Page 76 of Omega's Refuge

“But I can’t just live off of you, Rex.” I blinked at him. “I’m too prideful for that.”

He sighed. “Why? I have plenty of money and no one to spend it on.”

“Still, it wouldn’t feel right.” I raked a shaky hand through my hair. “Plus, I can’t just uproot my life and… and move here.”

“Why not? You said you hated living in the city. Why not take a chance? Why not make a change?” His expression gentled. “On the ride down the mountain, you said you had regrets about wasting your life. Now’s the time to change that. Let mehelpyou change that.”

“But, it’s too crazy of an idea,” I murmured, trying to ignore the niggle of excitement growing inside of me. “I’d be crazy to even consider this.”

“Don’t be silly. You'd be crazy not to accept.” He gave a coaxing smile. “This is a good place to raise a child, Tanner. There’s plenty of fresh air and room to run. Boy or girl, I could teach them to rope and ride.” His eyes glittered with excitement. “Being your alpha wouldn’t exactly be a chore for me either. You already know I’m very… attracted to you. I wanted an omega and a family one day.”

“You wanted that in the future. Not right now.”

“I thought it had to be in the future because there was no omega in my life.” He sighed. “You’re the only omega I’ve been really attracted to in ages, Tanner. I didn’t want you to go back to Billings. I think I made that embarrassingly clear.”

“I didn’t really want to go home either,” I admitted. “Or I wouldn’t have stayed longer.”

He looked pleased. “Then why not explore this thing we’ve started with each other?”

“There’s a difference between exploring something, and tying each other down.” When his jaw tightened, I realized he'd misunderstood my point. “What I’m trying to say is, I don’t wantyouto feel cheated.”

He wrinkled his brow. “Cheated how?”

“Well, what if you claim me and help raise my kid, but then one day realize that you wished you’d waited for a different omega?”

His blue eyes flickered. “That isn’t going to happen. I guarantee it.”

“You can’t guarantee that. You barely know me.”

He dropped his gaze. “Trust me when I say I’d never regret it if you agree to my offer.” He peeked up at me. “Never.”

I held his gaze, torn between temptation and caution. Despite everything he was saying, this had to be out of pity. He felt sorry for me and wanted to help. Could a marriage of convenience really work between us? Our sexual connection was undeniable, and we genuinely liked each other, but was that enough to build a lasting relationship? Would one or both of us wake up someday wishing we’d waited for true love?

“If we do this… I… I can’t just live off you, Rex. That doesn’t sit right with me. But I don’t see how I’d find my kind of job all the way out here.”

He looked hopeful that my response wasn’t an outright no. “I was already going to talk to mybrother about helping to sell your art. I can just do that now instead of later.”

“But, you’ve never even seen my art.”

“You’ve made a living as a graphic artist for years. I’m not worried. Nobody would have hired you if you sucked.”

I laughed at how he’d worded that. “Maybe that’s true, but that still doesn’t mean the art I create for myself is any good.”

“I’d bet a kidney it’s amazing.”

I shook my head. “For all you know I’m no better than a toddler with crayons.”

He smirked. “I’ve seen some pretty talented toddlers.”

“Rex, I’m serious. I could be a talentless hack.”

“Oh, come on. I don’t believe that for one minute. I just know you’re gifted.”

“Why do you have such faith in me?”

“I don’t know.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. “I just believe in you, Tanner.”

My heart warmed at how sincere he sounded. “You really are too nice, Rex. You’ll be taken advantage of if you keep this up.”

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