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“Son, you’ve been moping around here all day.” Rogue’s mom wasn’t one to beat around the bush. It was a trait of hers he’d inherited.
He’d actually only been in his parent’s grocery store for about thirty minutes. For Rogue, that was a long time to shop. Only when he was stocking the game he’d recently killed and butchered did he spend more than about fifteen minutes in their little store.
No wonder his mom questioned him. Hell, one could look at every single item in the store and still be out of there in less than thirty minutes. But he wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“Let me guess,” his mom said. “You’re mooning over Kip.”
It wasn’t a question and Rogue sure as hell didn’t want to talk to his mom about another man. She’d never had a problem with his being gay, neither had his father. There were about a handful of people who hadn’t been bigoted. It was the other half that had Rogue questioning who he was ten years ago, causing him to flee in search of himself.
Just because Harper Jennings didn’t have a problem with her only son being gay didn’t mean Rogue wanted to discuss it with her. Yet, if that were true, why was he still shopping? He already had everything in his basket that he needed. So, why keep roaming the four aisles?
“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Rogue shook his head. What was it with words coming out of his mouth lately that he hadn’t planned on saying? He’d never talked this much in his whole life.
And the other day with Kip? It was as if he had some sort of broken switch in his brain that had him babbling on and on and on. It wasn’t until Kip started to laugh hysterically that Rogue managed to stop saying whatever was in his brain.
The man might have deserved an apology after the way Rogue botched getting him some more clothes, but it wasn’t like Rogue to repeatedly say he was sorry, like a broken record. It had been embarrassing.
Thank goodness Kip had been more focused on the absurdity of the entire situation, than Rogue’s inability to shut the hell up.
Then, despite hating what Rogue did for a living, Kip had not only offered to help Rogue learn about social media, he had set his business up on so many platforms, Rogue’s head had been reeling since the man had left. Kip had only laughed and told Rogue it would get easier with time. Rogue wasn’t so sure, but Kip had promised to help him whenever it was needed.
“You do realize he is one of those new age hippies.” His mom was snapping her fingers as she said, “What do they call them?” Then she waved that same hand in front of her and said, “Never mind. That’s not the point. He believes no animal should be harmed, which puts him in direct opposition of what you do for a living.”
He knew that. “It’s not like I can change careers,” he told his mother as he started to put his few groceries on the counter. “Nor do I want to. I happen to love being a hunter. And you know the lengths I go to ensure every animal is treated with as much respect and humanity as possible.”
His mother was nodding as she rang up his groceries. “Of course you do, son. We all know that. Plus, you provide food for a lot of people who can’t afford to eat. Don’t doubt your...”
Her hand froze as it landed on the package of tofu he’d put in the bottom of his basket in hopes of her not noticing. There was also veggie burgers next to it. Her eyes met Rogue’s as she rang up both items. “Maybe you should try showing him what you do. If he saw you, not necessarily killing an animal, but in action, Kip might start to understand life isn’t black and white.”
Rogue smiled at his mother. As great as her advice was, Rogue had no clue how to accomplish her suggestion.
Picking up the cloth bag that Axom had made for him that he used for groceries, he leaned over the counter and kissed her cheek. “Thanks mom. You really are the smartest person I know.”
As always, she swatted his arm and said, “And you’re the sweetest. Now go on and find a way to make Kip see things your way.”
Maybe she was right about involving Kip in his world more. He wasn’t sure how, but Kip had been very receptive to hearing more about his business when he’d set up the social media stuff. It still impressed him that Kip, who was so opposed to hunting, would still offer to help.
And he had the patience of a hunter considering how little Rogue had understood about what the man had been doing. Yet, Kip had never once lost his cool or made Rogue feel bad for not knowing anything about the social media world. Every moment he spent with Kip, Rogue found himself wishing to have even more time to get to know him.
Heading out of the store, he nearly plowed into Reese, Spencer, and Sammy, who gave him a yip before jumping up to get petted as he licked Rogue’s face.
“You are so lucky you’re as big as you are.” There was both sarcasm as well as a fond affection in Spencer’s voice as he mock glared at Sammy. “Especially since someone’s not supposed to be jumping on people.”
Sammy just leaned away from Rogue, with his paws still on Rogue’s chest and licked Spencer’s face.
Spencer sighed. “Yeah, I know. You know best.”
Sammy gave a yip, then got down off of Rogue. “We were headed to the tavern for a drink,” Reese said. “You want to join us?”
If he had any hope of figuring out how to win Kip over, he would need some advice and who better than Spencer. The man knew Kip better than anyone else. “I’d love to.” He lifted his grocery bag. “Let me just drop this off at home and I’ll meet you there.”
Reese chuckled. “I see Axom made you a bag, too.” The man cocked his head to the side and said, “You might not want to carry that where Kip could see it.”
Rogue turned the bag to read what Axom had put on there. At the time he’d thought it funny, but he’d forgotten what it said. Vegetarian: Native word for Lousy Hunter.
Sammy, who had left them, yipped from the front door of The Frosted Mug, as if he’d known all along where they were going.
Spencer laughed at Sammy’s antics. “Sammy’s not a patient dog. We’ll save you a seat,” Spencer said as he and Reese headed to the tavern. With only a few residents living in Mystic Pines, having a dog in the bar wouldn’t be a problem because no one would complain. Once guests arrived, Rogue couldn’t imagine what they’d do with Sammy.
