Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,53

last of their plates.

Brendan glanced at Riley, who looked tempted but a little overwhelmed. They had eaten a lot of food.

“What do you recommend?”

“We have a beautiful chocolate tart with whipped cream.”

Riley’s eyes lit up at the word chocolate, and Brendan couldn’t deny the omega. “We’ll have a piece to share.”

“I’m not sure I can eat another bite,” Riley confessed when the waiter had left.

“See how you feel when dessert gets here. If you can’t manage it, I volunteer to take the hit.”

But as soon as the dessert was set on the table, a rich chocolate tart topped with a mound of fresh cream, he knew the omega wouldn’t have any trouble helping. He used the fork to separate a piece and offered it to him. Riley smiled dreamily at him, opened his mouth, and closed his lips around the fork. The sound he made was sinful, and Brendan blushed, almost afraid to look around in case anyone else had heard them.

Riley flushed and ducked his head.

“Good, huh?” Brendan said softly.

“Amazing. Like tasting heaven.”

Brendan tried a bite, knowing exactly what Riley meant when the tart almost melted on his tongue. Riley stole the fork from him and ate another bite, smearing chocolate and cream across his lips. Brendan took a quick look around at the other patrons. Their table was tucked in a corner, no one else nearby. With a grin, he leaned across and kissed Riley, licking the dessert from his lips.

“You taste even better than the tart,” Riley murmured.

Brendan left a generous tip before they headed out into the night, walking the short distance back to the car. The journey home was quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

Just as they got to the door of Mrs. O’Brien’s house, Brendan reached out and snagged Riley’s wrist.

“I had a really nice time tonight.”

“Me, too.” Riley’s smile was soft, a hint of surprise in his eyes, as if he didn’t quite believe this was real.

“I’d like to do it again sometime. Maybe tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure I could eat that much every day,” Riley said, feigning wide eyes.

Brendan laughed, bending his head to catch Riley’s lips in a kiss. The omega melted into the embrace with a soft sigh. Brendan wanted to take things further, but conscious of where they were and who might be watching, he restrained himself to one chaste kiss.

“How about a walk tomorrow morning?” he suggested as they eased apart.

“Not too early,” Riley warned.

“It’s Saturday. Who gets up early on a Saturday?”

“Don’t you run every morning at, like, six a.m.?”

“I’m not a masochist. I wait until eight on the weekends.”

Riley laughed, lacing their fingers together. “Anytime before ten, and I’ll be more asleep than awake.”

“Got it. Ten it is. I’ll meet you in the kitchen for coffee. Once we’re properly awake, we’ll head out.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Riley sat in the passenger seat of Brendan’s car, eying the beautiful house they were parked in front of.

“Um… I’m not sure about this.”

“You said you wanted to make more friends,” Brendan pointed out. “And I’d like you to meet some of my friends too. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone.”

When Riley made a face, the alpha added, “No birds will be harmed during this social call, you have my word.”

Grumbling, he trailed Brendan into the house. There followed a flurry of introductions between Brendan’s alpha friends, William and Beckett, their omega mates, and their kids.

A few minutes later, the alphas took the older kids out to the garden, and Riley was left sitting across from Zac and Harper.

Harper bounced a baby in his arms, while Zac had his arms wrapped around his pregnant stomach. Riley tried very hard not to stare.

“So you’re who Brendan’s been hiding,” Harper said.

“He hasn’t been hiding me. We’ve only been dating a week.” He left out the rest, since it was too complicated to explain.

Zac seemed happy with his answer, but Harper’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Riley braced himself for more awkwardness.

“Haven’t you been Brendan’s sidekick? Private investigator in training?”

Riley almost laughed at that. “I’m just his assistant.”

“William told me you went undercover with him.” Harper’s expression turned thoughtful. “Unless I misheard, and he was talking about you being under the covers…”

“I wanted to be an actor,” Riley blurted out in an attempt to distract Harper. “The day I met Brendan, I was practicing for an audition. I help out on cases sometimes. Having an omega opens doors.”

“See, I told you,” Harper said to Zac. “He’s practically a secret