Runaway Bond (Darling Omegas #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

shay

I’m not sure what’s worse—the drunken couple on the dance floor that I’m inevitably going to have to douse with a bucket of cold water if her panties flash me one more goddamn time or the fact that I’m just the teensiest bit jealous she’s closer to getting laid than I’ve been in more years than I can count on one hand.

Self-imposed torment is still torment, after all. Just because I’ve chosen not to touch a dick doesn’t mean I don’t think about it.

Spoiler…

I do.

A lot.

“I recognize that look.” Old Man Morris takes a healthy swig of his whiskey, then tips the glass at me. “My wife—God rest her soul—used to give me that look when she was about to jump on my pecker and ride me ‘til the cows came home.”

The image that flashes in my head nearly makes me gag.

Maisy Morris had a penchant for streaking and wasn’t shy about her body even though her titties had sagged to her belly button and her girlie bits flapped harder than a sail in a hurricane.

That woman was both inspiration and nightmare rolled into one helluva lively package.

Cancer can suck a dick for taking one of the good ones.

Since she passed, he’s developed a ritual.

He always sits on his stool, directly beside the one she’d always occupy.

Then, before he takes his first sip, he tips his glass to her seat and chokes back the emotion he can’t quite seem to hide.

I’ve always wondered if that first swallow of whiskey is as bitter as the twinge in my heart from witnessing his pain.

“Don’t worry, old man. I won’t be ridin’ anyone any time soon. I need a man about as much as I need another hole in my roof.”

His brow furrows, his heavily wrinkled face unexpectedly serious. “You still haven’t gotten that fixed? I told you I’d—”

I wave my hand. “And I told you I had it taken care of.”

His frustrated dark eyes narrow. “What’s your idea of it being taken care of?”

The water spot on the polished mahogany bartop suddenly needs a little extra elbow grease. “I put a tarp over it and covered the edges with bricks until I can get someone out to fix it the right way. So far, so good.”

He growls. The sound is a little rusty, but it comes through loud and clear.

He’s the only Alpha I’ve let get close, mostly due to his unwillingness to leave me alone.

I sorta grew fond of the ol’ goat, and now here we are, in a weird sort of pseudo father-daughter relationship that I’ve begun to cherish.

Not that I’d admit that to him. He doesn’t need that goin’ to his head.

“That ain’t gonna hold up when one of our summer storms comes through. I’ve got some contacts. Let me—”

Covering his hand with mine in a rare show of affection for the old coot, I whisper, “I can take care of myself, Beau. I’ve got this.”

He mutters something under his breath too low for me to make out. When he glances at the door, his eyes suddenly lighting up with a mischievous sparkle, I know I’m not going to like whatever he says next. “I betcha Ridge here agrees with me. Don’tcha, boy?”

I swallow down my groan because having the two of them gang up on me was not on tonight’s agenda.

I'm already in a shit mood. My meeting with the Darling Business Council—aka the old curmudgeons who think an Omega’s place is in her nest and not in business—didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.

I’m being forced to present a whole goddamn proposal outlining my plan for the saloon for their approval within forty-eight hours, or I forfeit my chance altogether.

Ridge steps up with a grin already tilting his full lips, drawing me out of my head, and takes the stool beside Beau.

With a day or two worth of scruff covering his square jaw, his blond hair purposely tousled the way he likes it, and his blue eyes shining under the shitty bar lights, I find the groan from seconds ago desperately trying to make a comeback.

The man is not only from one of the most eligible packs in all of Darling, but also sexy, sweet, and smart. The perfect Beta trifecta.

It’s sometimes damn hard to remember we have a very firm friendship pact in place—one which I insisted on and he agreed to.

I strictly adhere to the ground rules because, as mentioned, Ridge comes with a pack, and a pack comes with Alphas.

That’s a no-go-zone for me ever since the day I sabotaged my own bonding ceremony and sent my almost-Alpha to prison.

