Page 32 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
With a grumble, I shift on my bed where I’m seated. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you planned for more than my stay here.”
She blinks, trying to look innocent. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
Pursing my lips, I give her the “stank-eye.” “You stayed here when you visited a few years back. Did you meet the owners’ son?”
A wicked smile stretches across her face. “Ah, young Will,” she sings. “He actually worked part-time for one of Violet’s Alphas when I stayed there. Nice kid.”
“Uh-huh.” I don’t hide my suspicion, although, really, how could she possibly know I’d be attracted to him?
I guess anyone would be, to be honest.
“So, tell me what’s going on over there,” Bec prods.
“I ran into Asher Black the second day I was here, and found out he’s staying at the same B&B.”
“No way,” she breathes. “That fine-as-hell British actor?”
I laugh and nod. “That’s the one.”
“Well, that’s fortuitous.”
“How do you mean?”
“You’re both single now.”
I wince. “And I also ran into someone else a day later. Matthew.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Matthew. That’s… unexpected. Are you okay?”
“We had a really long chat. He explained things as best he could,” I say. “I don’t feel as betrayed anymore.”
Bec frowns, and I know she’s thinking in overdrive.
I rush onward. “Actually, the four of us had a great Thanksgiving together last night.”
That gets her attention. “Thefourof you?”
“Me, Will, Asher, and Matthew.”
Her lips part in silence a moment. “So, the three of them get along?”
“Yeah.” My response is light as I nod.
She gives a contemplative hum, then narrows her eyes. “Well, I’m sure that everything will work out.” There’s a ping somewhere in her apartment before I can ask for clarification, and she stands from her chair with the phone in her grasp. “I’ve got to go, Izzy. Text me later.”
And she’s gone before I can even tell her my plans for later.
Shortly after my call, I talked to Will about extending my stay. He seemed really excited at the prospect.
I handed him one of my credit cards and made sure he would change the charges to it. Once he swiped the card with diligence, then handed it back to me, I waved and was out the door.
A small bit of snow had fallen overnight, and my sneakers crunch on the dusted ground as I make my way to Cuppa for a to-go mocha latte, then head over to a small park on the other side of town, close to the lake.
When I arrive, the first thing I see is a stunning man with dark hair playing on the snow-covered playground with a small girl whose matching hair pokes out of her little hat in short pigtails at her back. When she giggles, the man mock-roars and stomps toward her as she runs away, squealing.
The scene makes me grin, but that smile widens when I catch the gaze of a beautiful, very pregnant woman, sitting on a nearby bench. Her auburn hair waves around her face in the light breeze from inside her coat’s hood.
“Violet!” I call, waving as I approach.
