Chapter 18: The Lone Alpha

Chapter Sixteen. Davina.

I wake up to the smell of sizzling sausages in the pan, and the sound of Max, chatting nonstop to Mars.

So, he really did camp out under my caravan on the gravel. It wasn’t a random dream. I roll my shoulders, after that whole debacle last night, I slept surprisingly very well. I guess there is something to be said about having a man around the place on a night, which I cannot deny makes me feel a little safer.

From what I can hear, they are discussing how Irish sausages are the best in the world.

Okay, whatever, a sausage is a sausage!

Plus, my boy had sausages for tea last night and I try not to give him repeated foods every day, to vary his diet. Still, at least I do not have to make it. I roll my shoulders, then get out of my big bed, grab my bathrobe and pull it on, tying it around my waist, remembering how my nipples think it is minus 30 degrees and pop out to play whenever I am around my son’s father.

I head out into the main area of the caravan and look as Mars is dishing up some sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and toast onto the plates. Where the hell did he get all that food from?

“Good morning. Just in time,” Mars smiles at me as if I am his second favourite person in the world.

God, he is gorgeous. Weird, but gorgeous.

“What’s all this?” I asked.

“Breakfast. I get up early to go for a run, so I headed back to my caravan and grabbed some of my food, and decided to make you all a full Irish,” he grinned at me, pulling out a chair at the table and nodding at me to sit.

“Oh, okay, thank you,” I say, trying not to gush, especially as I really need to establish some boundaries.

“I am working this morning on the first poison plant tour between nine and ten, but then Justin is covering the rest of the day. What time is your Archery?” Mars asks.

“Quarter past ten,” I tell him.

“Can I meet you there please?” he asks, giving me the same bloody puppy dog eyes his son does, the ones that worked last night. Hell, so much for establishing boundaries.

“Yeah, if you want. But honestly, we need to have an adult chat,” I tell him, not wanting to argue in front of Max, especially after last night.

“I know,” Mars sighs, lowering his head slightly, what I think is a fearful look crosses his face, but then is gone in less than a second.

“I thought we were seeing you tonight. What changed?” I ask him.

“I spoke with Justin, and explained that I wanted to bond with my son, so we have come to a deal. I do the early tours, because I am always up at the crack of dawn, and he likes his bed, and he will cover the rest of them for me, whilst you are here. I hope that is okay. I have just missed out on so much, every second I can spend with him matters to me,” Mars states.

“Yeah, whatever,” I state then dig into my breakfast. I must admit, the man can cook. I could get used to this.

“So are you planning on camping out under my caravan again tonight?” I sarcastically ask.

I kind of want him to say yes, so he can come in here again. Shit, I need to remember he is only here for Max. After all, I am unlovable. Maybe it is best if he says no.

“Well, I was hoping to sleep on the fold-down couch again,” Mars whispers to me.

“Can he mammy? Pleeeaaaasssseeee,” Max begs, and I let out a long sigh, and simply nod my head.

“Thank you, Davina. Maybe we could have that chat tonight after this monster has gone to bed,” Mars smiles down at Max then ruffles his hair.

“I got to go to work now son, I will see you at archery,” Mars states, and gets up off his chair.

“I suppose you better bring some things here if you are insisting on staying,” I tell him.

Mars turns to me and nods his head, mouthing another ‘thank you’ and waving happily to Max as he makes his way out of the field and to work.

“Hey, finish your breakfast, and we can head down to the soft play before we go to Archery,” I smile at Max.

After I wash the dishes, and clean the benches, I shower Max, then dive in myself. The weather is still warm, so I pull him a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, remembering this morning to cover him with sunscreen, before standing before my wardrobe, looking at my mega pickings, and wondering what the hell I am going to wear.

I don’t know why I suddenly care what I look like. But, I do for a couple of reasons. The first is that people do know I am Mars’ baby mamma, and let’s be honest, he is so good-looking that he has every woman salivating at the mouth when they see him. I don’t want to look too much like the frump beside him. The second reason, as much as I would deny it if asked, is I want to look nice, for him.

I know, I know, I am an idiot.

I settle on a red cotton, summer day dress, with spaghetti straps and small white flowers over it, that has a square neck and empire line, the flow of the material hiding my mummy tummy nicely. It falls to just above the knee. I grab a white open knit cardigan, and brush my hair, leaving it hanging, so it will dry in the sun.

“You look pretty Mammy,” Max smiles at me.

“Why thank you, kind sir,” I grin at my boy.

“Daddy will like it, I am sure,” he tells me.

Oh hell, I am being so obvious my five-year-old has worked out the reason I have worn this dress.

Grabbing my bag, I ensure I have my purse, and the play passes to enter the main area, then head out the door, locking it, and taking hold of Max’s hand, walking quickly past the caravan next door, before the scary occupants come out and confront me about the noise last night.

We set off walking down to the entertainment zone, to see the tractor train approaching, so quickly ran to where it stopped, and climbed on. Max loves it, as he chats away about how cool it is. The half-hour walk takes just ten minutes on the train, and I take Max into the soft play, letting him run free.

“Max. I am just going to the coffee place outside, I will not be long, stay in here,” I tell him as he runs up the steps and makes his way over the mesh bridge, then bounds into the foam boulders. I quickly walk to the coffee truck, which is just outside the doors, thankful nobody is waiting to be served and order myself a latte with hazelnut syrup, before rushing back and taking a seat in the parent's area underneath the large soft play structure. The hour passes quickly enough, and it is soon time to head over to the sports area so that Max can attend his mini archery lesson.

As I go to give Max and my name, the guy smiles at me, his eyes trailing up and down my body, making me feel self-conscious. Then he places his hand on the top of my arm, as he talks to me, practically ignoring my son. I do not like this. Not one little bit. I step backwards, but the bozo steps forwards and laughs at something he said. To be honest I do not even hear what it was he found so funny.

“So, you will have my undivided attention,” he states winking at me.

Okay, this guy is giving me the creeps and I need to deal with him right now.

“Actually, you need to pay attention to my son. Not me,” I tell him. Turning to Max.

“Hey Max, which lane would you like to shoot down?” I say, giving Mister Pervy the cold shoulder.

The only issue is, the man is not taking the hint, and hovers over me an inch too close, then pears down the top of my dress.

REALLY.

Anger begins to bubble, I am not happy, as he reaches out saying something or other, again ignoring my son, who asked him a question about the bows, and touches my arm again.

“I will show you how to hold the bow correctly,” he tells me, in a voice that is doing nothing but creep me out.

Suddenly there is a loud growl coming from the doorway, and, Max shouts.

“Daddy!” excited to see his father.

I look around to see Mars standing, with a murderous look on his face, and eyes flashing silver. Hell he is pissed, but something strange happens to my body, as I become more aroused than I have since the night we made Max together, and he sniffs the air, strides over to me and growls again.

What the hell is all this growling about?

He looks directly at the archery instructor and says in a voice that sends shivers through my body.

“Get your hands off her!”