“Anything you want, drummer boy,” I say, my tone teasing but my heart pounding. The way he looks at me like I’m the only one in the room makes my blood run hot.
He takes a deep breath. “I want you to meet my sister,” he blurts out, the words tumbling over each other in their haste to be heard. His gaze is earnest, pleading almost. We’ve talked about his sister; I know this means a lot to him. “She means theworld to me, and I… I really want her to know you, Oli. You could be friends!”
I should have thought of this!
There’s an excitement bubbling up inside me, bright and warm.
“Chase,” I breathe out, my smile spreading uncontrollably. “I would love to meet your sister.” My words are laced with sincerity, and I step closer, closing the gap between us. “It means so much that you’d want me to be a part of your world like that. I know how important she is to you.”
His nervousness seems to dissolve, replaced by joy.
“Okay, but logistics,” Jack says, shifting from the warmth of our moment to the practicalities at hand. My gaze meets Jack’s, and I see the wheels turning behind those smoldering green eyes. “We’ve got a ton of paparazzi swarming our house. We need to make sure Cate is safe.”
“True,” Chase replies as his brow furrows. “My sister’s not used to this kind of spotlight. The press doesn’t even know she exists, and I would like to keep it that way for her sake.”
I nod, biting my lip as I consider the risks. Anxiety starts to bubble under my skin, replacing the excitement. “Let’s talk to the security team. They should be able to help.”
“Agreed.” Jack whips out his phone. His fingers move swiftly over the screen—purposeful and decisive.
With a speakerphone beep, we’re not alone anymore. The security team’s leader, Saint, answers with a voice like gravel. “Saint here.”
“We want to meet up with Chase’s sister but need her to be safe and not exposed to the paparazzi. We don’t want them bothering her,” Jack explains.
“Understood,” Saint says, and I can almost hear him snapping into action mode. “We’ll set up a diversion, draw the press off your trail. Then we’ll escort her in a nondescriptvehicle, windows tinted, and route double-checked for any tails. Your privacy is our priority, always.”
That sounds like a lot to me, but that’s their job and I trust them.
“Great, man,” Chase replies, his voice steady. “Appreciate it.”
Before the call ends, Saint assures us, “Send us the details, and we’ll coordinate the timing. She’ll be safe and sound with you before you know it. "
“We should do it here so it’s not in public,” Dax adds.
“Agreed.” Chase nods.
I flash a grateful smile at the phone, now silent in Jack’s hand, and meet Chase’s gaze across the room. The crinkles around his eyes tell me he’s smiling too.
Leaning back against the plush couch, I let out a sigh and turn my attention to the house around me.
Chase’s sister is coming, and the omega in me, startles, wanting the house to be perfect. It’s like my mood swings once again, from relief to panic. I shoot up straight and look around. We haven’t decorated yet, and some parts of the house are unfinished!
“Oli, sunshine, are you okay? Your scent just soured,” Aiden asks.
I shake my head. “No! We need to get ready for Cate to come here!”
We need blankets, pillows, paint, and curtains for more than just the front window and-
“Hey.” Chase’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts like a knife through butter. I feel the heat of his hand over mine, grounding me as he starts to purr. I look up, finding solace in those smoldering green eyes that always seem to burn just for me. “You don’t need to stress about impressing Cate. She knows how we kept the pack house and won’t think you had anything to do with it.”
“But I’m your omega and-”
“No, relax, Olive. Take a deep breath,” Jack barks, and I follow his command.
I feel slightly better, but I can’t let this go.
“We will order everything today, then,” Dax declares. “If you want it perfect, then we will make it perfect.”
I look up at him, grateful, and whisper, “Thank you.” Despite the weight on my chest. I squeeze his hand, letting his alpha presence anchor me back to the moment.