Back out on the street, I leaned against the building and dialed Dex’s phone number, chewing the inside of my cheek while I waited to see if he picked up.
Voicemail.
I blew out my breath as a lump began to grow in my chest. Where was my Omega and who was the man with him?
Why had he left?
How was I going to get him back if I couldn’t find him?
Fuck.
ChapterTen
Dex
Corbin’s plan ended up being pretty much perfect.
Once she got over the slight irritation of me calling so late, Robin was happy to approve my request for a week of vacation time. It might have had something to do with her assumption that it was somehow related to my pregnancy, but since it was based on her assumption and nothing I implied, I decided that I didn’t need to feel guilty about not correcting her.
From there, Corbin drove me home and helped me pack for a week, then made me up a bed on his ridiculously comfortable couch for the night. The next morning, Corbin left me a note with the address of the cabin when he left for work and told me to call if I needed anything.
I shot a text off to Taylor with an abbreviated explanation of where I was going and why, sighing with relief when he sent backbe safe, call you laterwith a heart emoji and then ordered up an Uber to get this adventure underway.
The ride up to Gold Hill was only about forty minutes and the scenery was stunning. The dew on the leaves sparkled in the light of the morning sun starting to come over the peaks. When the driver came to a stop at the base of a short, steep driveway,cabinwas absolutely not the description that came to mind.
With walls of windows and floor after floor of expansive balconies looking out over a private lake, it was a freaking mini mansion, and my brain was completely unable to wrap around how the owner was making money renting it out for fifty dollars a night.
Accepting my suitcase from the driver, I pulled the handle up to drag it to the front porch. The message said the key wouldbe under the blue flower pot but standing on the expansive porch, I was surrounded by a rainbow of flower pots, includingsixin different shades of blue. I couldn’t find the damn key and the Uber had already left. And I needed to pee.
Crap.
Crossing my fingers for luck -and my legs, but for different reasons- I tested the doorknob and went weak with relief when it turned easily in my hand.
Thank goodness.
Pulling the door closed and dropping my bag in the entryway, I went looking for the bathroom. After I peed and washed my hands, I came out ready to investigate my surroundings.
It was my first time in a private vacation rental and I was surprised by how much homier it was than a hotel suite. I’d assumed that it would be devoid of personal items, but then I remembered that Corbin told me it was only rented out when the owner wasn’t using it, so the blankets on the sofa, the books piled on the table, and other signs of habitation made more sense.
It also made it very cozy.
Cozy enough that I decided to curl up on the sofa in front of the massive picture window and stare out at the sun rising over the lake before settling in. After all, I had nothing to do but relax and not run into Otto for the next week.
Cuddling into the deep cushions, I pulled a fluffy blanket off the back of the sofa and dragged it over me, snuggling into the chenille softness as I watched morning sweep over the valley.
I was almost asleep when a sound behind me caught my attention, and I realized the front door had opened. Before Icould react, there was a loud crash complete with the sound of glass breaking and a thud that jolted through the room.
Peering over the back of the sofa in alarm, I saw a large figure sprawled out on the floor surrounded by bags of groceries that had toppled over and spilled out onto the floor. My suitcase was caught on the man’s ankle, leaving very little question of how he tumbled and dropped the groceries.
Oh, hell.
“I am so sorry!” I clambered out of my fuzzy nest and rushed over to help, kneeling to unhook my suitcase from his leg. “I had no idea Corbin requested a grocery delivery or I wouldn’t have left my bag in the middle of the floor! Are you okay?”
The large man shifted up to lean back on his arms as he stared at me. “Who the fish sticks are you?”
“Dexter. Dexter Boreal,” I introduced myself, sticking my hand out but dropping it when he just looked at me. “I’m staying here this week.”
“You are?” His eyes widened briefly before a slightly amused smile hit his lips.
