Who's Your Alpha?

by Vicky Burkholder

  Except for Mack sitting at a table in the center of the room and the wait staff, the place was empty. Not a single other diner. All the tables looked pristine, like nobody had dined there at all. As soon as Mack saw her, a bright smile lit his face. He strode over to her, a bouquet of scarlet roses in his arms. She sighed. Not her favorite flower, but not bad.

  “You look wonderful.”

  “Thank you.” She took the flowers and let him guide her to her seat. He signaled to a silent waitress standing next to the kitchen door. “And thank you for the flowers and clothes.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind. I took the liberty of selecting our meal.”

  She did mind. A lot. But she bit back her retort. She didn’t want to appear ungrateful, especially after everything he’d done. “Sure. What are we having?” Please, God, let me get through this without biting his head off.

  The waitress set a plate in front of her and whisked off the lid. French onion soup. Okay. Not too bad. Something she liked. “Oh, this looks good.” She noticed the waitress sending Mack lingering looks. She recognized the woman from the class behind theirs in school, though she’d had several classes with Sunny and Mack. Sunny had heard she’d gotten a degree in engineering. What was a woman so smart doing here as a waitress? She decided to keep an eye on the woman as they ate. Maybe…

  “It’s a specialty of the house. Actually, everything we’re having is.”

  The soup was delicious, but Sunny put down her spoon after just a few sips. “Mack, you shouldn’t spend so much on me.”

  He reached for her hand, but she pulled back, clasping them on her lap. She noted the sour look on his face quickly masked by the smile.

  “You’re worth every cent. Besides, what’s money for if not to spend on a beautiful woman?”

  *

  David stood outside the dining room’s glass doors and watched the scene unfolding inside. He couldn’t see Sunny’s face, but he could see every rose, every nuance as Mack reached for her hand, every movement of her shoulders. And each was a knife twisting in his heart. How could he compete with this? The setting was perfect. The food was perfect. The flowers were perfect. She was perfect.

  And he was a perfect fool.

  He’d lost.

  He turned from the romantic scene, needing to be alone with his pain. Needing the solace of the mountain. There was nothing left for him here. On the way out, he dumped the bouquet of carnations and daisies in the trashcan.

  *

  Sunny felt heat suffuse her face at Mack’s flattery. Nobody had ever called her beautiful before and in the space of two days, two very desirable, adorable men had. “Thank you.”

  She dug into the soup, hoping to ward off any more uncomfortable talk. That nagging voice in her mind piped up again, accusing her of having issues. She turned it off and finished her soup.

  The waitress removed their bowls and came back with steaming platters of broiled orange roughy with roasted green beans with rosemary and mashed sweet potatoes. “This is wonderful!”

  At least that was true. The food was delicious. And there was almost enough to satiate her. Dessert was a light lemon mousse between layers of buttery pound cake and vanilla cream. It melted in her mouth and she sighed in pleasure.

  “I hope you enjoyed everything.” Mack once again reached for her hand. This time she let him take it.

  But there was no spark there. No attraction. One touch from David had her panting for a bedroom. One touch from Mack had her mentally checking her watch to see what time it was. Not a good sign. But the looks the waitress had given her and Mack had been interesting. And she’d caught Mack glancing that way more than once—and not because their water glasses need refilling.

  “Everything was wonderful. Your chef is to be commended.”

  “Thank you.” He sighed and stared into her face. “But it’s not enough, is it?”

  She started. “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “It’s not enough. I can see it in your face. I could spend my entire fortune on you—and willingly would—but it wouldn’t be enough, would it? Not enough to make you want me. Why?”

  She sighed. She wasn’t used to being on this side of the conversation. Usually she was the one getting the brush off, not giving it. “It’s not you, Mack. You are incredibly good looking, generous, kind—”

  “Yeah, I’m a regular boy scout.”

  She gripped his hand. “That’s not what I mean. Any woman would be honored to have you at her side.”

