“Cramps?” Grace mutters.
“Food cravings?” Jesse asks sardonically.
“More foot massages?” I ask, digging my knuckle into the arch of Grace’s heel and making her moan.
Fuck, I want to make her moan like that every day. I want to make her moan like that on my cock. Judging by the way Hendrix flushes, Cade looks away, and Jesse looks even more annoyed, I’m not the only one.
“It means a shopping trip,” Hendrix declares. “We need to make sure you get exactly what you want and need for your nest, darlin’.”
“Only the best for a princess,” I remind her.
“I’m not a princess,” Grace mumbles crankily.
She’s fucking adorable. “Come on.” I gently pat her ankle. “Up and at ’em. You’ll have fun.”
Grace doesn’t look like she thinks she’ll have all that much fun, but she does as she’s told and gets up.
There are specialty stores that deal in Omega supplies for things like nesting material, but the closest one is pretty far away, and Omegas can be eclectic, collecting items from all sorts of places.
We start at a baby supply store and get some flannel blankets. One of them is a lovely blue with daisies on it, and it warms my heart to see Grace rubbing her cheek against it happily. She scowls at herself a minute later, but it’s adorable. I just wish she wouldn’t be so hard on herself for her Omega instincts.
But that’s not my business. It’s hers. Especially since I’m not actually courting her.
From there we go to a home supply store. It’s owned by an older couple and mostly supplies ranchers, but if Grace has a problem with all the cowboy-themed décor, she doesn’t show it. She smiles softly as she walks around, trying to find things that will work.
Even just shopping for the things she needs for her nest is helping her feel better. It warms my heart, and I can’t help but smile at her like a dope as she explores the aisles. I try to school my expression into something more neutral when she looks my way, though. No need for her to see just what a sap I am for her.
Grace turns down an aisle and I lose sight of her for a second, or at least it feels like only a second, I swear it is—and then I hear her say, “Oh,” in a tone that has me wanting to sprint to her.
I hurry around the corner with the others and almost see red when I see the reason for Grace’s exclamation.
It’s the McAllisters.
Travis stands at the front as always, tall and trying to intimidate. He doesn’t look all that pleased to see us. Kyle does, flashing one of his slick smiles, but it’s Kyle’s smiles that you shouldn’t trust.
Leon is in the rear, as usual, silent and hulking. An enforcer who uses fists instead of words, Kyle’s polar opposite. They balance each other out though, make a good team. Good at finding a way to be assholes, anyway.
“Well,” Kyle drawls. “Look who it is.”
“Little Grace Whitmore,” Travis says. “I heard that you were back around town, and with these four of all people. I would’ve thought you had better taste than that.”
“I’m certainly better than all of you,” Grace snaps. She’s shaking with fury. “Wipe those snake charmer smiles off your faces. They don’t fool me and they never have.”
I step up at the same time my three fellow Alphas do, enfolding Grace into our midst protectively. Grace is no wilting flower, that’s for sure, but she’s half the size of these three men and I know none of us would forgive ourselves if we let Grace get hurt by them.
“We’re just doing our shopping, same as you,” I say smoothly, keeping my tone even. “We were just about to go look at a different section.” I put an arm around Grace. “Let’s go.”
Travis looks like he wants to say something, but I usher Grace away before he can. The other three hang back, probably to make sure he doesn’t try to follow, then they rejoin us.
“That was a close call,” Jesse mutters.
I agree. I just want to keep Grace away from them. I’d love to tear the McAllister Alphas a new one, but Grace’s safety is far more important.
As long as she’s okay, I’m okay.
Chapter 21
Grace