Chapter 50

Ollie’s POV

The next day at work, I can’t stop thinking about the date with Wes, and it’s leading me to distraction. So far I’ve given three different customers the wrong kind of ice cream.

Nancy, who is typically indifferent to me, is starting to lose her patience. Between customers, she even says to me, “I don’t want to be here either, but we have to pretend, got it? At least in front of the customers.”

“I do want to be here, I just have a lot on my mind…”

“Well get your head in the game while you are on the clock,” Nancy says. “We’re going to start getting busy soon, and I can’t be going behind you every time to make sure you aren’t screwing up.”

She’s right. I committed to this job and I need to act like it. Thoughts of Hugh and Wes are distracting but I should be able to compartmentalize them for now. I can deal with my confusing feelings on my own time. Right now I need to focus on the ice cream.

I should be grateful to have something else to think about, to distract me from my spiraling thoughts.

“I really don’t mind, Ollie,” Jake says from the other side of the counter. “It’s like a surprise, not knowing what I’m going to get.”

“It’s all fun and games until someone gets something they are allergic to,” Nancy says. “Or until someone complains to corporate and we both get fired.”

“I’m sorry, Nancy,” I say, genuinely. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Don’t tell me you are going to do it, just do it,” Nancy says. With a huff, she adds, “I need some air. I’m taking my break.” She turns and disappears into the breakroom.

Once she’s gone, I deflate slightly. I really must have been screwing up to get on her bad side. If I want to be friends with her still, and I do, I need to try harder to pull my own weight. I can’t get fired on my second day. How would I ever face the brothers again – or Sylvia, who seems so certain I’m going to fail at my entire life.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Jake says. “She can be grumpy sometimes. She yells at me quite often.” He shrugs. “She’ll lighten up eventually.”

“No, she’s right,” I say. “I’ve been messing up too much lately. The next customer that comes in, I’m going to do my best and I’m going to wow them with my service.”

I place my hands flat on the counter, determined.

Suddenly, Jake leans over and places his hand on mine. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s only your second day. You have to learn.”

I’m surprised by his touch and the softness of his words. With the way he’s looking at me, it’s as if he’s being more than just friendly…

But he wouldn’t have a crush on me. I’m just an Omega.

The bell over the front door chimes, and I look just in time to see Declan walking through. His gaze drops to where Jake’s hand rests on top of mine on the counter top, and I swear I see his eyes flash red.

“Declan,” I say and inch my hand back, away from Jake’s touch.

He looks at me, confused for a moment, before turning to see Declan who is frozen solid in the doorway.

Swallowing hard, I try to focus, remembering my promise to treat my next customer well.

“Welcome to Moo Moon Ice Cream Shop. How can I serve you today?”

Declan’s POV

Coming through the door to this ice cream store, two things become immediately clear to me.

One, this boy touching Ollie’s hand is either her boyfriend or wants to be.

Two, Ollie doesn’t want me to know about it.

“Is this him?” I say, keeping my voice flat and emotionless, even as the fury crackles through me.

“Him?” the boy asks.

“Jake?” Ollie says, which must be the boy’s name.

Ollie looks at Jake and then back to me. I won’t be fooled by her innocent, confused expression. We’ve been trying to guess for weeks who Ollie’s secret lowly boyfriend is – the one she was going to buy the lingerie to impress.

The only reasonable assumption is that this is the boyfriend right here in front of me, and she is trying to cover it up.

I turn my ice cold gaze on him. “Are you Ollie’s boyfriend?”

Jake’s eyes go wide as he pales slightly. “N-no. We’re uh just friends.”

I don’t believe him. At all.

“What is your game?” I demand. “You must know Ollie is an Omega. In pursuing her, are you trying to sneak your way into the good graces of my family?”

“N-no…” Jake seems afraid. Good. He should be afraid of me. I will absolutely do whatever it takes to defend my family’s honor. No one is allowed to touch Ollie but me or my brothers...

Wait. No. We don’t care to touch her. Why would that intrusive thought slip into my mind? Whatever, I will deal with that later.

For now, I must handle this.

Ollie hurries around the counter and moves to step between her boyfriend and me. My scowl shifts to her.

“He’s just a friend, Declan,” she says. “I keep telling you, I don’t actually have a boyfriend.”

“You keep lying,” I growl.

“It’s not –”

“You wear that tight outfit, showing your curves to the entire world. You attempt to buy lingerie. You sneak out at night sometimes. These are not the actions of an innocent woman,” I accuse.

The thought of Ollie spreading her legs for this Jake, so short and weak and inferior to me in every way, makes me absolutely livid.

Who does he think he is to touch her? Who does she think she is to let him?

“I am innocent,” she insists, which only flares my anger worse. Typically, even enfuriated, I can keep myself under control. But there’s something about this situation that truly irks me from the inside out, forcing me to act.

I grab Ollie by the arm and drag her toward the door.

“Where are we going?” she says. “I’m working!”

“You are done for the day,” I growl.

I’m going to drag her back home and make her stand in front of me and my brothers. Together, we will grill her on her job and the nature of her relationship with Jake.

She will learn one way or another that there are ramifications for being a slut. If that means that I’ll have to teach her a lesson or two myself, then so be it.

She shouldn’t be allowed to tarnish the family name. She is under our protection, our care, and represents us to the outside world. By spreading her legs for any man who would take her, she demeans us all.

The thought of it makes me growl again, deep and low in the back of my throat.

“Declan!” she says.

“Shut up, Ollie,” I snap at her, showing too much emotion. I immediately bury it beneath a mountain of ice.

“Now, wait a minute…” Jake says, starting to step forward. I swivel toward him and glare.

Immediately, he swallows and takes a step back. Whatever he was about to say dries up on his tongue.

Behind the counter, another employee watches carefully, but she doesn’t say a word. She’s smarter than this one.

“Declan, please,” Ollie says.

Her begging soothes me more than I want to admit.

She’s not out of trouble. Not by a long shot.

But for now, her friends are safe. I’ll deal with this Jake another day.

Turning back to the door, I drag Ollie through it and then to my car.

Only when she’s in my car, surrounded by my scent, do I start to truly calm down.

What the hell is wrong with me? I’d do anything to protect my family name, but this feels… different…

And when she begged…

I shake my head.

I need to focus. My brothers and I will interrogate her and finally get the answers we want.

One way or another, we’ll get Ollie to stop being a whore.