by T. S. Ryder
After a few hours, Cynthia radioed Tyrell to tell him she wasn’t going to be there for supper and went out to eat with Rex. Conversation flowed naturally between them. When they were wrapping up dinner, Cynthia sat back and laughed.
“I feel like I’ve told you everything about my life. My ex always said I overshared. I hope I didn’t scare you off.”
Rex shook his head, a smile on his lips. “No scaring, here. I’ve met far scarier women.”
He winked. Cynthia laughed again and pulled out her wallet as the server brought over the checks. Rex snatched hers from her and shook his head, insisting on paying himself. As Cynthia sat back, smiling at his gentlemanly behavior, a man sitting at the far end of the café caught her eye. It was the same man that had been on the boat on the way over.
The man glowered at her with the same hatred he had then.
“Something wrong?” Rex asked.
Cynthia shook her head. “Just that man over there.”
Rex twisted, locking eyes with the man, whose glare intensified. Cynthia’s cheeks burned, and she wished she hadn’t said anything. Now the man knew she had noticed him.
When Rex turned back to her, a scowl was on his face. “Don’t mind him. James Smith. The local bigot and asshole. He’s just mad because you’re not… from around here.”
So that was James Smith. Cynthia could see why Tyrell didn’t want him around her. The man looked dangerous, just from the hatred in his eyes. She tried to ignore him as she gathered her things. Rex walked her back to the car and leaned against the door as she got in.
“Drive safe.”
“Thank you.”
He leaned through the open window and brushed a kiss to her cheek. Sparks ignited in the pit of her stomach. With a wave, Cynthia drove away. She beamed as she drove back to the farmhouse. It had been a long time since she had gotten that kind of male attention. Since before the divorce, actually. Michael hadn’t been the most attentive husband at the end. It felt good, knowing that she was still desirable.
Tyrell sat at his computer when she walked in. He turned toward her, a smile on his face. It fell quickly, though, as he sniffed the air. “You were with Rex.”
Cynthia laughed, startled by the proclamation. “What?”
“I can smell him on you.”
Cynthia’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t noticed any particular scent about Rex, other than a clean, salty spray. Her frown turned into a glare as Tyrell sat there with narrowed eyes. Anger and judgment were all over his face. What was it to him whom she spent time with? And that whole ‘smelling’ Rex on her. What was that about? Had he been spying on her?
She drew herself up taller. “Yes, I was with Rex. We had a nice dinner.”
“I asked you to—”
“You asked me not to have him around the house because you didn’t want him around Tamara. She wasn’t there. You are not going to start telling me whom I can and cannot spend time with.”
Tyrell had the good sense to look abashed. He ducked his head and swept his hair out of his eyes. “Right. Well. Um… sorry. I guess I sort of overreacted there.”
Cynthia snorted. “Sort of?”
He fell silent.
She waited for a moment longer before she folded her arms. “Is there a reason why I shouldn’t see him? Is he some sort of serial killer or something? Does he like to drug women?”
“What? No, of course not!” Tyrell’s expression was almost comically horrified. “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t. But you’re being all shifty and cagey about it. What else am I supposed to think, other than you must have a really good reason to want me to keep my distance?”
He flinched and kicked the floor. For a moment, she thought that he was going to tell her that she shouldn't go out with Rex because he, Tyrell, wanted to date her. But he didn’t say that. In fact, he didn’t say anything at all, merely mumbling under his breath.
“What was that?” Cynthia moved a little closer, hope sprouting in her head.
“I… Nothing.”
She backed up a step again, heart sinking.
Get a grip, girl. Rex liked her. That was good enough. He wasn’t as hot as Tyrell, but he was interested. He was sweet and charming. Why should she give him the cold shoulder in the hopes that Tyrell might like her? Even if he did, he was her boss and it wasn’t happening.
