Studying Bianca Bonnycastle was way more fun than it should’ve been, considering how dull her life was. He seriously would’ve ripped his own skin off by now if he’d been in her shoes. Aside from the fancy charity events she coordinated, she seemed to have no real social life. She took a burn barre class twice a week and sat on several boards that met regularly. Daniel accompanied her on a few brunches and lunches, but she didn’t seem to enjoy them. Those silverbeards she’d met at the ballet took her to dinner twice, and despite her smiles and polite flirtation, Daniel could tell it was all an act.
The only time he felt like he glimpsed the real Bianca was in the gym. He’d watched her on the monitors day after day, beating the shit out of her heavy bag, pushing herself faster on her stationary bike, banging outrep after rep at the weight rack. Her body was a work of art, sculpted and tight and toned. Daniel found himself drawn to her ferocity, intrigued to learn what drove her, and to see what lay beneath all that strength.
Eventually he hadn’t been able to help himself and had slipped into the gym to get a closer look. He’d been relieved when Bianca simply ignored him and continued her workout. It would’ve been physically painful to leave the room once he’d learned how intoxicating her scent was when she worked up a sweat. The entire room was saturated in apples and oleander, the aroma both spicy and sweet. Daniel had never smelled anything else like it. He couldn’t get enough.
Each subsequent day, he inched a little farther into the gym. Bianca ignored him, while he took the opportunity to study her more carefully. She had great form—probably learned from the best trainers money could buy—but Daniel thought she could benefit from a workout buddy willing to push her to the next level. There was only so much a person could do alone.
Daniel thought Bianca Bonnycastle did far too many things alone. The woman was an island unto herself. Even when she was surrounded by people. Daniel thought he had never met an omega so beautiful and so broken.
She didn’t remark when he showed up in his gym clothes, nor when he joined her at the weight rack to lift alongside her. She didn’t order him away when he steadied the heavy bag and held it for her. When he quietly reminded her to use her lower body more, to turn from her hips and use that torque to put more power behind her punches, Bianca did as he suggested.
Soon enough, he was offering encouragement and advice, delighted when she still didn’t kick him out. It wasn’t long before he learned that, if he was casual about it, Bianca would listen to the things he said, askingquestions despite her determined air of indifference, and giving away more about herself in the process.
“Nice cross, BB,” Daniel said one afternoon, after he’d been training with her for nearly a week. She narrowed her eyes at the abbreviation of her name but didn’t say anything. Daniel smothered a triumphant smile. “You know, I used to think I’d make a good coach. If I hadn’t gone to the league, I probably would’ve worked at my old high school. Two, three, two.”
Bianca threw a cross, left hook, and another cross in quick succession, driving through her hips just as he’d advised. “You could still coach, so to speak. Once you’ve established the security firm a bit, you could easily expand to offer fitness training and self-defense classes.”
Her voice was breathy from the exertion, and it was distractingly sexy, especially while he was trying to process that she’d voluntarily offered him some kind and pretty sound business advice. Daniel liked the idea of teaching a few classes, giving back, and building community. Dante and King would love the idea too. They could bring in some other vets to teach as well, if the classes were a hit.
Bianca seemed to realize she’d spoken more than she meant to and quickly shifted the conversation back to him. “Anyway, you wouldn’t have met your pack if you stayed in Iowa.”
Daniel couldn’t help but grin. He’d never mentioned where he was from. Of course, any client would’ve looked into their backgrounds, but he thought this was more than just due diligence. Bianca Bonnycastle was genuinely interested in Pack King.
“I’m sure we would’ve found each other one way or another. I believe some things are just meant to be. Some folks are destined to meet. Me, King, and Dante were always going to end up in the right place at the right time to find each other. Just like we’ll be at exactly the right placeand time to find the rest of our pack,” Daniel replied, keeping his tone casual. Bianca inhaled sharply, her pulse fluttering and skin flushing more than it had at the height of their workout. “One, two, three.”
It took an extra moment for her to react this time and the jab, cross, left hook combo she threw lacked the power of her previous punches, but Daniel let it slide. He’d gotten the reaction he’d been hoping for. Deciding he’d pushed enough for one session, he changed the subject.
“I almost moved back home when the Sharks let me go, but Smyrna City had grown on me by then,” he said. “I decided to give it a few months, even though my folks were hoping I’d come home immediately. They could use me on the farm. They’re still holding out hope I might come back and take over someday. But that’s just not me.”
