Page 22 of Choosing Their Omega

Knox nods. In the dark hallway with only the soft light from Ben’s mushroom nightlight casting any kind of glow, it feels intimate between us. Knox stares down at me for a long moment. He’s so handsome, I think, almost in despair. If only they weren’t all so damn sexy, this would be easier.

But then Knox steps back, clearing his throat. “I should let you get settled for bed.”

My face heats up, and I hope he wasn’t able to tell what I was thinking. He’s a hockey player, I’m sure they have tons of… what did Cruz call it… puck bunnies, who fawn over him and his teammates. He doesn’t need his nephew’s nanny at home fawning stupidly over him too.

I thank the other three men again and tell them goodnight. Miles and Cruz are just finishing up the kitchen, and Miles is reading a book on the history of NASA in the living room. I can feel their gazes on me as I head up the stairs, and I shiver.

It’s just your imagination, I tell myself sternly. You’ve read too many romance novels.

I get ready for sleep quickly, practically stumbling my way to the bed and crawling into it with a sigh of relief. It’s definitely been a crazy day, and I’m exhausted. But I’m so, so grateful to be in a proper bed again instead of in my car. And this bed is even better than the thin mattress on the crappy twin bed I had in my old apartment.

I fall asleep feeling like I’m in the lap of luxury, and hoping that maybe now, finally, things are looking up.

Chapter 6

Lily

My alarm goes off the next morning and I groan quietly before getting up. I might object to the early hour, but I still feel more rested than I have in…

Actually, I can’t remember the last time I felt this rested.

It’s like my body just automatically knows I’m safe now. More than the fact that I’m on such a wonderful mattress, with big fluffy pillows, there’s the knowledge that this won’t all end in an instant if my landlord kicks me out or my job treats me badly.

I’m safe.

I get up and throw on some clothes, freshen up, and move quietly downstairs to the kitchen. There’s no sign of Winston and the doors to the various bedrooms are all cracked open except for Ben’s, so I think the men went out on some kind of early morning workout.

The fact that they left me alone with Ben, in their house, makes my heart race. They trusted me with him and with their home, that I wouldn’t steal things and run.

In the kitchen I plan to open the cupboards to find some coffee, but instead, there on the counter is a massive line of coffee bags and tea boxes, with a post-it note attached to them. I pluck it up and read it.

Lily,

Wasn’t sure what you’d like, so got a bit of everything.

~ Cruz

My face heats up and I find myself smiling. These men are so considerate, I don’t even know what to do with myself.

I go through the flavors to find something I like and start up the coffee maker. I had this ancient old thing that wheeze and choked, and finally kicked the bucket. My one splurge was getting myself a nice latte at a coffee shop right by work, since the break-room coffee tasted just horrendous and our boss never listened to our requests to improve it.

This coffee maker has all the bells and whistles, and I hold in a squeal of delight as it makes me a delicious cup. My mouth is watering and I might actually cry. I make some for the guys too, for when they get back.

Once I’m alert, I tiptoe back upstairs to wake up Ben.

He’s utterly adorable curled up in bed, his dark hair just like his uncle, but the baby blue eyes he opens when I gently wake him are all his own. “Good morning, little monkey.” I hold up his penguin. “Your penguin’s hungry and I was thinking maybe you would be, too?”

Ben grins and sits up. “His name is Oswald.”

“Oswald, I like it. Think you and Oswald would like some fruit and cereal?”

Ben nods and holds his arms up to be picked up.

He’s heavy, but I don’t mind. I noticed how much Knox carried him around yesterday. I think the men are giving him extra physical affection to help him in the adjustment, especially given that he can scent them this way.

“We’ll do some breakfast, then get you dressed, then I thought you could show me your backyard?” I suggest, carrying him downstairs and into the kitchen. “It looks like you have some cool stuff to play with out there.”

“Uh huh. Uncle Knox got them all for me. He loves it outside.”

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