Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
LENNOX
My hands dig into my pockets as I watch three very happy people play in the ocean. They seem to exist in their own little bubble, and I’m really happy to be seeing them again.
The little girl’s dad seems grumpy. I don’t think he likes me, but that’s to be expected since I’m a stranger, and one who tagged his car once he drove in.
I made sure to use a tracking device that won’t sync to his phone.
I don’t want him to find the little present I placed underneath his car.
He said he was here on business and the steely glint in his eyes tells me he may be some kind of cop.
He stares at me as if he doesn’t know whether he wants to bend me over to fuck me or hit me, and I kind of like it.
Either way, I’m intrigued. I dabble in stalking and surveillance on occasion for my uncle when he has someone who doesn’t pay their debts and needs to teach them a lesson. I’m a big guy but people tend to ignore me if I dress like a hobo.
The performances for children are how he tells my mother he pays his bills and also his penance for running several fighting rings in California.
No one wants to piss my mother off, and she made us all agree to travel on the straight and narrow once my father died.
The beta was a mean fucker, and we all suspect she killed him with her own special blend of drugs once she got sick of him. We are scared shitless of her.
My asshole puckers whenever she serves me food at family dinners when I make it home, and I have to run through all of my recent sins to ask myself if I deserve to be poisoned or not.
God love her, but she’s scary.
My uncle’s business is such a simple cover, yet it’s oddly effective. The cops think nothing of his group of singers as they perform for children, refusing to believe anyone who might complain about a few broken bones for trying to skip out on my uncle for their debts.
Yeah, I know the face of someone who works in law enforcement well, and need to do a little research on who he is. I’ve heard Arlo call the man Mr. March several times. It shouldn’t take me long to find him.
Mr. March told me more than he thought he did with his hooded eyes and his cruel smirk. I just watched him toss Arlo into the ocean while playing monsters with his kiddo, I can tell there’s a softer side to him he hides from others.
“Come on, Rufus,” I call out. He’s sitting at the edge of the waves, watching Arlo and Calista, almost as if he’s guarding them. “They have a big, strong daddy to watch over them. I don’t think they need you to save them, sweetheart.”
Arlo turns and catches my eye, blushing as he hears what I said. His curls are wet and he shakes them out of his eyes. Damn. His lips are fucking kissable.
The clearing of a throat has me glancing at his boss and I wink at him before clicking my tongue for Rufus to follow me.
“It’s time to go to work, Rufus. Let’s go!”
“Calista, time’s up.”
“Aw. Okay, Daddy. Arlo, can we have grilled cheese and macaroni for dinner?” she asks.
“You’ll need to order in,” Mr. March says, beginning to herd Calista out of the water. He’s waiting at the shore with a huge towel, and the gesture makes me smile. “I know you’re a little homebody and like your things, sweetheart. You’ll have to be flexible for another day at least.”
“I like you too!” Her screech as he bundles her up and swings her into his arms makes me hide my chuckle as I toss a ball to Rufus to distract both of us. I’m willing to do anything to get us moving in the right direction.
“I need to use one of those apps to order food, right, Mr. March?” Arlo asks worriedly.
I blink slowly at his question, struck by how young he sounds.
“Yes. It’s all hooked up to your phone. And you need to call me Ves, Arlo. We’ve talked about this. Ready to take the burrito home?”
“I’m a kid, not a burrito!”
Calista can’t stop giggling over how silly her daddy is, while I’m getting annoyed at him. It’s obvious Arlo isn’t comfortable with technology and Ves is brushing it off as if it’s an inconvenience. He may pay him to care for Calista, but I can tell he’s also attracted to the adorable omega.
I don’t like it. However, I now have a name to begin researching. Ves must be a nickname, right?
I force my feet to move toward the outdoor showers with my bag, fully planning to rinse off. I’ll keep my shorts on to avoid giving anyone an unnecessary show. After all, there are children on this beach.
Calista continues to chatter as Ves rinses her off, nodding as he follows along. Interestingly enough, Arlo interjects here and there, though he continues to give me sidelong glances once I begin to scrub my hair with shampoo.
“Is Rufus getting an outdoor bath too?” Calista giggles, wrapped in a new towel.
“Cali,” Ves says slowly.
I work quickly as I rinse my hair out, cognizant of the time. I need to get my ass moving to get to the theater on time.
“I’m going to rinse him off and then give him a bath tonight,” I explain. I’d rather scrub him down now, but I really am running late. Watching my new obsessions could get addictive. “The show must go on.”
