All's Fair in Love and Mastery (Masters Unleashed 5)

“Such a practical woman.” Echo grabbed Dex’s hand and tugged her into the woods. “Don’t worry, I promise not to make this weird.”

“If I hear banjos, I’m out of here.”

Echo snickered and they walked deeper into the forest, the trees here tall enough that they formed a canopy over them and left the forest floor almost devoid of foliage.

“What kind of snakes and stuff do we need to watch out for?” Echo asked.

“Stuff here isn’t venomous. We just need to watch for bears and wolves. They usually stay away if there’s noise.

“Bears? Wolves?” Echo immediately started clapping her hands and singing a song that sounded suspiciously like a kids’ camp song.

“Okay, while you practice your one-woman show, can I borrow your phone?”

Echo handed her the phone, watching the woods around them uneasily. Trying not to roll her eyes, Dexter dialled Grant’s cell and hit send. It was hard to hear over the rush of the wind through the leaves, and eventually she took a look at the phone only to realize she didn’t have any bars.

“Shit.” Of course. Dexter trudged back the way they’d come, already tired of walking through sand and fallen pine needles. As she reached the beach, the first pelting droplets of rain spattered down onto the sand, hissing loudly as the water crashed over itself in its rush to kiss the shore.

Echo seized her arm and pulled her out of the icy, splattering raindrops and back into the trees. Still no bars. Dexter edged closer to the beach, but even when she stood out in the rain she didn’t get a signal.

Damn it.

With any luck, he would be so busy taking care of guests he wouldn’t notice she was gone until the storm had passed and they were back at Wild.

She chewed distractedly at her bottom lip, concerned that he’d be worried, but also maybe a little concerned about how much trouble she was going to be in. For so many years she’d had no one to answer to, and she wasn’t sure she liked this sinking feeling, even though it was sort of nice to know someone would notice she was missing, and someone would definitely care.

“Nothing?”

“Nothing,” Dexter agreed.

“Are you going to be in a whole world of trouble because of me?”

Dexter gave her friend a saucy smile. “Don’t worry about me. It won’t be anything I can’t handle, or anything I won’t enjoy.”

“You’d better not let him hear you say that, or there’s going to be hell to pay.”

The knot that twisted Dexter’s stomach reminded her that she could paste on some bravado for Echo, but she couldn’t lie to herself. Her master knew exactly how to discipline a bratty girl.

The rain went from fat, pelting droplets to heavy sheets. From the shelter of their close-k

nit tree canopy, water misted down to dampen their clothes and skin and the chill set in fast. They huddled together, life jackets still on for warmth.

Maybe they should have looked farther inland for better shelter?

It was hard to tell what time it was, but the forest around them seemed to be getting gloomier the longer they waited for the rain to let up. Maybe it was almost nightfall—she was getting really hungry. If they had to stay overnight, Grant was going to lose his shit.

“Let’s sing the one about the lizards again,” Echo suggested brightly, apparently seeing this entire day as an adventure. Then again, if Dex could warm up it wouldn’t be so bad, other than worrying about Grant being worried.

She tucked her feet under her butt and her hands into her armpits. “You know, the chance of a bear attacking is pretty low. We don’t have to sing all night.” The truth was her throat was getting sore.

“It passes the time too. Do you want to hear the song I was working on earlier in the week?”

“Is it a kids’ campfire song?”

“No,” Echo said, laughing. “Those just seemed appropriate tonight, considering the predicament I got us into. I’m really sorry about this.”

“Don’t be sorry. This could have happened to Grant and me any number of times now.”

“Yeah, but at least that scenario would have come with some complimentary dick. I’d offer to put out, but I figure Grant might get a little pissy about that. It’s too bad—I’d really like to show Tak that I’m not bothered by the Stephi situation.” Echo laughed so Dex knew she wasn’t serious, then she started to sing before Dex could think of a snappy comeback.