Page 18 of Knot Your Kismet

I keep my distance as Cali strolls down the sidewalk, heading in the direction of the Kismet Estate. I’m surprised she didn’t borrow one of the many cars we have in the garage and chose to walk all this way on foot. She doesn’t know I’m following her, and I’d like to keep it that way. She needs her space as much as I do. Because what happened back in the diner startled me. I had no idea I’d react in such a way to another alpha putting his hands on Cali.

It wasn’t brotherly love either. I never thought of Cali as my sister. She’s always been Jessica’s daughter. But today? She was someone else. She was a stranger. Beautiful, enchanting, and unlike any woman I’ve ever seen. Not that I look often.

Cali slows down at the looming gate to the property. It’s a steep incline back to the top of the hill, where our home rests on a cliff overlooking the ocean. I bet she didn’t think about this when she left. It’s far easier to run downhill than up.

Locking her fingers through her dark brown tresses, Cali spins, looking ready to march back to town. She freezes, spotting me idling a block away. And man, her features morph from annoyance to anger in a matter of seconds.

She throws her hands up. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’ve been following me this whole time and you didn’t think to offer me a ride? That’s a dick move, Nolan.”

Her voice echoes through the quiet air, sending my heart racing. She doesn’t have a problem expressing her emotions, and it seems that she prefers to only share her rage with me. I kind of hate it. I’ve seen how she’s acted with Lucas, and even Jensen. I know she has a more reasonable side somewhere behind her mask of fury, but she won’t ever show it to me.

Maybe if I wasn’t first in line to take over for my father. Maybe if I wasn’t the one who tried to arrange a marriage between us. Maybe if I thought of a better plan than dragging her back to Poppy Cove. Not that it matters now. We just need to get through the next couple weeks. Maybe her lawyer will come through for her. Because I can’t. There’s no way.

I don’t respond to her yells, remaining stoic in my seat. Cali closes the distance and flings the door open, surprising me by slumping into the passenger side. She crosses her arms and doesn’t look at me, training her gaze out the windshield.

“I don’t understand you. Why were you following me?” Cali heaves out a long sigh.

“I wanted to make sure you got home safe and that Ted Johnson didn’t try anything stupid,” I reply, keeping my voice low. She reacts negatively if she thinks I’m even raising my voice at her. “Had you taken a car, I would have let you be.”

Cali twists in her seat, staring at the side of my face. Her anger bores into me, and I can feel the heat of her emotions burning into me. “I meant before. You had to be following me to know that I was meeting someone at the restaurant. And so you know, I didn’t take a car because I don’t know how to fucking drive, and I didn’t know how to call a driver.”

“You don’t know how to drive?” I frown at her admission. I guess she wouldn’t if she lived in the city. I’m sure she had everything she needed, from housekeepers to drivers to even someone shopping for her. Her lifestyle wouldn’t have been much different from here, considering how much my dad paid.

“Driving is what you’ve chosen to focus on? Come on, Nolan. Do you think I’m going to fall for that shift in topic? I know all the tricks alphas use, especially when it comes to avoiding the wrath of an omega. So tell me, why did you follow me?” Cali jabs her finger into my leg, her touch sending an electric shock through me. I can smell her sweet floral fragrance, like orange blossoms and vanilla, and it awakens something inside me.

I need to get out of here.

Now.

“Because it’s my job. You’re my responsibility, and you shouldn’t be running off alone.” I spit the words out as I yank the door open and exit the vehicle. I’m afraid what will happen if I remain by her side, letting her prod at my nature. I don’t think she’s aware of what she does to me. How she affects me. It’s like meeting her for the first time all over again. My dad knew that she couldn’t stay in our household because he recognized my attraction to her immediately. We’re a perfect scent match, which isn’t unheard of since our parents were.

I wonder if she hates that she was sent away even before she was sponsored as an independent omega.

“Nolan, where are you going? I’m trying to have a conversation with you.” Cali’s quick to follow me, closing the space I try to keep between us. I can return for the car later. Maybe she will give up if she sees that I’m going to climb the hill back to the estate. I need the exercise to distract me. I need to be doing something else other than sitting in a car, savoring her fragrance.

“That time has passed. I wanted to talk to you this morning, and you did this exact same thing. If you call one of my brothers, they will pick you up. I need space!” I shout the words, my startling voice stopping her in her tracks.

It takes everything in me not to turn back and look at her, knowing that I might have upset her. It’s different than pissing her off.

Fuck.

“Well, that’s too bad!” A heavy weight hits my back, knocking me forward. Cali’s touch shocks me again, and I do nothing but throw my hands out to stop myself from smashing against the ground.

Reaching behind me, I lock my hands to her shoulders and flip her off me and onto the grass. She gasps a breath, the air knocking from her chest. She lies frozen, her brilliant blue eyes glassy and wide, penetrating into my very soul. I’ve scared the hell out of her, and now I have to pay the price.

“I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me,” Cali sputters as big tears drip down her temples and into her dark hair.

Shit. This is more than scaring her. I’m pretty fucking sure I’ve just traumatized her. My heart sinks into my gut, and I crawl beside her, sliding my arms around her to pull her against me.

“I would never. Fuck. I’m sorry. You just surprised me. I wasn’t expecting you to jump on my back. Cali, tell me what to do. Tell me how I can make this better?” I hug her without thinking, burying my face in her fragranced hair, the sweet citrus scent unraveling my guard completely.

I shouldn’t be holding her so close.

I shouldn’t be thinking about how to kiss her tears away. I shouldn’t be obsessing over doing whatever it takes to make her smile again.

It’s an alpha’s job. And I am not hers. She won’t let me.

“Nolan…” Cali’s voice fades off, only my name escaping her lips. And I want her to say it again. I never knew how much I love the sound of it, especially when she’s not snapping at me. My name is a plea on her lips. Her delectable lips. Lips I have disappointed, making them quiver.