Omega’s Refuge (Rambling Cow Dude Ranch #1)

Chapter Five

True to his word, Rex dragged my drunken ass back to the ranch. It was late afternoon by the time we got back, and I was so drunk I couldn’t walk very well without Rex’s help.

Unfortunately, as we left the truck and started for my cabin, Mrs. Rodwell came out of the main house and intercepted us. She gave Rex a stern look, and then turned a kinder eye to me.

“I understand Mr. Turlington has left us early?” she asked politely.

“Yes.” I nodded, which was a huge mistake because everything began to spin. Rex had his arm around my shoulders to help prop me up, and when I leaned into him more so I didn’t fall, his arm tightened, but he said nothing.

“Mr. Turlington paid in advance, but we don’t give refunds for people just changing their minds. I made Mr. Turlington aware of that policy when I spoke with him yesterday morning. Of course, if he’d had any legitimate complaints, like bad food or service, I’d have made an exception,” she said. “But he just didn’t like the ranch life, and I’m afraid we can’t refund for something like that. He knew he was coming to a dude ranch, after all.”

“Oh, yeah, you guys didn’t do anything wrong,” I mumbled .

She narrowed her eyes. “Will you also be leaving, or will you be staying? I only ask for housekeeping reasons.”

“I told him he should stay,” Rex said. “Maybe you can help convince him to stay too.”

Mrs. Rodwell gave Rex a disapproving look. “Rex, whether Mr. Smyth decides to stay the whole time or not is his decision, not ours.”

He looked down at his boots. “Yes, Ma’am.”

I didn’t like how harsh she sounded when she talked to Rex, so I mumbled, “Rex was just trying to help because I’m confused right now.”

Mrs. Rodwell flicked her gaze between the two of us. “Still, the decision is yours, Mr. Smyth. It’s not our place to try and sway you one way or another.”

“I didn’t mind him weighing in,” I muttered.

Rex gave me a grateful smile, but then quickly squashed it when Mrs. Rodwell glanced at him.

“Can I think about my decision?” I met her shrewd gaze. “I’m pretty tired and I could use a nap.” I had little doubt she knew I was toasted. I probably smelled like a distillery. “If that’s okay with you.”

“Of course. Your cabin has already been cleaned for the day, and as I said, your vacation is paid for. You go on ahead and rest, and figure out what you want to do. There’s no rush.”

“Thank you. ”

She turned her gaze to Rex and her mouth thinned. “Rex, once you have Mr. Smyth situated comfortably in his room, would you mind coming to see me in my office?”

Rex tensed. “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll be right there.”

“See you at dinner, Mr. Smyth.” She walked toward the main house, her spine stiff.

I winced at the thought of dinner, and Rex started walking slowly toward my cabin, still helping to keep me upright. I slipped my arm around his waist, and with his assistance, was able to make it inside my little house.

I toed off my shoes, slumped onto the bed, and rolled over onto my stomach. I pulled a pillow over my head and groaned. I heard Rex moving around the cabin, and then the mattress dipped as he sat next to me on the edge of the bed.

“Here, drink some water, Tanner.”

I hesitated, but then turned and sat up to face him. He looked worried as he held the water out to me. I took the glass, giving him a weak smile. “I got you in trouble with Mrs. Rodwell, didn’t I?”

He grimaced. “Going drinking was my idea. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I sipped the cool water, holding his gaze. Once I’d swallowed a few mouthfuls, I said, “I don’t want you to get yelled at just because you were trying to cheer me up.”

He smiled. “It’s okay. It’s not the first time she’s yelled at me, and it won’t be the last. ”

I took a few more sips and then set the glass on the nightstand. “Thank you for today,” I said softly. “It was good to be with you instead of being alone.”

He laughed. “I guess that’s a compliment.”

“It is.” He’d been so kind to me today, I had no idea how to repay him. He certainly hadn’t owed me his time and attention. Especially since it seemed he was going to get in trouble now. “I could tell Mrs. Rodwell that I insisted you take me drinking.”

