Page 7 of Admiring His Omega (Hobson Hills Omegas #12)

T he next night, Mal handed out the fake beards and googly-eyeglasses. “Noah’s place has cameras, so make sure your face is covered at all times.”

Cain arched a brow. “I thought this was a date.”

Bianca and Van snickered.

“It is, I swear,” Mal promised. “We just have a little trespassing to do first. Don’t forget your beard.”

Cain scowled. “Forget it. They’ll recognize me anyway. At least Noah won’t hound me for Bigfoot’s hideout.”

“Suit yourself.” Mal pulled his beard in place, put the glasses on, and grabbed a hat from under the seat of his truck. “It really will be just the two of us once this is done. It’s just that Van and Bianca hardly ever have the same evening off from work. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.”

Van patted Cain’s shoulder. “You should have known better, Benson. There are a ton of omegas around that would go out with you. Picking Mal is on you.”

“Hey, now.” Mal should probably be offended, but Van was right.

“He’s lucky to have you, Mal,” Bianca pointed out, loyal as ever. “But are you sure you should bring Truffle? Someone may recognize him.”

“It’s necessary.” Mal patted his cat. Truffle sat happily in the pet sling Mal wore across his chest. Mal had attempted to hide his identity with a lion costume. Truffle was not amused.

“Necessary? Really?” Van snorted.

“He’s feeling a bit neglected since Betty goes everywhere with us now.” Mal sniffed. “Take note, Bianca. It’s important that all your children feel special.”

She nodded solemnly. “A child’s emotional health and psychological growth are important. Noted.”

Mal grabbed one of the large, stuffed horses from the back of his truck. “Here, this one is for you, Cain. It’s the biggest and most special.”

“I feel so important,” the alpha replied, taking the horse.

Mal passed out more horses, taking two for himself. “Now remember, follow me exactly. I know where the camera placement is. I think we can miss most of them.”

Van adjusted the beard on her face. “How did you figure that out?”

“I have an inside source.” Mal smirked behind his beard.

“Of course you do.” Cain rolled his eyes.

“Do my contacts impress you, Cain?”

“Do you want them to?”

Van wrapped an arm around Bianca and drew her closer. “Take note of way one male looks for approval from the other male. In this outlandish mating dance, one will do almost anything to garner attention.”

“There’s a bird in Costa Rica, the Red-capped Manakin, that moonwalks to impress potential mates.” Bianca shook her head. “At least this isn’t that bad.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.” Mal looked around.

“No cameras here. Okay.” He stopped in front of Cain.

Bracing one foot behind him, he began a slow, awkward slide on the gravel driveway of the horse ranch, moonwalking in circles around Cain.

“Imagine there’s music, Cain. Are you excited? Do you want me?”

“I’ve never wanted you more,” Cain answered, voice dry.

“Am I as good as those admirable omegas now?”

Cain barely held back a laugh as he covered his eyes. “They have nothing on you, Mal. I swear.”

“Oh, look. There is a camera.” Bianca pointed out.

“Oh, shit.” Mal froze in place. “Let’s hurry and get this done. You don’t think they saw me dance, do you?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” Van grumbled, opening the door to the closest barn. “Why don’t they lock their doors?”

“My contact left them open for me. He’s going to come lock everything down when we leave.”

“I really need to know who your contact is.” Cain went to the nearest empty stall and set the large stuffed horse down. “Is here alright?”

“Have its head sticking out over the gate.” Bianca adjusted the horse and added her own beside it. “Like this.”

Mal’s heart melted as he watched his two favorite people work together. For all the mess that was Mal, Cain always handled it well. The two filled up the stall with stuffed horses, arranging them into a little horse family.

This is not good , Mal thought, heart beating fast. Really not good . He didn’t have the luxury of falling for someone so close to the Wilson family. He sighed and placed his own horses a few stalls down, right across from Noah’s miniature horses. Not that my heart ever listens to me .

His eyes narrowed as he surveyed their work. “Van, is that a unicorn?”

His friend shrugged and set up her own stall with a family of unicorns. “The store only had so many stuffed horses, Mal. Give me a break.”

“Noah doesn’t keep unicorns. Respect the historical accuracy.”

“Hold on.” Bianca ran back to the truck, expertly dodging cameras, and grabbed more animals before returning. “Here’s a goat, Mal. They have an actual goat somewhere around here.”

“See, Van? Why can’t you be more like our daughter?”

Van ignored him and placed a toy fairy on the unicorn’s back. “Mind your own stall, asshole.”