“What am I agreeing to?” he asks, flashing his white teeth in my direction.

“Shay won’t let me help her fix her roof. Thinks a tarp is gonna keep the monsoons out of her living room.”

One thick eyebrow raises as he studies me carefully, so I know I’m in deep shit.

“Thought you said you took care of that awhile back, sweetheart?”

The way that endearment rolls off his tongue causes a tiny flutter in my belly, but I stomp that shit out fast.

Ignoring the blush that wants to take over under his inspection, I shrug. “It’s handled. For now, anyway.”

“You know Lyon and I could come over and patch that up in less than a couple hours. Why didn’t you ask for my help?”

He lives off shit like this, so he’s damn near pouting.

I’m pretty sure he gets a high every time he plays the hero.

The man is honestly the most steady, dependable, and caring guy I’ve ever known, and I refuse to take advantage of that under the guise of friendship.

It starts with one simple gesture of goodwill, then, before you know it, you’re tangled up under the sheets with his dick in a hole it wasn’t supposed to breach.

Shaking my head to clear that thought, I try to redirect my mind, but of course the mention of his strong-but-silent packmate also does little to ease the growing ache in my belly.

He may be a Beta, but his six-foot-four body is built like a brick wall, and for some reason, that drums up the strangest urge to try to climb it.

Shit. When is my heat due? Not for at least a few weeks, right? So what gives?

Time for some redirection. “Don’t we have to work on your social media account later? The roof will hold for a minute.”

He shifts on the stool, his long fingers weaving together on top of the bar. “Why do you think I’m here? I came to make sure Luke remembers the bargain we made. He gets you until five, then you’re all mine. Gotta make sure we time the lighting just right, after all.”

Old Man Morris snorts, shooting me a raised eyebrow.

“Shut it,” I snap at the old buzzard, who just laughs. Over my shoulder, I shout, “Luke!”

A growl rushes through the swinging doors in response. “Fine. Go. But Ridge owes me that pack of cigars he promised me.”

Ridge smirks at the Alpha’s demand from the back room. “I’ll give you two if you let me have her all day tomorrow too.”

“Fuck off, Ridge,” Luke barks back, never once actually showing himself.

The grumpy Alpha rarely does. He’s a mountain of a man with a permanent scowl etched across his handsome face. I’ve made it my life’s mission to get one smile out of him before one of us dies.

The Beta tips his head toward the door. “You heard him, sweetheart. Let’s jump ship before he changes his mind.”

“You’re lucky that Ty just walked in. If Luke had to come out here and serve customers, he’d probably just close the place early and the good citizens of Darling would call for his hanging.”

“Why the hell does the grump even own this place if he doesn’t wanna run a bar?” Old Man Morris mutters.

“Because my jackass of a brother conned me into partnering with him then took off with a Beta from the Valley,” Luke yells through the opening. “It’s either me or nothing…unless Shay here can convince the council to accept her bid on the place.”

Two sets of eyes go wide as they turn to me.

“You’re tryin’ to buy the Slick?” Old Man Morris whispers, holding out his glass for a refill.

Grabbing the bottle, I pour him two fingers, ignoring their intense stares. “Yeah. I have the money Danny and Lily left me, and I’ve been saving every cent I could since I got here. Figured it was time I put my business degree to use.”

“Wow, sweetheart. That’s amazing. Need me to put in a good word for you with the council?”

My eyes snap up to his. “You’d do that?”

His head tilts, a strand of hair falling across his forehead. I have to fight the urge to brush it out of his eyes. “Of course I would. What are friends for?”

“I have my proposal review in a couple days. Let’s see how that goes first. If they decide to be decrepit ol’ pricks, I’ll use my ace in the pocket—Darling’s golden child.”

Ty steps back behind the bar, picking up a rag as his eyes dart between all of us. “It’s dead tonight. Mind if I—”

“No. Shay’s leaving with me. You can manage a whole shift for once in your life, Ty.” Ridge shoots the lazy Beta a menacing look.

