“Long-term is perfect for me,” Riley said confidently.
“What if you find your alpha?” Grayson insisted.
Riley got an unreadable look on his face for a moment, before it cleared. “That will not be a problem, trust me,” the omega assured.
“Do you have any questions for me?” Grayson asked.
“Actually, yes, I do,” Riley said. He cleared his throat before speaking up, “Is it going to be just you and the nanny? Or you, the nanny, and someone else? What about Max’s grandparents? I would just like to know how many people will be involved in the day-to-day.”
“My parents… won’t be a factor. There’s my housekeeper, Ms. Grace, she’s the one who has been looking after Max in between nannies, but she’s getting up there in age, and Max is too active for her to watch on her own. There’s no one else. She will, of course, be here, but she isn’t up to raising more children.”
“I hate to be forward, but what about Max’s omega father. Won’t he want to have some input on how Max is being raised?” Riley asked.
Grayson almost snapped at Riley for bringing up Dakota, but he couldn’t blame the young man for asking. It was a perfectly logical question. “He’s dead,” Grayson bit out. His tone must have clued Riley into his feelings on the matter, because the subject was dropped.
“Any more questions?” Grayson asked, trying to rein in the riot of emotions that came over him. It was nothing new. The subject of his late husband always had that effect on him.
“I guess my other question is, since I would be living in, would you treat me as a co-parent?” Riley asked the question almost timidly, “What I mean is… I mean…” Riley stuttered, like he wasn’t sure he should ask the question. “If you had a problem with something I was doing, would we talk about it first? Or…” Riley trailed off.
“Or what? Please feel free to ask.” Grayson prompted, wanting to hear what Riley would say.
“Well, I had friends that had divorced parents. Not that we are divorced… or parents,” Riley’s face flushed red and for some reason that made Grayson smile, “I just mean we have to present a united front to Max, or he will always run to you if I tell him to do something and he doesn’t want to do it.”
Grayson was impressed. He hadn’t been expecting that question, or for Riley to be so aware of all this, but then again, it re-enforced his hiring choice. “You’re right of course. I never thought of it, but I will make sure we discuss things first, although I can’t promise not to overrule you.”
Riley nodded slowly. He did that lip biting thing that had Grayson wanting to soothe Riley’s lips, which he knew was a complete inappropriate thought, but well… he was human. Besides, whatever he was feeling for Riley was irrelevant, especially because he was the best nanny option Grayson had found. And, as he had promised himself from the moment Max was placed in his arms, his son always came first.
“Please say whatever is on your mind,” Grayson encouraged Riley, seeing the omega’s internal debate written clear on his face.
Riley swallowed, drawing Grayson’s gaze to his long elegant throat, “I just wanted to say, if you hire me, I promise to look after Max like he was my own. I’ll love him like he was…” Riley swallowed again before finishing, “…my child.”
Grayson looked at him intently, like he was gauging Riley’s sincerity, “That’s what I'm looking for. You know, someone to care for Max with, well, not necessarily a parent's level of attention, but family maybe. I don’t want him to grow up and feel like he missed out on the influence a good omega papa gives a child.”
“You can count on me to treat him like he was my son,” Riley said, and unless it was Grayson’s imagination, the omega’s eyes looked pleading.
“I think I’ve heard all I need to, would like to see the house?” Grayson asked.
“Does that mean I’m hired?” Riley asked, a tentative smile on his face.
“Yes, it does,” Grayson replied, smiling.
“I promise you won’t be disappointed, Mr. Carmichael,” Riley said sincerely.
Gray stood and Riley did too, “First things first, please call me Gray or Grayson. Mr. Carmichael is a mouthful and we will be living together. I have a feeling it would get old pretty fast.”
Riley nodded, but didn’t say his name, and Grayson really wanted to hear his name said in that soft voice, but he was a patient man. He could wait.
“And I know I won’t regret it. I know you won’t let me down,” Grayson declared.
4
Riley
They left Max’s playroom with Max holding on to Grayson’s hand. Max walked in the middle with Riley on the other side. Riley was tempted to take Max’s free hand, but he wasn’t sure how well received that would be. Besides, it felt a little too symbolic. It was what parents did – their child walking in the middle, protected with them on both sides.
“I’ll show you Max’s room first, then yours,” Grayson said as they walked up the staircase slowly. The stairs were wide enough that they were still standing side by side. When they got to the top of the stairs, they made a right and walked past several doors, before Grayson indicated to a door on the left and gestured Riley inside.
Like the playroom, Max’s room was large, and it was another little boy paradise. Riley could swear some of the things in this room could also be found in the playroom, and that just wouldn’t do. Max was going to learn about giving to charity very soon. He didn’t want his son growing up with so much excess.
The color scheme was different shades of blue and Riley could see different themes in play. One of the walls looked like it was outer space with planets and spaceships depicted perfectly, but then Max’s bed was a fire truck, like a miniature fire truck bed. Riley had never seen anything like it.
“Astronauts and firetrucks,” Riley murmured. He didn’t even realize he said it out loud until he heard Grayson laugh.
“Yea, I know it looks crazy, but Max loves it.”
