Page 10 of Romancing the Omega

Chapter Four

A few days later, Yeo chatted with a customer and kept an eye on the man settling into the chair in front of the window. He was too pale.

“Do think there’s any room for me in one of the book clubs?” The middle aged woman nibbled her lip. She held the Roxanne Baxter novel clutched to her chest. “I know they’ve started already, but I can catch up.” She looked emotionally beat down, as if a giant stood atop her every second of every day.

“Of course, there’s room for you,” Yeo said, smiling. He thought he knew the best group for her too. “Can you do Wednesday evenings, around five?” Laurel Wilson and Ines Torres would take this woman under their wings. If there was a way to help her feel better, they would find it.

“Wednesdays would be fine. Can I bring anything? I heard there were food and drinks.”

“Anything you want,” he said.

“My son always says I make really good peanut butter cookies,” she said, eyes wide with excitement.

“That sounds delicious,” he said.

“I’ll do it,” she said, voice firm. “Thank you.” She took her bag and walked from the store with a bounce in her step.

Yeo looked around, happy for a minute of peace. Linc was napping, so he could take a look at the shelves. The whimper to his right, froze him in his tracks. “Oh god, not now,” the man by the window said. He jumped up and ran toward the bathroom. Yeo followed, worried about the man. He heard retching through the door. Oh, dear.

He ran and grabbed a bottle of water, checking the front for customers. By the time the man came back out, Yeo had served two more customers and made a small plate of crackers. “Sir, are you alright?” Yeo walked around the register and handed him the water and crackers.

“I’m so embarrassed,” the man said. He took the water and plate and sat in his seat. “Thank you so much.”

“How far along are you?”

“You can tell I’m pregnant?” The man looked shocked. “Only a few of my family know. The others haven’t noticed a thing.”

“Did you want them to notice? It’s pretty easy to hide as long as you’re not puking,” Yeo said with a smile. He had gone for almost five months without anyone noticing when he was pregnant with Linc.

“I don’t know,” the man said, wrinkling his nose. “I know what they’ll say. I’m in my forties and have three kids. Why did I want more?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Yeo sighed, dropping into the chair across from him. If he could, he’d have a million kids.

“That’s what I’m saying,” the man said, voice rising. “I love kids. I’m a stay-at-home dad, and I miss having babies around. I don’t want to have more me time. Harper is grown and married, with a baby of his own. Shawn is about to move out and start his own life. I have Hannah, but she turns thirteen in April.”

“Those names sound familiar,” Yeo said, musing.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. My name is Bennett Wilson. Summer is friends with my daughter, Hannah.”

“Ah, that’s it,” Yeo said. “Well, if you want a baby, it shouldn’t matter to anyone else. It’s not their business.”

“Oh, I know. I just love our extended family so much. I hate to disappoint them,” Bennett said.

“Would they really care that much that you’re having another baby?” Yeo’s experiences with the Wilsons had been great so far.

“Probably not,” Bennett said, sighing. “When I talked about it, Anna, my sister-in-law, said I should think about it more. Barry, my brother-in-law, said I was crazy, but that’s just Barry.”

“How did your alpha feel about it?” Summer had said that Bennett’s alpha was a good man.

Bennett grinned. “Marco is my cowboy. He will give me anything I want as long as it makes me happy. He doesn’t get why I’m keeping it secret.”

“Well, there you go. That’s all you need.” Yeo sat back. “Your family is pretty amazing, you know? Summer absolutely adores you all.”

“She is a good girl,” Bennett said, munching on a cracker. “Can I ask you about her parents? She hasn’t said anything, and I didn’t want to press her. I imagine she talks to Hannah a lot, but Hannah doesn’t share secrets.”

“My dad and step-mom found out that she likes girls, not guys. They didn’t handle it well,” Yeo said. “The Cooks of middle Tennessee are conservative and traditional. Women marry men, omegas don’t exist, and the wife stays out of the husband’s business. My dad wanted Summer gone. My step-mom wanted her somewhere safe, so she talked my dad into signing over custody to me. Of course, I was happy to have her. I love my sister.”

“That poor girl,” Bennett said. “I can’t imagine not accepting any of my children.”

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