“Nah. It’s fine.” He stood and moved toward the door. “Get some rest. You’ll probably have a horrible headache later. There’s some Tylenol in the drawer of the nightstand.”

“Thanks.” I watched him go, feeling sad that he was leaving. He had a comforting alpha energy that I craved right now. But he’d wasted enough of his day with me already, and I didn’t want to look pathetic by begging him to stay.

Once he was gone, I reclined on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the day swirled in my head. I felt depressed and angry, but had no outlet to express either of those emotions. All I could do was suffer in silence, trying to grapple with what Steve had done.

It ate at me that he was probably with Tony right that minute. I tried not to think about them fucking, but that image kept replaying over and over in my head. I wanted to puke. I wanted to scream. I wanted for this all to just be a nightmare.

But it wasn’t.

Steve had truly betrayed me yet again.

By some miracle, I managed to drift off. My sleep was restless, and my dreams stressful. When I finally woke, the amber morning sun was streaming through the curtains across the room.

I slept all night?

I sat up, immediately regretting it. The room tilted alarmingly, and, as Rex had predicted, my head was pounding. I also felt nauseous and struggled not to give in to the urge to vomit.

Grabbing the Tylenol from the nightstand, I downed two pills and drank the glass of water. I stumbled into the bathroom and used the facilities. Next, I showered and then brushed my teeth, forgoing shaving. I had no one to impress, so who cared if I had a little stubble on my jaw?

I made my way to the main house, stomach growling. I felt borderline queasy still, but I was hungry. I hadn’t consumed anything yesterday other than booze. A big country breakfast was probably just what I needed. I didn’t want to have to face the other guests, but I did need to eat.

When I entered the dining room, everyone was seated already. There was a chair next to Rex that was empty, so I took that, ignoring the curious stares. Rex looked freshly showered and handsome. He smiled at me shyly, and then turned to talk to Joe, who was on the other side of him.

One of the honeymoon couples was on the other side of me. The bride was named Tanya and she leaned over to me. “We missed you and Rex yesterday. Gus took us all out for an evening ride, and it was absolutely wonderful. We roasted marshmallows and sang songs.”

I smiled. “That sounds like fun.”

“It was.” Her gaze flickered. “Um… Rex said your boyfriend had to leave early because of a work emergency?”

I glanced at Rex, but he was deep in conversation with Joe. I was glad he’d already spread a story about why Steve was missing. That saved me the embarrassment of trying to come up with something on the spot.

I returned my gaze to Tanya. “That’s right,” I lied.

She sighed, brushing her red hair out of her eyes. “That’s a shame. The whole point of this trip is to forget about work, right?”

“Yeah.” I forced a smile.

Across the table, Martha said, “You’re still gonna stay though, right, Tanner? We’d hate it if you left too.”

Surprised that she cared whether I stayed or left, I grimaced. “I haven’t made up my mind.”

Martha’s mouth drooped. “But, why would you go? ”

“Yeah, you should stay,” Joe piped in.

I smiled. “I feel kind of weird staying, seeing as you’re all couples.”

Rex joined the conversation as he said gruffly, “I told him not to worry about that. But he wouldn’t listen.”

Everyone turned their gazes on me, and my face warmed. “It’s not that I didn’t listen. I… I just feel weird being the only single person when we go out on the rides and stuff.”

“Rex is single too.” Tanya grinned. “He doesn’t seem to mind hanging out with us married people.”

Rex looked embarrassed, but he said nothing.

I shrugged. “Rex is working, it’s different.”

“Well, we’re flat out telling you we want you to stay. We don’t have any issues with you being single. It’s a unimportant part of the equation.” Joe huffed. “We all get along great. I hate messing with the good vibe we’ve got going here.”

“Yeah,” Tanya nodded, elbowing her husband. “Right, Peter? We want Tanner to stay and finish his vacation.”

Peter stopped cutting the slice of ham on his plate, and glanced over. “Absolutely. You should definitely stay.”

