Chapter 2 #2
“Thank you.” He wasn’t sure what he was thanking Ryder for, but it was the easiest thing to settle in with him.
“Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing that a bowl of soup and a drink and a rest won’t help. It might not fix anything, but it’ll ease things down.” With a wink and a grin, Ryder went back to grab his beer, then came to sit at the opposite end of the big, horseshoe-shaped booth.
“You don’t mind, do you? It will easier to watch over you.”
No, he didn’t mind. Big as he was, Ryder was leaving him plenty of space, and he was respectful, Nolan thought.
“It’s fine.” He tried the soup, and Nolan couldn’t help but moan at how good it was.
So yummy.
“It’s good, huh?” Those dark eyes studied him with an intensity that should have really bothered him, but it didn’t.
Not at all.
So Nolan smiled at Ryder before dipping his bread in his soup and nomming it down. His belly hurt when the food hit it, it was so empty.
“It’s so good.” Nolan licked his lips, catching a drop of soup as it dripped off his bottom lip. It was cheesy and creamy, with just the right level of salt. “How did a biker bar get a cook who could make soup like this?”
Ryder shrugged. “I don’t know. Quin, the wolf who owns this place, he’s kind of amazing. He really engenders loyalty. He’s a solid son of a bitch.”
Nolan guessed that was better than being a solid gold son of a bitch.
“Race didn’t mention him, but I know he has to be careful about details, especially on the phone.” Race dealt in things that scared him, but he was grateful for it now.
“Yeah. He’s a squirrely one. It serves him well.”
“Not a squirrel,” Nolan deadpanned.
“No. I guess not.” Ryder chuckled at him. The bartender came out to give Ryder a plate of fried things. Looked like onion rings and fried cheese and, like, some kind of bread or sandwich with powdered sugar on it.
Nolan squinted. “Is that a Monte Cristo?” He’d heard of them but had never tried one.
“Uh-huh. Want a bite? The cook makes fresh jam…”
Oh… Yes. He wanted a bite of that. He nodded wordlessly because his mouth was watering, and Nolan was sure he would drool if he opened his lips at this point.
“Cool.” Ryder cut half of the sandwich in half, then slathered it with jam before handing it over on a napkin.
“Oh, that’s a lot. Are you sure you want to share that much with me?”
Ryder’s dark eyes lit up, the big bear seeming tickled. “I can always have him make more. Besides, I told you. I’m in it for the fried cheese.”
Nolan knew better than to look a gift bear in the mouth, so he inclined his head in thanks and devoured the sandwich.
Ryder did the same, noshing on his cheese before inhaling his half-sandwich. Once it was gone, he lifted his finger and jerked his chin at the bartender for another one.
“Sorry, I’m just so hungry,” Nolan said, his cheeks burning. It was embarrassing, but not enough to make him stop eating.
“It’s all right, I can tell you’ve been stressed. We’re bears. Stress makes us hungry.”
Nolan dared to laugh softly. “We’re bears; everything makes us hungry,”
That earned him a soft, deep chuckle. “Fair enough, but you’re only a little bear, so how hungry can you be?”
“Right? Compared to you not so much, but I bet compared to that wolf at the bar, I can be pretty famished.” Now he felt daring, almost like he was pushing boundaries, and that was dangerous. Flirting with the big bear was probably stupid.
He didn’t know these people, no matter what Race said about them being okay.
“I’m sorry. That was out of line.”
“Why?” Ryder’s brows pulled together the slightest bit. “Nothing to apologize for. It’s good to see you smile. And if you want to talk about it…”
He shook his head. “Not until after I talk to Race.”
“Fair enough. Now, eat up. More food is coming.”
He tried for a smile again. “Thanks. You don’t have to be so nice to me. And I can barely afford the soup.”
That had that dark, intense gaze arrowing in on him in a hard focus. “Oh, I think I do need to be good to you, little bear,” Ryder said, his bass rumble sensual and deep, making goosebumps rise on his arms.
In a good way. Not like Herschel at all.
