The Falk Clan Complete Series

by C. D. Gorri

  It’s now or never, she thought checking the time on the dashboard radio. Noelle squared her jaw and set about getting herself prepared for this meeting. She needed to come off as experienced, confident, and capable.

  She took off her fuzzy, pink gloves and rubbed her cold hands together. She’d worked too hard to start her own company to blow it all now. She closed her eyes and hummed a Christmas carol to soothe her anxiety.

  She’d always felt close to Christmas. Probably because of my name, she thought and smiled. Ever since she was a child, she’d loved the holiday season. She even listened to Christmas music year-round. It always calmed her nerves.

  She checked the time again. Early, as usual. She looked at her reflection and ran her fingers through her straight-brown hair. Despite her efforts, the wispy strands that hung around her forehead and cheeks went right back to where they were only moments before. There was just no hope for it. She blew her bangs out of her face and sighed.

  Noelle often cursed her pin-straight, baby-fine hair. She tried chopping it off once and cringed at the memory. She’d showed the stylist a picture of a model with a cute little pixie cut. To make a long story short, it was an epic failure.

  She’d looked like one of those nerdy little kids from every 70s movie made. You know the ones with those awful, unforgiveable soup-bowl haircuts. Yup. That was Noelle for one entire summer. Super sexy.

  She shook her head to stop her runaway thoughts and sighed. Ugh. This wasn’t doing anything for her. She was still nervous. She hummed the carol louder and went to grab a breath mint from her purse.

  She nearly hit the ceiling when her cell phone rang. Noelle fumbled with the zipper on the inside pocket in her purse before she found the blasted thing. She smiled when she looked at the caller ID. It was Joss, her bestie.

  “Hey Noe, you’re like fifteen minutes early, chicka!”

  “Hello Joselyn, I know I’m early! I’m just nervous.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t wanna seem too eager. Just chill! Did you get any sleep last night or were you too busy making Christmas wishes?”

  “Sleep? Me? You know better than that! I was too busy drawing up the final plans and making sure everything is perfect for today! You know how much this means to me, Joss,” she did her best to sound exasperated. Okay, maybe she did make a couple of Christmas wishes too. Joss didn’t need to know everything.

  “I know. Look you worked so hard, Noe, and I know it’ll be great. Just chill already, come on, deep breaths,” Joss said.

  “I’ve hummed three carols already-”

  “Uh huh. And how is that working so far?”

  “Not great, my hands are starting to sweat.”

  “Noelle, relax, you’ll be fine. Now, tell me the truth, you did ask Santa to bring you your Christmas wish again this year, didn’t you?”

  Noelle rolled her eyes at the laughter coming from the other end of her cell. Joss was great, but she could be a terrible tease sometimes. Sometimes she was more like a big sister than a best friend, But Noelle loved her all the same.

  She wasn’t lying though. No matter how annoying her teasing was, Joss was accurate as ever. Noelle had visited Santa at the local mall last night. Just like she did every year. And, yes, she did wish for that same special someone that she asked for every single time. She’d been doing that since she was fifteen years old.

  “Well, maybe he will bring me my wish one day, so there,” she pouted as she said the words, feeling like the world’s biggest baby.

  “Yeah, or, maybe it’s time you let someone besides yourself see you in those sexy little bra and panty sets you spend all your cash on! For real, girl, I am sensing serious sexual tension coming from you! Why don’t you unbutton whatever it is you’re wearing and let some cleavage spill out, and then, hike up that skirt a little and show some leg, and who knows, maybe your wish will come true,” Joss said in sing-song voice.

  Noelle rolled her eyes as her friend’s booming laughter soon followed her verbal teasing. It was old news that her BFF was a phone psychic, but seriously, the woman did have amazing intuition. Noelle often wondered if maybe she truly was clairvoyant. Maybe she was onto something here, Noelle quickly shook off the thought.

  “Joss! Like, ew, a married couple live here! They want me to cook for them, not to see me in my undies, I’m sure!”