Riley held his tongue, because he didn’t want to lose the job after just getting it. But he was pretty sure that a four-year-old didn’t pick out any part of the room.
He was proven wrong when the alpha added, “The astronauts were all the designer, but then Max really loves Marshall, the firefighter from Paw Patrol, the children’s show, so for his fourth birthday I had the room done with the fire station theme. It’s probably over the top. Right?”
All his earlier thoughts were forgotten at the hint of vulnerability in the alpha’s tone, almost like he was seeking validation from Riley, “I’m sure he loves it.”
Riley had to admit the room was very welcoming. The carpet under his feet was fluffy and soft. And Max clearly felt at home in the space. Riley searched out Max and found him sitting at a table in the corner, coloring with such concentration his tongue was sticking out. The way he pressed down on the crayon had Max smiling. The boy was bound to run out of the purple crayon he was using.
As larger than life as the room was, it was exactly what Riley had hoped his child would have, those times he had let himself imagine the kind of life his child was having without him.
Okay, it was way beyond his imagination.
Riley had to admit to himself that if he had defied his parents and run away while pregnant, as he had imagined doing a time or two, where would he and Max be today? Definitely not here in a room most kids could only ever imagine.
“Max has his own bathroom and his closet is over there,” Mr. Carmichael––no, Grayson, he still wasn’t sure how to refer to the alpha, even in his head––said, gesturing to the closed door across the room.
Riley walked over and opened it. Holy crap on a cracker! The closet was as big as the room he currently lived in. And it looked like Max had his own clothing store.
“He has his own clothing store!” Riley couldn’t help blurting out.
Grayson’s deep belly laugh had Riley turning to look at the man. Christ, he was attractive when he laughed. It softened the harsher masculine line
s of the alpha's face. “It does look like it, but honestly, he’s growing so fast it makes sense to have things a couple of sizes ahead,” Grayson said with a sheepish look on his face. “Ms. Grace, my housekeeper, takes the stuff that no longer fits for donation.”
“That’s wonderful,” Riley said, smiling at the alpha’s attempts to explain himself.
“The bathroom is through there, but I’m sure you’ll have a chance to look around when you move in,” Grayson said, walking out of the closet. Riley watched Grayson walk towards Max and place his hand on the child’s head. Max immediately leaned into Grayson, resting his head on the alpha’s thigh. If Riley had any doubt that Grayson was a good father, that gesture of trust from Max would have set him straight. Clearly, Max trusted his father.
That was the first time he’d admitted to himself, that yes, Grayson was indeed Max’s father. No matter how much he avoided it, that wouldn’t change. He could see the love between the two. Max wouldn’t have behaved the way he did towards Grayson if he wasn’t some kind of good parent. Kids couldn’t hide how they felt about the adults in their lives, and Max acted like a child who knew the adult in his life would protect him.
Riley had imagined Grayson as the kind of parent who used things, like the beautiful bedroom and the enormous closet filled with toys and clothes, to compensate. But clearly, he was wrong. And as much as Riley wanted to be in his son’s life, he was happy to see that he was with a parent who loved him unconditionally. It would have broken Riley’s heart to find Max in a situation that wasn’t the best for him.
And why did admitting that to himself suddenly make the alpha more appealing? It changes nothing about your reason for being here, Riley. Don’t forget, alphas are nothing but heartache. And even if they’re not, this is the last alpha to experiment with. If it ends, you will lose your son all over again.
His internal warning was interrupted, “I’ll show you to your room,” Grayson said, and Riley followed him to the bedroom across the hall. It was as large as Max’s, and nothing like Riley had ever lived in. It was a freaking apartment, for crying out loud.
It had a cozy sitting area, with the added bonus of a large television. The bedroom had a similar layout to Max’s, so he had a walk-in and an en-suite. The private bath was enough to make Riley squeal. After sharing a bathroom with five other men, a bathroom to himself was absolute decadence.
The furnishing was even perfect. It was done in the most soothing neutrals that Riley could add his personal touches and make his own. He even had a window seat. In a word, the room was perfect.
Riley went back out to the hall where Grayson was waiting for him. “It’s too much,” he breathed.
“Nonsense,” Grayson said, “I want whoever takes care of Max to be comfortable. The room has been redone since Milo left, but feel free to add personal touches, please. I want this to feel like your home too.”
“Thank you. That is very kind of you,” Riley said sincerely. He honestly would sleep under the stairs to be with Max, so this was more than he’d ever imagined.
“Okay, if you’re having any second thoughts, this is your last chance to change your mind.”
“That won’t happen, trust me. You’re stuck with me now,” Riley said jokingly, even though he was deadly serious
“Great, let’s go to my office and have you sign some documents to make it official,” Grayson said with a grin.
* * *
Riley couldn’t possibly put into words the relief he’d felt when Grayson had told him the job was his. And signing the documents to make it official, well, that was the first moment Riley had been able to breathe properly in four years.
Relieved wasn’t a big enough word to describe how he felt. Riley had to do his best to swallow the tears of joy until he was alone. He would be there to take care of Max, to nurture him. And maybe someday, when Max was old enough to understand, Riley would be able to tell his son who he really was, and explain why he had let him go in the first place. Maybe he could be a real papa to Max.