Everyone at the table nodded and murmured their approval.

I was flattered they didn’t want me to go, but still uncertain if that was the best idea. Would I feel more depressed being around happy couples? Or would going home to my empty apartment be worse?

“You’re sure it doesn’t matter that I’m a third wheel?” I asked hesitantly.

Rex leaned in. “Wheels aren’t even in the equation. We ride horses here, remember?”

I met his amused gaze and my chest warmed. Looking into his pretty blue eyes instantly made me feel better. I’d noticed that yesterday when we’d been at the bar. Anytime a wave of panic and fear about the future had washed over me, if I’d looked at Rex, those emotions had calmed.

“Besides,” Rex began, “If you leave, you’ll miss the overnight trail ride we have planned for tonight. It doesn’t get much better than sleeping under the stars.”

“You have an overnight trip planned?” I asked, feeling a nudge of excitement.

“We sure do.” Rex nodded.

I rubbed my jaw thoughtfully. “That sounds like a lot of fun.” I really liked the idea of sleeping under the stars. I also loved the thought of riding beneath the endless blue skies and across rolling green hills. This place tugged at something deep inside. There were moments when I felt like I belonged here on the ranch. A silly thought, seeing as my home was in the city.

“Stay,” Rex said quietly .

When I met his gaze, the warmth I saw there made my heart twinge oddly. I found it hard to look away from his earnest gaze. “I guess there’s no real reason to leave,” I said softly.

His smile made my heart twinge even harder. “Then you’ll stay for the camping trip?”

I found it impossible not to smile back at him. “Yeah, why not?” The group clapped, and my face warmed. “You’re all being so nice to me.”

“We like you.” Joe grinned. “In case you couldn’t tell.”

Martha smiled. “Maybe tonight we can get you to finally sing with us around the campfire.”

I laughed. “You only want that because you haven’t heard me sing yet. The coyotes are better than me.”

“Oh, pooh,” Martha said, waving a dismissive hand at me. “I don’t believe that for a minute.”

“You should.” I grinned, suddenly feeling a bit happier. “Glass shatters when I go for a high note.”

Martha chuckled. “You’re a kook, Tanner.”

“I know.” I smiled.

Rex stood, scraping back his chair. “You folks finish your breakfast while the boys and I pack everything we’ll need for the trip. Be sure to wear comfy clothes and pack some layers for the evening. It might get a bit chilly. Most of the day will be spent on horseback, riding to the river. Once we get there, we’ll set up camp while you enjoy views of the mountains and check out some good fishing spots.”

My stomach warmed when Rex patted my shoulder before leaving the dining room. I knew he was happy I was staying for the rest of my vacation, and despite the depression I felt about Steve, I was happy too. The more I thought about returning to Billings, the more I dreaded the idea. I didn’t want to be anywhere that reminded me of Steve. Returning to the apartment we’d shared would be gut-wrenching. I didn’t feel strong enough to handle that yet.

Once we’d finished our meal, we went to our cabins and packed up what we’d need on the overnight trip. Next, we joined Rex and some of the ranch hands outside, where they had our horses ready for us. It was obvious the Rambling Cow had trips like ours down to a science. Rex and the guys had loaded up the pack horses with everything we’d need as if they’d done it a hundred times before.

We left the ranch for the river around noon. I was happy I had Spitfire again as my horse because we’d found a happy rhythm with each other on our other ride. Our group rode along the base of one of the mountains, in a valley nestled between two pine-covered ridges. We spotted some mule deer as we trailed over the foothills, and I inhaled the fresh pine scented air .

It was impossible not to think about Steve as I rode along with the happy group. My heart ached when I remembered his smile or the sound of his voice. To combat feeling morose, I tried to focus on the positives of his absence. For example, I didn’t have to feel guilty that I enjoyed riding Spitfire. I didn’t have to worry that Steve might freak out with jealousy if Rex smiled at me or talked to me. While my chest felt hollow from the loss of Steve, at least I didn’t have to deal with his constant complaints. I could relax and immerse myself in the outdoors, appreciating the happy group I was traveling with.

