Page 19 of His Prodigal Alpha

“Hey there, kitten,” Rex greeted me quietly and with liberal contrition, his big blue eyes soulful and locked on mine. “Can we talk?”

For all that I thought I’d been prepared for that moment, I wasn’t. Just looking at the man —thealpha— who had upended my world had me tongue-tied. Even pale-faced and shocked stupid sitting on Ollie and Beck’s couch, the man had made my heart race. But now? Looking down at me with a gentle smile and apology written all over his face? He was drop dead gorgeous.

Heart beating so hard and fast I thought it was going to burst right out of my chest, I could only nod and step aside, shutting the door carefully behind him. He was taller than I remembered, still just as broad shouldered and golden-skinned. He seemed to command the tiny little studio apartment as he stood at the foot of my twin bed, surveying the space.

It wasn’t much, but it was all I needed. A bed, a wardrobe, a couch, a TV, a kitchenette and a bathroom. Cozy and slightly cramped, but private and warm.

The walls had been painted two days before I moved in, so it was bright and clean, too.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” Rex said when his gaze finally settled back on me. “Reminds me of my first apartment back in Houston…only you don’t seem to have a drug dealing downstairs neighbor.” He frowned. “Right?”

“I’m pretty sure the little old tortoise shifter who lives downstairs is not a drug dealer,” I couldn’t help but laugh, imagining the frail older man living the stereotypical thug life. “Poor Mister Keogh.”

“Tortoise? How does that even…you know what? Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

“Or tortoises,” I supplied helpfully.

Rex snorted. “Still a smartass, huh?”

“I seem to recall that you liked that about me.”

His blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “I still do, kitten.”

Danger, my brain blared as my heart lurched,danger!

I would not be stupid enough to go mooning over this man when, barely a couple of hours earlier, he’d looked at the life we’d accidentally created together and had…had…um…he’d…

Well, okay, he hadn’t actually reacted badly, had he? He hadn’t rejected the baby or me. Not in so many words, anyway, and I hadn’t given him a chance to say more.

He’d freaked out, that was all. I’d also lost my shit when I’d worked it out. Maybe Rex deserved a little leeway.

Damn Brandt and his rational logic getting to me.

Nevertheless, I decided to put the brakes on our flirting. I turned my head and scoffed, “Coulda’ fooled me.”

The second the petulant complaint was past my lips, I regretted it.

I didn’twantRex to want me. I wasfinebeing single. I didn’t need to behave like a sulky teenager.

Was it possible to blame my hormones? Not just for the outrageous mood swings, but for how desperately some part of me did ache for his affection? I was going to blame the hormones.

Rex exhaled slowly. “Damon, c’mon now. Give me a break. I wasn’t expectin’ to see you again, let alone…” I turned back to face him, arching an eyebrow at the vague hand gesture towards my belly.

“Pregnant?” I offered, taking a sadistic thrill from the way he flinched. Then the anger I was trying so hard to hold on to melted into bone-deep exhaustion. Sadness warred with apathy, and I huffed a miserable little laugh, stomping over to the bed so I could sit on the edge of the mattresswearily. “Don’t worry, Rex. You’re off the hook. I don’t want anything from you.”

Why did my heart ache when I said it, though?

Stupid, traitorous body.

“Hold on just a minute,” he groused, carefully coming to sit beside me, making the mattress dip and creak. “I never said I wanted to be off the hook. Don’t go puttin’ words in my mouth.”

My throat felt tight and my eyes burned with unshed tears. “Don’t act like it isn’t a relief.”

“Now, I’m lettin’ that go on account of you goin’ through a hell of a lot more than I can even imagine right now.”

His gentle chiding made me feel a little bit guilty. However, I still snorted inelegantly and accused, “Brandt got to you, didn’t he?”

After a short pause, Rex said, “Maybe. But, hey, you know what he told me?”

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