Page 9 of The Knotheads Next Door
"What brings you to Vineyard Groves? It's not exactly a happening metropolis."
Something flickers across her face—caution, maybe. "Just... needed a change. Fresh start. You know how it is."
I nod, not pushing. Everyone has their reasons for needing to start over. God knows I had mine when I moved here after vet school.
"Well, you picked a good place for it," I tell her as we walk up the porch steps. "Vineyard Groves is small, but it grows onyou. We've got four seasonal festivals that basically take over the town every few months, a bakery-coffee shop rivalry that's lasted longer than most marriages, and enough gossip to fuel a lifetime of soap operas."
"Sounds perfect," she says, and I can't quite tell if she's being sarcastic.
I shoulder open the front door, which sticks slightly in humid weather. "Welcome to Casa... well, we don't actually have a cute house name. We probably should. Maybe you can help us come up with one."
She steps into the foyer, looking around with wide eyes. I try to see our home through a newcomer's perspective—the high ceilings with crown molding Jasper spent three weekends restoring, the original hardwood floors we uncovered under hideous 1970s carpet, the stained-glass window on the landing that bathes the entryway in colored light on sunny afternoons.
It's not perfect. There are paint swatches on one wall where we've been debating colors for approximately eight months, and the staircase banister is half-stripped of varnish, a project Jasper started and then abandoned when the Henderson job came up. But it's ours.
"This is... wow," Rowan says, spinning slowly. "It's beautiful. How long have you guys lived here?"
"About three years," I answer, setting her box down carefully. "It was Jasper's great-aunt's place. She left it to him, but it needed a lot of work. Still does, as you can see. We're renovating as we go."
"And by 'we,' he means Jasper does the actual work, while Theo and I provide moral support and occasional manual labor," Wells says, appearing in the doorway to the living room.
He's wearing his work clothes—pressed slacks and a button-down with the sleeves rolled up—his version of casual Friday. "I'm Wells. Welcome to our home."
"Rowan," she says, shaking his hand. "Thanks for having me. This is honestly a lifesaver."
Wells smiles, infinitely more polished than my own greeting. "We're happy to help. Theo, why don't you show Rowan upstairs to her room? I've just put fresh sheets on the bed."
Before I can answer, there's a thud from the direction of the kitchen, followed by heavy footsteps. Jasper appears, wiping his hands on a rag, his expression darkening when he spots Rowan.
"You're not a dude," he says bluntly.
Rowan blinks. "Um... no? Not last time I checked anyway."
"Your email didn't specify," Wells jumps in smoothly. "But it's not an issue. The room is available regardless of gender."
Jasper crosses his arms, his large frame suddenly seeming to take up more space in the hallway. "The listing specifically said we were looking for an alpha roommate."
"Actually," I interject, "it didn't. It said 'must be comfortable with three roommates.' It didn't specify the gender or designation of the renter."
Jasper shoots me a betrayed look, and I shrug apologetically. Technically, I'm right, and he knows it.
Rowan glances between us, wariness creeping into her posture. "Is this going to be a problem? Because I can find somewhere else—"
"No," Wells says firmly, at the same time Jasper mutters, "Maybe."
I clear my throat. "What my socially challenged friend is trying to ask is whether you're an alpha, beta, or omega. We should have been clearer about that in our communication."
Rowan shifts her weight, and for a split second, I catch that strange undercurrent in her scent again—something not quite settled, like a perfume that changes depending on the wearer's body chemistry.
"I'm not an omega," she says carefully. "If that's what you're worried about."
"So you're a beta," Jasper presses.
She hesitates just long enough to be noticeable. "...It's complicated. But I'm definitely not an omega. You won't have to worry about heats or pheromones, or anything."
Jasper narrows his eyes, clearly not satisfied with her answer. But Wells steps forward, effectively cutting off any further interrogation.
"That's all we needed to know," he says diplomatically. "Let's get you settled in. Theo can show you to your room, and then we can go over house rules."