While breaking up with Steve was horribly painful, the sense of finality this time around gave me a perverse sense of relief. I didn’t have to wonder if maybe we’d reconcile. The first time we’d broken up, I’d hoped and prayed he’d see how wrong he’d been and come back to me. Now that we’d given it another shot, I realized he wasn’t anywhere near ready to be the alpha I needed. I was gutted to also lose my best friend, but after how he'd behaved on this trip, I had to question if we’d ever actually been real friends. What kind of friend would treat someone the way Steve had treated me on this trip?

It was late afternoon by the time we reached the river. Rex and two other ranch hands, Gus and Ronny, got to work setting up camp. I was happy to see we each had our own tent. I’d worried that because I didn’t have a partner, I might have to bunk with one of the ranch hands, but that wasn’t the case.

My tent was located at the end of the row of tents, near the trees. Rex’s tent was at the far end from me, which was a little disappointing. I found Rex’s presence comforting, but maybe having distance was good. This way I wouldn’t be tempted to sneak into his tent tonight. I had a feeling Rex would sleep with me if I offered, and it was easy to make stupid decisions when you were heartbroken.

After the camp and tents were set up, Rex led us to the river for some fly fishing. Rex pointed at the river as he spoke. “Now, while this river seems calm, the truth is it has a very quick current, and a strong undertow. It’s dangerous. It’s perfectly safe if you’re on the shoreline, but it’s important you guys stay out of the water.”

Joe chuckled. “You don’t want to jump in and rescue our ass, is that what you’re really saying, Rex?”

Rex gave a gruff laugh. “I’d definitely rather not test my swimming skills in that river. I’m not sure I’m life guard material.”

“We’ll keep our distance.” Tanya gave the river a wary glance.

The rest of the group nodded, apprehensively eyeing the river .

“Okay, now that I’ve thoroughly scared the cow dung out of you.” Rex grinned. “This is a great time of day to fish. How about we catch ourselves some fresh fish for dinner?”

“You have a lot of faith in us, Rex.” Martha laughed.

“Is there anything else to eat, just in case we suck at fishing?” Tanya asked.

“You bet.” Rex began handing out the fishing poles as he spoke. “We’ve got you covered either way. We brought extra food.”

“I’ve never gone fly fishing before,” Peter said, grimacing.

Rex smiled. “No worries. I’m going to show you the technique my grandfather taught me. I won’t just throw a pole at you and hope for the best.”

Peter laughed. “Whew, you had me scared there for a moment. I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of my new bride.”

Tanya hugged her husband. “Don’t be silly. You can do no wrong in my eyes, babe.”

My heart gave a little pang as I watched them. I envied how in love they were. If that had been Steve and me, he’d probably have made some sarcastic remark about me being a horrible fisherman. Watching the other couples interact was painful, but it was also a good reminder of how someone who loved you should treat you. I needed to focus on that to help me feel at peace with the breakup. I deserved to be loved and respected.

Somewhere along the way, I’d lost sight of that. My relationship with Steve had been tainted by suspicion and the fear of him straying. I wasn’t sure why I’d allowed myself to be drawn into something so dysfunctional and emotionally unhealthy. Was it merely because I was getting older and worried that if I didn’t land an alpha soon, I’d be too old?

My thoughts were interrupted as Rex began demonstrating the proper technique for casting a line. He made it look easy, but when it was my turn to try, I discovered it wasn’t easy at all. I definitely wasn’t a natural. I kept getting my line snagged on small boulders and hidden grass beneath the water. I was trying to untangle my hook from a big clump of weeds when Rex approached.

“Are you a vegetarian?” he asked, smirking at the mound of green roots hanging from my pole. “Trying to catch us some veggies for tonight?”

I laughed, cheeks warm. “No, I’m just a really bad fisherman. I hope you’re not counting on me for dinner or we’ll all starve.”