Cain rubbed Mal’s shoulders, and his body practically liquefied. He arched up into the alpha’s hands, goosebumps breaking out over his arms. “Yeah, okay. Whatever. Never stop touching me, Cain.”

“Nice Mal-wrangling there, Benson.” Van grinned. “You’re welcome to come on these excursions any time.”

“It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.” Cain pulled Mal into his arms. “What are you making me for dinner?”

“Anything you want.” Mal sighed happily, eyes scanning their work. Five stalls were full of stuffed horses. The real horses watched them, curious at all the commotion. “Noah will be so surprised when he comes in tomorrow. This was a good idea, Bia. You’re my favorite person in the whole world.”

Bianca joined their hug. “You’re my favorite person too, Mal.”

“Hello.” Van scowled behind her fake beard. “Your mother is right here.”

“We said what we meant.” Mal leaned back against Cain and hugged Bianca tighter.

Twenty minutes later, they had emptied the back of Mal’s truck and headed home. He dropped Van and Bianca off at their house, then parked next to his RV.

“Can I make you my favorite dish?” He fluttered his eyes and tried his best to look sweet.

It was hard. What he really wanted was this man in his bed, but it was too soon for that.

Mal didn’t want a hook up. He wanted something more with Cain.

For the first time in a long time, he was ready to take a chance.

Did it make sense? No. But that didn’t stop the wanting.

Cain smiled one of his serious smiles. “I would like that.”

“You don’t even know what it is,” Mal teased as he left the truck, making sure to lock it behind them.

“God help me, but I will have to trust you.” Cain looked amazed. “What have you done to me?”

“Don’t blame me.” Mal opened the door to the RV and grabbed the piglet trying to slip out. “Betty, my darling girl, how many messes did you leave behind today?”

Cain snorted. “Where’s her harness? I’ll take her for a walk to burn some of that energy.”

Mal melted again. Cain will make such a good father , he thought, then wanted to smack himself. “Oh, yes, please and thank you. I’ll get started on dinner.”

Mal was surprised to find no messes, so he grabbed the ingredients he needed and went to work.

Creamy mushroom and lemon spaghetti had been one of his favorites since he was a kid.

It was also when of the first dishes his dad had taught him to make.

The alpha loved cooking as much as Mal did, and they had spent many hours together in the kitchen.

“Truffle, don’t tell anyone, but I’m going to use store bought mushrooms.”

His cat gave him a look of disdain before stalking back to the bedroom. Mal knew what would happen. The cat would sit on Mal’s pillow and proceed to lick his butt.

“I really shouldn’t have made him wear that costume,” he muttered as he took out a lemon and his zester.

Mal was dishing up the plates by the time Cain and Betty came back.

Cain took his coat off and hurriedly dried the piglet. “It started to rain.”

Mal scowled out the window. “It was so nice and warm two weeks ago. Now, it’s chilly and wet again.”

“Betty didn’t mind. Remind me to add a mudroom to my house needs list.”

The piglet looked thoroughly happy as Cain rubbed her down.

“Your coat is a mess now. I have towels, you know.”

Cain shrugged and sat down at the small table. “What is this? It looks really good.”

“My dad’s specialty,” Mal said proudly. “We would spend hours foraging for mushrooms on the weekends.”

“So, he’s the reason you’re a mycophile?”

“Yep.”

“He taught me everything I know.”

Cain moaned as he took the first bite. “This is really good.”

They ate quietly as the rain poured, beating a loud tempo against the aluminum roof of the RV. It was cozy and warm, making Mal want to wiggle in happiness. A good meal, good company, and rain falling on a metal room? Perfect .

“Are you close to your father?” Cain asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes. He taught me how to cook and helped me decide what dishes to present on my show when I first started. I think he’s prouder of my show than he was when I graduated from college. Of course, he never thought college was a good fit for me.”

“Was he right?”

“I have a bachelor’s degree in game development, but I’m making a living from a cooking show.” Mal shrugged. “He was probably right, but I’m still happy I went. What are you going to do when you move to Hobson Hills?”

“I have no idea.” Cain shook his head. “My brothers found their place here, and Dad and Mom are mostly happy with retirement.”

“I think your dad gets bored sometimes.”

“I think so too.” Cain smiled softly. “You should have seen him in action when he worked at the firm. He was a civil rights attorney and took on some big cases.”

“No wonder he gets bored sometimes.” Mal snorted. “Maybe you and he can start a firm here in Hobson Hills. You wouldn’t make money, but at least you would still help people.”