Page 184 of Roulette Rodeo
"You've been holding out on us," Poppy accuses, but she's bouncing with excitement. "Do you know what this means? That renovation package is worth like, a quarter million at least!"
I can feel them before Poppy's expression changes—that electric charge in the air that means my alphas are directly behind me.
The crowd seems to sense it too, growing quieter, creating a natural circle around us like they're expecting a show.
"They're behind me, aren't they?" I ask, not turning around yet.
Poppy's grin turns mischievous. "WELL! Look at that?! Malrik needs me!"
"I didn't even say anything," Malrik protests, but Poppy's already grabbing his arm.
"Emergency! Omega emergency! Very urgent!" She drags him away, throwing a wink over her shoulder. "Good luck, babe!"
Traitor.
I slowly turn around, immediately going for the puppy dog eyes—bottom lip out, eyes wide and slightly watery, the look that's gotten me out of trouble more times than I can count. I even add a little head tilt for maximum effect.
"Fuck," Shiloh curses, running a hand through his hair.
Talon groans. "That's not fair."
Corwin just shakes his head, but I can see him fighting a smile.
Rafe crosses his arms, trying to look stern. "That's not going to work on me."
I amp up the pout, adding a tiny lip quiver for good measure. "But you need a new place to park your truck."
The words hang in the air for a moment, and I watch as understanding dawns on his face. His usual pale complexion floods with color—actual, genuine blushing that spreads from his neck all the way to his ears.
"You heard that?" His voice is barely above a whisper.
"The barn's important to you," I say simply. "And it needs work. Now it can get that work without you having to... to tear it down."
Something passes over his face—vulnerability, gratitude, maybe even affection—before he schools his expression back to stern pack alpha mode. But it's too late. I've seen behind the mask.
"Ughhhh, fine," he groans, the sound torn from him like it physically hurts. "But if you ever do something like that again without telling us, you're grounded."
The threat should probably worry me. Instead, a wicked grin spreads across my face as an absolutely terrible idea occurs to me. I should keep my mouth shut. I really should.
But where's the fun in that?
"It's okay, Daddy Rafe," I say, loud enough for everyone in a twenty-foot radius to hear. "You can spank me then."
The silence that follows is deafening.
Then someone whistles. Then another. Then the entire crowd seems to explode in a mix of laughter, catcalls, and shocked gasps. Several omegas nearby start fanning themselves with their hands, and I'm pretty sure one actually swoons.
Rafe's face goes from pink to red to a shade of purple I didn't know human skin could achieve. His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, no sound coming out.
"I'm sorry, WHAT?" Talon chokes out between fits of laughter.
"Did she just—" Corwin can't even finish the sentence.
Shiloh has his head in his hands, shoulders shaking with what could be laughter or despair or possibly both.
I give them my sweetest, most innocent smile.
"I'm going to go claim my prize now! Need to figure out how to get that giant bull-cowboy plushie home too. Bye!"
