But when I opened the door, I saw something unexpected. Each of the three held a huge bouquet of flowers, thrust out toward me. “What’s going on?”
Diesel laid at least two dozen roses in every shade of purple in my arms. “I know you only accepted the invitation from Carver and Aries, but we’re kind of a package deal.” He waved to the other two who added their gifts to my arms. “What we didn’t know, I’m ashamed to say, is what color you liked best.” roses were pink, Carver’s a deep bloodred.
“Or even for sure what kind of flowers,” Aries added. “So, maybe we should have gotten different ones but we thought we’d start with the tried and true then ask for next time.”
“I’m so confused.”
“You are?” Carver frowned. “It’s our date, the one we talked about? We’re here to take you out to dinner, unless you’d rather do something else?”
“It’s tonight?”No, say, I changed my mind. Thanks but no thanks.“I have to change.” Halfway to my room, I turned back and hurried into the kitchen. “Thea, look.”
“Oh my goodness. Those boys are a class act. You are the luckiest female ever.”
“No…I don’t want anyone in my life just now, maybe never.”
“So, did you tell them?”
“Not yet.” I laid the flowers on the counter. “I’ll do it at dinner.”
“Good plan. I’ll get these in water for you while you go out on a date to tell them you don’t want to date them.”
I was letting that thought run around my brain, when I caught sight of Suzie sitting in the corner of the kitchen. Her gaze lay on the flowers, soft, aching, and I said, “Maybe Suzie could help with the roses? Break them up into smaller bouquets so everyone can have a few in their room? I don’t know about vases…”
Thea’s broad smile lit her eyes. “Suzie, grab that case of mason jars from the pantry, dear. We’ll take care of that while Josie goes out to disappoint the alphas.”
Halfway out the door, I turned back at Suzie’s soft cry. “No. These alphas are kind. Don’t hurt them.”
Hell. The one opinion she voiced, and it was telling me not to do what I needed to do. “I’ll try not to, Suzie.”
The way I felt, it was more likely to be the other way. They’d figure out soon that I wasn’t worthy of them. My wolf responded to that with a snarl. She wanted them, but she’d consider anything negative I said about myself to be about us both and therefore intolerable. As I started down the hall toward my room again, I heard Thea and Suzie talking about the guys,the flowers, and it was a really normal sort of girl talk. Did my heart good.
I didn’t have time for a lot of fussing, but I could at least put on the dress I’d found in my closet, the high-heeled sandals, and pull my hair up in a high ponytail. A little mascara, gloss, and I had nothing more to add. How good did I have to look for a dinner where I was letting them all know I wouldn’t date them? If I could spill it on the way to the restaurant, I’d save myself time and them time and money.
So, why didn’t I do that?
Chapter Fourteen
Carver
She never did say which color roses she preferred or even if roses were something she liked, but as we walked away from the motel, she thanked us and told us what she’d done with them. “I hope it’s all right that I shared your gifts with the other residents. You were so generous, and they will do so much to brighten all their rooms.”
“Did you keep any for yourself?” Diesel asked, strolling along on her right.
“I hope so. I did say all their bedrooms…” She chewed on her lower lip. “I hope so.”
“Don’t worry.” I patted her left arm. “If not, there are more where those came from. We should have remembered all the others. I bet nobody is bringing them anything pretty.”
“No.” She offered me a small smile. “But thanks to you and Thea, they have a warm bed, good food, and clothes. Also, opportunities to make their own way going forward. I think that matters more to them than anything like flowers or candy.”
“Did you want candy?” Aries asked. “Because we can—”
“No. It’s not necessary,” she protested. “I just meant…well, you know what I meant.”
“We do.” And I was so proud of our mate, putting everyone else first, without even thinking of herself. “It means you are kind.”
We walked a couple of blocks and turned the corner. The restaurant, an intimate French bistro owned by some friends of ours, was close enough not to drive. We sometimes went there for a snack before the club opened, and we’d given them a heads-up about bringing our mate tonight. Also, that we hadn’t officially mated her or even discussed the matter yet.
“Before we get to the restaurant, I wanted to say—”
