Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,36

when Riley looked shocked. “I didn’t hear that,” he said.

“Hear what?” Colin asked innocently. “Besides, it’s only so I can lose the key when Cousin Ben comes to stay.”

“Alright, alright,” Brendan said when the other kids clamored around asking questions. “Go play. Riley and I are going to get settled into our room and go for a walk.”

“Come play with us,” his niece begged, grabbing him by the hand.

“As soon as we’re back, I promise.”

He knew Riley needed some breathing room, and he wanted to check in with the omega to make sure he was faring okay. He’d been great over lunch, handling the many questions put to him with ease.

They grabbed their bags from the car and took off for the cottage.

“Your family is… intense,” Riley said softly as they followed the narrow path.

“Yeah, they can be. They’re not so bad once you get to know them.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just not used to being the center of attention.”

“If it helps, I don’t think you will be for long. I may be wrong, but I think Leo’s wife will be making an announcement this weekend. Another grandchild on the way.”

“How can you tell?” Riley wondered.

“Leo’s strutting around, proud as a peacock. It’s a dead giveaway.”

Riley threw a bemused look his way. “You don’t mean that literally, right? He’s not a peacock shifter?”

Brendan spluttered out a laugh. “No, but that would be quite the sight to see. He’s a coyote. So is Angie.”

The cottage came into view. He watched the omega’s gaze, taking it all in.

“Nice place.”

“Yeah. It was built by my grandpa and my dad. My parents lived here for a few years until the family outgrew it. Then they moved into the big house, and my grandparents moved out there. When Grandpa died, Grams moved back in with them. Said it was too lonely here by herself. All my siblings have lived here at one time or another, but it’s a little small for the kinds of families they plan on having. Lucky us, though. It beats a room in the main house, or—”

A voice called to them, and they turned to see Angie hurrying their way.

“Oh good, I caught you. There’s been a change of plans. Uncle Logan and Nate decided to come at the last minute. They got first dibs on the cottage, sorry. You’re in our house. I’ve given you the attic, with the ensuite. Best we could do.” She shrugged apologetically.

“No worries,” Brendan assured her, knowing there was no point arguing. Seniority counted for a lot in their family. “We’ll manage.”

Riley looked less confident, especially at Angie’s parting words.

“I’ll try to keep the kids from paying you early morning visits. You head over and get settled in.”

Once she was out of view, Brendan turned to Riley. “It’ll be fine.”

“I know. But… can we still do the shifter thing? Even if we don’t have space to ourselves?”

“Of course we can,” he promised. “We’ll wait until everyone is already outside and find a quiet place to practice.”

He was determined to make the weekend a success for both of them.

Chapter Twenty

Riley sat cross-legged on the floor opposite Brendan, watching the alpha nervously.

“Don’t look so worried,” Brendan said. “It’s just you and me here. And I won’t look if you don’t want me to.”

Riley shrugged at that, recalling the night they’d slept together. “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“That was then, this is now. You can have as much privacy as you need here.”

He contemplated that, bracing his elbows on his knees.

“I don’t need privacy as much as I need… guidance, I guess? It’s been so long, I’m not sure I know where to start.”

Though he wracked his brain, he couldn’t recall ever actively bringing forth his shifter animal. But it was a long time ago, and he’d been just a kid—and not the sharpest tool in the box, either.

Brendan watched him thoughtfully.

“Well, I suppose I could talk you through how I do it. That might not be much use—everyone’s way of calling their shifter animal can be different. It’s worth a try, though.”

The alpha started stripping off his clothes, and Riley didn’t know where to look.

“Hey,” Brendan said warmly. “It’s fine. I’m not shy. Not around you, anyway. It might be easier if you can see it happen.”

“Seeing is believing,” Riley agreed faintly, forcing his eyes to Brendan’s face. His gaze drifted lower of its own accord, focusing on Brendan’s bare chest and— Nope, this was not the time to get distracted.

“When I want