  “Just not you.”

  “No. Not me. I’m sorry.”

  “What does he give you that I can’t?”

  “Me.” At his puzzled look, she explained further. “I don’t need someone to take care of me or pamper me all the time. I’m very independent. We wouldn’t work.” Sunny rose from the table. “I hope you’ll be my friend, but I understand if you can’t.” She nodded toward the waitress. “And as your friend, let me give you a little advice—sometimes the perfect mate is closer than you think.”

  His eyes widened. “Carly Simpson? But she works for me.”

  “And you’ve never heard of the boss marrying the help? You and I would never work. We’re too different. But there are others out there who would love to be with you, especially one in particular.”

  “All they see is the dollar signs.”

  “Not all of them. Think about it. Why would someone as bright as Carly with an advanced degree work as a waitress in a small town restaurant, even one as good as this?” To Sunny’s relief, Mack’s gaze followed Carly as she went about her duties. After a few minutes he smiled, and this time the sentiment lit his face. “You might be right. Thank you, Sunny. You very much deserve the title of alpha.”

  “Be happy, Mack.” She gripped his hand lightly, and then left, head high. That had gone better than expected. She only hoped she wasn’t wrong about him and Carly. But all their body language told her she wasn’t. Whistling a light tune, she climbed the steps to her room. Rommy was there, sitting on the floor, her back to the door, a suspicious brown bag at her side.

  “Hey, Rom! You made it.”

  “You’re late,” Rommy said.

  “Am not. You’re early.”

  “Am not.” She laughed and rose easily. It was an old argument between them. Sunny opened her door and waved Rommy in. Rommy handed her the bag as she passed.

  “How’s everything with the family?” Sunny asked as Rommy sprawled on the bed. She opened the bag and pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider, already cold. While Rommy grabbed the plastic cups from the bathroom, Sunny studied the bottle. It wasn’t Rommy’s usual fare. She liked her wine spritzers.

  “Oh you know, same old, same old. When are we going to have kids? When are we moving back?”

  “So when are you moving back?” She poured two glasses and handed one to Rommy, and then joined her on the bed. “And not that I’m complaining, but what’s with the cider?”

  “Um, possibly next May.”

  Sunny choked on her sip of cider and coughed. Eyes watering, she stared at her friend. “Say again? I thought you two were out of here. Like me. For good.”

  Rommy studied the wine in her glass. “Things change. Sam will be finished with his residency then and Doc Reynolds is thinking of retiring. He asked Sam if he wants to come into the practice. And Sam has some ideas about expanding the office, making it a true health clinic with alternatives like massage therapy, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. All that neat stuff.”

  “Oh, Rommy! That’s wonderful. Sam will make an incredible doctor for the town.”

  “Yeah. Plus this is the best place to raise the kid.”

  Sunny choked again. “What? You’re…?”

  Rommy blushed and nodded. “I’m due in June. We’ll live in my folks’ guest house until after the baby is born and take our time to find something.”

  “I’m so happy for you! Congratulations. And I guess that explains the cider.” She poured two more cups and held
hers up. “Here’s to you and Sam and the baby and moving and…oh, damn.” She couldn’t continue as tears clogged her throat. She set the cup down and hugged her friend. “Congratulations.”

  “You said that.” Rommy hugged her back. “But thanks. So what happened with you and Mack? And David this morning? And what’s with the cool suit? I’ve never seen you look that good.”

  “Thanks, I think.” She rose and opened the closet door and showed Rommy her new wardrobe. “Compliments of Mack.”

  “Whew!” She fingered the silk dressing gown. “I don’t think I want to know what you had to do to earn this!”

  “Nothing. The hotel is paying for it because of what Ruby did to my stuff.”

  “Honey, cotton flannel is replacement. This is ‘let me ravish you’ stuff.”

  “Not going to happen. Mack and I had a nice talk after lunch. I think he got the message, and last I saw, he had set his sights elsewhere.”

