Page 3 of Admiring His Omega (Hobson Hills Omegas #12)

C ain Benson eyed the cute omega in the window suspiciously. “Why do you want to know so much about the Wilsons?”

“Who wouldn’t?” Mal shrugged. “Anyway, why are you in town? I thought the last Benson son was a lawyer in Georgia.”

“Are small towns really this nosy?” Cain wiped his hand over his face, fighting the exhaustion that had led him to leave his work in Atlanta for a few days.

“They are.” Mal nodded. “Trust me. I’m an expert on them. Hobson Hills is one of the better ones, but everyone is still happy to share their neighbor’s business for a cup of coffee.”

Cain sighed and walked away from the window to unlock the kitchen door. “Please, come inside and sit down. If we are going to talk, you might as well be comfortable.”

Mal bounced as he walked, making Cain’s lips twitch again. The omega was cute. He was tall with curly brown hair, freckles, and kind blue eyes. Those eyes were familiar, but Cain knew he had never met the other man. He would have remembered.

“Is there a reason you wanted to frighten Ernie?” Cain filled the kettle and put it on the stove, then pulled two cups from the cabinet.

“I don’t want to scare him.” Mal plopped in a chair at the small kitchen table.

“Ernie loves Bigfoot, so a close encounter will make him happy. Well, until he realizes I’m not Bigfoot.

Anyway, pranking one of the Wilsons is just a bit of silly.

Like when I put scary faces and arms on some of Elijah’s apple trees in his orchard or when I switched around the plants in Janelle’s greenhouse. All harmless, I swear.”

“Elijah is a Benson now,” Cain corrected, fighting a laugh. This man was an odd one for sure.

“Nope. Once a Wilson, always a Wilson.” Mal’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’re close to being one too.”

“Are you teasing me?” Cain arched a brow.

Mal arched his own brow. “Do you have to ask?”

Cain snorted as he laughed.

The omega propped his chin on his fist. “Are you going to tell me what brought you to town now? Pretty, pretty please?”

“I suppose I can.” Cain took his time making the tea, relishing the tap, tap, tap of Mal’s foot. The omega was so impatient. “Here, drink up.”

“Cain Benson, big time lawyer from Atlanta,” Mal said, eyes narrowing. “Spill the tea, handsome.”

Cain laughed. “There is no drama here. I missed my family. That’s all.”

The omega’s gentle blue eyes darkened with sadness. “That’s fair. Atlanta is a long way away.”

Cain found the ever-present tension in his shoulders easing. “When I’m working, I’m fine, but I cannot work all the time.”

“It’s the quiet moments, when you’re alone that are the worst, right?” Mal gave him a sympathetic look.

Cain nodded. “My apartment is too quiet. I miss all my nieces and nephews.”

“Didn’t Yeo just have another kid?”

“He did. Robin.” Cain smiled softly as he thought of his newest nephew. “A few months after, Yeo and Caden accidently got pregnant again.”

“Shit! That’s nine nieces and nephews for you.” Mal seemed pleased. “I love it.”

“It makes me nervous that you know that.” Cain eyed the man suspiciously.

“Don’t worry about it.” Mal waved a hand, completely unconcerned. “Everyone in town probably keeps count. How is the newest doing?”

Cain couldn’t help but smile as he thought of Robin. “Each and every one of them is astounding, but Robin is the squishiest, cutest one of them all.”

Mal grinned. “Aww, you’re so sweet. I don’t have any nieces or nephews yet, but some of my cousins have kids, and they’re a handful. I think the Wilsons are even more chaotic, so your holidays must be wild. It’s probably nice though.”

“Sometimes.” Cain sipped his tea. “Why are you so interested in the Wilsons?”

“No nefarious reason.” Mal shrugged.

Cain gave him a considering look. “You know more about me, than I know about you. I don’t like it.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Mal leaned on the table. “You know that I’m young and virile, have a surrogate daughter, and enjoy pranking the Wilsons. That’s a lot if you think about it.”

Cain forced himself to keep a straight face. “Where are you from?”

“A small town in Washington. Lots of family.” Mal snorted. “Too much family really. My family tree is more like a forest of trees connected together with strings of flashing lights and windchimes. Loud, obnoxious windchimes.”

“That sounds… lovely.” Cain pressed his lips together, then asked, “What town?”

Mal tsked. “You want the details too?”

Cain arched his brow and struggled not to smile when Mal made a face. The omega was simply too easy to read.

“Tiny place called Thorn Creek,” Mal said, then sipped his tea. “Most of my immediate and extended family live there.”

“Do you miss them?”

Mal looked conflicted. “Yes, but it’s complicated.” He shook himself and grinned at Cain, wagging his eyebrows. “At the moment, I’d rather live the life of a rambling man.”

