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Auctioned to the Alpha

Page 36

by Aria Cole

Margie nearly drops an entire tray of pancakes.

“Well I’ll be damned,” she says loudly.

Nora physically flinches beside me.

Margie points a spatula dramatically across the diner. “The mountain hermit finally dragged himself home a wife.”

“Not his wife,” Nora says immediately.

“Yet,” Rune calls from a booth near the back.

Ash Calder laughs into his coffee while Jace looks way too entertained by this entire situation.

“You people are exhausting,” Nora mutters under her breath.

Margie ignores her completely and marches toward us. “Honey, are you eating enough? The men on this mountain burn through women like firewood emotionally, but at least this one cooks.”

Nora chokes on air.

I take my usual booth calmly. “Morning, Margie.”

She gasps dramatically. “He said good morning. Oh my God, she domesticated him already.”

“I didn’t domesticate anything,” Nora says.

“Sweetheart,” Margie says gently, “that man’s sitting in public voluntarily. You absolutely did.”

The entire diner laughs.

Nora slides into the booth across from me while glaring murder at everyone.

Which only makes me want to grin.

Bad idea.

“Enjoying yourself?” she asks sweetly.

“Little bit.”

“Traitor.”

Margie drops menus onto the table. “So when’s the wedding?”

“Never,” Nora says instantly.

“Spring,” I answer at the same time.

Nora’s head whips toward me so fast it’s almost impressive.

The diner erupts.

“You are unbelievable,” she hisses.

“You’re blushing.”

“I’m plotting your murder.”

“That’s healthy communication.”