Page 43 of Shattered Omega: Part Three

“What colour were you thinking?” he asked, ignoring me.

“I got a few bridal creams…”

“Have you considered varnish?”

I frowned. “Why?”

“She likes darks—and wood textures.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“No. But she hurries any lighter colour plates and bowls out of the nest quicker and she keeps the darks longer—especially trays, and there’s one mahogany one stashed under her bed.”

“Oh.” Was there?

Damn. I’d spent a lot of time on creams… But now I was thinking about it. He was right. All that time picking out this perfect… Cloud White—I think it was called—wasted.

“Varnish, then?” I asked, then frowned. I shouldn’t ask. This was my project.

“I think if this gift had a good varnish, she’d probably try to stash it under her bed.”

I felt a smile tug at my lips and I was already tugging my phone out, going back through the Benjamin Moore website.

“I didn’t come for that, though,” he said.

I glanced up at him from the phone, frowning.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you. And her and Umbra. It’s a big deal. At the time I was just thinking about—” He cut off, palming the back of his neck. “Doesn’t matter. Shouldn’t have happened like this for you or her.”

I hesitated. Dusk had never been one for apologies. If he’d tracked me down to give me one, he meant it.

I nodded.

“I think she’s…” I couldn’t stop my smile. “I think she’s thrilled. Even if she is mad at you.” Which did have its merits. “Kinda wild in the bond,” I added. Like a fiery tornado of possessive omega in there.

Dusk nodded, clearly biting back a grin. He cleared his throat. “You ready for Flynn today?”

I nodded. That was tonight. I probably needed to finish here and change, actually. “Think so. Find out if they know anything. Try to give them enough hope for a deal over Shatter that they back off a bit.”

“Not as easy as it sounds, sitting with those pricks with a poker face.”

“I can handle it,” I said firmly.

Only reason he knew that was because he’d had to do it while I was feral.

No.

I was far past my turn.

FIFTEEN

RANSOM

Just like I’d hoped, it was only Flynn waiting for me at the bar. He wanted a conversation from rich kid to rich kid, and that was exactly what I was going to give him.

I slid into the booth he was waiting in and he’d already ordered himself a drink. He was dressed well, beige button up and his dark hair was short and well styled. He looked like the kind of guy who went to the barber pretentiously often. It was work not to wrinkle my nose at his coconut and plum scent. Everything about this pack set my nerves on edge.

“Kingsman,” he said with a smile. “I’m glad you came.”

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