Chapter 1: Rush

Chapter One

Rush

W e don’t get many new faces around here in summer, let alone in the dead of winter. Especially not beautiful lone female travelers. Her long brown hair sways as her gaze darts around.

Tossing the dish rag over my shoulder, I make my way out of the bar and into the reception area of the bed-and-breakfast. Goose bumps break out down my arms as I pass. It’s noticeably colder over here, likely from the door being opened for her to come inside. Ignoring that, I pass through to get to the reception desk.

“Can I help you?” I ask, eyeing the woman head to toe. She’s swallowed by her winter coat, but she’s beautiful. That’s undeniable. Her hazel eyes are glassy, likely from the cold, which also explains the pink in her cheeks. There’s a softness to her face that makes her seem on the younger side.

“I have a reservation.” She tugs off her gloves, and I notice the bags at her feet.

Well, a reservation would make sense, since this is a bed-and-breakfast, but I own this place and check the schedule every morning. There were no reservations listed for today, but there’s no use in alarming her when it’s something I can easily fix.

“Let’s check you in, then.” I stride over to the computer. “Can I have the name the reservation is scheduled under?”

“Lennox Summers.” She moves to unzip her puffy jacket, and I search her name, nodding when I see what happened.

“Okay, would you like the good news or the bad news?” I ask, pulling up the room list.

She frowns, dropping her coat over her forearm. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Nah, it’s no big deal.” I grin. “You did set a reservation, but for next year. You’ll just need to contact the third-party booking system that you used and cancel it. If you had booked directly through the bed-and-breakfast, I could’ve pulled your reservation forward, but when you book through a third party, it’s locked in.”

“Great,” she says, rubbing her forehead. “Do you have a room available?”

I laugh.

This place is dead in the offseason.

If we didn’t have a solid year-round population that comes in for the restaurant and bar, I’d close up during winter. But, combined with the locals, we get just enough business from people looking for rooms to justify keeping the whole place open.

“Yeah, and I can even give you an upgrade for no charge.” I flash her a smile that I hope helps set her at ease.

She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “Thank you, but you don’t have to feel obligated to do that. I’m so sorry. I don’t know how I messed that up so badly. Here, let me grab my ID and credit card.”

“No worries. We’ll get you all settled in.”

She’s kinda short, so I stretch over the counter to grab her cards.

My nostrils flare as I catch her orange, creamy scent.

She’s an omega, and she smells delectable.

Holy shit.

“Wait, are you looking for The Omega Exchange?” I’m sure my eyes are wide as they meet hers. “Because that’s on the other side of the island.”

“N-No,” she stutters, shaking her head. “Not yet. They said they’re at winter capacity, but they’ll hopefully have a spot for me in a week or two.”

“And it’s just you?” I grimace when I realize how creepy that sounds. “Shit, I didn’t mean it like it probably came out. I thought they took all omegas who needed?—”

“They offered to send me to another location, but according to my blood work, I’ve got some time before my heat will hit.” She shrugs. “So, I figured I’d hang out here. That way, I’m close by when a spot becomes available.”

“That makes sense,” I say, checking her ID.

Damn, she is young.

It says she’s twenty-one, but she’s got a baby face or something.

Hell, maybe I’m just getting old. Before too long, everyone will seem young compared to me.

“Okay, let’s see where we can put you,” I say absently as I scan the rooms.

She’s not going anywhere near the few dock workers who keep a room here full-time. She’s also not getting a room close to the bar.

Holy shit.

My instincts don’t like knowing she’s here alone.

That seems dangerous.

Omegas are meant to be coveted and protected.

It appears I’m going to have to be extra vigilant until she gets the call to head over to The Exchange.

“Would you like these anywhere in particular?” I ask, holding out her two large duffel bags. She has a book bag tossed over her shoulder, but I have no idea where that was while she checked in. She probably pulled it off when she took off her coat, and I just failed to notice it.

Lennox spins to face me, and her brown hair flies out around her.

She smiles softly and shrugs.

“Anywhere. I mean, you can toss them just there.” She points in front of the dresser that houses the television.

Being alone in her room with an unknown alpha could make her uncomfortable, so I keep the door open with my boot and stretch to toss the bags down.

“Well, you’re all set. There are towels in the bathroom, and if you need anything else, just hit zero on the phone. It’ll call down to the desk.” I smile, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans.

Damn.

I’m never this awkward, but I think her discomfort is bleeding into me.

“Thank you.”

I nod. “Of course. We don’t really do room service, but the restaurant is open from eight to eight. The bar is open until ten.”

She smiles, squeezing the jacket she’s still got tossed over her forearm. “Thanks. I’ll have to come down and check it out.”

It’s extremely hard to be an alpha around an unsettled omega, but my job isn’t to stick around and see what’s bothering her.

I give a friendly wave and force myself out the door.