Page 11 of Admiring His Omega
“Serendipitous.” Mal stirred the enchilada sauce, then flipped the tortillas in the skillet. The kitchen was a mess from rolling out the dough, but it smelled deliciously spicy. The girls had already extended the RV’s canopy and set the outdoor table up. The rain still fell but the outdoor curtains and small patio heater he’d pulled out of storage kept the space cozy. For the first time in years, Mal regretted not having a dining room. He also wasn’t sure he had enough plates but figured he could borrow some from Van if they needed more.
Betty danced around his feet, grunting softly. The piglet had completely abandoned Bianca in favor of Mal. He blamed it on the bits of food he occasionally dropped while cooking, but Bianca was convinced Mal and Betty were soulmates.
“By the way, Carter called me again this morning to ask who was on Ernie’s trail cam.” Cain scooped up mushroom slices and placed them in a bowl. “Do you know how hard it is to dodge his questions? He even had Mom call me.”
Mark’s eyes rounded comically. “Please tell me that was you, Mal. Ernie has been telling everyone who will listen about Bigfoot carrying Cain Benson off to his lair. The video’s been uploaded to the town’s community board. Ernie wants to create a Bigfoot festival for next year.”
Mal cackled evilly. “Best. Prank. Ever.”
“Okay, I’ll trust Van’s taste in found family.” Mark nodded. “You may take my daughter mushroom hunting.”
“Another mycophile?” Cain asked, shaking his head. “You’re a bad influence, Mal. What will the younger generation become?”
Betty nibbled on Mal’s toes, her short nose tickling his bare feet and making him giggle. “Betty, really. Will you stop that?”
“Where did the pig come from anyway?” Cain asked, tossing Betty a small piece of mushroom. “I thought you only had a cat.”
“The daughter of my heart decided we needed a truffle pig.”
Mark and Cain both eyed Betty doubtfully.
“Hey, I can train her,” Mal said defensively. “Bia ensures me that Betty is very smart.”
The two men quietly watched Betty zoom in circles around Mal.
“Are you sure?” Cain asked, wincing when Betty tripped and rolled a couple of times before jumping back up to continue circling her favorite person.
“Eh, at least she’s cute.” Mal shrugged and removed the last tortilla from the skillet. Bianca was supposed to be doing this part, but she looked so happy sitting with her friend. “Am I the soft parent?”
The door opened suddenly, banging against the wall and startling everyone. Van looked around wildly before her eyes settled on Betty. “Damn you, Mal. I can’t believe you let her get the pig. I have to buy her a freaking sidecar now.”
“And clean the bathroom for a year,” Bianca called out from the couch, attention still on the television. “Love you, Mom.”
“Yes,” Cain answered promptly. “You are definitely the soft parent.”
Chapter 4
Cain stayed with Mal after dinner to clean up. That was all it was. He was just helping a friend clean up since he had cooked dinner for everyone. While he was at it, he told himself that he had taken another weekend off and flown over a thousand miles just to visit his parents again. It was absolutely not because he wanted to see Mal.
Betty and Truffle lay together on a new pet bed next to the couch while their human hummed a tune as he danced around the small kitchen, wiping already clean counters one more time. Outside of a Chewbacca costume, the man went from cute to dangerously handsome with a tall, slender, firm frame. Cain had known Mal had long lashes and expressive, plump lips, but hadn’t known his everyday look included a bit of eyeliner and delicate jewelry. It amazed the alpha that Mal could go from ruffled hair and freckles to styled and sexy so easily. He also clearly looked happy in the kitchen, even a small one like the RV’s.
“You like cooking for people.” Cain started the dishwasher, then leaned on the tiny island in the center of the room.
“I forgot how much I enjoy it,” Mal admitted, smiling sheepishly. “I used to cook for my cousins all the time. Everyone in my age group would get together for dinner once a month to catch up. It’s been a while since I cooked for more than myself. I make friends everywhere I go, but not like this. Even crowded, it was fun, wasn’t it?”
Cain nodded. “I like your daughter from another life. I also find it highly enjoyable when Van puts you in a headlock. What did you think about Paula? That was the girl you were worried about, right?”
Mal huffed, frustrated. “She seemed nice, damn it. I don’t think I can blame her for Bianca keeping secrets. My favorite teenager in the whole dang world wouldn’t tell me who she was dating either. She wouldn’t even admit to seeing anyone.”
Cain winced.
“Yeah.” Mal nodded his head. “Exactly. Anyway, are you really going to start looking for a house?”
“I think so. I have a few problems I need to take care of first, but it wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and have a place set up here.”
Mal went to the couch and lifted a cushion. He pulled a notebook out from under it and handed it to Cain. “There’s a pen stuck to the fridge. Write down what you’re looking for in a home. I bet you like lists.”
“I do.” Cain also liked that Mal called his future house a home. “A big kitchen so you’ll come cook for me again,” he began. “At least three bedrooms and two bathrooms. I want it on the lake. Dad swears I’ll enjoy fishing if I ever give it a try.”