Tyrell shrugged, still not looking at her. “My problems with him are mine. They shouldn’t affect you. And I hope that maybe…”
He didn’t finish. Cynthia waited for a moment longer before snorting and heading up the stairs. Why should she avoid Rex because of some grudge? Tyrell said it himself. Their problems had nothing to do with her. And she wanted a man in her life again. It wasn’t as though Tyrell was looking at her with lustful eyes…
She sighed as she closed the door to her room. It didn’t change the fact that she would have preferred Tyrell over Rex any day of the week.
What is wrong with me? she wondered, then pushed both men from her mind. She wasn’t here for a grand romance. She could have some fun but there would be no falling in love. That was all there was to it.
Chapter Four – Tyrell
The overcast sky spoke to a storm brewing, and Tyrell frowned at it as he drove home. They could use a bit of rain, but the thundery weather was not appreciated. They had several projects on the build that would be delayed significantly if it stormed now. He shook his head as he returned his focus to the road. They couldn’t change the weather and would deal with whatever nature planned to throw at them.
His stomach growled, reminding him once more that he had forgotten to bring a lunch out with him. If Cynthia was home, maybe they could have a sandwich together. If not, he’d make peanut butter and jam before heading back to the field.
Just as he arrived at the house, another vehicle pulled in ahead of him. This one sleek and sexy, deep red. Convertible with the top down. And Rex Tesla sitting in the front seat. Tyrell tensed at the sight of him, then pulled to a stop. He got out of the truck and slammed the door. Rex shot him an annoyed glance as he got out of his own car, and absently polished a spot on the hood.
“You should get that road paved, Jarvis,” he said coolly. “I could have scratched—”
“What are you doing here?” Rex turned to him, the fury and hatred in his eyes ill-concealed.
“I’m here to see if Cynthia wants to go for a ride with me. Do you have a problem with that, Jarvis? Do you think that just because she works for you means that you own her?”
Tyrell bit his tongue hard to stop himself from responding. He would have liked to have done nothing more than to tell Rex off, to tell him that he didn’t need to ‘own’ Cynthia to make Rex keep his distance.
“You can’t stop her from seeing the people she wants to see,” Rex hissed at him.
It was true. Cynthia was free to see whoever she wanted, be it platonic or sexual. But he didn’t believe, despite how beautiful and wonderful Cynthia was, that Rex was really interested in her. This was all a ploy, for Rex to get back at him for Angela.
If he hadn’t been willing to drag Cynthia through hell for his revenge, Tyrell would have allowed him more leniency. His muscles tensed as he glared at his long-time rival.
“Rex… what are you really after?” He tried to keep his voice down, in case Cynthia was in the house.
Rex glared at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he spat.
“You know what the alphas decided. You are not permitted to—”
“I’m permitted to try to see a woman I’m interested in. Tamara’s at school, isn’t she?” He growled, hands bunching. “Or are you going to keep pretending that this has anything to do with her? This is about you and me, Jarvis. And the fact that you killed my sister.”
Tyrell’s bear snarled and snapped but he shoved it down. He was not going to lose his temper. “I didn’t kill Angela and you know it.”
“She wouldn’t have gone out to sea if it weren�
�t for you. Maybe you didn’t sink them, but you’re the reason she’s dead.”
Guilt hit him hard in the stomach. He honestly could not deny that. He didn’t think it was something he would ever get over, but he had made his peace with that. He had accepted his role in her death and had determined to do his best to raise his daughter with as much love as he could provide. The grief evident in Rex’s voice, masked mostly by fury but still there, only made him all the sadder.
“Just because you got custody of Tamara doesn’t mean you deserve her,” Rex continued, fists balling up. “I’m her uncle, you had no right to cut me out of her life as though I meant nothing! You are no good for her and you know it!”
Tyrell didn’t respond for a moment. His bear wanted to attack but he held himself back. That would only give Rex what he wanted. Violence didn’t solve problems. At least, not this one. And while it would be nice to try to beat some sense into Rex, Tyrell knew it wouldn’t work that way.