  “Yeah, but I have a feeling, Noelle, in all seriousness, something big is about to happen to you. Be careful, okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah. By the way, Joss, you are coming to the party, right?”

  “Of course, I am! The Macconwood-Nighthawk Teen Outreach Program is an important addition to our community. I am proud to support them. Ooh, I’ll call you later, my other line is ringing.”

  Noelle laughed as she hung up. Joss had quite the demanding clientele with her psychic hotline, but she was far from a fraud. She never gave out bad or fake advice. She was the most honest and trustworthy person that Noelle knew.

  Ten minutes to go, she frowned. Why did time drag when it was something important? She shook her head and dialed Paul and Rick next. The two young men were Present Tastes most recent hires. The two newlyweds just finished getting their Culinary Arts and Hospitality degrees when they’d contacted her after she’d placed an advertisement in the local paper.

  After inviting her to their home and cooking her a wonderful brunch, she hired them on the spot. When she started this venture as a teen, she’d been the only chef in the kitchen. But now, with her steady clientele growing and her expansion to event catering, she needed help.

  It was one of the many things she’d agonized over in the beginning. Needing help in the kitchen and elsewhere was something of a problem for her since she liked to be in control, but she trusted Paul and Rick. Delegating wasn’t exactly a strong point of hers, but she was learning.

  “Hey, Rick? Yes, the vegetable market has the order. Great, thanks!”

  Both of her new employees were efficient and dependable. They’d even found her some people to do the decorating required for this party. The three of them spent hours going over what was needed for this event and now, Noelle was there to make sure everything would go according to plan.

  “Yes Rick, tell Paul I hear him,” she laughed as he shouted reminders about the chaffing dishes they were going to use.

  The two of them chatted loudly to her over the phone and she smiled. They were always finishing each other’s sentences. Such a cute couple and completely devoted to each other. Sigh.

  Noelle tried not to be, but she couldn’t help it, she was just a little bit jealous. She hadn’t had a date in a year. Okay, never mind your love-life or lack thereof, it’s go time.

  She got out of the car and shivered as a strong wind whipped right through her thin coat. Brrr. She smiled despite the cold and started walking to the large carved, mahogany door. Temperatures were in the low thirties, but she didn’t mind. It was Christmas! Her favorite holiday!

  She clutched her leather-bound tablet to her chest and readjusted her purse. Here we go! Noelle put on her best professional smile and rang the doorbell.

  While she waited, she looked at the castle grounds. The place was certainly beautiful. From the cobblestone pathway to the various evergreens that stood guard along the front of the castle, it was like stepping into a fairytale.

  She could see it now. Her decorating crew would be there shortly to hang thousands of fairy lights from every limb before nightfall! With the promise of a few flurries, it would be like a winter wonderland. Perfect!

  She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that the owners had made the old beach house into a real-life castle! Four turrets, brick walls, and a mini-portcullis mail slot. She could just picture the postal worker raising the tiny chain to slip the mail inside! So cool!

  Castle Falk was the last property on this stretch of beach in Maccon City. It sat right on the border of their little town and Macconwood, the property owned by Rafe Maccon.

  Rafe, along with his sis
ter, Cat, were descendants of the founding father of Maccon City, Eoghan Maccon. He was the governor or something a couple of hundred years ago when this part of the world was just settled by Europeans. Of course, Noelle knew that Rafe Maccon was more than that.

  Rich and powerful, he was well known in the business world. He was also the Alpha Werewolf of the largest Pack in North America, the Macconwood Pack.

  Noelle was aware of the supernatural community that lived and breathed among them because her father had been a Werewolf. He died when she was just five-years old and, though she didn’t inherit his gift, she’d been raised with some knowledge of that world.

  Rafe had taken over the Pack from his father who was something of a backwards tyrant from what she knew. The changes Rafe made since his ascension to Alpha were amazing. He even made sure her mother collected from a life insurance policy that the Pack had on all their members. It was a nice amount, but of course, it couldn’t replace her dad.

  Still, being able to pay off the mortgage and get their bills current was amazing. Her mother even invested some cash in Present Tastes.

