Page 12 of Admiring His Omega
“You’ve never been fishing?” Mal gave him a sympathetic look. “You poor thing.”
Cain raised a brow. It was hard to picture the sexy man next to him in a fly hat and waders.
“A small yard,” he continued. “I don’t want to have to take care of acres of land.” Cain eyed Betty and Truffle. “Maybe aslightly larger yard. The pet to person ratio in Hobson Hills is rather high. You were even conned into a pet.”
Mal laughed. “Yeah, one I’m not at all equipped to handle. I haven’t had a dog in a while, little less a pig. Do you know how many puddles I’ve had to clean up so far today? How do you potty train a pig?”
“Didn’t Bianca say she’d take over once the enclosure is built?”
“Yes, but I’ll miss Betty if she stays with them overnight. I want to keep my little cutie here with me.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “You were easy to con, weren’t you?”
“Way too easy.” Mal pulled him to the couch, and they sat down. “Keep going and write this down so you can send it to Mark. Are three bedrooms enough? You said you want kids. Is this your forever home or something temporary until you meet your one true love?”
“One true love?” Cain scoffed. A moment later his lips lifted unconsciously. “A forever home, though? I like that.”
“One day, I’ll be ready for one of mine own too. It’s important to think these things out.” Mal tapped the notebook. “How many kids?”
“Two?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Two,” Cain said, more certain this time.
“Then you should try for four or five bedrooms, depending on your budget. You Bensons have family money, so it’s worth it to invest in your home sooner rather than later.”
“You know our finances too?” Cain leaned his head against the back cushions and closed his eyes. “Here, you take the notes. Add on there that I need to do a background check on you.”
“I’ll text you a reminder next week if you join one of my yoga groups. I promise, it will help you relax.”
Cain kept his eyes closed and fought a laugh. “Deal. I suppose the house should have four bedrooms.”
“Good thinking. Now, about the kitchen. It should have a nice view for when you’re washing dishes. Plenty of cabinet space, of course. Oh, and an island with seating so your friends can keep you company while you cook.”
“Sure.” Cain didn’t have the heart to tell Mal that he never cooked.
Mal poked him with the pencil. “Hey, are you trying to go to sleep? Do you not get any rest in Atlanta? You need to move quickly. What do you still need to do in Atlanta before you can leave?”
Cain opened his eyes and scowled at the thought of what waited for him back home. “A friend of mine is having some trouble.”
“The man you love?”
“No, my best friend Roe. And I don’tloveJasper. Not yet.”
“Jasper.” Mal mulled over the name. “Is he one of thoseadmirableomegas you talked about? Is that why you could fall in love with him given the chance?”
“Why don’t you like the wordadmirable?”
Mal made a face. “It’s just a weird way to describe someone you’re romantically interested in. It sounds like they must be worthy of your attention to keep your interest. People have flaws, and if you put them on a pedestal, youwillbe disappointed. No one fits in a box, Cain. Each person is an assortment of memories, genetics, and emotions. Think multifaceted. Like mushrooms. You can steam, sauté, grill, and bake them.”
Cain thought about what Mal was saying. “Jasperismultifaceted. He came from a lower socioeconomic background than I did which gives him a perspective I lack. He’s intelligent, career driven, and presents himself well, as expected of someonerepresenting our firm. It’s been in my family for generations and the Bensons are well known to other prominent families in the area. He’s taken to attending all the networking events. People like him.”
Mal wrinkled his nose. “Hmm.”
“Hmm?” Cain fought a smile.
“Does that mean that you like him because he fits in with your rich family friends despite coming from a lessprominentfamily?”
