“No. It’s just my dad calling me for the fiftieth time. Would you like to tour the suites with me?” she asks, and I grin.
“Of course.”
“So, do you have an overbearing family, too?”
“Well, I have two omega moms, five Alpha dads, and two Beta dads. I’m one of eight children, so I’d imagine that saved me from my parents being too overbearing, but there was never a dull moment.”
Claire blinks at me with those big blue eyes in shock.
“A pack of nine?” she says in astonishment and I laugh. “Are you looking for a pack that large?”
“Oh hell no,” I reply with a deep laugh. “What my parents found was something special, but even I can admit their pack might have been too big.”
“But you loved growing up in pack life?” she confirms.
“Absolutely. It might have been chaos, but my parents loved each other. I loved having so many siblings and cousins. Also, not to toot my own horn, but I think having two Omega moms has more than prepared me for the task of caring for an Omega.”
“Is that so?” she says, popping her hip and clutching her purse.
“Undoubtedly. My needs might not be pheromone driven, but they're still there. In fact, I think every pack should have a Beta.”
She smiles. Her teeth are perfectly straight as she bobs her head. “Even though it’s my Beta father who keeps blowing up my phone, I agree.”
“Really?” I question, surprised by her answer.
“Of course, someone has to be the sane one in the pack. Though I don’t think my dad is very sane.”
I bark out a laugh. “One of my Alpha dads was a wrestler for fifteen years. I think I can relate to having parents who aren’t particularly normal.”
Her cheeks heat, and we shift up the line.
“So. What kind of nest are we looking for?” I ask her and she licks her lips.
“Well, I looked at the virtual tours and I have some in mind. A few of them we can absolutely skip.”
“Like the Under the Sea nest?” I question, and she bites her lip, holding back a laugh.
“How did you know?”
“I’m pretty sure that nest is going to stay vacant this entire cruise. Unless there’s a Disney adult on board with a heavy Little Mermaid fixation. What were they thinking?”
“You looked at all the nest virtual tours?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m here to find an Omega, to build a pack. I—we—wanted to be prepared for everything.”
She looks at me for a long moment. “Which rooms do you think I’m most interested in?”
“Are you already testing me, sweetheart?” She goes to backtrack and I shake my head. “You should be testing me. We only have so much time onboard, and figuring out who you have a connection with is important.” I tap my chin a few times in contemplation as I look at her.
And fuck if she isn’t beautiful to look at. She’s probably way out of mine and Forrest’s league. Truly in some sort of league of her own. But if she’s willing to give us a chance, I’ll take whatever crumbs she’s willing to give.
“It’s gotta be the Princess room, or the Vintage Verity room,” I supply and her lips part open.
“Am I that transparent?” she says in a low tone and I shake my head.
“Not at all. I just thought about the rooms I found to be the most high quality and chose them.”
“High quality, huh?”