  This party was her big chance to show the elite of Maccon City what she could do! She exhaled and looked at her phone. She wasn’t early for her appointment anymore, nope, now she was five minutes late! Crap!

  She waited a few minutes before she rang the bell again. Noelle rubbed her damp palms on the back of her black leggings, nervousness was not a friend of hers! She’d been planning this event for months! She could do this! Okay, Santa, for Christmas, just let this be a success!

  She wondered what could be taking Callius and Winifred so long? Surely, they were expecting her? She decided to risk looking desperate and rang the bell again.

  CHAPTER 2

  Alexsander groaned in his sleep. What the heck is that noise? The shrill sound had him sitting up in bed and wiping the sleep from his eyes. Fuck. He’d only gone to bed a couple of hours ago. No way. He rolled over and buried his head under the fluffy warm pillow, willing that awful ringing noise to just go away.

  Ah, finally. Just when his eyes closed, the blasted thing went off again! He sat up in a tangle of sheets and growled. Who dared disrupt his sleep? Seething, his Dragon close to the surface, Sander puffed out a cold breath that left tiny icicles hanging from the huge silver-edged mirror that hung in his room.

  He threw off the heavy brocade blanket and leapt from his bead. He stormed off down the stairs that led from his sleeping quarters to the main part of the castle.

  Whoever was ringing that absurdly loud bell was about to see what happened when you roused a sleeping Dragon. Grrr. After travelling all day yesterday, he felt a bit hungry after all. Some fairytales got it right.

  What time was it anyway? His stomach growled, his head pounded, he was, all in all, a very cranky Dragon. After his flight, he’d stripped his clothes off, took a steaming hot shower, and fell onto the soft heather-gray bed that his new sister-in-law had picked out for his bedroom.

  Just one more mark against him. I am sorry Callius. If only I could give you more. Shame swept over him as he recalled his thoughtlessness. He hadn’t been interested in choosing furniture or color schemes for his decor. He’d given Fred full reign over his quarter of the castle. He still had a difficult time thinking of his brother’s wife in terms of her preferred nickname, but Fred insisted.

  He tried to shake off his shame at disrespecting his brother’s efforts by showing their home the least possible amount of attentiveness. The only thing Sander had been interested in was having a workroom with natural lighting and enough wall space to hang his art. In fact, it was the first and only thing he checked when he got in last night.

  He’d been pleasantly surprised to see the remarkable job Callius’ wife had done. The muted grays and silvers complemented the tapestries he’d sent on ahead to Castle Falk. He smiled involuntarily. If only he’d be around long enough to get used to the sound of their name on a castle, he shook his head at the melancholic thought.

  Sander rubbed a hand across his face. What was he doing anyway? Maybe he could simply ignore the bell ringer and go back to his bed. He turned and started back to his room when the interloper began pounding on the door.

  Boom. Boom. BOOM! That was it. Clearly, this person couldn’t take a hint! He’d just have to deal with it himself. I wonder if Callius has any ketchup in the fridge? He preferred the tangy condiment atop freshly charred meat most days. To prove the point his stomach growled.

  He stalked down the hall and pulled open the front door. Sander was ready to tear into the fool who dared wake a Dragon from his bed, only to find the air stolen from his lungs! A pair of sparkling eyes the color of blue sapphires opened wide as the dainty waif who owned them took in his nude form from head to toe.

  Snow was falling around her in huge, white flakes and the tiny thing shivered in the doorway. Beautiful was too mundane a word to describe her. Sander could hardly think of one appropriate for such loveliness.

  The fairy gasped, her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to speak, but words seemed to fail her as well. Sander knew he should do something, but he remained immobile. Stunned by the vision before him. He felt his Dragon surge and he stilled the beast with a command.

  He should have dressed, he realized belatedly. He should say something. Anything. He shook his head to clear it of the fog that seemed to surround his brain. Wait, why should I do anything? This woman wasn’t welcome. She was a trespasser. But that thought didn’t stop shame from staining his cheeks pink, but still, he didn’t move. He stood tall and proud and naked as the day he hatched.

