I gesture to my bakery as a whole. “Well, you’re both welcome anytime.” Part of me hopes Helena never leaves. Even if I know that means more than ever I need to calm the fuck down.You just met her.I clear my throat. “We do baking workshops on Sundays, if you ever want to see how the magic happens.”
Helena perks up. “That sounds wonderful. Can I sign up?”
Zane smirks. “She’ll make you regret it, Cole. She’s competitive.”
I nod, grinning. “Bring it on. Bet you can’t out-bake me.”
She tilts her chin, mock-serious. “Challenge accepted.”
Something in my chest does a little flutter I’ve never felt before. Then I wonder in what other ways Helena might like to be competitive.
There’s a beat, a warm stillness, and then Zane steps forward. He lowers his voice in the intimate way of old friends. “Hey, can I talk to you out back?”
I nod and lead him through the swinging door to the alley behind the bakery. My stomach coils into knots. He’s going to tell me to fuck all the way off. Old rivalries will hit and he just wants his omega to himself.
Which I get.
My inner alpha has jumpedfarfarther ahead than the rest of me.
“It’s good to see you,” he says finally.
“You too,” I reply, quiet. “Didn’t think you’d come back, honestly.”
Zane rubs the back of his neck. “Neither did I. Life’s complicated.” He glances at the open door, where Helena’s silhouette is visible. “She’s… special.”
I nod. “I can tell.”
“Are you…?” He trails off and paces a few steps away. When he turns back again, he inhales sharply and says, “You’re an alpha, and I can tell you’ve not just clocked Helena. But you’ve scent-matched, haven’t you?”
I don’t know what to say. Is it better to admit the truth? “If she’s your omega, I won’t—I mean, she’s a tourist, anyway, right?”
Zane studies me closely. Whatever he finds, he clearly doesn’toutrightdisagree with it. “Helena is my client.”
Client.That’s what his words say. But his body coiling tight, the protective stance he’s dropping into—these tell different stories.
“We’re here on holiday for her,” Zane supplies. “Then we’re going back to the city. That’s all I have say on that.”
This is seriously too much, too fast. Tooeverything.
I shake my head and clap him on the shoulder. “Listen, thank you for bringing it up, but it’s not going to be a problem. Or a thing. But I’m happy to see you back in Seamuse. They say the village has a way of bringing everyone back eventually.”
Zane inclines his head. “That it does. Thank you, Cole.”
We head back inside and I’m too scared of saying something to piss Zane off to say much of anything.
Luckily, Helena’s there already. “Thank you again, Cole. The bun and coffee were delightful. Hope to see you again!”
“You too,” I say and she and Zane trail off toward the front door. All the while I wonder what Helena must think—if anything.
Wait.
Helena.
As inLucas’s Helena?
The scent-matched omega tourist he saved from drowning?
They’re already out of sight by the time I process this information. Which is probably for the best.
