Page 30 of Knight Life In Vegas

Beau sighed. “I realize this is not ideal, but it’s the only solution I can think of. I have a company in New York, people that are relying on me. I’m not asking for a commitment, only a reprieve from this misery. Please.”

He looked so pitiful I almost felt bad for him. Even if I wanted to, going to New York would only solvehisproblem, not mine. Scent matches complicated things. Now that my omega nature was aware of their existence, it wasn’t going to shut up about it. New York would separate me from three of them, and as much as I didn’t want to need their presence, it was only a matter of time before I looked as desperate as Beau.

“I can’t.”

“Please.”

Begging wouldn’t change reality. “I’m sorry. You’re going to have to figure it out.”

I swept past him, nearly colliding with Bryce and Ava outside the door. I avoided eye contact with both of them. “I don’t want to steal the boys from their breakfast. Please let me know as soon as they’re done and I’ll get them out off your hair. Thank you again for spending time with them. I really appreciate it.”

I kept walking right out their front door. My hands were shaking too hard to drive safely so I set off down the street on foot. It was ungodly hot and I broke into an instant sweat, but I couldn’t stay there.

“Are you okay?”

I looked up to see a brunette omega just climbing out of her vehicle in the driveway of an enormous house, shopping bags in hand. “Yeah. Just a rough few days.”

“Do you live around here? Why are you outside in this heat?”

I shook my head. “Visiting friends, but I needed a break.”

“Well, it’s the temperature of Satan’s asshole out here. If you’re hiding from them, did you want to come in for some water?”

I hesitated, but when I turned to look back the direction I had come, I could see Beau in the driveway. It was too hot to run, and I wasn’t overly concerned for my safety with an omega. “Sure, that would be lovely.”

She beamed. “Cool. Come on in. I’m Madison.”

“Charlotte,” I replied.

The air conditioning inside her home was a wall of ice that I welcomed. I followed her into the kitchen where she filled me a glass of ice water from her enormous fridge. Every bit of her home was intricately styled, not a single item out of place. The interior decorator must have cost a small fortune.

She passed me the water.

“Thank you. Your home is beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Madison grinned. “I designed all of it. I do design for all of our friends too.” She got herself a drink as well and sat down at the kitchen island, looking at me expectantly. “Want to tell me why you’re crying in the street?”

“Nonsense with scent matches.”

Her eyes glittered. “I wish I had a scent match. Tyler’s been dragging his feetforeverabout bonding. If we were scent matches I think he would’ve done it years ago.”

I took a careful sip. “My ex-husband never bonded me.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Some alphas are so ridiculous about it. I’m sorry you had to wait around for that. I’m still hopeful my bonding is coming.”

I didn’t want to say too much. She chattered away, telling me how she and her boyfriend had been together for nearly a decade and he had been refusing to bond with her every heat. In my experience that meant he was never going to, but if she wanted to hold on to the fantasy, who was I to say anything about it?

The more of the iced water I consumed, the better I felt. Being in a separate environment, listening to Madison’s stories about everyone she had designed for was exactly the distraction I needed right now.

No universe existed in which I would go back to New York. If Beau wanted some relief, he was going to have to come here and stay. I didn’t even know how to get in contact with my other scent matches, so I was shit out of luck getting any relief myself.

Iced water turned into pastries and fancy coffee. I ate more than I probably should have, but Madison seemed delighted to have me there and kept adding more options.

“I hope the rest of your day is much kinder to you,” she said as she picked apart an almond croissant. “How far from Vegas do you live?”

“I’m in the city.”

Madison brightened. “Really? If you ever wanted to hang out again, I wouldlovethat. I know I’m just a random person you met on the street, but this morning was so nice.”

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