“Pshh.” Rachel waves off my comment. “You’re only thirty-two. It’s a little early in life to be giving up on love now.” She almost has one of the boxes on the floor opened when she glances back my way. “Just promise me you’ll be open to it…if the right guy comes around.”
I roll my eyes, but then grin. “Fine, I promise that if some sexy, single alpha happens to knock on the door, I’ll give him the time of day.”
Rachel giggles as she finishes opening the box and pulls out a planter full of artificial flowers to use as the centerpiece between the two large sofas. “Good. Now, let me text Thomas and get my sexy alpha out here so we can eat. I’m starving.”
After confirming with her husband that he has our Chinese order down pat, we set to work opening more boxes and sorting decorations into the various rooms we think they belong to. By the time Thomas arrives with food, Rachel and I have the inside of the house almost complete. Several boxes we’ve opened have the decorations for outside, including lights to hang along the roof of the house.
Thankfully, it’s not really cold out when we begin our work outside. But dusk settles fairly quickly. Thomas pulls out a huge ladder and works to get the white lights around the trim of the house and windows. Rachel and I help him when he calls for some assistance, but otherwise, we work to wrap the huge columns along the front porch with thick, green garland like what was used above the fireplace. White lights, which are thankfully still working, are interwoven into the nettles. It’s almost ten o’clock by the time we finish.
“What do you think?” Thomas asks, pulling Rachel in for a hug. We’ve stepped back down the drive several yards to get a look at the house.
“It’s beautiful.” Rachel gives him a peck on the cheek. “All we need is snow and it will look like the front of a Christmas card.”
“Well, I don’t know if you’ll get that unless the weather forecast changes. Right now, we’re down for sunny skies through Christmas.” Thomas looks at the lights, turning his head to the side. “Does that strand look off to you?”
“No!” We both say at once, then laugh at Thomas’ OCD.
“Really, it’s great,” I say. “Thank you so much, I couldn’t have done all of this without the two of you.”
“Happy to help, man.” Thomas throws an arm around my shoulder. “That’s what family does.”
It’s the second time today that the comment has been made, but the warmth that it causes to swell in my heart doesn’t weaken, no matter how many times I hear it. We step back inside, admiring all the decorations that Rachel and I had put out previously. We even found the bright gold, wire star to top the ten-foot tree in the corner of the den.
“The place looks great, Brayden.”
“It does look good. Seems like she has a little life left in her,” I say, rubbing the slick banister that is now frilled with garland and bows.
“Maybe it’s time to let her breath again. Turn the website back on and start taking reservations?” Rachel’s tone is hopeful.
“I don’t know…maybe.” I study her face, watching her eyes sparkle with hope. She and Thomas both know that the settlement I received from the accident along with Alex’s life insurance have me set. I even set aside a trust fund for a future baby they may have, knowing that Alex would want the best for his little niece or nephew whenever they decide to join the world.
But I know that Rachel worries about me being out here on my own in this big house. And she’s right, sometimes it is quiet and lonely. Maybe I should think about re-opening the place. Although, without Alex here to help, I would probably have to hire someone to help keep the place up.
The thought sticks with me even as I say goodnight to Rachel and Thomas. Rachel offers to come back the next day and help with last minute cleaning, but they’ve already helped with more than I could have done by myself in a weekend. Besides, all I really need to do is tidy the place up and put fresh linens on the beds.
Closing the door behind them, I rest against the back of it and look around at what we’ve accomplished. Then I shut my eyes and inhale deeply. “Alex, I miss you so much. I know you want me to be happy, but I just don’t know if I can do this without you.”
I slowly make my way around the house, turning off lights before making my way upstairs. If I thought I would get a sign from Alex on how I can possibly move on, it doesn’t come. I’m only left with my thoughts and anxiousness at hosting this corporate team this weekend after six months of being out of the game.
3
Corey
“I’m not sure… but I’m just heading out, so I guess see if you can email it. I’ll stop somewhere along the way and download it to my desktop.”
“Sure thing, Corey.” Tiffany pauses for a moment, and my mind plays out the scene of her sitting at her desk and writing down notes in her little book. “Anything else?”
“Can you also scan in the McCarter file for me to take a look at. He usually wants a proposal for investments for the new year before the first of January.” I’m a complete idiot for not looking more closely at my calendar and the upcoming tasks I needed to work on. More than likely, I would have come into the office after shopping this weekend to prepare a few presentations and perform research, but I was in such a rush yesterday to make sure I had everything I had planned for today and Friday, that I completely forgot about the extra stuff I needed to do.
“Absolutely. I’ll get both of those sent to your inbox within the hour.”
“You’re the best, Tiffany. Thank you.”
“No problem. And Corey…”
“Yeah?”
“Try to relax a little this weekend. Everything will still be waiting on you when you get back on Monday.”
“No promises,” I say as I laugh before hitting the button on the touchscreen of my car to disconnect the call. I turn on the radio, wincing when the sounds of the latest “holiday hits” bleeds over my speakers. I quickly swap over to my car’s Bluetooth and stream an audiobook I’d been listening to. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas, I’m just not a huge fan. My parents both worked when I was growing up, so they traveled a lot. We didn’t usually do the whole Christmas as a family thing, so the holiday never really meant anything special to me.