“Nah. Like I said earlier, we brought food.”

“Good.” I sighed. “Because I’m hopeless at fishing. ”

He met my embarrassed gaze. “It just takes practice, that’s all. You’ve never been fly fishing before, right?”

“No.”

He patted my back. “Well, were you an expert the first time you drove a car, or tied your shoes? Of course not. New skills take time to learn, but we can’t beat ourselves up just because we’re not fantastic on our first go-around.”

“I suppose,” I murmured, staring at the clump of roots hanging from my pole.

“Here, let me see that.” Rex looked like he was trying not to laugh as he reached for my fishing pole.

“Sorry you’re having to waste so much time on me.” My pulse quickened as he moved closer.

He smiled and said softly, “That’s what I’m here for. I’ll get you sorted out, don’t you worry.”

I sighed. “I don’t know. It’s pretty tangled. You might have to cut the line.”

“Nah, just give me a sec.”

My attraction to him made me uneasy at our close proximity. I felt guilty for being so achingly aware of him. He smelled fantastic, and he was close enough that I could have easily leaned in and kissed him. I shivered when our fingers brushed as he helped me free my hook. The hairs on my arms prickled, and there seemed to be an electrical charge in the air as our bodies brushed. I knew he felt the sexual tension too, because his breathing sped up whenever our eyes met.

But he didn’t try anything or flirt with me. He remained professional, focusing on the task. He eventually managed to get the gunk off my hook, then baited it again and lifted the rod. “Now, I want you to watch me closely.”

No problem, Rex.

“You need to cast way out, like this.” He pulled the rod back, then let the line fly. The hook dropped with a loud plop into the middle of the river. “It’s best if you can get the lure out as far as possible, because you’re going to slowly bring it back in. You need some distance to work with.”

“I see.”

He focused on the line, tugging it slowly back in and letting it out every now and then. “Otherwise, if you’re too near shore,” he murmured, “you’re going to keep catching slime salad.”

“I’ll do my best.” I grimaced. “But I make no promises that I’ll succeed.”

“You’ll do fine, Tanner,” he said quietly. “Here, you take the rod and I’ll help you get the feel of it.”

“Oh, uh… okay.” I gingerly took the rod from him, heart pulse racing.

He stood close behind me, his warm body pressing gently against my back. He aligned his arms with mine and placed his hands over my own, guiding me as he slowly reeled in the line. “Just relax,” he murmured near my ear. “We’ll pull the rod back and cast the line into the river. Then, we’ll let it dance across the water as we reel it in, making the fish believe the fly is a real insect skimming the surface.”

“Got it,” I said softly, trying not to obsess over how warm and solid his body was. I hadn’t been this close to another alpha besides Steve in a long time. I felt guilty about how much I liked the feel of Rex’s body against mine.

“Loosen your muscles, Tanner. You’re too tense.”

I shivered as his husky voice and warm breath wafted against my ear. “Okay,” I said gruffly, praying he couldn’t tell I was getting aroused. That was all I needed, for someone to notice I had a boner.

“Now,” he said, “pull the rod back and give the line a few quick tugs, just making small jerking movements.”

I did what he told me to do, trying to concentrate on the movements of the fly in the water, instead of his body against mine. “Like that?” I asked, struggling to focus on the lure.

“Yeah, that’s good.” He straightened and took his hands off mine. “You’re getting the hang of it.”

“Thanks for helping me,” I said quietly, already missing the touch of his calloused hands on mine. I felt embarrassed because I was supposed to be focused on fishing, but kept getting distracted by my body’s reaction to Rex.

“It’s my pleasure,” he said. “I have to be sure my guest’s needs are met, right?”

I laughed nervously, keeping my eyes on the river. “Are you the one in charge of… er… guest’s needs?”

He let out a shaky breath. “I guess I should have worded that differently.”