Ves snorts as he picks Calista up, while I lift Rufus to run his body through the shower.
“Oh, don’t complain so much,” I chuckle as my dog does his best version of a howl. “Such a little boy to make all this noise.”
Arlo chokes on his spit as he shuffles behind Ves, and I realize how dirty my words are. Ugh. I swear, I am not safe for public consumption. Wrapping Rufus in a towel, I loop the bag over my arm and rub him dry with the towel as I walk.
“Is every show in the same place?” Arlo asks.
“Why, want to come watch me?” I flirt, knowing it’ll get under Ves’ skin.
“You’re welcome any time, in case the boss man gives you any time off.
I play to a very adult crowd. The location changes pretty regularly.
Sometimes, I get to stay a couple of nights before we pick up stakes and head out to the next location. ”
“He’s a full time nanny,” Ves grunts, getting Calista into the car and kissing her nose before he closes the door. “There isn’t time off.”
“How…Isn’t it lonely going from place to place?
” Arlo asks, blushing as Ves inserts himself.
It’s rosy and beautiful, and I need to hold back a grunt of discomfort as my cock kicks against my wet shorts.
I’ll change in the van to keep from chafing, but I notice as his eyes drop down to my erection and then snap up my face.
So damn adorable. It’s nice to see he noticed.
“Are you sleeping out of hotel rooms? We’re visiting Ves now, but I like to know where I’m laying my head at night. ”
Hmm. There are shadows in his eyes as if he’s had to worry about this in the past, and it hurts my heart.
“I live in my van, and I have a very comfy pillow.” Ves parked near me without realizing it, and I open the back door to the van and slide out the bed to show him. “I prefer the constant change of scenery and when I miss the people I care about, I swing by to see them.”
Setting Rufus down now that he’s dry, I watch as he searches for a place to sleep. He’s already done his business, I’ve tired him out playing, he’s ready for a nap.
“Seems as if you lack the need for responsibility,” Ves mutters.
“Nah,” I drawl. “I like to live simply. Stress kills, don’t ‘cha know. I get to enjoy beautiful new places, with new people and experiences.”
“How nice for you.” Yeah, Ves doesn’t like me at all.
Oh well, he’s really going to hate this. I had business cards made to appease my mama. She said it would make me appear more professional. Little does she know, it’ll also help me court one of the omegas I’m scent matched to.
The wind is blowing just the right away to keep my scent hidden, and I close up the back doors as I walk over to Arlo.
“This is my number. If you ever get lonely, use this,” I say, pressing my card into his hand. I’m being forward as fuck, but I don’t want to rely entirely on my stalker skills for this.
Since Arlo is attracted to me, I have zero problems using this to get Ves to pull his head out of his ass. Arlo’s eyes widen, and I grin at how surprised he is. My omega is gorgeous, it’s a shame Ves isn’t showing him he thinks so, too.
“Arlo.” Ves’ voice pulls Arlo out of whatever moment we were sharing and his fingers tremble as he takes my card.
“I may not call,” he breathes. “I can’t lose this job.”
Fucker. Would Ves really cut him loose for leaning into his attraction?
“That won’t happen. You’re important to Calista. You need to believe that.”
Arlo dips his head quickly as he nods, wrapping a towel around his waist before getting into the back seat.
“What the fuck are you doing?” At least Ves waited until the door closed before biting my head off.
“You’re a mean fucker, huh?” I ask, smirking as I begin walking backward.
Dammit, I’m going to need to speed on the highway.
Hopefully the patrolmen aren’t trying to make their quota today or I’ll be fucked.
“If you don’t show the guy you’re interested instead of growling all the time, you’re going to lose him.
Those eyes are the window to everything you need to know about him.
If I were a betting man, and my mama wouldn’t poison me for it, I’d say he’s definitely going to call me.
After all, it seems as if you work enough to need a nanny, right? He’s lonely and you’re neglecting him.”
Ves flinches before getting into the front seat. The only thing keeping him from slamming the door is the iron clad control he seems to have over his emotions. His kid is in the vehicle, he can’t act like a toddler.
This doesn’t keep me from throwing my fist in the air in my own moment of victory and heading quickly to my van.
Good luck, Arlo. I hope you get lucky tonight.
ARLO
Tossing the remote control to the side, I huff in frustration. Ves isn’t back yet from working his crime scene, Calista has been in bed for hours, and I’m about ready to turn in for the sole reason that I’m bored and lonely.