“Damn, man. Chill. I was just askin’.”

Ridge meets my amused eyes. “Sweetheart, if you don’t get that perky ass out here in the next thirty seconds, I’m gonna come back there and toss you over my shoulder.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Her ass is awfully perky, ain’t it?” Old Man Morris calls out as I toss down the rag and start to round the end of the bar.

“Stop lookin’ at my ass, Beau.”

“So Ridge can look, but I can’t? Don’t seem fair.”

“No one can look!” I growl over my shoulder. “My ass is off limits.”

“You and your ass better be in tomorrow, or I’m tellin’ Memphis his Beta is fucking with my business,” Luke calls out.

Ridge rolls his eyes as I step up beside him. “Why the hell does everyone call me Memphis’ Beta like I belong to him?”

We head for the door as I fight a smile. “I mean, that bite mark on your left hand kinda gives that impression.”

He pushes on the heavy wood, the warm afternoon sun diving behind the large mountain in the distance. Traffic is light, with most of Darling’s residents at home at their dinner tables. I wouldn’t know what that’s like. I usually eat on the go as I walk from one end of the bar to the other.

“It’s not like that. We all grew up and were practically raised together, so we’re essentially family. This just gives us a true, deeper pack connection. Lyon has one too, but no one says that shit about him.”

I shrug. “Because Lyon doesn’t ever talk to anyone. I’ve lived here for six years, and to be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard his voice. It’s no wonder half the town forgets he exists.”

Without thinking, I head for the passenger side of his truck, and as I reach for the handle, I see Ridge’s smile growing wide. “What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

“Want me to take my bike?” I ask, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

“Nah, sweetheart. I’ll bring you back to grab it later.”

Straightening my shoulders like I’m not at all bothered, I open the door and climb in.

My mind is a mass of contradictions. The gossip tree is already alight with buzz about my relationship with Ridge.

People are saying that a man and a woman can’t just be friends.

But over the past few weeks now—hell, maybe over a month—Ridge and I have developed a friendship on the mutual understanding that it can never be more.

Now, I’ve gotten so comfortable that I just expect to be the passenger princess in his truck.

Fuck my life.

Space, Shay. You both just need a little bit of space. The talk will calm down, and life can go on as usual.

“What’s got you so tense over there?” Ridge asks, side eyeing me from the driver’s seat.

Of course, I can’t admit that not only is my mind racing, but his scent is everywhere in the small cab of his truck.

Lime, mint, and a hint of vanilla hits my nose, like a refreshing mojito.

There’s an ache between my legs that I’m refusing to acknowledge, considering a six-year-long sexual hiatus is suddenly making my Omega instincts fire up in ways I’ve managed to avoid until now.

I clear my throat. “You know there are rumors about us.”

“Oh?” He stares straight ahead, not meeting my eyes.

“I’m pretty sure Jules and Iris think we have some sort of secret love affair going on.”

He chuckles. “I’m sure you cleared that up for them.”

Staring out the window at the passing fields, my fingers tap on my thigh. This entire conversation is making me damn near break out in hives, and it’s barely begun. “You know I did. We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“Of course. Nothing more.”

I shoot him a sideways look, watching his fingers tap along his steering wheel. He seems relaxed and not at all perturbed by my statement, so why do I feel like a bitch all of a sudden? It’s not a feeling I’m used to or particularly enjoy.

Turning back to watch the last rays of daylight fall across the land, I ask myself for the millionth time what the hell I’m doing. It’s supposed to be simple.

Me. Myself. And I.

Sure, there’s Jules and Iris, and to some extent, West, Cadence, and Elliott, but there’s a serious lack of dick in my friend group for a reason.

After the betrayal from the one Alpha who was supposed to cherish me above all else, I closed down any and all potential for future hurt.

The question is, how in the hell did Ridge sneak through my carefully constructed shields, and what the hell do I do about it?