Page 14 of His Omega Bear

He nodded, and the look of empathy was back. He really was a carrying person. And he would understand my pain.

“Sorry I didn't mean—” I rubbed the back of my neck and blew out a breath. “It's really beautiful out here.”

Rhys laughed that time. “You don’t need to apologize, Jaxson. And I love it here, but I know it takes some getting used to. It's no…”

He trailed off, the open-ended question in his voice.

“Chicago,” I supplied.

He nodded, “Well at least the snow won't be a shock to you.”

“Thank God for small mercies,” I bantered back.

We sat in silence, unsure what to say and taking in the light moment.

“So Jay was your best friend, huh?”

I nodded.

“And you were his cousin,” I tacked on. “What does that make us?”

“Family,” Rhys said simply.

I wasn't sure the thought I was having towards this man was appropriate for family, but I decided now wasn't the time to look too closely at that. But I had to admit hearing there was family close by, the boulder that had been pressing down on my chest might have gotten a little lighter.

“So if you need any help, any help at all, just ask,” Rhys said. I looked into his eyes and I could see the sincerity in them. He wasn’t paying lip service, he clearly meant it.

I leaned forward. “Well, I guess that means you have to give me your number.” My voice came out a little deeper and a little flirty. I was chucking it up to the high altitude and getting more than an hour of sleep at a time.

Did Montana even have high altitude?

Emilia babbled as the swing pushed her back and forth. I just might have to buy a one of those for every room.

“It's good to know there'll be people here that can tell her about her dad too.”

Rhys smiled, but it was sad. “I will not be telling her about the time I followed Jayson and Hunter into the woods. Hunter's my older brother. He's the town sheriff.”

There was a wealth of pride in that sentence and I felt a pang, because that had been Leanne whenever she talked about me.

I swallowed, trying to clear the tightness in my chest.

“Why won't you be telling her about the time you followed them into the woods?” We both knew it was a distraction, but Rhys didn't call me on it.

“Bats,” he said simply.

I raised a brow, even as a memory tugged at my brain.

“Bats,” I repeated.

“Yup.” He nodded, but it was followed by a full body shudder.

I held up my hand as a thought entered my mind. “Hold on, I think I know this story.”

Rhys eyes widened, “What?”

“Jayson used to tell this story about his cousins.” I nodded at the memory coming back, “He said something about how one of you got scared by a bat in the woods and ran to him screaming leaving a trail off pee the entire way until you got to him.”

Rhys groaned and ducked his head. “That would be me.”

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