Chapter 15 – Cannon Nash
Cannon Nash
"Y ou'll never guess who I had the pleasure of meeting," Brian says, sinking into a chair across from my desk.
Great, this is going to be just awesome. My brother showing up with that kind of grin? It spells pure fucking trouble.
"A pretty little omega that had Killian growling at me for even looking in her general direction," Brian says, laughing. "Mom is furious with you. If she could have been pulled away from those kids, she'd be here right now blessing you out."
"Christ," I grumble, swiping a hand over my face. "Your wife is a pain in the ass."
Brian laughs. "That she is, but you can blame Fefe for this one. Good Lord, you should have seen mom. She was suggesting easy to pronounce nicknames for Cove to call her."
"Shit," I say, laughing behind my hand. "I heard Felicity is Fefe. Mom really is going to get me when I see her next, isn't she?"
"Yeah, it's pretty much a guarantee. I heard tidbits of Riley's situation from Sav. Is she sticking around?" Brian asks, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.
"I think so." I sigh, rearranging the papers I was working on. "Riley went to the doctor the other day and they were pushing to have her matched. She had a bad experience with her ex-"
"Total asshole, Savannah was very clear about that," Brian says, cutting me off.
"Yeah," I agree. "Riley freaked out at the thought and told them she already has a pack courting her."
Brian guffaws. I shoot him a shut the hell up glare. It doesn't phase him in the least.
"Sunde and Killian have both made their intentions clear."
"What's holding you back?" Brian asks, frowning.
Of course Brian wouldn't understand. He's a beta. No complicated power dynamics at play between him and Savannah.
"I'm her boss," I hiss. "She just got out of a difficult relationship with an unfair power dynamic."
"Damn," Brian says, nodding. "I see where you're coming from. So fire her. Problem solved."
If looks could kill, my brother would be hitting the ground right about now.
"Want to make an actual suggestion?" I ask, stretching back in my chair to avoid growling.
"She's an omega," Brian says, shrugging. "She might want to stand on her own, but just like mom, she's always going to feel more secure with an alpha at her side. Be honest with your concerns, but don't push. Let her know the ball is in her court."
"That might work," I agree. "She seemed open to Sunde. Killian, despite his giant size, doesn't seem to intimidate her in the least. I feel like an asshole every time I try to find the words to talk to her about it, though."
"Yeah, you saw her go through a really fucked up meeting with her ex.
You don't want to be anything like him," Brian says, scratching at his jaw.
"She told Savannah they've basically been broken up since she found out she was pregnant with the baby.
So don't feel like you're creeping on a woman who just had her heart broken. "
I definitely didn't know that. I thought it was a recent thing.
Wait…
"He broke up with her while she was pregnant?" I ask, my brain finally catching up to the reality of that fucked up fact.
"Yeah," Brian says, nodding. "That's what Sav said. She walked her out that day and Riley was upset, but okay. Savvy said she was more pissed at herself for sitting around waiting on him all day, knowing how he is."
"That's something at least," I agree. The thought of it still makes my fists clench.
"I've got to circle back and pick up Sav and Mom.
The baby especially is going to need a check-up.
Let me know, I'm happy to do it if she doesn't want to go all the way to the mainland," Brian says, hopping up.
"Oh, by the way, make sure you comp my dinner order.
I'm not cooking tonight and it's probably ready. "
"You fucker." I chuckle, shaking my head.
"Thanks bro," Brian says, laughing. "I won't charge your girl for visits when the kids need to be seen."
I nod at that. That's a fair trade. I comp all my family's food when they come in anyway.
There's a spring in my step as I head out to check on Riley.
* * *
I stop dead in my tracks. Jasper is a little too close to my omega . He's leaning down into her personal space. Pushing her hair away from her face, he says something close to her ear that I don't catch. His eyes sparkle as he grins.
Jasper's mom is Persian. He took after his maternal side of the family with the deep blue eyes, dark olive skin tone, and black hair. The fucker. Women always fall for his good looks and cocky charm.
Riley grins up at him, giving his chest a playful shove back. My hands clench at my sides. I warned him. I was very clear that he wasn't to hit on Riley or make her uncomfortable.
That's the problem, isn't it? She doesn't seem uncomfortable with him at all. She's much more open and friendly with him than she's ever been with me.
Frowning at the pair of them, I watch shamelessly. That seems to be a habit of mine where Riley is concerned. Riley grabs the drinks Jasper hands her and heads off to tend her tables.
Stomping my way over to Jasper, I don't stop until I've pulled him to the back of the horseshoe shaped bar.
"I thought I warned you about Riley," I growl. My tone is low. My meaning is unmistakable.
"What?" Jasper asks, frowning.
"Don't play stupid. You were flirting with her."
"I flirt with sixty-year-old Cathy too," Jasper scoffs. "Doesn't mean I'm trying to bang your elderly bar manager. I'm being friendly. The ladies like a little harmless flirting. It makes them feel good about themselves."