  “Well? What do you want?”

  His voice was gravelly and stern. He barely recognized it. Cruel of the Fates to bring this creature to his door when his heart was almost frozen through. He narrowed his eyes in anger. The fairy continued to stare at him. Her soft bow of a mouth opened and closed several more times.

  Sander’s lips closed in a hard line. He couldn’t help the turn of his thoughts when he looked at her pretty mouth. Full pink lips without any paint or glitter. Begging to be kissed. Were they as soft as they seemed?

  He could certainly find better uses for them than to simply open and shut like a fish out of water. In fact, they’d look heavenly wrapped around his firm cock. A thought that made said member stand at attention. Unfamiliar heat flared inside of him and Sander hissed at the strength of it.

  He preferred the cold. He was used to it. The flaming heat of his arousal was as unwelcomed as it was unfamiliar. This woman was dangerous. He held himself rigid and ignored the stirring that was awakening deep in his loins. Nudity didn’t bother him. He was a Dragon. Proud, regal, strong. He did not even blink as his body betrayed his interest.

  The fairy; however, was most definitely embarrassed by it. Normals and their hang-ups. He’d have loved the opportunity to wipe her free of those silly notions, only one thing stopped him. He looked down at his mangled hand in disgust. He was not fit for fairies.

  Just when he thought to close the door and pretend none of their strange meeting ever happened, the vision spoke. Her voice was stronger than he imagined it would be. Clear and businesslike, it still sounded sweet as honey to his ears. Bloody hell.

  “Um, I’m sorry, that is, I beg your pardon, but can I come in? I’m freezing out here, and Mr. Falk is expecting me,” she met his eyes as she spoke.

  “It’s normally cold in winter, and I’m sorry to say I am not expecting you.”

  “I said Mr. Falk was-”

  “I am Mr. Falk.”

  “No, you’re not Mr. Falk. I met him at the castle-warming a few months ago-”

  Sander felt guilt flare up at the mention of the party. Callius and Fred had invited him, but he’d declined. As he had all of the invitations, he’d received from them. In fact, he’d completely withdrawn from his brothers after they were freed. Unlike them, he had no hopes for the future.

  “Look, even though I have no idea who you are, I doubt very much that Mr.
and Mrs. Falk would approve of you answering the door in your birthday suit! Now, excuse me, I’ll wait in here if you don’t mind,” she pushed past him, her pert little nose high in the air.

  Sander grinned as she swept by, careful not to let an inch of her touch his nude frame. Pity. He hadn’t wanted to come when his brother called, but maybe he should be grateful to him. Though he was resigned to his fate, he found himself intrigued by the woman. Even more so now that she proved she was no fairy, but more like a minx!

  “Look, miss, I’m Alexsander Falk and you can’t just barge into my house uninvited-”

  “Oh, no! Are you one of the brothers? I’m so sorry, I’m Ms. Gifford,” she held out her hand, and then withdrew it when her eyes wandered a little south. She blushed furiously but met his gaze head on. The minx was clearly fighting not to look down again.

  “I’m sorry, but, you see, I was, I am, invited. Invited, hired and paid for,” she thrust a piece of paper into his mangled hand, and Sander held himself still.

  He waited for the usual disgust and judgement to mar her perfect features. When neither came, and the hand that held out the paper remained firm, he lifted an eyebrow. She’d certainly seen the thing that made him more outcast to Dragons than being a prisoner had.

  Still, she showed no signs of either pity or horror. She simply waited for him to take the parchment. He looked at it and after reading it briefly, he recognized it was a receipt of sorts.

  “Now, my catering company, Present Tastes, was hired by Callius and Fred Falk to host their Christmas party. It’s tonight.”

  “What? No! Absolutely not. Cancel it immediately!”

  “I can’t do that! They’ve already invited everyone! Besides it’s for charity!”

  “What the devil are you talking about? Have it when they come home.”

  “But I can’t do that! Tonight, is Christmas Eve!”

  “What do I care? Look, if it’s money you want, I’ll write you a check-”