Page 74 of His Gentle Omega
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bennett
Trying to keep my eyes off of Shay was nearly impossible. Once the other guests had arrived and we’d eaten, we’d all naturally separated into groups. All the omegas were in a group near the far end of the pool, along with Gabe, who was good friends with most of the omegas present. The alphas, and Asher, were all near the shallow end and minding the kiddie pool. It was a nice surprise to see all the alphas watching all their kids, giving their omegas a well-deserved break.
The older kids, Matty, who was Jamie and Bash Sinclair’s oldest, along with Lucas, and Rory and Patrick, were in the middle of the pool. Jamie Sinclair was in the middle of them, playing a rousing game of Marco Polo.
Finn Sinclair, who was my landlord, Wade’s husband, had their two oldest kids, Logan and Remy, in the shallow end,watching over them. They both wore floaties on their arms and it was clear they were just in the beginning stages of learning how to swim. Though the older one seemed to know what he was doing and was keeping the younger one company, while Finn showed him how to paddle his arms.
Brendan Sinclair, Ryan’s husband, had Finn and Wade’s youngest daughter, Sammi, in the kiddie pool with Charlie, as well as another dark-haired boy I thought belonged to Jamie and Bash. Shay was keeping an eye on Lucas from where he stood quietly chatting with the other alphas and Asher.
Wade flopped down on a lounger next to Quinn, who nudged him with his elbow good-naturedly. “Are Becks and Wyatt coming today?”
“Becks is working until later,” Bash’s British accent was lovely, and I could sit here and listen to him all day. He was a quiet omega, with a sharp wit, and intelligent green eyes. He had a messy mop of dark curls and was just this side of being too skinny. I knew in shifted form he was a honey badger and was pretty bad ass. There had been some kind of trouble a few years ago at the Sinclair manor, and Bash had been involved, but I didn’t know all the details. There was a rumor around town that he was an ex-British spy, but people loved to make up things, so I doubted it was true. He was a children’s book author and seemed a little unassuming to have lived the exciting life of a spy.
Wade waved a hand in the air. “Wyatt could bring Julianna and come swimming, and Becks could show when he gets off work.”
Ryan shook his head. “He was planning to, and then his dad Robert showed up unexpectedly.” He seemed to pause for dramatic effect, wiggling his brows, “Without his alpha wife, and a couple of suitcases.”
“Ohhh,” Wade shrieked, “please tell me Robert finally wised up and left that barracuda?”
“Robert is way too nice for that wife of his,” Quinn agreed, “bit of an ice bucket, that one.”
Ryan shrugged. “Can’t say for sure what’s going on, but I can tell you Wyatt was not expecting his dad to walk into the daycare yesterday, bags in tow.”
Wade sat up, pointing a green glitter polished finger at Bash. “What do you know about the sitch? Did Becks give Jamie the 4-1-1?”
Bash had a sour look on his face. “Pardon, was any of that English?”
“All of it was,” Wade assured him with a grin. “Now give us the deets.”
Bash shook his mop of unruly hair. “I have no deets. No tea. No info. I know nothing.” He shrugged, “But it would serve Robert well to have finally left Jane. That man is much too nice for that woman. And he does love visiting with his granddaughter.”
Holding up a hand because I had been zoning out, I asked, “Okay, who is Robert, exactly?”
Seth yawned, stretching out on the lounger he was occupying, adjusting his sunglasses on his nose. He’d taken off his shirt and shorts to reveal a very skimpy hot pink bikini underneath, that I had to admit he wore well. The bright color was perfect for his golden tanned skin and dark hair. He adjusted the triangle top before replying. “Robert is Wyatt’s omega dad.”
I knew Wyatt owned the Little Cubs Daycare and was mated to Becks, the sheriff. But I didn’t know the man personally. “Ah, okay, got it.”
Ryan interjected, his voice soft. “Robert is really sweet, butWyatt’s mom is…not.”
“She’s a raging bitch, is what she is.” Wade interjected, and Gabe rolled his eyes, admonishing, “Language. There are kids around.”
“And they are all busy playing in the water, Teddy Bear,” Wade gave him a wide-eyed look, waving his hand towards the pools. “Those kids would not care if we yelled ‘Fire’ right now. Trust me.”
Quinn flicked his friend on the back of his head with his finger and thumb, “Gabe’s right, language.”
“Oh, you’re one to talk, Quinn,” Wade shot back, “you probably already have the twin’s college paid for with that swear jar Lachlan has for you.”
“Anyway,” Ryan continued, ignoring the two obviously close friends, “Robert showed up yesterday at the daycare, out of the blue, with his bags in tow. Alotof bags. I know Wyatt and Becks are planning to come later, when Becks’s shift is over, for the fireworks. I’m guessing Robert will be with them, but who knows.” Ryan shrugged. “He might stay home with the baby. I’m gonna text him in a bit.”
“Text the chat so we can all see what he says,” Wade instructed, not at all ashamed by his nosiness, and I took that opportunity to stand up.
“I need to pee,” I told everyone, trying and failing, to not look Shay’s way. Just like every other time I had casually glanced over to where he was standing, sipping on a beer, he was staring at me. Despite the hot sun beating down, I shivered slightly at the intensity of his blue gaze from across the yard.
“You can use the hall bath under the stairs,” Gabe instructed, and I nodded as I headed inside. Finding the door built into the side of the stairs, I smiled at the little half bath that had beenbuilt there. It was cute and a great use of space, but not original to the house. Perks of being mated to a contractor, I imagined.
Washing my hands, I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to calm my racing pulse. Just being this close to Shay all afternoon, watching him from across the yard, feeling his eyes on me each time I looked his way, had my body aching for him. My hole was damp with slick, desire burned low in my belly, and I was growing hard just thinking about his hands on me. Touching my skin, his fingers skimming lightly over my hole, teasing. The taste of his kisses. The way he smelled.
