Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,69
the safest ones. And according to Brendan, that was limited to lost pets and the like. In the meantime, Riley had gotten skilled in searching databases and tracking people through social media, though he still longed for the chance to stretch his wings a little. So it was a surprise when, as he reached eight and a half months, Brendan sidled up to him in the office kitchen. The alpha’s arms slid around his waist, holding him gently.
“How would you feel about going to the theater tonight?”
Riley perked up in interest. “What are we going to see?”
“Revolution.”
“Oh, I heard it’s supposed to be good.” He preferred love stories to war stories, but it had gotten great reviews.
A small frown appeared on Brendan’s face.
“What?” Riley asked.
“I probably should have phrased that differently, sorry.”
Riley was slow to work it out. “Why are you sorry? Oh, it’s for a case, isn’t it?”
“It is. Nothing strenuous. An omega who thinks his husband might be cheating on him. We just have to be a bit nosy, that’s all.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad. And we still get to spend an evening out of the house.”
“Great. I was thinking we’d get dressed up, have dinner out, make a real night of it.”
The alpha was so enthusiastic that Riley had to laugh. “You’d think it was a date and not a job.”
“Can’t it be both?”
It was nice to dress up, even if he did feel like a blimp with his huge bump. The eyes of everyone they met as they waited in the foyer outside the theater were drawn to it before they smiled at him, and then at Brendan.
“My dear, you shouldn’t be on your feet,” an omega said, pausing next to them.
Brendan’s arm around his waist tightened slightly. “Don’t worry, we’re heading straight in as soon as the doors open.”
The omega’s eyes twinkled. “Twins or triplets?”
Riley knew his own eyes must have been as wide as saucers.
“How did you…?”
“I’ve been a midwife for ten years. Practiced eyes. Enjoy the play.”
The doors were thrown open, to Riley’s relief. It was hard to stand for too long, and the muscles around his stomach were tight and aching that evening.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Brendan asked as they made their way to their seats.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he assured him. Besides, they had a job to do.
Their alpha target was sitting right in front of them, and to his left was the midwife Riley had met earlier. The omega was half the alpha’s age. Riley immediately felt sorry for the spouse waiting for the alpha at home. If this was what it looked like…
The play started, and he gave it most of his attention, glancing at their targets now and then. He felt tense, his back aching dully, and it was hard to find a comfortable position in his chair.
When the intermission began, it was almost a relief. He got up and followed Brendan into the foyer, excusing himself to use the bathroom. While he was washing his hands, the midwife accompanying their target paused at the sink next to him. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Riley took a chance to glean more information.
“How are you finding the play? I’m really struggling to get into it.”
The omega smiled at him. “I prefer lighter stories, but it’s my dad’s favorite—he read it as a teenager.”
Riley frowned. “Your father?”
The omega looked confused. Riley, realizing what he’d said, thought quickly. “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re sitting a row ahead of us. I was just thinking what a sweet couple you made.”
The other man laughed. “Oh no, don’t say that in front of my dad. He’d be mortified.”
Riley flushed with genuine embarrassment.
“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean any offense. If it helps, you look a lot younger now that we’re not in the dark.”
He was very confused. Their client had no children, yet his alpha husband was going to the theater with his omega son. How did that make any sense?
“You’re not the first to make that mistake, don’t worry. I think it’s because we’re still sort of awkward around each other. We haven’t known each other that long.”
Riley’s confusion only deepened. “Um…”
“I was adopted. He’s my birth father. We reconnected in the last few months. It’s been hard—he’s torn between two worlds, I guess. He got married years after I was born, but they couldn’t have kids of their own. A lifelong regret. He’s worried it’ll hurt his husband if I just turn up in their lives,