“I acknowledge that I made mistakes with Angela,” he said slowly. “But what is happening now with Tamara, that is your own doing. I was generous to you, I had offered a solution that would have allowed you to be a major part of her life. But you blew it.”
Rex snarled, puffing himself up. His muscles flexed as he loomed over Tyrell. If he thought that was going to intimidate the other bear, however, he had another thing coming. Tyrell folded his arms, giving Rex a look to let him know he was less than impressed.
“If you had not been constantly badmouthing me to her, if you had looked after her properly, you’d still be in her life. But leaving a child in your apartment watching TV while you go off hunting—”
“I made sure that she was—”
“You didn’t make sure because you weren’t there! Anything could have happened!” Tyrell sucked in a deep breath as his bear urged him to tear off Rex’s head. Even though the incident in question had been more than three years ago, the need to defend his daughter against the perceived threat still rode him hard. “You are the one who acted irresponsibly, Rex. You’re the reason why I sued to have you removed from her life.”
Rex rocked to his toes, knees bending. He was very close to attacking. “I just want to get to know my own niece. She’s the only family I have left. I’m not going to let you keep me away from her!”
“Convince the alphas that you’re more responsible now and I’ll follow their lead. But until then—”
“They won’t give me a chance because of—”
Tyrell held up his hand and shook his head, stepping toward the house. “We are not going to fight about this, Rex. If you are here to see Cynthia, then see her. But don’t come around hounding her thinking that it will somehow get you closer to Tamara. You have to prove yourself worthy of being in her life.”
Rex snarled under his breath, then stepped closer again. “I can smell the human all over you, but don’t think that this is the end of it. I am going to take her away from you, Jarvis. And once I have her, I’ll give her more than a puny farm boy like you ever could. I’m going to take her. When I get into her tight, welcoming heat, Cynthia Jones will be crying my name. She’ll be begging me for release as I suck on those creamy breasts and I’ll be fucking her from here to kingdom come. She’ll forget all about you.”
A snarl ripped from Tyrell’s throat. He started forward, unable to stop himself from lunging. Not when Rex would say such crude things about Cynthia.
His fist flew and cracked into Rex’s face. The other bear stumbled back as blood trickled from his nose. Tyrell growled. The sight of blood wasn’t nearly enough to appease him. He shifted his stance, hands curled as he readied to charge in again. Rex dropped into a fighting stance as well, a wicked gleam in his eyes. His lips curled back into a snarl.
Just as Tyrell was about to launch himself forward again, a sharp voice cracked through the air.
“That is enough!”
Tyrell and Rex jumped back from each other. Dread sunk into his stomach as he turned to face Cynthia. She stood on the porch, her knuckles white from gripping the railing. There was such fury in those normally soft eyes that he had to resist the urge to take a step back. He was a bear in his prime, strong and stalwart. Not prone to backing down, except when the fury of the alphas was unleashed on him. And yet the look in Cynthia’s eyes was worse than a hundred tempests.
He could only imagine how much worse it would be if it were directed at him.
Rex shrank back from her as she descended the stairs, head high. Even though she was a good head shorter than the both of them, it didn’t stop the power rolling off of her. She stopped in front of Rex and put her hands on her hips. The fury didn’t lessen, even when a brief look of regret crossed her face.
“Leave.”
It was clearly an order. Rex flinched as his shoulders slumped. “Cynthia, I didn’t mean it. I just—”
“I told you to leave.”
“Let me explain—”
Cynthia shook her head. The anger started to crack, letting pure pain shine through. Tyrell wanted to take her into his arms, wipe away her tears, but he didn’t dare move. Not right now. He had a feeling that she wouldn’t appreciate it.
She spoke softly now. “I am not a toy, Rex. I am not a prize for you to fight over.”
“Cynthia—”
“Get out of here!” Her voice rose to a scream. “Go away! I want nothing to do with you, do you hear me?”