  “Good for you. Now, about David.”

  Sunny sighed and leaned back against the bed, stretching her stocking feet out in front of her. “I don’t know what to think. He’s been my dream since before I knew what dreams were. He’s everything I ever wanted and he’s my friend.”

  “So why aren’t you there jumping his bones?”

  “He only wants me because I beat Ruby. I’m the alpha now.”

  Rommy stared at her. “I can’t believe you just said that. You know, for someone so smart, you sure are dumb sometimes.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Ruby has been the alpha for at least a decade. And do you know the one man she couldn’t get to come to her in all that time?”

  “David?” Sunny’s voice came out as a bare whisper.

  “David. Honey, I know you’ve been to his so-called cabin. What did you think of it?”

  Sunny frowned at the sudden change in subject. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything so wonderful.”

  “It’s called Sun’s Retreat. He named the place after you, you idiot. No single woman has ever been there—except you. And you walked away. You are such an idiot!”

  Sunny collapsed onto the pillows, tears falling. “But he never said anything.”

  “Didn’t he? Guys don’t always talk with words. You of all people should know that. Last night, he defended you against someone who only wanted you because you are the alpha. This morning, he fixed you a breakfast fit for a queen and after spending most of the night patching up the folks you two fought. If that ain’t love…”

  “Oh, Rommy, what have I done?”

  “Nothing that can’t be undone. First of all, though, I have to know. Do you love him? I mean really love him? I’m not talking lust here—that belongs to a dozen women I can name. When you shut your eyes and imagine a future with kids and all, whose face do you see?”

  “His.” The pillow muffled her answer as well as her sobs.

  “Say again? I’m not sure I heard you.”

  She lifted her head. “Him.”

  Rommy nodded. “Good. ’Cause here’s what you’re going to do. With a little help from me and Sam, we might just get you back to being the smart bitch I know you to be.”

  Chapter 6

  Sunny paced the corridor outside the banquet room. She could hear the babble of the gathered attendees from inside. She wiped her palms on a paper towel she’d grabbed from the ladies room. Thanks to Rommy’s help, her dress, hair, and makeup were perfect. She’d never felt so pretty—or so scared. Ten years ago, she’d paced a similar hall on her way to her prom—alone. Here she was, a decade later, and still alone.

  Hopefully that would change by the end of the evening.

  She reached for the door only to have it spring open and Rommy come flying out.

  “He’s not here.”

  “What?” Please tell me I didn’t hear that. Please.

  “He’s not here. Nobody knows where he is.”

  “What about the clinic? Maybe he had another emergency.”

  Rommy shook her head. “Already checked. And he’s not answering at either the house or his cell. I’m sorry, Sun.”

  Sunny closed her eyes to keep the tears from falling. She leaned back against the wall. “Now what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Then Sunny heard—or rather, felt—the same sound she’d sensed earlier. “I wonder…”

  “Wonder what?”

  Sunny grinned at Rommy. “I think I know where he is.” She hugged Rommy. “Wish me luck.”

  She dashed for her car and took off up the mountain. A short time later, she skidded to a stop in front of David’s cabin. She wasn’t surprised to see no lights shining in the windows. In the distance, she heard the howl of a single dog. Nothing could match that sound for loneliness.

  She quickly stripped off her carefully prepared outfit, leaving the expensive clothes lying in a heap next to her car. The cold breeze forced a shiver from her, as did her nerves. Then she shifted.

  After a short run, she stopped in the middle of the same clearing where she’d fought Ruby the night before. What if David decided he didn’t want her after their fight?

  He wasn’t there. She was sure he would be. Sure he’d be sitting there.

  She howled her frustration to the stars.

  And was answered from the direction she’d just come from.

  She howled again.

  Another answer. Closer. Then short barks, growing ever closer.

