Page 47 of The Alpha Option
“Still a week away,” Cassidy grumbled.
“Which is plenty of time for us to prep the rooms that are getting renovated,” Blue pointed out. “If we give ourselves all of July to get the house ready as much as needed, along with a couple of the cottages, we could offer bookings for the last week of August and the September long weekend. Just to some of the old-timers who have expressed interest in coming out.”
“We have a year to prove ourselves,” Stephanie reminded her. “I think Blue’s idea is a good one. We get the first families out, grab their feedback on what needs to improve, and then we spend the rest of the fall and winter making everything sparkle.”
“Winter guests are a thing. Especially for wolves. So the next set of guests could start in December or over the holidays.” Blue held up his hands. “Is it a plan?”
Cassidy considered. Their current expenses were low, other than the materials they purchased. It wasn’t as if they had to scramble to pay rent. And with the work Jace had done once again hooking up the solar panel system that had been disconnected, the utility bill wasn’t going to be too bad either. “I can see the wisdom in doing a soft opening. I’d like to get at least one group out for Thanksgiving, though, if that’s possible. And then limited winter guests as we figure out the routine.”
“I like it.” Stephanie nodded. “And it’ll also work well for Stacy because she’ll have time to get the boys settled into the school year without the pressure of cooking for a full house.”
“And your spa?” Cassidy asked.
Her friend lit up the room with her smile. “I won’t have everything in place at the start, but I’ll go slow and steady. If we have guests, I can arrange something to make their stay special.”
In spite of the rain coming down outside, Cassidy’s spirits lifted. “Okay. We need to figure out if Jace will be able—”
She stalled out. What was she supposed to say right now? If Jace was able to stay? If the pack got back in balance?
If he wasn’t dead by then?
Blue rose to his feet, and suddenly Cassidy was enveloped in a huge hug. Very brotherly, very comforting.
“He’s going to be okay,” Blue assured her.
“I believe that. But I also kind of want to know Del’s going to be okay as well, because the whole wolfyrip each other limb from limbidea isn’t sitting great.”
And the longer it took until things got resolved, the worse she felt.
The massive front door flew open and bounced off the wall. She turned to curse and discovered Jace stalking in. His eyes glowed bright red.
Blue threw his hands in the air and backed away from Cassidy as if she were a hot potato.
Oh, hell no.
Cassidy met Jace in the middle of the room, fisting her hand in the front of his shirt. “If even a single one of your brain cells is leaning toward hurting Blue for hugging me, you and I are going to have words.”
Jace picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and raced up the stairs.
“Dammit, Jace. Put me down. What the hell is wrong with you?”
He shoved through her bedroom door, dropped her on the mattress, and crowded over her. Then he buried his face in her neck and breathed in deep.
It really pissed her off how much she liked that. “I’m mad at you right now,” she informed him. “Stop doing that thing that makes my toes curl when I’m mad at you.”
He whispered something so softly she didn’t hear what he said.
Cassidy threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged, pulling his head back far enough that their gazes met. “What?”
“I issued the challenge. Del and I meet tomorrow night to decide the leadership of the pack.”
Oh, damn.
“Okay.” Cassidy nodded, loosening her grip and stroking him. Running her fingers through his hair and petting him as he basically rubbed himself all over her like a giant house cat. “Okay.”
Because it had to be. On every level, it had to be okay because Cassidy couldn’t imagine a world without Jace. This world, the one she’d fallen in love with in an amazingly short amount of time.
He held her, and he stroked her, and one thing led to another until they were twined together intimately. Giving to each other and taking as they needed.