I roll my eyes.
"You're saying you're not actually flirting with Riley?"
Alpha fog isn't something I've felt before, but I'm pretty sure that's what this is. Everything is hazy and the urge to protect my omega is strong.
"Of course I flirt with her. Can you imagine how heartbroken she'd be if I hit on every other woman except for her? Christ you're clueless, Cannon." Jasper laughs. "You like her."
I don't say anything. It would be insulting to deny my interest in Riley. Jasper grins viciously. Great. I just gave him ammunition to harass me.
"She's an absolutely stunning woman," Jasper whispers, conspiratorially. "Lovely personality, great sense of humor, and that ass. Good God, that ass."
"Don't be a disrespectful fuckwit," I hiss.
Jasper frowns. "That was a compliment. You're so bizarre. You aren't fucking eighty, Cannon. If you're interested in a woman they generally like to hear what attracted you to them."
Frowning, I cross my arms over my chest. Women do tend to love Jasper's devil-may-care demeanor. He never has trouble letting a woman know he's interested. Likely because he's always interested.
"Lighten up man," Jasper says, thumping me on the chest. "Women enjoy a man who can make them laugh and who makes them feel desired. Quit being so damn serious all the time."
I frown at his back as he saunters off. Shit. Maybe he's right.
I'm only thirty years old, when was the last time I truly let loose?
No, he's playing mind games.
We're two totally different people. Sure, we used to be best friends, but I'd have to be an idiot to forget the lesson he already taught me once.
* * *
"Did you have a good night?" I ask Riley as we walk into the house.
Killian and Sunde picked up the girls a couple of hours ago so they could go to bed and not have to be woken up when Riley got off.
"It was good," Riley says. "I finally feel confident. I think I've got a pretty good handle on how things go and what is expected of me."
"You're doing very well," I assure her. "Has Jasper been helpful?"
"Yeah. He's great," Riley says, blushing.
I frown at that.
There was a time when Jasper was one of my closest friends. I had no doubt we'd end up in a pack together, but Jasper is unpredictable. He's easily distracted which is the exact opposite of what Riley needs in her life.
Killian and Sunderland are solid prospects for any pack she builds around herself.
Jasper could be too if he applied half his effort into building a strong foundation instead of finding the easiest way possible to accomplish any task.
I'd blame his upbringing, but his family is as hardworking and down to earth as they come.
"I wanted to talk to you," I say, clearing my throat. "I know Sunde and Killian have made their intentions clear."
Riley nods. Her eyes dart to mine.
"I don't want you to think I'm not interested in the possibility of something building between us. I'm also your employer and I don't want you to feel any pressure," I tell her.
Riley's eyes search mine. I push the hair back from her face. She's blushing up a storm, but she's also softly smiling up at me. My pulse pounds in my ears as I study her face. I ache to press my body against hers.
I bite my lip, shaking away the alpha fog that's slipping in. Damn, that's happening a lot where Riley is concerned. That might be concerning, I'll have to ask my dads to be sure. But I'm pretty sure it means something.
"I'm very much interested in where things could go between us. But I also don't want you to feel like there's an unfair balance of power in our relationship. Do you understand?" I ask, brushing a finger over her cheek.
Riley nods, sucking in a shaky breath.
"Your ex held all the power. I don't want it to be like that with us," I tell her.
"You need to feel secure in your place here.
That's why I want you to know I'm here and ready whenever you are, but I also won't push.
If you start building a foundation with Killian and Finn, I think that will give you more security.
Do you agree? Are you open to that, with me? "
"Yes," she says. "I am open to that. Cannon, I think you're a really good guy. You're worrying about things like a power dynamic. Trust me when I say I know you're nothing like my ex, but I'm also new to this whole dating or courting thing. So I don't mind the idea of seeing how things go."
"Good," I say, swallowing thickly. "I've been drawn to you since that first day in the restaurant."
"Me too," she agrees, giving me a small smile.
I brush hair back from her face. "Do me a favor and be careful around Jasper okay?"
"W-What?" she stammers out, clearly confused by the topic change.
"I know Jasper is charismatic, and women can't seem to help themselves. They fall for his charm every time."
"I think you've got the wrong idea," Riley says, rearing back. "He's a co-worker. Maybe bordering on a friend. He's never shown any interest in me."
"Okay," I agree. "I felt like I had to at least warn you. He's not the most reliable guy and I'd hate to see you get hurt."
"Thank you, Cannon," she says. "I know I come off as naive and easily manipulated, but I have learned some things from my prior mistakes."
That went downhill really fucking fast.
"Shit, that's not how I meant that at all."
"It's okay," she says, but she's completely shut down. "I need to check on the girls."
She bolts.
"Fucking hell," I hiss at the ceiling once she's gone.
I make a little progress, only to fuck it all up.