His eyes slid over me, taking in the hair, the dress, the bracelet Esme had put on my arm, everything. I felt that look like a physical touch, hot honey sliding across my skin. I could have imagined it, but under the music, I thought I heard the low rumble of a purr, and I had to clear my throat to keep myself from letting out a whine which would draw more attention.

“I’m glad about that, for my sake. But I also like hearing Bennett be called a cupcake.” The man who was getting the tattoo spoke. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him.

“Okay.” I pressed my lips together. “I’m gonna go now.”

Before the tattooing cupcake or my sister could stop me, I ducked through the crowd back the way I came, toward the door to the balcony. Scent blockers or not, I needed some fresh fucking air after that mess.

And to maybe bury myself under all the food I hadn’t eaten in humiliation.

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

________

BENNETT

Omega.

The sweet scent of lilacs and the sharpness of hot tea filled my nose. Over all the scents in this crowd, her scent stood out like a firework in a dark sky. I couldn’t stop watching her disappear through the crowd, that gold dress doing things to her body my imagination should not be running with.

“Sorry about that,” the other Omega said with a grimace. “She doesn’t like parties.”

I recognized her when I looked more closely. Her hair was much shorter, but she had the same face as the woman who’d just run from me like I was the devil himself. If the devil were made of cupcakes, apparently.

This was the movie star, Eva May Williams, and that… “That’s your sister?”

“That’s Esme. In the flesh. Sorry about the interruption, Carson.”

“That’s all right,” Carson said, still smirking. “Even a fucked up Bennett Gray tattoo is still a Bennett Gray tattoo.”

“For real.” Eva looked at me with sparkles in her eyes. “I’m a huge fan of your work, and I’d love to have a piece done by you sometime. Something bigger than you can do at a party.”

I blinked, trying to focus on the words she was saying. The scent of delicate, purple flowers was still in the air and I was suddenly wondering if we had a kettle back home because I was in the mood for tea.

“Absolutely.” I reached over to my table where the supplies were and grabbed one of the cards. “Make an appointment and come in any time. We’ll do a consultation.”

“Thank you!” She was practically dancing. My eyes were still drawn to the disappearing gold dress I saw slip out the door to the balcony. Eva caught my gaze and followed it. “Do you want me to talk to her?”