Page 12 of Choosing Their Omega

I recognize that face from the Jumbotron too, although now that he’s right in front of me I can take in so many more details that I missed on the screen. His piercing hazel eyes seem to shift colors in the light as he walks toward me, and I can see the auburn notes in his hair better; it wasn’t just my imagination, then. He has a narrow, angular jawline and a slightly leaner build than Cruz, with a unique sort of look to his face, the kind where you want to keep looking back to get another glimpse.

This was one of the… I scour my memory. Defensemen. Yes.

“Sorry about him,” the man says. He gets closer and I get a whiff of his scent: freshly baked cinnamon rolls, hot cocoa, and a touch of something else, some sharper note that adds depth… ginger.

My mouth waters. His scent reminds me of Christmas morning. Joy and comfort.

“No, he’s fine, really,” I insist. “Winston’s a very good boy.”

“Miles, this is Lily,” Cruz explains. “She’s a possible nanny, I wanted you guys to meet her.”

“Damn, you move fast,” someone else says from the doorway. “Found us a nanny already? Were you hiding her from us this whole time and decided to just spring her on us after you brought it up?”

I look up to see the guy who seemed to be Cruz’s right-hand man on the ice at the game. He’s leaning against the doorframe and grinning lazily at me. My stomach flips. His short, dark blond hair looks messy in a way that makes my fingers itch to run through it. Without his uniform I can see that his arms are covered in tattoos, and his face has a few small scars on it.

Neither of those things distract from his rugged good looks. In fact, they make him look even hotter, in that bad-boy kind of way. He looks like he should be on the cover of one of my romance novels, straddling a motorcycle.

His dark brown eyes sparkle with mischief as he takes me in, his smile highlighting his square jawline. “Lily, is it?”

I nod and swallow hard. Cruz’s and Miles’s scents are mingling around me now, and it’s starting to make me feel a bit dizzy. I’ve never reacted so strongly to anyone’s scents before, never mind two at once. I should probably stand up but I’m not sure my legs would hold me.

“Lawson,” Lawson explains, introducing himself. He walks over and holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

I shake his hand, his grip firm. His hand is large and covered in calluses, and I have a sudden rush wondering about it on my body…

Oh my god. This is embarrassing. I don’t lose my head over men like this, but especially not Alphas. Alphas pack up and then get an Omega, although some do get more than one, or add on a Beta as well. But I’m not interested in sharing a man with anyone else.

Lawson helps me to my feet. I can smell him now, smoked sea salt and chocolate cake and spicy chili, sweet and spicy all at once, opposites mixing together to create something better.

“Nice to meet you too,” I say, suddenly remembering that I can talk. I want to bang my head against the wall.

“Did Cruz really keep you hidden somewhere until he could pop the nanny question to us?” Lawson asks. His gaze cuts over to Cruz, and I can see that he’s teasing.

“Oh, yes, I’ve been hiding in your basement for weeks now. You have no idea what a relief it is to get out.”

Miles’s jaw drops, but his eyes are bright green with mirth. “Watch out, Lawson, she’ll give you a run for your money.”

“She’s already given me a run for mine,” Cruz says with a proud grin on his face. “I made the mistake of thinking she was a puck bunny the other day and boy did she set me straight.”

“What’s all the damn fuss?”

I look past the others to see the goalie from the game walking into the foyer. Even without all of his distinctive padding, it’s impossible for me not to recognize him. His height, broad frame, and beard set him apart from the other three immediately, even though they’re all equally handsome.

And holy shit, if I thought he was tall when I was in the stands, that’s nothing compared to now. None of the other men are short, all over six feet for sure, but the goalie has a few inches on all of them.

“Knox.” Cruz grins, undeterred by the grumpy look sent his way. “This is Lily. She’s in need of a job and has a lot of experience with both kids and special needs. Including bereavement. I think she could be a good fit as a nanny for Ben.”

Knox looks over at me, his gaze piercing. I feel like his gray eyes can see right into my soul.

“It’s lovely meet you,” I tell him, holding out my hand for him to shake.

Knox shakes my hand politely, but as he glances at the others, I get the impression he’s not instantly gung-ho about me. He smells like maple syrup, bacon, and bourbon, the way you imagine a lumberjack smells like, or a good homemade hearty meal.

“Cruz told me that Benjamin recently lost his mother,” I say. “My deep condolences. I know what it’s like to lose family.”

Knox nods, stiff, and steps away from me.

“I’m… surprised that you don’t have an Omega already.” I know it might be a delicate subject, although as a Beta I’m not fully educated on the subject, so I try to have a casual tone. “Four successful Alphas like you? You’ve got to be dodging offers.”

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