Page 37 of Claiming Their Omega

I wonder if Grace would grow just as nicely, here. If she stayed.

“Lovely,” I say, and I’m not talking about the flowers.

Grace grins down at them, oblivious. “Aren’t they? Thank you for getting them.”

I’d do a lot more to see her flushed and happy like this. Yeah, I’m sunk, good and proper. Damn it.

Chapter 12

Grace

The next couple days are surprisingly nice.

My mom calls a couple of times to check in on me, and Aiden texts once or twice, but I can tell my family is trying to give me space to settle in with the Alphas.

I thought that it would be more awkward, living here. Jesse doesn’t like me, for one thing. For another, I’m invading their home, and all so they can help me out. That’s got to make them feel uncomfortable.

But instead, it’s nice. Cade takes me to meet the animals, letting me help feed the horses and cattle. The cows have such big sweet eyes and long lashes, they’re adorable. I especially love the calves. They’re eager for attention too, prancing around me and showing off.

It’s been years since I’ve ridden a horse, and I’m tempted to ask for a refresher on it, but I remember I won’t be around here much longer. It would be unfair of me to act like I’m going to be here for months, or to ask them for anything more than I’m already getting.

I learn how to drive a tractor, which is nothing like driving a car. It is in a way, but the weight is all off, so turning and guiding it is harder than I expected. I bet I could drive it down an actual car road just fine but for the sort of work you need farm equipment for out in the fields, it’s a lot harder than it looks.

“I didn’t think that it would require such finesse,” I admit at dinner.

“Still doesn’t explain how you kept getting straw in your hair,” Jesse points out. “You’ve got a talent for being a mess.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly.

There really is straw and hay everywhere though. It’s like cat hair, I can’t seem to escape it. I don’t know how the men manage.

I honestly wish that I could stay in this little bubble of the ranch forever. I know that’s ridiculous. I want to get back to my life in New York. But the moment I start thinking about that is the moment I have to try to plan it and the truth is, I don’t quite have a plan.

There’s also the matter of what my plan has done to all five of us.

We live in a small town. Everybody knows everybody out here. I’m pretty sure everybody knows everybody in the entire county.

The moment we leave the ranch, people are going to want to know what’s going on. I’m sure somebody’s already gossiped about the five of us. There were Alphas I didn’t know at the presentation, but the Omegas are all from this county, and some of the Alphas must have been. I’m sure they’ve talked. Everybody knows everyone’s business around here.

That means we’re going to have to pretend. Lie. Fake it. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.

It doesn’t help that there is some tension, although none of it’s on the Alphas. They’re being lovely. Well, okay, maybe ‘lovely’ is a stretch when it comes to Jesse. He just seems to avoid me. Cade is doing his best in his own gruff way, but Easton and Hendrix are great.

Hendrix even got me those daisies. I smile every time I see them through the front windows or when I leave the house through the front door. He’s always been a flirt with everyone. I didn’t realize there was such a considerate person beneath that.

No, all the tension comes from me. Me and my stupid inability to stop being turned on by these men. They’re all so strong, I want to watch them work around the ranch all day. Lifting equipment, hay bales, even carrying the baby calves. It’s not all grunt work, though. I can see them working on the machines, fixing things up—you need to be smart to be a rancher.

The gentle way that they guide the horses and other animals, the skill it needs to lead them, to have these animals trust you and follow your body language and the way you click your tongue… there’s so much more that goes into ranching than I ever expected. And it’s really attractive.

I take cold showers to wash the dirt and sweat off in the afternoon, but that’s not the only reason. I need to do something to keep myself from going crazy and doing something stupid like kissing one of them.

They’re just so ruggedly handsome, and they smell so good. I know that part of it is just my Omega hormones talking, but now that I’m living with my brother’s four best friends, it’s even harder to deny the attraction to them that I’ve always felt.

I’m not quite sure how the men are handling having me in their living space, which I know must be a big adjustment for them too. But I can definitely tell that we’re all hyper aware of each other, and I think the close proximity is affecting all of us.

As if to prove my point, Easton glances around the kitchen on Friday morning before announcing, “I think we should get out of the house.”

I nearly choke on my eggs but manage to keep a straight face. “I suppose we should.”

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