“I didn’t mind how you worded it.” I was flirting, which was probably a mistake. But my pride was wounded by how Steve had treated me, and it was fun having Rex’s undivided attention. The heated way he looked at me made me feel like less of a pathetic loser. Maybe Steve didn’t want me, but Rex did.

He swallowed. “Still, I need to be careful around you, Tanner. Especially since I feel more invested in your… needs compared to the other guests.”

Excitement shifted through me. “Is that right?”

He grimaced. “If I’m not careful, you’re going to get me in trouble again with Mrs. Rodwell.”

I frowned. “Was she really upset with you about yesterday?” I felt awful if I’d actually gotten him chewed out by his boss. He’d only been trying to help me .

He shrugged. “Upset is too strong of a word. Disappointed might be more accurate. She doesn’t like it when the employees of the ranch get too close to the guests.”

“You were just trying to help me. You didn’t do anything inappropriate. I’d be happy to tell her that, if you think it might get her off your back.”

“Nah, it might make matters worse if you get involved. It’s okay. Don’t stress about it. She’s not going to fire me. She’d be lost without me and we both know that.” He laughed.

“Okay, so long as your job isn’t in danger because of me.”

“It’s not.” He hesitated. “Can I let you in on a little secret, Tanner?”

“Sure.” I met his warm gaze.

He said softly, “I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

My stomach fluttered at the way he looked at me. “Is that right?”

“Yep. You needed me yesterday, and I liked how that felt.” He sounded short of breath. “I liked it a lot.”

I gave a weak smile. “To be honest, I… I don’t know how well I’d have handled yesterday, if you hadn’t been there, Rex.”

He looked pleased at my response. “I’m happy it was me.” He glanced over when nearby, Martha and Joe started laughing and jumping around. “Anyway, I’m going to go help Martha and Joe now. Looks like Martha just got snagged on an overhead tree, and Joe’s hook seems to be hung up on the back pocket of his pants.”

“What the heck? Yeah, of course, go help them.” I grimaced. “I think I’m fine now.”

I watched him walk away, wrestling with confusing emotions. Flirting with Rex was foolish. If I stayed, I only had a few more days at the ranch, and leading him on would be selfish. My life was back in Billings, and Rex’s was here. But even if flirting was unwise, there was something about Rex that drew me in. His energy both soothed and excited me. I’d never felt such a visceral response to an alpha before—not even Steve had affected me the way Rex did.

I’d loved Steve, and there was no denying that. But my love for Steve had developed over years of being around him and sharing a decade of friendship. Our love had been comfortable, not passionate. We’d eventually lusted for each other, but once we moved on from being just friends, the emotional connection always seemed lacking. I’d craved a deeper love, but being loyal, I’d never have strayed—especially after Steve had given me his bite.

I touched the mark on my neck, feeling sick and depressed. I’d need to get his bite removed. I wouldn’t be able to do that immediately though. I’d have to save up money to do that once I got another job. I was frustrated that Steve’s betrayal wasn’t only horribly painful, but also expensive. But unless I wanted to live my life alone, I had to get his mark off of me. Most alphas would avoid me if I had the bite of another alpha.

I went back to fishing, and while I tried to concentrate, my mind was filled with thoughts of Steve’s betrayal. By the time Rex told us to wrap things up, I hadn’t caught anything but weeds and a plastic grocery bag. Some of the others had better success. Peter caught three good-sized trout, and Martha managed to hook a medium-sized brook trout. Rex was kind enough to clean and gut the fish so we didn’t have to get our hands dirty.

At one point, I went to my tent to unroll my sleeping bag and drink some water. I flopped down on top of the bag and stared up at the ceiling of my tent. Outside, I heard the others laughing and joking around. I was tempted to go out and join them, but I felt a bit shy, still uneasy about being the only single guest on the trip.

When Rex poked his head in my tent, I jumped guiltily. He squinted at me. “What are you doing in here all alone?” he asked.

My face warmed. “I… I was just getting my tent ready for later tonight.”

“Hmmm.” He looked skeptical. “How about you help me make dinner?”

