Page 84 of Omega's Refuge

Rex smiled and leaned in for a kiss. When he straightened, he looked happy. “This is nice. I like having you here with me, Tanner. I feel content with you as my omega.”

My heart squeezed. “I’m glad.”

“Are you happy so far?”

I laughed. “Yep. It’s only been a day, but so far so good. I wish Mrs. Rodwell wasn’t sodetermined to isolate me from the rest of the staff though. Hopefully she’ll loosen up when she gets to know me.”

“She will. She’ll have to.” He pulled me closer. “I’m not giving you up, so she has no choice but to accept you.”

“Or she might poison me.” I smirked.

“Nah. She’s more of a hatchet to the head kind of gal.”

I widened my eyes. “Is this you reassuring me?”

He grinned. “Didn’t work?”

“No. Not at all. For some reason the idea of a hatchet in my skull doesn’t appeal.”

“Huh.” He looked like he was trying not to smile. “That’s weird.”

I pulled away, laughing, and headed toward the door. “Anyway, will I see you for dinner? Or will you be busy with the guests?”

“I’ll have to eat with the guests. It’s part of the job. But you’re welcome to join us.” He sounded sincere.

“Yeah, I’m sure Mrs. Rodwell would love that. She just loves me so much she can barely hide it. Her face turns into a prune the minute she sees me.” As I finished speaking, Mrs. Rodwell stepped into the room from the porch outside. Heat rushed to my cheeks as our eyes met; there was no way she hadn’t heard my mocking remark.

“Oh, uh, hey, Mrs. Rodwell, you’re back,” I mumbled, feeling like a toddler caught stealing candy.

Her smile was brittle. “I just popped back over to tell you boys the Big Sky Cabin is cleaned and ready for you to move in at your convenience.”

“That’s great,” Rex said smoothly. “Thank you so much, Ma’am.”

Feeling like a jerk, I also murmured, “Yeah, thank you, Mrs. Rodwell.” In that moment, I wouldn’t have minded if the ground had opened up and swallowed me.

“"Mm-hmm. You bet.” She turned around and left, shoulders rigid.

“Shit,” I groaned. “I just fucked everything up even more. Now she’ll hate me forever. I was just joking, but she won’t believe that.”

Rex moved to stand beside me. “Maybe she didn’t hear you.”

“She heard me. We both know she heard me.” I groaned again. “Damn it. Why did she have to show up like that? Or why didn’t I just keep my big mouth shut? Now I’ve made everything worse.”

He put his arm around my shoulder. “Well, even if she did hear you, it’s not like you said anythingthatawful. She’ll get over it.”

I slumped. “Yeah, but just to be safe, would you mind hiding all the hatchets on the ranch for the time being?”

He laughed and ruffled my hair. “Sure.”

We moved toward the door. “And while you’re at it, maybe hide all the pitchforks, shovels, and guns too.” I snapped my fingers. “Oh, and the weedkiller, if you have any.”

“Maybe I should just call the FBI and get you into witness protection.”

I grinned up at him. “Would you do that for me? It would be much appreciated.”

Smiling down at me, he said softly, “Sure, Tanner. Anything for you.”

Chapter Fifteen

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