Page 27 of The Omega Project

“Shit!”Am I really already an hour late for work?I swipe my phone and stare in horror at the screen. How the hell did I sleep through the chaos known as the Nash family’s morning routine?

Muttering curses under my breath, I dash into my mum’s room, only to find her bed empty and a cold cup of tea on her nightstand. I currently share her wardrobe, and as I rake through her clothes, I silently beg for a professional outfit to leap out at me. Since my mum has never worked a day in her life, Ihave to settle for a pair of black trousers. They’re tight over the hips and thighs, but beggars definitely can’t be choosers, and I snatch the nearest shirt off its hanger. It’s pink and silky, with a deep V neckline and pearl buttons, and I scoff as I try to jam it back into the packed wardrobe.

Only… It really is soft.And the colour is so pretty…

I slip it on, then turn and study my reflection in Mum’s full-length mirror. My cheeks are flushed from the shower, and with my hair starting to curl on my shoulders, I can’t tell if the contrast of deep red and delicate pink is attractive or alarming. Do I look like an overcooked sausage coming out of its skin, or a woman who just pleasured herself in the shower and then wrapped herself in silk? All I know for certain is that the way the fabric clings to my curves makes me tingle all over.

Ah, screw it. It might not win any awards for office attire, but since I’ll probably be fired for tardiness, does it really matter what I wear as they march me out the door?

Twisting my damp hair into a makeshift bun, I hurry back to the living room in search of my purse. It’s not slung across the coffee table, like usual, and another glance at my phone has me cursing at the time.Forget about buying new body wash, I’m going to have to raid my emergency funds for an Uber…

I don’t know if I smell him or hear him first, that low, hypnotic rumble cloaked in the scent of pure wolf. Crossing the room, I brace myself as I step into the kitchen, but it’s still a shock to see my sister sitting across the table from Finn Visser.

They’re drinking tea, and my nephew is sitting between them, gazing up at my boss like he hung the moon.

“Hi, everyone.” There’s no disguising the nervous edge to my voice, so I force a cheery smile. “What’s going on? Are we having brunch?”

“No school today, Aunt Em!”

“It’s a teacher development day,” Claudia says in a clipped tone, her fingers drumming on mum’s linen tablecloth, “so Jacob’s home with me.”

“Oh. Right.” I give my nephew a smile, but it’s very hard not to fidget under Finn’s stare. It’s like having a wild animal stalk you into a corner, only to then rub against your legs, and I move restlessly from foot to foot. “And mum? Is she about?”

“Spa day with Mrs. Evans.”

“Right.” She’s a neighbor who does budget manicures. Mum says she’s a terrible gossip, but she always has a bottle of wine in the fridge, and you can hear them cackling like kookaburras once the chardonnay starts flowing. “Okay. Well, I’m sorry I’m late, but I’m ready now…”

“No apology needed,” Finn says in that wolfy rumble, his grey eyes tilting my way. All I can think of issoft, velvety fur, and I jump a little when he adds, “You had a late night.”

“I did…” He doesn’t sound like he’s annoyed, but is there something else in his gaze? Does he know what I did with Creed when he dropped me home? I can feel my cheeks burning, which are probably clashing horrifically with the pink blouse…Do I have time to nip away and change?“Um. We should probably get going.”

“Are you going in the Batman car, Aunty Em?”

I blink at Jacob, but Claudia is staring at Finn with her unimpressed eyes. “We were coming back from the park when Mr. Visser pulled up. What kind of car is that again?” My sister has forgotten more about cars than I’ve learned about bees, so I’m not surprised when she supplies the answer herself. “A special edition Lambo, right? What does something like that retail for?”

“Stupid money,” Finn admits. “I bought it for the Human-Machine Interface.”

“I can see how that would work for you,” Dee murmurs as I shuffle my feet, the itch roaring back under my skin. I can almost taste the pheromones bouncing across the table between them, and I squirm with relief when Jacob pipes up, “Can I go in the Lambo, too?”

“It’s a workday for grownups, Jake,” my sister replies, steering him back to his juice box and crackers. “If Aunt Em’s job pans out, maybe you can have a ride another time.”

Jacob has heard that enough to know his chances aren’t good and his little face drops in disappointment.

“What about helicopters?”

Jacob’s eyes grow as wide as twin moons as he looks up at Finn. “Do you have a chopper? Like in the movies?”

“Mmmm.” My boss smiles at me, as shocking and fleeting as a summer lightning storm. “Your aunt’s not the only one who likes things with wings.”

“Choppers haverotors, not wings.” Jacob’s face falls again. “Batman would know that.”

“Go play in the living room, Jake,” Claudia says quickly, then casts me a tight look. “I need to talk to you tonight. Will you be home late again?”

I gulp and study my sister’s face, but it’s like trying to decipher stone. “I have to take Derek some soup, but I'll be quick.”

Claudia suddenly pulls me into a one-arm hug, her mouth close to my ear. “If you need me to stop this, I’ll try.”

“Don’t worry.” I whisper back, giving her shoulder an awkward pat. “I’m fine.”

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