“Did you tell them that?” Bianca asked, her storm cloud eyes sharpening. Apparently, he’d hit a nerve, because the omega scowled and refocused her attention on the heavy bag. “I suppose you didn’t need their permission. Alphas do as they please.”
She repeated the jab, cross, left hook combo with considerably more force. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that she was thinking about her own situation. Daniel had seen the way her parents treated her, and he could imagine how trapped she must feel. He’d felt similarly, though he had parents who obviously cared about him.
Bianca was a smart, capable woman who could probably set out on her own if she really wanted to, but that would mean giving up the luxuries she was used to. A few weeks ago, he would’ve called her reasoning shallow, but now he was more inclined to give her some grace. He knew how hard it was to leave behind the only life you’d ever known.
“I tried a thousand times to explain to them that I didn’t want the farm, but they thought I’d mature past my childish dreams of stardom,” Daniel answered, thinking of the look on his mother’s face the first timehe’d shared his NFL aspirations. “They couldn’t help but be proud when I made it to the pros, but I think they might’ve been secretly relieved when I got injured because they figured I’d have no choice left but to come home. I didn’t, obviously, and I know they’re still upset with me. Maybe they’ll get over it one day. Maybe they never will. It makes no difference either way. I love them but I’ve gotta live my life for me. One, two, one.”
Though her jab, cross, jab combo was as sharp as ever, Daniel thought Bianca’s face softened a little. “They should be impressed with how well you’ve done for yourself, considering your humble beginnings.”
Daniel shrugged. “I think they are, in their way. They were good parents, all things considered. I had a great childhood. I never wanted for anything. The farm is actually pretty lucrative and only growing more profitable by the year. I’m where I am because my folks taught me the value of hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. I know they love me, and they always will. Not everyone can say that.”
Bianca clenched her jaw, pain etched across her pretty features. Daniel had suspected she might not feel loved, but it was still heartbreaking to have it confirmed. It was no wonder the woman had such thick walls up. If she couldn’t even trust her parents to love her, how could she trust anyone else? She didn’t seem to have any close friends or relatives. Daniel thought Bianca Bonnycastle must be incredibly lonely.
“Wipe that look off of your face or I’ll toss you out on your muscular ass,” Bianca snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. “I don’t need your pity.”
Daniel winced internally. He’d been doing so well in the “don’t piss off Bianca” Olympics. He needed to salvage the moment before he got himself banned from her workouts. He couldn’t allow that. This hadbecome the best part of his day. This omega was a puzzle box, and he was enjoying the challenge of unlocking her mysteries.
He grinned widely. “So, you’ve been checking out my ass?” Daniel was relieved when Bianca rolled her eyes. He continued a little more seriously, holding her gaze so that she could see the sincerity beneath his teasing. “Neither of my packmates had easy childhoods or caring parents like I did. Dante’s mama was a wild child, from what little we know about her. She partied her way to Puerto Rico when she was fifteen or sixteen. Revealed as an omega while she was there. Her family had no idea about it until she came back to Smyrna City even wilder and pregnanter.”
“That’s not a word,” Bianca corrected him with another eye roll. “What of his sire?”
Daniel shrugged. “Never found out who it was. Her family members only referred to them as ‘the Puerto Rican’ and that’s when they were being nice. His mom disappeared again as soon as he was born and the relatives he bounced between for a while weren’t keen on taking care of a kid that didn’t look much like his white mother. He was in foster care before long, which is how he met King.”
“Andhisparents?” Bianca asked, seemingly mollified for the moment, and no longer contemplating Daniel’s exile from her gym. He exhaled a sigh of relief.
“King’s grandmother raised him after his parents died in an accident. Unfortunately, grandma wasn’t in the best health. When she passed there was no one else to take him. Foster care. Group home. Met Dante.” Daniel paused, giving the omega a stern look. This show of vulnerability was a peace offering but he couldn’t have her looking down on his pack any more than she already tried to convince herself she did. “They don’t want your pity either. They fought through hell to get here, to build something real. We all did. It doesn’t matter who failed us or who doesn’tsee our worth. All that matters is the family we’ve built, our pack. We’re making a life and filling it with all the love we never got, and it’s a damn good life.”
For a second, Daniel thought Bianca was going to say something cutting and mean. He was sure she considered it. Instead, she just gave him a sexy little smirk.
