Page 9 of A Snowy Escape

I frown as I remind myself not to drive off without grabbing her bowls that are near the back tire.

I don’t think I’m going to be one of those hardcore people who manages to live out of their vehicle while making it look easy for social media. I have a tiny bladder, and I even kept myself from drinking much before I went to sleep to avoid this very situation.

I might have to leave to find a gas station or knock on the back door to the gym to ask to use the bathroom here. Only, going inside a closed business with a stranger sounds like a great way to get myself killed.

It’s also probably not fair to let him pay for a hotel room.

Will he expect something in exchange?

Ugh.

Maybe I should just leave.

* * *

I toss the pet-waste bag into the dumpster, head back to the car, load up Echo’s bowls, and get her into the front seat.

Damn.

I need to move her to the back, but she can chill there for now. Heading around to the driver’s side, I open the door and pull my hand sanitizer from the cup holder. It’s freezing as I slather my hands, and I end up bouncing on my toes.

I need to find a bathroom ASAP.

My head whips up as Bryant comes out the back door. He spins and locks the top lock before crossing the parking lot in long strides.

Shit.

I missed my chance to beg to use the bathroom.

My gaze stays locked on Bryant as he comes closer. That man is massive—definitely an alpha. While I got within a few feet of him, I couldn’t smell him. The wind direction is probably to thank for that.

Even without sniffing him, his size gives away his designation. He has to have close to a foot in height on me.

That’s not unusual, though.

I am on the shorter side for an omega at five-five. Sometimes I try to claim an extra half inch, but my shoes are usually to thank if I’m closer to five-six.

Most alphas hover and get really close once they realize I’m an omega, but there’s every possibility he didn’t pick up my scent.

Either way, I thought it was considerate that he kept a few feet of space between us as we talked. He must have known I was skittish because even when he showed me his phone, he did so with his arm extended.

I’m sure he could have grabbed me, tossed me over his shoulder, and taken me into the gym if he wanted to.

I’d like to think Echo would have bitten his face off, but I have no idea how she would react.

All I do know is that I wouldn’t stand a chance against an alpha his size.

The straight brownish-black hair on the top of his head falls over his forehead as he comes around the front of my car.

Echo climbs over onto the driver’s seat, and I give her a shove back inside the vehicle before closing the door.

That dog will hop out with no warning.

Bryant once again gives me a solid three or four feet of space between us.

I’m not sure what the look on his face means, but his deep blue eyes are expressive enough that I get nervous. He sports a short dark brown beard, but it doesn’t cover his displeasure as his jaw clenches.

Okay, this doesn’t seem good at all.