Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,12

that door that’s just for you. So you’ll have all the privacy you need.” She turned to him, her expression serious. “I don’t have many rules in my house, but the ones I have are sacrosanct. The most important is that you, and only you, are allowed up in this room. Anyone else trying to get up here has to get by me, and I’m a light sleeper. There’s only ever one alpha and one omega in this house, and they stay at opposite ends.”

What Riley had assumed was a warning not to have overnight guests turned out to be the opposite. She was trying to explain that he’d be safe here. He felt unaccountably tearful and had to look away, swallowing hard to stop himself from blubbering.

“It’s not easy for omegas in this city,” she said softly. “I wish I could do more. I used to take in only omegas, helping them get on their feet in the city, but I ended up with the same problem as the hostels have. Unsavory alphas hanging around, trying to lure them into trouble, and sometimes not taking no for an answer. This is the best I can do nowadays.”

“It’s… it’s really nice,” Riley said, his voice thick with tears.

“You’ll stay, then?”

“If… if you’ll have me. If I can afford…” He hadn’t even asked about rent, so he only had Brendan’s assurances to go on.

“Oh, my rates are very reasonable. We’ll work something out. Now, you take a few minutes to look around, wash up, and come join us downstairs for dinner. Some of the betas have an evening class, but you can meet whoever turns up.”

She bustled away, and Riley was glad of the chance to regain his composure. He did a slow circuit of the room, letting his fingers trail over the bed, the desk, the dresser. He opened the door to the bathroom and almost cried at the sight of a bath. An actual bath. He’d been resigned to hurried cold showers behind a locked door at the hostel, always trying to get dressed as quickly as possible. This was wonderful. The decoration was plain and a little worn, but the whole place was nicer than anywhere he’d stayed in years. If this was real, then he’d lucked out.

After quickly washing up at the sink, almost in tears again when the tap produced hot water, he headed back downstairs. Mrs. O’Brien’s floor was empty except for a cat, who gave Riley a curious look before rushing down the stairs ahead of him. Riley guessed it was mealtime for more than just the human inhabitants of the house. At the bottom of the stairs, he encountered a tall beta with dark curly hair.

“Are you the new tenant?” the guy asked, looking Riley up and down. His eyes widened at the sight of Riley’s face, but his gaze otherwise remained friendly.

“I think so,” he said. “I’m Riley. Mrs. O’Brien was just showing me around.”

“I’m Gavin. And you should totally take the room. Mrs. O’Brien can be a bit of a mother hen sometimes, but you’ll eat well, and you’ll always have a warm house to come back to. I know some omegas have it rough in the city where housing is concerned.”

A clock chimed somewhere nearby.

“That’s us. Come on, don’t want to be late for dinner. It’s lamb stew tonight.”

Riley followed Gavin into the dining room. The beta disappeared off into the corridor next to the kitchen, saying something about washing his hands. Brendan had left his seat by the fireplace and was setting the table, ferrying cups and cutlery from the kitchen.

“Can I help?” Riley asked.

“Grab a seat.”

“Anywhere?” There were lots of seats to choose from.

“That end,” Brendan said, gesturing with a grin. “Just don’t sit at the head of the table. Mrs. O’Brien likes to have the best view.”

Riley grinned back and slipped into a seat, hoping he’d have a chance to ask Mrs. O’Brien what the rest of the house rules were. Gavin arrived with a jug of water and set it down. Brendan followed after with two plates. He set one down in front of Riley and took the seat next to him. Gavin sat down opposite with his own plate.

“Will there be many eating tonight?” Riley asked.

“Just us,” Gavin said. “Joe and Christina are in class until nine. Pamela is out with friends.”

Then it was only Mrs. O’Brien they were waiting for. Riley followed the others’ cue, filling his glass with water but not touching his