Page 188 of Omega's Heart

“Did you have a good visit?” he asked after he got his hello kiss.

“I did. Bax’s mother is lovely. I met his youngest brother and two of his sisters as well. They have a big family.”

“Oh? I never paid any attention. Too busy staying one step ahead of my packbrothers.”

“Holland playing pranks on you?” I joked as I started to unbutton my dress shirt.

“Or Aston. They really need to revoke his Internet access over there in White River.”

“I’ll talk to Mom about him.”

“Naw, I’ll handle it. I’m sure big brother Abel has something horrifying I can send back.” He flopped down on the bed and watched me with a gratifying appreciation as I stripped out of my pants. “Damn, you get better looking every day.”

“You’re biased.” Not that I minded.

“The Alpha said not to bother with suits, we’ll just grill something in the back yard.” He scrunched up his face in thought. “I could have sworn for a minute that he’d forgotten you were even here, the way he said it. I don’t know, there’s something off about this place. He’s so damn certain of himself, it sets my tail up.”

So I’d been right. “Casual sounds good,” I said, avoiding the rest of the topic. I stole another kiss and then grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt to go wash up and change in the bathroom.

He’d left his phone on the side of the sink. I opened my mouth to call out to him, when the screen flashed with a text from his mother.

I jerked my eyes away from the screen and splashed some water on my face, fighting the urge to tap and see what they’d been talking about. It wasn’t easy, though it helped that I didn’t really want to know what she was saying to him behind my back. Quickly, I jumped into my clothes and ran a brush through my hair, then gathered up Kaden’s phone and carried it back to our room.

“Your mother texted,” I said quietly as I handed it back to him. “It came across the screen while I was in there. Sorry, I couldn’t help noticing.”

“That’s fine.” He glanced down at the screen for a moment. “She’s asking about the trip.”

Strange how let-down I felt. I supposed that made me a self-centered omega to wish that she’d ask about me or the baby. But really, we weren’t what she’d wanted for her sons, so I was an idiot to be hoping for it.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Kaden asked gently, setting the phone aside and crossing the room to put his arms around my waist. “Thought you said you had a good afternoon?”

“I did.” I leaned into him, unaccountably sad. “It just hit me that I wish your mom was more like Bax’s mom. I wish I could sit for an afternoon and have a cup of tea and talk about family and not be treated like a cockroach that got into the kitchen.”

He pulled me closer against him and stroked my back, his face turned in to nose behind my ear. “I’m sorry I can’t give you that.”

“It’s fine,” I told him, pulling back a little. “It’s not your job.”

“Did you want to see her texts?”

“Not really.” I leaned into him again and closed my eyes.

“Maybe you should,” he said, his voice odd.

“What do you mean?” I leaned back far enough I could see his eyes.

“Come here.” Kaden tugged me over to the bed and made me sit down on the edge. “She’s been checking in on you with me since she can’t get any information out of you.” He hugged me. “I haven’t told her much, except to leave you alone.”

“Oh.” I thought about that, then held out my hand for his phone. “Let me see.”

Silently, he handed the phone over, but he stuck as close to me as a nervous pup, his chin resting on my shoulder so he could read along as I scanned through the conversation.

When I’d gone back as far as our mating, I handed the phone back, then took his face in my hands and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked in a bemused voice.

“I know this isn’t easy for you.” My eyes strayed to the phone again and I made a decision I figured I’d probably regret, but something told me regardless that it was the right one. “You can tell her, if she wants to come for a couple of weeks in May, I’m agreeable.” He opened his mouth to say something but I held up a finger. “I’m not finished yet.” I plucked the phone from his grasp again and shook it in his face. “But she needs to stop this bullshit manipulation before I forget that I was raised to be polite and respectful of my elders. This isn’t right. She shouldn’t treat you like a pup.”

“She’s been in charge of things most of her adult life. That, or working toward being in charge. It’s a tough habit to break. And you know I don’t give a shit.”