After a few miles, the busy four-lane highway becomes less crowded as I head north out of the city. The group of us invited for the weekend had been given information about meeting Friday evening, but then Misty sent me an additional email with directions to the Stafford Place B&B as well as providing me with the company credit card for my expenses traveling down.
When my navigation tells me to take the next exit, I find myself on a two-lane highway that seems to be carrying me away from any known civilization. With only two bars on my phone, I pull over and check to see if Tiffany has sent the emails. Nothing new comes in except for a few pieces of spam, so I navigate back to the road and continue traveling. I’m lost in my book when I realize that nearly two hours have passed. A little sign on the side of the road tells me that Stafford is only ten miles ahead.
Glancing at my phone, I notice that I still have two bars. Maybe that’s not a bad sign after all. When I pull into the small town, another sign announces “Welcome to Stafford” in big bold letters. The town looks quaint as I drive through the main thoroughfare.
Several mom and pop shops line the street, their wares clearly visible through the large, pane-glass windows that have been decorated for the season. It is like driving through the town of every Christmas town in every Hallmark movie that had ever been made, which has me rolling my eyes. Luckily, a fast food restaurant is up the road, so I pull into a parking spot and open my laptop. Quickly connecting to the restaurant’s Wi-Fi, I check my email, happy to see that Tiffany had sent the documents requested. I download them to my desktop, then step inside to use the restroom and buy something to drink.
Having had breakfast, I’m not quite hungry yet, so I hop back in my car and start the navigation again. The directions lead me several
miles outside of town. I begin thinking that this place must be practically deserted as the houses lining the small rural road soon become sparse, leaving nothing but wooded area all around.
The male voice from the navigation system tells me to turn left in three hundred feet. I slow down, carefully studying the left side of the road until I see a mailbox with a sign hanging from it for the B&B. Taking the turn, I drive through a bevy of trees before the space opens. The three-story home sits against a backdrop of trees and a large mountain sits in the distance. It’s picturesque and actually a bit more impressive than I originally thought it would be.
I pull down the gravel drive until I come up to the house and park in the large area of rocky terrane. The crunch of gravel under my feet almost echoes against the quite backdrop surrounding me. I inhale deeply, finding the air crisp and sweet, filling my lungs with a renewed freshness I didn’t know I needed.
Once I’ve grabbed my laptop case from the front seat and my bag from the back, I walk up to the porch, taking the set of four steps two at a time. My shoes patter across the plank floor as I walk to the front door and open it. Stepping inside, warm air greets my skin, and I realize that it’s cooler outside than I thought now that I’m in the cozy environment.
I glance around the large entrance, which showcases a large staircase on the other side. Everything is decorated with lights and garland, which is a good sign since I know Misty wants me to ensure that everything is perfect for the gathering. Setting my bags down, I step through a large opening and into a large den. A huge fireplace that looks like someone could sleep inside it sits on the far back wall. Two large sofas are the centerpiece of the room, with several chairs scattered in the corners and along the windows.
This home must entertain several guests, so I’m nearly positive the house was booked early on if the company managed to get the whole place reserved for the partner’s holiday getaway. My shoes tap on along the hardwood floors as I step back into the entryway. A small desk sits off in the back corner, tucked to the side of the staircase.
“Hello?” I call out into the emptiness.
“I’ll be right down.” A warm, rich voice comes from the floor above me. Soon after, the sound of footsteps echoes through the room. His scent hits me before I even see the first foot land on the stairwell above me. It smells like a mixture of apples and mahogany with a slight hint of mint. Definitely an omega. “Hi, there.”
When I look up, the man coming down the stairs is wearing a large grin. His blue eyes sparkle as the afternoon sun’s rays flowing through a nearby window catch them. His dusty-blonde hair is neatly trimmed around his head, but the front is a little longer, allowing it to drift lightly across his forehead. When he reaches the main floor, his five-foot-nine frame is just two inches shorter than my five-eleven stature. He’s wearing a pair of jeans that hug his legs and ass just right, and the cotton hoodie he’s sporting give him a college, frat-boy look.
“Hi,” I say.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I didn’t hear you come in. You’re with Dawson, Mott, and Riley?” The man steps over toward the desk as I follow behind him.
“Yes,” I say, pulling out my wallet to hand him the company credit card and my identification. With him in my close proximity, I take another whiff, trying not to draw attention to my attempt to learn more about this omega standing before me. The same sweet smell comes to me in waves, along with a new smell that alerts me to a brick wall that forces me to rethink the cute omega. It’s the indicative smell of his mate’s claim.
Of course, he’s mated. A good-looking omega like him was probably snatched up by the first alpha who could get his paws on him. And good for him, whoever the guy is. “I’m Corey Dixon. My boss was supposed to let your staff know that I was coming in her place.”
