Page 72 of Roulette Rodeo (Jackknife Ridge Ranch #1)

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!"

I skip away— actually skip, like a schoolgirl who hasn't just caused a minor scandal —leaving them standing there in various states of shock, embarrassment, and what looked suspiciously like arousal on Talon's face.

Behind me, I hear someone say, "Lucky bastards," and another respond with, "That omega's going to be the death of them."

Maybe. But what a way to go.

The registration tent for prize claims is set up near the admission gates, and there's already a line forming—mostly parents claiming stuffed animals for their kids, a few teenagers with giant inflatable prizes.

But everyone parts when they see me coming, body glitter still catching the lights, hair wild from the ride.

"Congratulations, Miss Vale!" The elderly woman behind the registration table beams at me. "That was quite a show! Haven't seen riding like that since my own rodeo days."

"Thank you," I say, still high on adrenaline. "So about the renovation prize..."

"Oh yes, Henderson Construction will be in touch within the week to schedule an assessment.

You can choose any single structure on your property for a complete renovation or rebuild.

" She hands me a packet of paperwork. "Very generous of you to win this for your pack.

That young Rafe especially—that barn's been weighing on him for years. "

Everyone really does know everything in this town.

"And my other prize?" I ask, thinking of Corwin's giant plushie.

She laughs. "Oh honey, that thing's already been loaded into a truck. Your pack's young Mr. Corwin arranged for delivery while you were riding. Said something about making sure you had it for your nest tonight."

My heart does a little flutter at that. Of course he did.

I finish the paperwork, my hand still slightly shaky from the adrenaline, and head back toward where I left my pack. They're still standing where I left them, now joined by Poppy and Malrik who apparently couldn't resist coming back to witness the aftermath.

"—can't believe she actually said that out loud," Corwin is saying.

"I can," Talon laughs. "This is Red we're talking about."

"The whole town heard," Rafe mutters, still looking shellshocked.

"The whole county heard," Shiloh corrects. "Pretty sure they heard it in the next state."

"You're all being dramatic," I announce, rejoining them. "It was just a little joke."

"A little joke?" Rafe turns to me, and there's something dangerous in his eyes that makes heat pool in my belly. "You just called me 'Daddy' in front of half the town."

"Technically," I correct, "I called you 'Daddy Rafe,' which is different and way more specific."

Poppy absolutely loses it, cackling so hard she has to lean on Malrik for support. "Only you, Red. Only fucking you."

"I need a drink," Rafe announces. "Several drinks. Possibly all the drinks."

"Good thing we have that open tab," Talon says cheerfully.

As we head toward the beer garden, Corwin falls into step beside me. "That was incredibly dangerous," he says quietly.

"I know."

"And reckless."

"Yep."

"And probably the hottest thing I've ever seen."

I grin up at him.

"Really?"

He leans down, his breath warm against my ear.

"Watching you ride that bull, knowing you did it for us, for Rafe specifically?

Knowing you've been hiding that skill this whole time?

" His voice drops to a growl that sends shivers down my spine.

"We're going to have a very interesting conversation when we get home. "

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Both."

We reach the beer garden where Luca is holding court at the bar, his designer clothes and perfect hair making him stand out among the casual fair-goers. He sees us coming and that practiced smile spreads across his face.

"Well, well. Come to collect on that tab after all?"

"Damn right," I say, still riding the high of victory. "Drinks for everyone!"

The crowd cheers, and Luca's eye twitches slightly. Good. Let him pay for my celebration.

As drinks are distributed and toasts are made to "the omega who conquered the bull," I catch Rafe watching me.

He's trying to look stern, but there's something else in his expression. Something warm and grateful and maybe even proud.

I raise my beer to him in a silent toast, and he shakes his head but raises his own in return.

Tomorrow, there will be consequences. Lectures about safety and communication, and not keeping secrets. But tonight?

Tonight I won something more valuable than any prize.

I showed them—all of them—that I'm not something fragile to be protected. I'm their equal, their partner, their omega who can ride a mechanical bull in sequins and body glitter and win them a quarter-million-dollar renovation.

And if I caused a minor scandal in the process?

Well, that's just a bonus.

Now to figure out where I’m putting my massive bull-cowboy plushie.