He was fairly sure Sammy didn’t know he was a dog. He went everywhere with Reese or Spencer. Then again, when he wanted to run free, he’d become an escape artist. Sammy didn’t understand there were boundaries between him and humans, which would make it challenging once the resort opened fully.
****
“Sorry, I wish I could give you some advice,” Spencer said as the three of them sat at one of the dozen tables Dane had set up, with Sammy sitting under the table at Reese and Spencer’s feet. Spencer and Rogue were drinking beer, while Reese had a rum and Coke.
“He’s always been very...” Spencer hesitated, but Reese had no trouble giving him words to fill in.
“Opinionated, holier than thou, narrow-minded, rigid in his beliefs.” It was obvious Reese was prepared to go on, but Spencer shook his head at all of them.
“No. I mean, yes, but I always got the feeling he was almost repeating some sort of mantra.” Spencer shrugged. “Like he was raised to believe there is no other way to be. When we first met, he was still struggling with watching people eat meat.”
Reese let out a snort which had Sammy give a yip. “He still has that problem when it isn’t in some sort of casserole. Like chili he’s better about because the meat is inside it, but put a steak on one of our plates and I swear Kip is doing everything in his power not to throw up.”
“Hey,” Dane called over from the bar where he was polishing some glasses. “I don’t need anyone mentioning puking in the bar. It’s a bad omen.”
Rogue couldn’t agree more with that. He wasn’t exactly superstitious but there were some things that just shouldn’t be put out in the universe.
“We’re the only ones in here,” Reese called back.
As if to prove Dane right, the door opened and Axom breezed in, looking like... well, a purple flower. His white ankle boots, which were completely inappropriate for the snow and muddy ground, were dotted with purple smudges of some sort. His white tights had thin green vines with purple flowers flowing around them.
The weather had been much warmer the past two days, reaching forty, but still way too cold for his barely there purple ruffled shorts, sheer white midriff top with the same purple ruffles as the shorts covering his chest, that rose up to two shoulder straps. His purple and white make up with long purple eyelashes edged in white completed the look.
Only Axom could come up with some of the things he wore. Not that Rogue begrudged him his style, he just had a hard time fathoming wearing that barely there outfit when it was still cold out.
“I swear to the baby Jesus, it’s cold enough my balls are trying to crawl back into my body,” Axom said as he stomped off some of the snow and mud that were coating his boots. Then he plastered a come hither smile on his face and looked right at Dane. “I don’t suppose you have something thick and hot that could warm my insides, do you, Dane?”
Rogue couldn’t help it, his jaw dropped. He knew Axom tended to be a bit on the flirty side, but damn, he might as well asked Dane to strip down so he could ride the man’s dick.
Dane didn’t even pause as he reached for the coffee and a mug.
“Ugh,” Axom shuttered. “You know I don’t do coffee.”
“And you know I don’t do flirting.” There was an edge to Dane’s voice as if he’d had this conversation with Axom on many occasions.
Axom, being Axom, shook his head and gave Dane a perplexed look. “But I do. I didn’t ask you to flirt back, but I’m still going to be me.” Then he turned and saw Spencer, Reese, and Rogue sitting at a table. “Oh goody, we’re already drinking.”
To Dane he requested, “Sex on the Beach, and can I get some of those mozzarella sticks?” Then he sauntered, yes sauntered, over to their table. “So, are we here to get drunk or just relax?”
“Actually, Rogue here is trying to figure out a way to get Kip to like him,” Spencer said, which earned him an elbow to his ribs from Reese. “Ow.” Spencer rubbed his side and scowled at his husband. “What did you do that for?”
“Rogue may not have wanted everyone to know about him and Kip,” Reese told him.
Axom pulled out a chair and dropped into it with a stunned look on his face. “Pretty hard to do when he came to our house to get clothes for Kip after having a ‘rough night’.” Axom even used air quotes at the end.
“That wasn’t what happened and you all know it,” Rogue groused. “And Spencer, it’s fine. I’m just hoping to find a way to get Kip to understand what I do isn’t about just killing things. There are reasons for hunting that go beyond shooting a gun.”
Axom nodded. “Aren’t you supposed to go scouting for the travel writers next week?”
“Yeah. I leave Monday and should be back no later than Wednesday. The sites are a bit more spread apart, but I’m hoping at least one or two of them are promising.” The last trip had been kind of a bust. There were a few tracks but they had been old and Rogue needed a site that would pretty much guarantee him success.
“Why don’t you invite Kip along with you?” Axom suggested. “He loves the outdoors, although admittedly, it would be better if it were summer, but beggars can’t be choosers, and it will give you an excuse to snuggle at night.” Axom’s long purple lashes with their white tips fluttered, causing it to look like a fan moving.
Rogue was fascinated by some of the things the man came up with to wear. Who would have even thought to make lashes like that, or the ones with the feathers last time? He was awed by the man’s ability to come up with ideas Rogue would have never imagined.
“I don’t know,” Spencer said. “Kip really hates the cold and even though he does like to meditate outdoors, I can’t imagine he’d agree to go scouting for a hunting trip.”
That tiny flicker of hope that had flared to life at Axom’s suggestion was doused by a flood of doubts.
“All you can do is ask,” Axom told him. “What do you have to lose?”
He had a point. Still... “What if he slams the door in my face?”
“Then open it again. It’s a door. That’s how it works.” Axom took a long sip of the drink Dane put in front of him as if what he said was obvious.
In a way, he was right. But that didn’t mean it would be easy. Then again, Rogue was learning all good things took time and effort. To him, the situation with Kip being so difficult, was a good sign.