Cain’s lips twitched again. “A rambling man?”

“I have a RV and travel all over the US and Canada.” Mal leaned back in his chair, smirking. “I’m a loner, never staying in one place. A nonconforming maverick. The ultimate free spirit.”

Cain tapped his chin and tilted his head to the side. “Why do I not believe you?”

Mal gave him a disappointed look. “I could be a mysterious rogue on the run from a dark past. You don’t know me.”

“Are you a writer?”

Mal chuckled, looking delighted. “I wish. No, I’m a vlogger.”

“Is that a real profession?” Cain frowned. “How do you make money?”

Mal sniffed and gave him a wounded look. “I make enough to get by, thank you very much. More importantly, you should ask me what I post about.”

“Please, forgive me, mysterious traveling vlogger,” Cain said, voice tinged with laughter despite his efforts. “What do you post about?”

Mal’s expression brightened and Cain swore the whole room became lighter and more cheerful. “I post about a lot of different things, but my most profitable content is about cooking from scratch. I film short episodes, edit them, and post to multiple places. I even have sponsors now.”

“Interesting. How would I find your work?”

“My site is called Simply Living .” Mal cupped his tea in both furry hands.

“It’s really starting to take off. Basically, I focus on getting back to the basics with food and life.

I choose recipes that use a minimal amount of natural ingredients but still taste yummy.

Since I travel so much, I do episodes about finding the best places to buy fresh ingredients and where to forage when it’s legal.

I’m well known in the mycophile community,” he stated proudly.

“Do you think Ernie would give me permission to hunt mushrooms out here? I saw some prime spots when I was sneaking in.”

“Wow, you sound so mysterious, you scoundrel,” Cain said dryly, rubbing his chin. “Can I trust a wild mycophile around my friends?”

Mal gave him a wounded look. “How could you ask such a thing? I may be the bad boy of mushroom foraging, but I forage for good, not evil. I’m completely trustworthy.”

Cain chose to ignore the fact that he had caught Mal trespassing mere moments ago. “Ernie and Reuban probably won’t mind but ask them first. Get the permission in writing if possible.”

“Okay, Mr. Lawyer.”

“Do you really make money doing all that? Foraging and whatnot?”

Mal shrugged. “Enough to pay most of my bills. I started it as a hobby, but it really hit with a lot of people. Oh, I also have a beginner’s yoga channel. It’s not as popular as my cooking one, but you should join it. Yoga would really help with your stress.”

“I look that stressed?”

Mal nodded. “The bags under your eyes have stories to tell. You don’t just miss your family, do you?”

Cain pressed his lips together, wincing. “No.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mal reached across the table and settled his fur covered hand on Cain’s. “You gave me free legal advice after all.”

Cain shook his head. “It makes me feel pathetic.” It was unlike him to even consider telling someone something so personal. Mal was really a stranger and had admitted to liking gossip. It would be stupid to tell him anything important.

“We’re friends now, right? Please tell me?” Mal pouted and stared at him with the best puppy eyes that Cain had ever come across in an adult. “I’ll tell you my secrets too.”

“Fine.” Cain drew the word out as he sighed in defeat. “I want a family of my own. A partner and a child.”

“Hmm. That’s not exactly surprising. Human beings are social after all.” Mal looked puzzled. “You’re handsome, have a job, and seem like a nice enough man. Why don’t you already have a partner?”

Cain gave the omega a flat look. “That is the question my mother asks me every time she calls.”

Mal snickered, then looked guilty. “I’m sorry. That was rude. So, really. What’s the problem? If you aren’t interested in omegas, your parents would understand. Surely you know that. Oh, wait. Are you extra kinky? There are communities for that and you shouldn’t feel ashamed.”

Cain felt his face heat. “Please stop talking. It isn’t anything like that.”

Mal looked doubtful. “It’s alright. Really, there’s no shame in loving someone.”

“Oh, shut up. I simply haven’t found anyone I want to be with.

” Cain scowled. “I’ve dated many people.

It’s not like I’m not looking. I’ve met some amazing omegas.

They came from a similar economic background and were handsome, well-mannered, and highly intelligent.

Each one was an admirable person with many good qualities.

” Cain winced. “It just doesn’t feel right with them. ”

“Admirable, huh? Well, maybe you’re trying too hard.

” Mal shrugged. “One of my older cousins went years dating anyone she could because she wanted a family more than anything, then when she finally gave up on meeting the right person, she realized she really liked her next-door neighbor. They’ve been married three years now. ”

“Lucky for her,” Cain said, grimacing. “No, it’s just that there is one man, but it’s impossible.”