cook, because it’s going to be late by the time I leave here, but I can pick something up on my way home.” I lean slightly into him. “I know you’re busy with getting things ready for New Year’s.”

“I don’t mind cooking, and since you don’t know what you want, I’ll surprise you.”

“You really don’t have to make me dinner,” I repeat, feeling guilty that he’s working so hard and still taking care of me.

“I know I don’t, but I’m still going to.” He kisses me swiftly, then lets me go when the door chimes and Aubrey and Rachelle walk in carrying bags of food, and they both smile when they see us together.

“Hi, Gus,” Aubrey stops to say, and Rachelle, who’s staring at Gus, runs right into her friend’s back, almost knocking her over.

“Sorry.” Rachelle laughs, then smiles at Gus. “Hey.”

“See?” I roll my eyes, hearing Gaston chuckle.

“Hey, girls,” he says to the two of them, and then he looks down at me. “I’ll see you tonight, baby.”

“See you tonight.” I walk him to the door, receiving one more kiss before he walks out. Once he’s gone, I turn to face my girls, who are both grinning at me. “What?”

“You’re so totally in love with him.” Aubrey points at me.

“And he’s totally in love with you.” Rachelle grins.

“You’re both right,” I say, and they let out loud, earsplitting, girly screeches before they do their normal jumping-around business. I watch the two of them celebrate my newfound love and happiness, and I force myself to breathe through the goodness when I really want to cry happy tears.

Suggestion 14

LAY THE GROUNDWORK

GASTON

I walk with LeFou on his leash to where Chrissie is standing just outside the lobby doors of our building, and her head turns at our approach. Seeing the excited look on her face, I shake my head, saying softly, “Sweetheart, you need to relax.”

“I can’t.” She bounces on her toes, and LeFou at her feet hops up on his hind legs to join her in her excitement. When his front paws make contact with her shins, she pauses long enough to pick him up, then cuddles him against her chest and tells me something I already know. “They’re going to be here any minute.”