He smiled at Ryder, trying to keep things light and easy, to back off on the intensity, but he was feeling it too, and that was bad.
He wasn’t in a place to think warm, fuzzy thoughts about another bear. He wasn’t healthy, he wasn’t ready, and he was being hunted.
At least he assumed so.
It wasn’t so much as he had a lot of money or a lot of power or a lot of connections.
But sometimes when something was a possession…
Well, no one liked losing those, he guessed.
The bartender, Wilder, came over, his cell phone in his hands. “Hey, I got a hold of Race. He wants to talk to you.”
He reached up and took the phone. “Brother. I came… like you said. Please don’t make me go back.”
“Of course not, Nolan. I’m here for you. Always.” Race’s voice was sure, firm, and real. “I’m proud of you. You did it. I’m so sorry I couldn’t come get you, but I knew how strong you are.”
He slumped down in sheer relief. “Can you come get me?”
“I’m not in town, brother. Wilder says Ryder’s there with you?”
He nodded and then realized that there was no way Race could see that. “Yes, he’s here. We’re having food.”
“Good. I want you to listen to me. I need you to either have Ryder come stay with you at my house or for you to go stay with Ryder. It’ll only be a few days, and I can guarantee your safety.
I know Ryder—I’ve worked with him, but I don’t want you to be alone right now until we figure out what’s what, and I’m in the middle of an extraction. ”
“O-okay.” Shit. He glanced at Ryder. “Promise it’s safe?”
“Yes. Rye and his brothers are the best. Well, aside from Quin and Thiago, but they’re crazy busy all the time and won’t be able to watch over you.”
He glanced at Ryder, who was still staring, but he had a feeling the big guy was also hearing every word. “I don’t want to be so much trouble.”
Ryder lifted his chin, then held out his hand for the phone. Nolan shook his head, but Ryder wiggled his fingers.
“Ryder wants to talk to you.”
“Okay. Put him on, I love you.”
“Love you too.” He handed the phone over, then slurped up more soup, not certain what else to do. Really, he hadn’t seen Race since they were teenagers. His brothers had scattered to the winds, and he’d been the only one left at home. So this was awkward as hell.
“Hey.” Ryder never looked away from him. “Sure. Yeah, no. My place is more defensible. Uh-huh. Cool. Okay, will do. Holler when you can. Okay, you wanna… Uh-huh. Okay, night, man.”
Ryder hung up and stared at him some more until he started to fidget. Wilder brought over the second sandwich and another load of cheese, and the silence continued until Nolan watched Wilder walk all the way back to the bar.
Then he licked his lips. “So, what’s the deal?”
“The deal is that your brother wants me to take care of you until he gets back.” Ryder cut another piece of sandwich to put over on his side of the table.
His nose quivered because that raspberry jam smelled so good, and his mouth was still watering even though the soup was the best soup he’d ever had. “I know that, but I don’t understand why.”
“He’s worried about you. He thinks you’re not going to be safe just staying at his place alone, believe it or not. So you’re going to come stay with me.”
“But I don’t even know you.” Nolan didn’t mean to sound offensive, but he had to admit he was kind of scared. He didn’t want to end up going from the frying pan into the fire, even if Race trusted this guy. And even if he made Nolan want to curl up with him and sleep for days.
“I know, but you’re just going to have to get to know me. I can keep you safe no matter what’s coming after you. You need to believe that. And if I can’t do it alone, my two brothers will help. They’re also grizzlies like me, obviously, and together we’ve never lost an omega.”
“Well, that’s good. I mean, neither have I…” Nolan dared to tease and wink. If the big guy growled at him, so be it. He wasn’t in the mood to pretend to be somebody he wasn’t.
“Well, good. Then we should be well-suited. I know that this has to be incredibly unnerving, and if you’re more comfortable with more people around for safety, I can do that. But I swear to you on your brother’s name, I have your back.”
How was Nolan supposed to argue with that? “Well, I came all the way here trusting in Race.”
He believed in his brother, even if their relationship was complicated. Race had his best interests at heart.
So he guessed he would do this.