Page 35 of Omega's Refuge

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

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

“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.”

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