Page 13 of The Omega's Surprise Baby
“Thank you for helping,” Conner said.
I gave him a smile. Conner was such a polite kid. I'd been polite too, when I was his age, but only because it had been demanded of me. And for some reason I couldn't picture Shane as a super strict parent. No, Conner was polite because he wanted to be. Considering that he hadn't even wanted to introduce himself yesterday, the cat must have helped my image. “You're welcome,” I said.
Then we both looked at the cat, who was still giving us the evil eye. He was a pretty thing, though. Shiny fur and strong frame. Bright eyes. Whoever owned him must be proud, so I didn't understand why he wasn't wearing a collar.
Steps approached the living room. The cat's ears perked.
“Don't come in!” Conner yelled before I could react.
“What's going on in there?” Shane's voice.
Conner pulled his lip between his teeth and looked at me. So he'dnottold his Dad what he needed the gloves for.
“I picked up a cat,” I called, taking responsibility. It was worth it just for the look of relief on the boy's face. Did he really think he was going to get in trouble for trying to help a sick animal? Glancing back at the couch, I figured that he might have a point, though. The cat was digging his claws into the leather, getting dirt and specks of blood on it.
In hindsight, maybe putting it on the couch had not been the best idea.
“You what?” Shane sounded confused. And then the door handle turned and he stepped inside, ignoring his son's warning.
“No, Dad!” Conner rushed to him and closed the door behind him. The cat watched all of this unfazed and without moving, as if tired of our antics already. I had to laugh to myself at the thought. And I had to laugh at the look of bewilderment on Shane's face as his eyes fell on the cat staring back at him from his couch.
“You really picked up a cat.”
“That's what I said,” I replied, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“Do you do that often?” he asked. “You just randomly pick up pets wherever you go?”
I shrugged. “I'm a collector. He's pretty.”
Shane blinked. Oh God, was he actually buying this? I really had to laugh now.
“Snap out of it. I'm an artist, but I'm not that eccentric. The cat's injured. That's why I picked him up.”
That seemed to clear Shane's confusion up a bit. “Oh.” He shook his head at me, but his eyes twinkled in amusement. He looked kind of hot when he faked irritation. He took a step toward me and I got the feeling I was about to be scolded. I liked the thought more than I should. “You—” he started, but sadly didn't get any further.
“We should call Eli,” Conner said, interrupting our super adult conversation with some impatience.
“Who's Eli?” I asked.
“Jake's Daddy,” Conner supplied, as if that would explain everything. I looked to Shane.
“Jake is Conner's best friend,” Shane said. “Eli is training to be a vet. He's also Griff's brother.” Griff? I'd heard that name. Right. He was the omega Shane's cousin was about to marry at the wedding I was here for. Being around Shane and his family, it was easy to forget that I was here on business.
“I guess it would be good if Eli could take a look at the cat then,” I said.
“I'll call him,” Conner said, leaving the room. Shane and I watched him go, and then it was just us and the cat.
“Conner found the cat, didn't he?” Shane asked after a moment.
“Yes,” I admitted, “but I wanted to help. Don't be mad at him. It really is my fault that the cat is ruining the couch.”
“I'm not mad,” Shane said, approaching the couch.
“Don't get too close to the cat,” I warned him. “Max and I have already felt his wrath.”
“Oh?” Shane turned to me again and I showed him my battle scars with fake pride.
He asked the same question as his son. “Does it hurt?”
