Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,59
good taste,” he said, hiding a smile.
“Pity I inherited none of it,” Brendan said dryly.
“You have your charms.”
The alpha lit up at the praise. “I try. Come on. I’ll show you around, and then we’ll break out the picnic.”
Riley’s stomach rumbled at the mere mention of food. He’d skipped breakfast that morning, too excited getting ready and trying to make his ‘casual’ outfit look effortless. He’d picked up some new clothes while out shopping with Zac and Harper, but he’d been keeping them for something special. It was nice to get a chance to wear them.
“Maybe we could eat first and look around after?”
He didn’t want to see inside Brendan’s house for the first time while he was distracted by his empty stomach.
“You read my mind,” Brendan said, failing to hide a smile.
“Or you correctly interpreted the rumbling of my stomach,” Riley said, flushing hotly.
Brendan laughed, slinging an arm around Riley’s shoulders. “Hard to misunderstand ‘feed me,’ isn’t it? Come on, I’ll show you the garden, and we can find the best spot for our picnic. Luckily, the yard is the one thing that recovered from last year’s incident without much help. I come by every once in a while to cut the grass.”
They entered the backyard through a side gate. Riley hadn’t been sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the sight that met his eyes. The garden was a riot of color—pinks, reds, purples, and blues, all in a sea of shades of green. There was a patch of lawn in the center, half in the sun, the other under the shade of a tree filled with blossoms. A path of stepping stones led around the garden, winding through the beds of flowers.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmured.
“A little oasis.” Brendan urged him forward, his arm slipping lower around Riley’s waist. “Now, do you prefer sun or shade today?”
“Maybe half and half?”
“Excellent idea.”
Brendan set the picnic basket down and shook out the blanket, spreading it partly in the shade.
“Time to feast.”
Riley was given the task of organizing their drinks while Brendan laid out the food. His mouth watered at the selection of sandwiches, salads, fruits, and cheese, though his eyes were drawn to the pastries and cake too. Brendan followed his gaze with a knowing smile.
“Let’s leave the sugar until after our tour, hey?”
They made inroads into the sandwiches and salad while Riley admired the garden. His gaze was drawn to the house again and again, a question growing in his mind.
“You said the house is already repaired, right?”
“You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
“When did all that happen?”
“Um… it started three months ago, and they finished up about six weeks back.”
“But you’re still living at Mrs. O’Brien’s.”
He didn’t ask the question, but the observation was enough of a hint for Brendan. “I wasn’t ready to move back. Not then. But Mrs. O’Brien and I talked about it. She says it’s time I moved on, and I think she’s right.”
Riley’s chest tightened sharply.
“You’re… you’re leaving me?”
“Never. I’m leaving the boarding house.”
“But I’m at the boarding house.” He wasn’t sure what Brendan was trying to say. They weren’t breaking up, were they? This didn’t look like a breakup.
“If I don’t go, you and I… we can’t move forward. And I want that more than anything. But I don’t think you’re ready to move in with me yet, so we’re going to need to be apart for a while.”
“So you are leaving me.”
He couldn’t help but feel hurt, until Brendan reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a small box. He moved onto his knees and reached for Riley’s hand.
“I’m leaving you with a promise.”
Riley’s mouth went dry, his heart thudding in his chest as the alpha opened the box in his hand. He stared at the ring, unable to believe his eyes.
“Brendan?”
“I don’t ever want to be apart from you, Riley. I love you, and I want you to marry me.”
Riley felt so many emotions all at once—elation, disbelief, excitement.
“Yes!” he blurted out. “I will. I’ll marry you.”
He barreled into Brendan’s arms, knocking the ring box from his hand and onto the blanket. But all he cared about was holding tight to the alpha who’d just offered him the world.
“But I don’t understand…”
Brendan hugged him back tightly and pulled away so he could see Riley’s face. “What’s to understand? We’re getting married.”
“But you’re coming back to live here, and you want me to stay with Mrs. O’Brien?”
Brendan took both of Riley’s hands in his. “You can move in with me tomorrow