Page 100 of Rut Bar

I close my eyes and pray for self-control.No. This is the responsible, mature thing to do.An intrusive thought whispers I could order a set of clothes for same day delivery or borrow something from Jamie and make it fit.

No.As the elder alpha, it’s my job to put the pack’s needs before my own personal interests.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell her. And I’ll only think of her for every single minute until then. All—I glance at my watch and quickly do the math—all seven hundred and seventy-four minutes of it. I steal one last kiss to tide me over until then.

A car rolls by, then slows to a stop, its brakes squealing. A woman leans out of the window and slides sunglasses down her nose. “Brendan? I knew that was you. Are you having a beach day too? See, Bill? I was right. Itishim.”

Are you kidding me? This is really shitty timing.

I close my eyes and take a fortifying breath while I wish I had a reset button. If I’d saidfuck itto my meds, or I hadn’t remembered, we’d be heading to the highway. If I’d taken Jamie’s offer to stay, I’d be in the house. Instead, I’m standing in Jamie’s driveway with a half-mast chub straining my sweatpants and a half-naked Veronica leaning around me to look.

“Are those friends of yours?” Veronica asks.

“Ashley, how are you?” I try to keep from giving her a good view of my half-hard dick. From the way her eyes flick over me, then study Veronica, I’m not sure I’m being all that discreet.

“Good,” she answers, a bit hesitant. “We’re having a beach day. This is my husband, Bill. You met at the Christmas party. Remember, Bill? Anyway, we’re having a beach day and we wanted to see all the cute little houses. Is that a, uh, friend of yours? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ashley. Brendan and I work together.”

Veronica gives her a strained but polite smile. “Nice to meet you too.”

“I found more pancake mix!” Jamie yells from the open garage door. He holds a yellow plastic jug over his head like a trophy. “But it says it’s expired. It was buried in the back of the pantry. Do you think we can still use it?”

Jamie sees us talking to someone and palms the dusty bottle of pancake mix as he walks over. He didn’t bother to throw on a shirt before coming outside. But then again, his work uniform is a thong. He’s not body shy.

“Oh. H-hello.” Ashley’s cheeks pinken and she glances quickly at her husband.

Fuck.Ashley might not know who Veronica is aside from being a half dressed woman who was kissing me, but she probably recognizes Jamie. It doesn’t help that the handsome alpha’s face and rock hard eight-pack abs are plastered all over the city with hundreds of flyers. There’s even a billboard along the highway.

“Well… have a nice day! I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ashley says, then sits back in her seat and rolls her car window up.

Idiotically, I wave while she drives away.

“She works with you,” Veronica summarizes.

“Hmm.”

“She recognized Jamie. She’ll put two and two together.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Put what together?” Jamie asks.

Veronica puts a hand on my arm and leans into me. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I insist. But anxiety eats me up inside.This isn’t good.Ashley is the biggest gossip in the office. She’s probably on the phone with someone right now, telling them what she saw.

Fuck.

“Are you sure?” Veronica squints at me.

But this isn’t something she needs to worry about. It’s not her responsibility. As our omega, it’s our job to worry about her. Not the other way around. Whether she’s used to it or likes it or not.

“Yes,” I say.

She opens her mouth to argue, but I lean down and press a kiss to her lips to silence her.

Veronica breaks it, then huffs and gives me a wry look like she doesn’t believe me. “Is this going to mess up my audit?”

“They might assign you a new field agent,” I admit. “But your books are solid. You shouldn’t be worried even if they do.”

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