Riley hadn’t even wasted any time, not that Grayson had wanted him to. He’d been expected to move in the day after his interview. Hell, his bags were already packed on the off chance he was picked for the job.
His room in the apartment he’d been renting with a couple of other nurses and nursing students was easy to give up. The only person he would really miss was Luca, his neighbor, and the only person Riley had really gotten close to in a long time. Luca and his alpha had moved into the apartment opposite his almost a year ago, and Riley had run into Luca one day in the laundry room of the building. Luca’s alpha was an asshole, but Riley knew better than to say anything about that to his friend.
So, here he was standing outside the double doors that led into the house Riley would be living in, hopefully till Max was eighteen.
He was just about to knock when the door opened to his new boss.
Grayson was standing in front of Riley all big and powerful, his feet bare Riley noted, before his eyes traveled up the alpha’s perfectly sculpted body. To Riley’s surprise, the alpha was wearing almost threadbare jeans and his shirt was slightly wrinkled. Riley wasn’t sure what to expect, but for some reason, he hadn’t pictured Grayson as anything but impeccable at all times. Which was ridiculous, especially seeing as he was a parent. Grayson’s hair was messy, like he’d run his hand through it a couple of times already that day.
Riley would have to be cold and dead not to notice how attractive the alpha was with his dark eyes that looked almost black, and the air of self-confidence he wore like a second skin. His nose was slightly crooked like he’d broken it at some point, making a face that was almost too beautiful, characterful. But, Riley wasn’t here to notice how good looking the man was, even if he was. He was here for one reason and one reason alone. And as long as he reminded himself of it often enough, there would be no problems.
“I saw you on the security cameras in my office,” Grayson said, “I kept waiting for you to ring the bell, but you didn’t, so I decided to come out and make sure everything was okay, and you hadn’t changed your mind.”
Changed my mind? Ha, never! “I wouldn’t do that. You never have to worry about that with me,” Riley blurted.
“Well, that’s good to hear. Come on in,” Grayson said, stepping aside for Riley to enter the house.
“Thank you, I was just gathering myself. I would have knocked,” Riley said.
“I’m sure you would have, but I figured since I would have to let you in any way, I should come find out if there was a problem.”
“Nope. No problem. Just happy to be here,” Riley said, hoping Grayson heard the sincerity in his tone.
“Glad to hear it,” Grayson replied, as he helped Riley with his suitcase, “Welcome to your new home.”
5
Grayson
It was Riley’s first full day of watching Max, and even though they had all spent the evening before together, even having dinner together, it was the first day Grayson had left Max with Riley, so he’d made sure to come home early enough just in case there were any problems. But he needn’t have bothered.
It was past bath time and almost bedtime for Max when Grayson got home, so he left his briefcase in his office before going to check on Max and Riley. Grayson said a prayer that the instant connection between Max and Riley had held up, because he definitely didn’t want to go through the whole process of trying to find a new nanny again.
The bedroom was dim except for the pool of light cast by the bedside lamp. Grayson stopped in the doorway and leaned there, watching, until the story was done. Riley’s low, soft voice worked its magic; Max was almost asleep by the time he finished. Grayson walked into his son’s room and placed a kiss on Max’s forehead, then went out again.
Riley waited a few minutes longer, before coming out. Grayson figured it was until he was certain Max was sound asleep.
It was almost five minutes, he guessed, before Riley gently slipped out of Max’s room, leaving
the door slightly ajar.
He was rubbing his eyes; it must have been a long day already, and Gray knew that Max could be a handful if he felt like it. He would bet that in his son’s excitement at having Riley around, he had probably worn the poor guy out.
Lord knows, sometimes a day with his son was more taxing than a full day going from meeting to meeting.
Grayson had hoped to work from home today to help Riley and Max make the transition, but the CEO of the company he was trying to acquire had decided to mess with some of the terms in the contract they had previously agreed on, which led to Grayson being trapped in meetings with his lawyers, going back and forth until they were both happy with the new terms of the contract.
Riley stopped dead when he saw Grayson standing in the hallway. The man was standing strategically, slightly blocking Riley’s path to his bedroom. He would have to go around Grayson to open his door.
“Have you had dinner yet?” Grayson inquired, hoping Riley would say no. He found he wasn’t in the mood to eat alone. Would you have invited Milo to dinner after Max was down for the night? a small voice whispered.
Grayson ignored the pesky voice, because it wasn’t wrong. He had never gone out of his way to invite his last nanny to have dinner with him. So why was he behaving like a lurker in his own home, just to invite Riley to have dinner with him?
The truth was, he didn’t have an answer to that question.
“Not yet,” Riley replied, “I usually have dinner when I get home from the hospital which was usually at eight or nine pm.”
“Join me, and you can tell me how your first day with Max went,” Grayson suggested.
Grayson watched the internal debate Riley had play out on his face, the man was an open book. He should never play poker. Grayson could tell the exact moment Riley decided to say yes.
Undercover Omega: Billionaire Alphas Book 2 Page 3