I sat up. “You want me to help? ”

“Sure thing. We need to cook some pork chops and beans to fill everyone up. There isn’t enough fish.”

I grimaced. “Rub it in, why don’t you?”

He grinned. “No need to be sensitive. I didn’t catch anything, either.”

“Yeah, but you weren’t fishing.” I laughed. “You were helping everyone else fish.”

“Come on, Tanner,” he said in a deep voice. “Get your ass up and lets feed these people. We can’t have anyone moping in their tent.”

“I’m coming. I’m coming.” I crawled toward him, and he held the flap of my tent open so it was easier for me to get out. “But for the record, I wasn’t moping.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you were.”

I fell into step beside him. “Be that as it may, I truly wasn’t moping.”

He pushed his hands in his pockets, glancing over at me. “How are you feeling? Still got a headache?”

“No, it seems to have gone away.”

“Good. Nothing like fresh air and sunshine to cure what ails you.” He stopped near a pile of supplies. He grabbed porkchops from an ice chest and handed me some cans of beans. “This ought to fill everyone’s bellies nicely.” He straightened and accidentally stepped on my foot. I grunted in pain, and he looked embarrassed. “Shit. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I have another foot. ”

He smiled and handed me a can opener. “How about you open the beans while I build the fire? There’s a clean pot over there by the water supply.”

“Sounds good.” I hoped he couldn’t tell how nervous he made me. When he focused his full attention on me, my heart would start beating like a bongo drum.

Rex and the other ranch hands had already gathered wood and kindling for the fire. Once it was going strong, Rex tended to it until there were nice, hot coals to cook over. He grilled the porkchops while I stirred the beans in the big metal pot until they were nice and hot.

It was nice working side by side with Rex. Steve had done most of the cooking, but he’d hated me helping out in the kitchen. I wasn’t very good at domestic stuff, and Steve had loved ragging on me about that. But Rex seemed happy to have my help. As he cooked the pork chops, he laughed easily at my nervous little jokes. I began to feel less conspicuous about being the only single guest. Everyone was so warm and friendly that I began to truly accept that they didn’t care at all that Steve wasn’t with me. I even suspected a few of them were happy he was long gone. I felt the occasional twinge of sadness when Steve crossed my mind, but I tried hard not to fixate on him .

After dinner, we sat around the fire, talking and then singing. I forced myself to sing a little, just because Martha really wanted me to. I wasn’t as bad as I thought I’d be, although I wouldn’t be joining Taylor Swift on her tour anytime soon. The newlyweds slipped off to bed early, leaving just me, Rex, and Joe and Martha.

It was a beautifully clear night. With no lights around, the sky was black as coal, and the twinkling white stars looked close enough to touch. Rex fed the fire every few minutes to keep it going, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. It seemed mutual because whenever I glanced up, he was watching me too.

“Well, I think Martha and I are gonna hit the hay,” Joe said as he stood and stretched.

“You boys enjoy the rest of the evening.” Martha smiled, and gave me a little wink.

My face warmed at that stealthy gesture. Did she think something was going to happen between Rex and me? Why would she think that if she believed the story about Steve going home for work? Did she assume I was the kind of omega who’d cheat the minute my alpha wasn’t around to watch me? Or did everyone one in the group know that Steve leaving for work reasons had been a lie? Were they all feeling sorry for me? I hated the idea of that .

The two of them wandered toward their tent, and I met Rex’s gaze, feeling uneasy. “Guess it’s just you and me,” I said quietly.

“That it is.” The shadows on his face from the flickering light made him look almost sinister. He kept his gaze on the fire for a little bit and then he glanced up, his eyes glittering. “Relax, Tanner. We’re just enjoying the fire together, okay?”

I grimaced. “Martha winked at me. Why did she do that?”

He lifted one shoulder. “Who knows? Don’t let it bother you, okay?”

I nodded and went back to staring at the fire. The silence hadn’t bothered me earlier when the other couple was with us, but now it seemed awkward. Despite Rex telling me to relax, I felt tense and on edge. Was that because I wasn’t sure how I’d act if Rex made a move on me?

