Logan still couldn’t figure out how he had ended up bringing the guy he was supposed to drive out of town to his favorite oyster bar, but here he was. The little restaurant was right on the water, and hopeful seagulls perched on empty tables, watching them expectantly for any dropped morsel. They decided to sit out on the deck overlooking the water, shaded from the noon sun by oversized umbrellas.

On Logan’s recommendation, they decided to start with a half-dozen raw oysters. Gabe tried to order the chicken breast sandwich, but Logan made him try the Grouper instead, a local fish specialty.

As they waited for their food, the Omega leaned back, watching the water. “I never get tired of seeing the ocean,” he said. “It makes me feel like a kid again, like anything’s possible.”

Logan glanced out at the rippling waves. He took the ocean for granted a lot of the time, but seeing it from a stranger’s perspective was nice. “It makes me think of my grandparents,” he said. “They used to take me and my brother to the beach every Saturday. We’d spend the whole day swimming, flying kites, playing frisbee.”

Gabe smiled. “Sounds like you had a great childhood.”

Logan’s gut twisted, but he forced a smile back. “Yeah, it was pretty neat. You?”

“Oh, nothing like that. Mom and Dad both had crazy powerful jobs. They made a ton of money but didn’t have much time for me and my sister. We had a bunch of babysitters, but they never really wanted much to do with us. When we would go on family vacations, though, my parents finally paid attention to us. I guess that’s why I like Bright Beach so much. It reminds me of when we were actually a family.” He shrugged. “I know, poor little rich boy, right?”

Logan shook his head. “I learned pretty quick that money doesn’t make a difference. Some folks are good parents, some folks not, but cash has nothing to do with it.” He was grateful when the waiter arrived with their appetizer. If there was anything he didn’t want to talk about, it was family history.

The oysters were arranged neatly on a bed of ice, and they made Logan’s mouth water. It had been a long time since he’d had this particular decadent treat, but hey, the Omega was buying.

To his amusement, Gabe poked at one of the shells, watching the oyster jiggle. “So how are we supposed to eat these things?”

“What? You don’t know how to eat oysters? You’re the worst poor little rich boy I’ve ever seen,” Logan drawled, making Gabe laugh. “Here, I’ll show you. Pick one up, and give it a little nudge with the fork to make sure it’s not attached to the shell.”

The Omega obeyed, looking down at the oyster as if it might still be alive.

“Good,” Logan said. “Now you just open up and tip it back. Don’t swallow it down whole though, that’s a rookie mistake. You want to chew it a few times, savor that good flavor.”

He watched as Gabe, still looking self-conscious, picked up the shell. The Omega parted his lips and tilted the shell up, letting the morsel spill into his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed as he chewed, long lashes that would be the envy of any woman fanning out over the top of his cheekbone.

Logan suddenly understood, for the first time, why people said oysters were an aphrodisiac. “Well?” he asked gruffly, shifting in his chair in an attempt to subtly adjust his jeans.

Gabe swallowed and opened his eyes. He grinned at Logan. “I introduce you to yoga, you introduce me to oysters. I’ll call that a fair trade.”

* * *

The rest of the meal passed with easy conversation. Logan advised Gabe on some other local restaurants that he might want to try, and gave him a few tips about life in Bright Beach in general. The Omega was easy to talk to, more than anyone Logan had ever met.

He was relieved when Gabe glanced at his watch and announced he had to get back to work; mostly because he’d been having too good of a time. Logan drove him back to the gym and pulled up in front. “Thanks for the meal,” Logan said. “I’ve got to get going myself.”

Gabe didn’t climb out of the car, but looked over at him, his head tipped to one side thoughtfully. “Back to work for the boss that you hate, huh?”

The Alpha shrugged. “It’s a living.”

“Why don’t you come work for me instead? I can’t offer you a training job since it is an Omega-only space, but I could use a guy to clean and do some basic repairs and maintenance. Whatever he’s paying you, I’ll beat it by twenty-five percent.”

Logan felt horribly guilty, suddenly. This was exactly what he had wanted, wasn’t it? Working with the Omega would provide ample opportunities to figure out how to get him out of town. But he would be lying the entire time.

Gabe must have taken his silence as a refusal, and he smiled good naturally. “Think it over. You know where to find me.” He winked and climbed out of the car. Logan couldn’t help but notice again how perfectly those pants hugged the Omega’s pert ass.

Shit, this was worse than he thought. Gabe was a cool guy. And sexy. And funny as hell. In another life, he would probably be trying to date him.

And Logan had to get rid of him.

Fuck.

* * *

Logan dialed Russell and put the phone on speaker as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yeah?” his boss answered, sounding surly.

“I got the job with the Omega,” Logan said. “So I won’t be in for a while.”

“Did you?” Russell sounded surprised. “Well, Logan, I’m impressed. I didn’t think you’d be able to pull it off.”

Logan shrugged off the insult. “He seems trusting.” And smart, and kind, he thought. Man, he was in trouble.

Russell laughed. “Thanks for the update. This is your chance to redeem yourself, and to make a better life for your little brother. For once in your life, don’t fuck it up, Logan.” The line beeped and went dead.

The Alpha gritted his teeth. God, he hated Russell. He promised himself that as soon as this little scheme was done he was going to find a new job.

Even as he thought it, the reality of his situation put the breaks on that idea. Doing what? Who would hire him, after what he’d done?

Logan sighed. He was not made for this secret plotting bullshit. All he wanted to do was keep his head down and see his little brother graduate. When that was done, he could get out of Bright Beach.

And until then? Well, he would see how this all played out.