The man finishes writing something in his book before taping on the computer on the desk. Thankfully, the desk is one of those tall pieces, so he doesn’t have to sit down. If he were seated and looked across, he’d see the raging hard-on I’m trying to keep at bay, especially knowing that he’s taken. I may like getting lucky, but I’d never come between an omega and his alpha.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Dixon.”
“Corey, please.”
“Corey…” He smiles sheepishly. “I’m Brayden. Let me get you checked in, and I’ll show you to your room.”
“Thank you.” I watch as he types away on his computer, swipes the credit card through an attached device, and then prints a document, which he has me sign.
“Okay,” he says, coming around the desk. “Let me get your bags and we can head upstairs.”
Before he can reach them, I grab my bags. “I’ve got them. Just lead the way.” I smile a toothy grin. I know he’s mated…but for some reason, I can’t help myself from being a bit flirty with him. And watching his plump ass in those tight jeans as he walks up the steps gives me an eyeful to use for my spank bank later.
Brayden walks me to the third floor, where he grabs a set of keys from his pocket. He looks confused for just a moment before taking a key off the ring and unlocking one of the doors at the far end of the house. “Here you go,” he says as he opens the door. “I hope you’ll find this room satisfactory. The bathroom is down at the end of the hallway between the other two rooms on this floor.”
“Perfect,” I say, taking a look around the quaint room. It’s nothing special but somehow is charming and inviting. A small chest of drawers sits on one side of the room and a four-poster bed is on the far wall. A luggage bench sits near the nightstand and a chair is set near the window.
“Great. I’ll leave you to it. If you need anything, I’ve put my number on this card for you. Feel free to call me since I’m not usually stationed at the desk.” He hands me a small card, which shows his name, cell-phone number, and the code “Stanford” to be used for internet access.
“You have Wi-Fi here?”
Brayden laughs. “We’re not completely backwoods out here. This isn’t Deliverance.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean‑”
“You’re fine…I mean, don’t worry about it. A lot of people who come here probably wonder if we have indoor plumbing.” Sweet laughter escapes his lips again.
“Well, that seems a bit drastic to think even in this day and time… But I didn’t figure you would have internet.”
“We do,” he says with a grin, then points to the television sitting on top of the chest. “We even have cable.” He gives me a wink before stepping toward the door. “So, get settled and let me know when you’re ready to discuss any particulars for this weekend. I want to make sure you and your team have a wonderful weekend.”
“Thank you, Brayden. I’ve got to check some emails, but I’ll catch up with you later on?”
“Sounds like a plan,” he says, before stepping through the door and closing it behind him.
4
Brayden
It takes every fiber of my being to keep my underwear from becoming soaked when I started walking down the stairs to welcome my new guest. Corey is alpha in every way, and my body reacted accordingly. But even as I close the door behind me and walk across the hall to my room, I can’t help but feel a niggling of guilt at the back of my head for how my body reacted.
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with an omega reacting to the pheromones of an alpha. True enough, when I was with Alex, it only happened around him. But now that he’s gone, my body is quickly reminding me that I haven’t had a knot since Alex’s passing. And something tells me that Corey is just alpha enough to knot me good.
“Stop that!” I say once I’m in my room with the door closed behind me. I slap a hand onto my forehead, trying to quiet the vibrations coursing through me. I should have known better than to put him in the room across from mine. It would have been much easier to put him in one of the other rooms down the hall, but as we reached the top of the stairs, everything within me screamed to have him nearby.
Even still, his thick brown hair and ch
ocolate eyes are set off by his strong jawline and bright smile. The combination has me dripping with the thought of seeing what’s hidden beneath his clothes. He’s a tad bit taller than me, with lean muscle that fills his shirt and pants perfectly.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him like this. He’s a guest and probably has some hot omega waiting back at home for him. Oh god… What if his partner is coming up later today or tomorrow? No, I have to keep myself in check. Besides, I just told Rachel yesterday that I didn’t know if I was ready to move on. It’s only been six months since Alex died, so despite my body’s carnal reaction to the new alpha in the house, I’m determined to do what I can to make this weekend a success…even if that means suppressing every urge in my body craving a knot from the sexy visitor staying across the hall.
Making my way to the bathroom, I splash some water on my face before heading downstairs and into the kitchen. It’s nearly two o’clock, and I haven’t had anything to eat all day. Needless to say, getting the bathrooms cleaned, dusting the rooms, and changing all the linens took me a while longer than expected. I grab a glass from one of the cabinets and pour a glass of tea before pulling out the makings for chicken noodle soup.
Now that we are hitting cooler temperatures, I’ve been cooking more soups and stews, and a hearty chicken noodle has been on my mind lately. Once I have all the vegetables cooked and the chicken added, I pour in the egg noodles and set a timer for twelve minutes. That’s when the voice that sent me into a tizzy earlier greets my ears again.
“Brayden?” Corey is calling me from the foyer, so I wipe my hands on a dish towel and enter the dining room space and then the door that leads to the entryway next to the stairwell.
“Hi, Corey. All settled?”
The Weather Outside: A Holiday MM Mpreg Romance Page 2