Rex fed some wood into the flames. “Can I ask you something?” he asked.

I stiffened. “Sure.”

“Why are you suddenly nervous to be alone with me?” His gaze was curious. “We spent all day together yesterday, but tonight you seem uptight.”

Heat touched my face. “I’m not nervous.”

“Come one, Tanner. Don’t lie.”

I considered his words. “Okay, yeah, you make me nervous. I’m not even sure why.”

“But I didn’t make you nervous yesterday. ”

“I was drunk. I wasn’t feeling much of anything.”

He didn’t respond or react to what I said. He added more wood to the fire, his expression very serious. When he suddenly glanced up, he caught me looking at him. “Can I ask you something else?” he asked quietly.

“Yes.” My pulse fluttered.

“Do you plan on reconciling with Steve when you get back home?” He sounded a tiny bit breathless.

“God, no,” I rasped.

“He’s going to have regrets. I can feel it in my gut.” Rex straightened, studying me. “It’s hard to turn away people we love.”

“It is hard, which is why I took him back last time. That and because he’d given me his bite.” I ran my fingers over the bite mark on my throat. “But bite or no bite, he’s shown he can’t be trusted.”

“I agree, but love is a weird thing,” he said softly. “Sometimes we end up giving people way too many chances.”

“You’re right.” I lifted one shoulder. “I loved Steve, so I gave him another chance. I thought it would be easier that way. In the end, it didn’t work out, and now I have to get rid of his bite and go through all the pain of breaking up anyway. I guess I took the coward’s way out by trying again.” I grimaced. “But as painful as this is, I don’t regret giving him another chance. At least I know I tried my hardest to make it work.”

“I’m not judging you for trying, Tanner. I feel like you think I am. I understand fully why you gave Steve another chance. Having his bite on your neck was no little thing. He probably begged for another chance. You’d have had to have a heart of stone to turn him away.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you have a heart of stone. I think you’re pretty amazing, if I’m honest.”

“You barely know me,” I said softly.

“Yes and no. I can tell what kind of person you are by how this all went down with Steve.” He frowned down at his clasped hands. “It’s when the shit hits the fan that you truly see what people are made of.”

“I don’t think I handled Steve leaving well at all. I drowned myself in booze and tried to forget my problems. How is that an honorable way to handle things?”

“You were upset, but that’s only natural. You wanted to be numb from the pain. Who could blame you? You didn’t lash out and try to hurt Steve. You could have called the cops on him. You could have made his life hell, but you didn’t.”

“I thought about it. Don’t make me out to be a saint.”

“Thinking about revenge and acting on it are two very different things. ”

“I guess.” I let out a tired breath. “I just want to skip forward to two months from now when I’ll be feeling stronger. Happier.”

“I don’t blame you.” He gave a weak smile. “If I had a time machine, I’d take you for a ride.”

I laughed gruffly. “Thanks. I’d take you up on that.”

We smiled at each other, and that now familiar attraction buzzed between us. His smile slowly faded and his expression once again became very serious.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing is wrong.”

“You look so serious.”

He shrugged. “I just have a lot on my mind.” He cleared his throat and stood. “I think we should probably call it a night. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

I stood too, disappointed he wanted to go to bed. But it was late, so that was the smart thing to do. “Well, sweet dreams, Rex,” I said.

“You too, Tanner.” His smile seemed forced.

I turned and headed down the row of tents to mine. Once I was inside my tent and cozy inside my sleeping bag, I closed my eyes. The sound of crickets outside the tent was lulling. It had been a long day, and my body was tired. Despite the drama of Steve abandoning me, I felt almost content. Instinctively, I knew that was because of Rex. He had the ability to calm me with a glance. A touch. A smile.

I couldn’t begin to understand why that was. I only knew, as I drifted off to sleep, it wasn’t Steve who was on my mind, it was Rex.