Rex flinched. His head hung and he shuffled back to his car without a word. If he hadn’t said what he had about Cynthia, Tyrell might have actually felt sorry for him. His bear growled until Rex was out of sight, then Tyrell reluctantly turned to Cynthia. He was unsurprised to see her glare now passed to him. For a moment he forgot that he had not been the one to treat her so poorly.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked, keeping his voice soft.
Cynthia hesitated a moment before nodding. “It’s not like I was sleeping with him.”
There was a defensive tone to her voice. One that made Tyrell wonder if she wanted to. He sighed. “No. It’s not like that, is it? Rex has been in a bad place since his parents and sisters drowned. Doesn’t mean I don’t hate him, but I actually feel sorry for the guy. If only he wouldn’t go about expressing his feelings in such a manner that it hurts the people around him...”
“And himself,” Cynthia whispered but shook her head. “Not my job to fix broken men. Not their job to fix me, not my job to fix them.”
Tyrell smiled at the watery tone. He held his arms out to her, and without another word, she stepped into them. Her fingers curled into his shirt and she buried her face in his shoulder. Tyrell held her close, trying to comfort her wordlessly. His bear lay down in his chest, content with this.
***
Some sixth sense woke him in the middle of the night. The windows were open, letting in a breeze, but no unusual noises came from outside. Still, the hairs on the back of Tyrell’s neck prickled and he swung out of bed. His first instinct was to check on Tamara and found she was sleeping soundly. Next, he went to Cynthia’s door. From the even breathing on the other side she, too, was sound asleep.
He couldn’t shake the feeling something was off, though.
Tyrell moved to the window at the end of the hall and glanced out at the darkened world. His muscles tensed as he spied a hulking shape at the edge of the road. Someone in their bear form, pacing back and forth. His bear snarled and the hairs on his neck stood upright.
Snarling under his breath, Tyrell headed down the stairs. He didn’t care how broken-hearted Rex thought he was, he couldn’t come skulking around at night like this! Tyrell flicked on the porch light and stormed out. The bear was gone. He inhaled deeply and peered into the darkness; down the road, a set of taillights came to life along with the rumble of an engine.
As he moved to the road, he caught the scent that had been left behind. Not Rex at all. Was that a Cadillac that had just driven off?
He returned to the house and closed all t
he windows on the main floor, then locked the door. It wasn’t something he normally did, but if James Smith was skulking around… He wouldn’t do anything to Cynthia, would he?
Tyrell did not sleep the rest of the night. He lay awake, ready to leap from his bed and fight anybody who tried to hurt the woman sleeping under his roof.
Chapter Five – Cynthia
Tamara sat at the table, a spoon in her hand while her breakfast sat untouched before her. A fierce scowl darkened her face, with the anger only a five-year-old could muster. Cynthia had to work not to laugh. That would not earn her any favors. Still, seeing such a heavy scowl on such a young face was amusing, to say the least.
“If you stick that lip out any further, a chicken will lay an egg on it,” Tyrell said as he tapped Tamara’s nose with his finger. “Honey. I know you want to come to the mainland, but this is about work. You wouldn’t have any fun.”
“But Cynthia and Aunt Ruby could come with us and I’d stay with them while you did your boring stuff.”
“I don’t want to go to the mainland,” Ruby, on Tamara’s other side, mussed her hair. “But we’ll have fun here.”
Cynthia nodded. “We’re going to the Black Sands today to look for a birthday present for Daddy, remember?”
Tamara let out a deep sigh and muttered something under her breath. Cynthia hid her smile as she glanced at Tyrell. He’d given her twenty bucks for Tamara to get him something. She wondered if the ‘work’ he had to do on the mainland was just an excuse not to accidentally see what his daughter chose for him. Or if it had a more nefarious purpose.
Rex had told her that Tyrell went to the mainland to sleep around with women there. At the time, she’d been super jealous while trying to play like she didn’t care. Now, she wondered if it was even true. Not that it was any of her business if it was, but Rex hadn’t turned out to be the good person he pretended to be. There was no reason to believe him about this.