Chapter Three

Dusting was the worst. The absolute worst. But, since we had a good variety of gift items, along with flowers and cards, it had to be done. My shop was right off the main road and every time someone came in to shop around, the dust of the town came in with them.

Dusting was such an issue that it had been part of my written instructions from my uncle when the lawyers handed over the keys to his business and home. He'd even completed what he called death cleaning. A little different than the Swedish version I'd read about where the person does it themselves, he had the place professionally cleaned from top to bottom, including removing all his clothes and personal items so that the apartment was ready to move in.

I missed him every time I walked into my apartment, but somehow he'd known this place was my destiny.

As I sat at the computer and placed orders, movement outside the window grabbed my attention. I let out a small groan seeing Zion making his way from his shop to mine. The alpha was so kind. He always brought over snacks and new items for me to try, but I had an underlying feeling that he wanted more than to check on me in a friendly way. He wanted me to sample more than his salami.

He was a shy one at first. Only saying hello and bringing me tiny cutting boards with all kinds of cheese cubes, meat slices, and decadent honey and jams. But after a bit, he would lean against the counter, asking about my day.

His eyes held the gaze of an alpha, slowly but surely moving to ask me to do more than to taste his treats. He wanted me to be his treat.

"Good afternoon," he said in that husky voice of his as he came in. The scent of meat, cheese, fruit, and some kind of jam hit my nose and instantly, I realized how strong my hunger was.

"Hello, Zion," I said, feeling incredibly ungrateful. "You don't have to keep doing this." I didn't want him to get the idea that by accepting all his sweet gifts, I was okay with allowing anything more to happen.

He smiled as though coming in here and delving into his inventory for a friend was a good thing. A friend? Yes. Friends and friends only.

"I had a big order this morning, and these are the leftovers. I didn't want them to go to waste." He ignored my comment. "Have you eaten today at all, Cicek?"

His question struck me. "Oh, wow. I haven't. I had coffee this morning. Does that count?"

He laid a white box with a clear plastic window on top in front of me. "No, it most certainly doesn't count. Go on. I'm trying out this new box for people who stop in for a quick lunch."

I opened the box, running my finger underneath the sticker with his logo. "Go on," I found myself teasing. "Pitch the box to me."

"What?" He chuckled.

"Come on. This is your newest creation. Pretend I'm a customer coming in to get something, and I can't decide."

Zion was a handsome alpha, not my usual type, but sexy and alluring in his own way. He had boy-next-door looks. Tousled brown hair. Fluffy around the middle, dad bod. A killer smile. Blue eyes that made me want to gaze into them for hours at a time. He wasn't prideful or arrogant.

He was persistent as the moon though.

"I'm bad at this," he admitted with a half smile.

I nodded. He sure was shy and I found it incredibly attractive. He didn't puff his chest out or tell me how good he was at anything or everything. He was humble and modest. And in this shyness, there was a charm I found myself trying hard to resist.

"At least tell me what everything is."

His half smile turned into a full one. "Chicken salad with grapes and pecans. Deviled eggs with a sprinkle of paprika. Whole grain crackers. Slices of muenster and gouda. Salami. Peppered, roasted turkey. Hot honey and two marzipan-stuffed dark-chocolate hearts. And a selection of raw veggies with dip. A new thing for me."

By the time he was done, my mouth was watering—and only mostly for the food. The way he talked about food made me tingle all over. He took care and made almost everything in house. What he didn't make himself, he ordered from particularly curated places, some in town and some not. He always bought the best quality items.

"And this." He brought out a small bottle of sparkling apple juice and a cup.

"You thought of everything."

He watched me as I dug into the food. As predicted, everything was divine, and in only a short span, I had finished the entire box.

"I can bring you more?" he asked, his warm gaze boring into me, warming my chest and all my other parts.

No. We could never be anything more than friends. It had to be this way. I wouldn't ever live under the weight of an alpha's expectations again.

"No, Zion. It's too much. I feel awful for taking this all the time."

He grunted, and a low rumble came from his chest. His bear, no doubt. "It's really no trouble. I enjoy it. Usually people leave with my food and eat in their homes or at their work. Seeing someone enjoy my labors brings me happiness."

My hedgehog purred a bit at the notion of bringing this big, brawny bear some joy. The animal within me was enamored with the bear inside Zion. I knew it. But, this time, I overrode his desires.

"I bet some flowers would brighten up your shop. The customers might enjoy them. Here." I walked over to the refrigerated glass case and brought out my happiest bouquet of daisies and yellow and coral roses. I reached for a vase, but he stopped me with a hand up.

"I have one, Cicek. You already gave me a vase."

I nodded, handing over the flowers. Our hands brushed, causing a shiver to spill over my body and into my veins. If I was another omega, I would admit how much this alpha appealed to me—how I could see myself mated to him.

But I was not that omega. And I would never be.