“It really is,” I reply, but I’m not looking out the window. I’m looking at her.
Despite everything she’s been through, she’s still hopeful. We take in the geological wonder that is the Grand Canyon for a good twenty minutes, before veering off to the landing spot where a limo is there to pick us up.
“What are you three up to? I thought we were going to go to a nice resort like last weekend, but you’ve taken me across state lines and inadvertently taken me somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.”
“We wanted it to be unforgettable. We said we were courting you and we need you to know that it’s serious,” Hayes says. Sterling and I nod in agreement.
The desert flashes by us as we drive further out into the middle of nowhere. I don’t sense any fear on Hailey’s side, and I’m thankful for at least that. Maybe a first date in the remote desert isn’t the most brilliant idea. Fuck, what if she feels pressured to be physical while we’re all staying under the same roof?
I glance over at Hayes again, wondering if we should have let him plan this date. He just rolls his eyes at me, like he can hear all the anxious thoughts flipping through my mind.
But as soon as we pull up to the house that sits on top of the hill, with a three-sixty view of nothing but stunning desert views around us, the fear eases.
“We’re staying here?” Hailey asks, not even waiting for the driver to open her door as she slips out of the limo. She uses her hand to shield her eyes and looks around at the place.
Hayes grabs my ass, giving it a tight squeeze.
“Stop stressing so much. She has her own room here. There’s no pressure for anything,” he says against my ear before walking away.
“Should we take the grand tour?” Hayes says, and Hailey gives him a wide grin as we make our way through the house.
Sterling and I grab the bags and follow them.
“She’s happy, Nate. We did good.”
We did, didn’t we?
CHAPTER 12
HAILEY
Holy fucking shit.
I thought I knew what courting was. I thought it was when a pack wined, dined, knotted, and did everything in their power to get an Omega to like them.
But this? A weekend trip to the Grand Canyon, staying in the most beautiful, cozy cabin I’ve ever seen? It’s not ostentatious or overly opulent like something my mom would rent. No, it feels like I stepped into my own episode ofThe Omegaand I’m building the pack of my dreams.
Hayes holds my hand as he leads me around the property, showing me the hot tub at the bottom of the property, along with the sauna, before we step into the quaint cabin. Glass frames every side of the house. There’s nothing but desert surrounding us. The cautious part of me should be worried that these three men dragged me out into the middle of nowhere to kill me.
Maybe I’m foolish for coming out here. Even if that’s the case, at least I’ll die having felt spoiled—truly spoiled—for the first time in my life.
“Hungry?” Hayes asks, leading me into the kitchen, where a full lunch spread is already waiting for us.
Sterling and Nate put away the bags before walking into the kitchen and I can’t help but appraise them. Sterling has a calming confidence pouring out of him, and it’s beyond attractive. Something tells me that nothing phases him, that he handles pressure like it’s nothing.
Then there’s Nate. I didn’t know him well when he and my mother were dating, but I knew he was far too good for her. I saw the way the other Alphas treated him, at least I was ignored. He was like their new resident punching bag; it was like keeping him around made them all feel better about themselves. In all reality, I think they were threatened by him. He’s attractive, younger, and not a piece of shit. I think he made them look into the mirror at how horrible they all were. He seems anxious, and I wonder if it’s all because of the elephant sitting in the room with us—my mom’s ex is courting me.
Is it wrong that the forbiddenness of it all, and him being hesitant, is a turn on for me? I mean I knew I had trauma, but I didn’t think I was twisted. It’s not that I want to date him to get back at my mom or anything. But maybe a piece of me feels like if this works out, that I won. That I got the good guy while she lives her narcissistic snobby life.
A palm slides down my back, and I turn away from the two Alphas to look at Hayes. I clearly got distracted and didn’t answer his question.
“What would you like?” he asks, holding out a palm to the counter.
I go to grab a plate, and Sterling beats me to it. “Just let me know what to grab,” he says and I perfume.
Yeah…my scent might totally give me away on how attractive that is. They’re all gentlemen about it and ignore it as I direct him on what I’d like to eat. Once my plate is full, they all follow suit and we sit at the table together to eat.
There’s a long pause and I wonder if bringing up a mortifying moment would break the ice. I mean, Nate saw me when I designated. He also had to save me from a knotted dildo and he dated my mom…why does he want to court me after all that compounding humiliation?
