Page 179 of Down Knot Out
I leave the kitchen to Holden and return to the great room, lingering off to the side as I observe the reception area.
Grady sits at the front desk, his golden hair catching the light as he leans forward to help a family with their check-in. His cane rests propped up on the side of the desk, within reach but not currently needed.
He had decided to give up his apartment in the city to take up permanent residence here while he continued to recover. His stutter is almost gone, only popping out in moments of high emotion, but he still struggles with his balance. He’s taking it easy as he decides what he wants to do with his future. Authors have contacted him to be their agent, but he’s not sure he wants to take on new clients.
“You’ll find a welcome basket in your cabin.”He hands over a set of wooden key fobs with cabin numbers burned into them. “Fresh bread, local honey, and a trail map with our recommendations marked. If you need anything at all, press zero on the cabin phone.”
The father of the family says something, and Grady laughs, his head tipping back. He catches my eye across the room and gives me a small salute before returning his attention to the guests.
Quinn sits on a stool near the entry, clipboard clutched to her chest, watching Grady with studious attention. Her pink dress matches the bow in her hair, and her small feet swing back and forth, not quite reaching the floor.
When the door opens, admitting another couple, she hops down and straightens her shoulders. “Welcome to the Homestead at Misty Pines. May I check your names, please?”
The couple exchange amused glances before playing along, giving Quinn their names and reservation details. She makes a show of checking her clipboard, tongue caught between her teeth in concentration.
Sadie appears from the hallway leading to the administrative offices, a stack of fresh towels in her arms. The hollows in her cheeks have filled out over the past months, her eyes clear and alert.
She pauses beside Quinn, raising her eyebrows at the clipboard. “Checking people in, Miss Office Manager?”
Quinn nods. “Uncle Dom says proper paperwork is essential for operational integrity.”
“Does he now?” Sadie’s lips twitch with suppressed laughter. “Well, don’t forget to check me in. I’ll be helping with the cabins today.”
Quinn straightens her spine, all business. “Name, please?”
“Sadie Patel,” her mother replies, adjusting the towels in her arms.
Quinn once again checks her list and nods. “You’re approved for cabin cleaning duty. You may proceed.”
Sadie stares at Quinn with a slightly bemused expression, as if she still can’t quite believe this is her life now. Sober for eight months, she visits more often, though she’s content to leave things as they are. She had moved out of the penthouse and now lives in a nice two-bedroom apartment with Mrs. Reynolds, who treats Sadie more like a daughter than her charge.
The back door swings open, and Blake enters, his broad frame filling the doorway. His shirt hangs half-buttoned over his chest, revealing tattoos and a sheen of sweat. His cheeks are sun-pinked fromworking outside, and his hair has escaped its bun, falling in tendrils around his face. He carries a stack of folding chairs under one arm, his muscles flexing with the effort.
Later in the afternoon, there will be marshmallow roasting and wine tasting for those who want to join. It had been Dominic’s idea as a way to introduce local liquors and provide some sort of food while the kitchen was still being rebuilt. It became such a visitor favorite that we decided to keep it going.
Blake spots me, and his expression softens. Even after all this time, the intensity of his attention sends heat curling through me. Our bond pulses with quiet satisfaction as he sets down the chairs and crosses to where I stand.
“You’ve got dirt on you.” His thumb brushes my cheek, and his touch lingers.
I lean into his hand for a moment before stepping back. “The lilac tree is in.”
Understanding darkens his eyes. “Good. Now your scent will fill the whole garden.”
Across the room, Dominic emerges from the small office off the back hallway, tablet in hand. His French braid is immaculate as always, not a hair out of place despite the morning’s work. He tapsthe screen, checking off another item on his to-do list, before his head lifts.
He catches me watching him and winks. Through our bond, his satisfaction and pride for what we’ve built together hums between us.
He crosses the room to join us. “The thermostat in Cabin Four is working now. The adjustment fixed the issue.”
“Good,” Blake says. “That’s the last of the technical glitches, I hope.”
“For now,” Dominic says, his tone dry but amused. “There will always be something.”
I look around at my pack, each person settled into their role, moving with purpose and confidence. Nathaniel guiding guests through activity options. Holden creating delicacies in his kitchen. Grady welcoming newcomers with genuine warmth. Quinn practicing responsibility with her clipboard. Sadie offering help when she’s mentally capable. Blake building and fixing with his hands. Dominic ensuring everything runs smoothly.
And me, at the center of it all, connecting each to the other through our bonds, through the love that rebuilt not just our home but our lives.
“We did it,” I murmur, not realizing I’ve spoken aloud until Blake’s arm slides around my waist.