  Then there he was, tongue lolling, as he trotted up to her. She sat there. Waiting to see what he would do. He sniffed her, and then backed off and sat watching her.

  The hell with this. Sunny shifted back to human.

  She stood there, the cold air puckering her skin and drawing her nipples to nubs and waited. A very long minute later, David also shifted.

  “Why are you here?” he asked. “I thought you’d be enjoying your night with Mack.”

  “Mack is with someone else. He and I are friends, but that’s it. I was going to give myself to you as the husky. But I couldn’t.”

  Confusion, and defeat, crossed his face. “You don’t want me?”

  “What? Of course I do! Damn. This isn’t going right. David, I was stupid this morning. I wasn’t thinking straight. But I need to know if you want me because I’m Sunny, or because I’m the alpha bitch.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in heat. “Sunny, I don’t care if you’re the alpha or the omega. If you’re a bitch or a witch. If you’re smart or dumb. All I care about is you. Sunny. The only girl I’ve ever wanted.” Then he kissed her.

  And finally Sunny knew.

  When she could breathe again, she felt him shivering in spite of the heat between them. “David?”

  “Hmmm?” His hands massaged her back down to her butt and stayed there.

  “It’s freezing out here.”

  “Yeah, but you warm me up.”

  “Maybe, but wouldn’t your cabin be more comfortable?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, probably. Race you.”

  They both shifted and raced through the trees. Once back, they shifted again and Sunny gathered her clothes from where she’d dropped them. David led her inside. He pushed the door shut, took her things from her and tossed them on a table, and then pulled her into his arms.

  “Better?”

  She growled low in her throat. His interest was very apparent and she palmed him, smiling when he gasped. Not to be outdone, he stroked her, teasing and tempting. Somehow they made their way toward the sofa, but they collapsed onto the soft rug in front of the fireplace. Though she hadn’t had many men, Sunny was no neophyte when it came to sex, but what she experienced with David went so far beyond anything she’d ever had. Her orgasm left her shuddering and weak, but oh, so satisfied.

  “Sunny?” David lay next to her, holding her close.

  “Hmmm?”

  “I love you.”

  She raised up on one elbow to study his face. And saw the truth. “I love you too.”

/>   “Will you stay with me? Marry me?”

  She sighed and lay back against his arm. “How ’bout if we take it one step at a time? There are a lot of things to think about. I’d need to find a job here, move, all that stuff.”

  “Don’t you want me?”

  “Of course I do. How can you even ask?” She already knew the real answer, but part of her still held back. “Give me time, David. I know there’s no one else for me, but—”

  He sat up and pulled her to him. “But you’ve been through a lot in the last two days. I’ve waited ten years. I suppose I can wait a little longer.”

  Sunny thought over the possibilities. What did she really have to go back to? Her life in Pittsburgh was one of existence, not living. In the past two days, she’d felt more alive than she had in ten years. The mountain was where she belonged. And David was the one man she could commit to with no regrets or even minor qualms. Then she thought about Rommy and her announcement. She wondered if Sam could use a clinical psychologist. She searched her feelings and made her decision. “Maybe six months?”

  “Six months? That’s all?” He stared into her face. “Are you sure?”

  “If you can find me a ring, we’ll make it official.” She grinned at the happiness in his face and knew she’d made the right decision. A heaviness she hadn’t known was weighing her down lifted.

  “Wait here.” He rose and Sunny got the chance to admire his cute butt as he strode over to a sideboard. On his way back, she got to admire another part of him. He knelt in front of her and opened the box. Inside lay a simple ring with a single black pearl set off with two tiny diamond chips. “Sunny, will you marry me?”

  “You remembered!” Tears sprang to her eyes. So long ago it seemed unreal, she and David had talked about their dreams and she’d mentioned she wanted a guy who wouldn’t shower her with diamonds—she preferred pearls, especially black ones, because they were unique. Different. She took the ring out and slipped it on her finger. Perfect.

  Like he was.

  Chapter 7