Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,60

if that’s what you want. But I thought we could take our time with this. I don’t want to rush you into anything. I think Mrs. O’Brien feels the same. She said she’ll talk to you about it herself.”

Riley didn’t have the heart to feel angry that they’d been talking about him. Mrs. O’Brien cared for him, and Brendan loved him. He and Brendan hadn’t been properly dating all that long. Maybe it would be better not to rush things. Besides, if Brendan was living in his house, then there’d be no reason that he couldn’t stay over. It would give them the freedom they’d been sorely missing, short of having sex at the office, which both he and Brendan drew the line at.

“Riley?” Brendan prompted gently. “If you want to do things differently, you can. Nothing’s set in stone.”

“I’m just thinking,” he said. “About us.”

Brendan retrieved the ring and slipped it onto Riley’s finger. It was a simple design, a thin band of blue surrounded by two of silver. It fit perfectly.

“How did you know my ring size?” he asked. “I don’t even know my ring size.”

Brendan tapped a finger to his nose. “A good investigator has his sources.”

“Sources?”

The alpha grinned. “Harper, naturally.”

Riley thought back, remembering one of their shopping trips when Harper had insisted on him trying on ring after ring for him.

“He’s so sneaky. I had no idea.”

“It wouldn’t have been much of a surprise if you knew it was coming. Now, how about we go take a look around the house, and then come back out and celebrate our engagement with dessert?”

“Our engagement,” Riley said softly, echoing Brendan. “I like the sound of that.”

The alpha tugged him to his feet and led him inside by the hand, his finger rubbing against the band of Riley’s ring now and then.

“So this is the kitchen. With neither of us being great cooks, we might need lessons from Mrs. O’Brien or risk setting the place on fire.”

Riley laughed as he turned in a slow circle, taking in everything about the room. It was simple, yet light and spacious. “I can cook a little,” he confessed. “It’s just that I’ve never had a kitchen of my own to work in.”

The alpha caught hold of him, pushed him against the counter, and kissed him soundly.

“I’ll eat anything you cook,” he vowed. “No matter how burnt.”

Their laughter was swallowed by another kiss, Riley content to bask in his happiness.

Chapter Thirty-One

Harper tucked a strand of hair behind Riley’s ear. “There. Perfect. See for yourself.” He stepped back, giving Riley his first glance at himself in the full-length mirror.

“Oh, wow.”

He’d known the suit looked good, given all the fittings he’d suffered through, but this was his first time he’d seen the whole ensemble together and with his hair styled. He went to tug nervously at his waistcoat, but Zac’s hand caught his.

“You look amazing. Brendan won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

“Duck is right. Brendan is one lucky alpha.”

Mrs. O’Brien chose that moment to bustle into the room. “You two stop fussing over him and let the poor boy breathe.”

“Not a boy, Mrs. O’Brien,” he pointed out, torn between amusement and embarrassment.

“Of course not. You’re a lovely young man about to get married to another lovely young man. They’re almost ready outside. Are we all set in here?”

Zac patted Riley on the shoulder. “I’d better go out and check on Luca. Don’t want him getting ahead of himself and tossing petals all over the guests before you even get out there.”

He hurried away, leaving Riley alone with Harper and Mrs. O’Brien.

“Nervous?” Harper asked.

“A little.”

Neither of them was surprised by his admission.

“Perfectly natural to be nervous, no matter how much you’re looking forward to it,” Mrs. O’Brien said, absentmindedly brushing her hands over his shoulders. “I’ll go and check if it’s time.”

Then she was gone, and Harper was standing shoulder to shoulder with him, meeting his eyes through the mirror.

“So, wedding today, then off on your honeymoon tomorrow. Are you all packed? Anything you might have forgotten?”

“I think we’re ready, thanks.”

Harper tipped his head to the side, considering. “Have you got everything you need for your wedding night?”

Riley blushed at that. “Yeah, um, we don’t need much.”

“But there are certain things you might want to have on hand to prevent any… accidents.”

Harper was being unusually circumspect compared to his characteristic bluntness.

“Um… we’re actually not trying to… or we are trying to…” He trailed off, watching as Harper’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

“We talked it over a