Chapter 19 Peyton
PEYTON
Watching Dalton and Theo sleeping with their heads together on the pillow made me smile. The last three days had been pure bliss. No more condoms had broken and Theo’s heat had continued, but it was still possible he had become pregnant.
I had resigned myself I would never have a biological child of my own.
I never regretted falling in love with Dalton.
I would have been happy adopting at some point in the future.
I didn’t care as much about continuing my bloodline as my father did.
It still irritated me that my father had messed with my beta’s head like that.
He wasn’t a good man. I didn’t care how he ran his businesses.
As far as I knew, he’d never crossed the line with the law, but he’d never interfered with my life until now.
He’d gone too far when he’d mess with Dalton.
I refused to take Dalton back to West Virginia where my father could do more damage.
He might not have intended to put a wedge between Dalton and me, but he had.
I might be able to forgive him in the future, but now wasn’t the time.
Dalton had always been enough until Theo.
Now? Theo completed a part of us I hadn’t been aware had been missing. I had decisions to make.
Theo’s life was here in Sugar Beach. While he might be willing to uproot his life to move back to my home state, I wasn’t willing to let him do that. He had family here. A business. It was a tough call, but as the alpha, it was my job to figure out how to make it work.
Picking up the phone, I hit one of the numbers programmed into it. It only rang once before a gruff voice answered.
“Do you know what time it is?”
“Almost seven in the morning. It was time you got your lazy ass out of bed anyway,” I said with a smile.
“I would, but I’m taking the day off. I had planned to sleep in. My lunatic partner raced off to find his beta, so I’m working overtime to make up for it.”
“Sorry about leaving so suddenly, but once I knew where Dalton might be, I had to find him.”
“No worries. Seriously. How’s Dalton? Did you find him?”
“Yeah. He’s good. He won’t be thinking about leaving again. That’s why I’m calling. Are you still interested in buying out my share of the business?”
“Really? Hell yeah. You only got into because you were at loose ends and you wanted to help me out. I always knew it would probably be temporary. Your heart really isn’t into landscaping.
You tolerated the snow removal side of the business a little better but just barely.
It might take me a little while to buy out completely.
I’ve got fifty grand set aside for a buyout, but I’d need at least another year to buy you all the way out. What’s up?”
“I’m thinking of staying in Sugar Beach. As for the rest of the money, take as long as you need. It’s not like I need the cash. I’ll have to figure out something to do down here so I don’t go stir crazy. Are you sure you’ll be okay without me, Judd?”
“I’m sure. I was only teasing a little. Snow has slammed us since you left, so the trucks are working overtime, but I had all the guys working.
It’s not snowing today and all our customers are okay.
I told everyone to take the day off. I can put out an ad for a couple more workers to pick up the slack from losing you.
Oh, and your father has been sniffing around.
He was asking where you were and making a nuisance of himself.
I know he doesn’t have a stake in the business, but he could be a problem.
Just don’t be a stranger, man. You’re my best friend.
It’s going to suck not having you around. ”
“I’m only a phone call away. Ignore my father. I’ll be back at some point to deal with my house and sign any paperwork you need for the business. Take care of the paperwork with Stan and let me know when you need me there to finalize everything. Go back to sleep, Judd. This isn’t urgent.”
“I might have to call you back later to make sure I didn’t dream this whole conversation. You okay down there?”
I looked over at Dalton and Theo. I was more than okay. I was great.
“Yeah, Judd. I’m doing better than I have in a long damn time.”
Dalton’s eyes blinked open as I hung up the phone. Looking into his sleepy brown eyes, it shook me how close I’d come to losing him all over again. I stood ready to do anything to keep him.
“You seriously selling out to Judd?”
“You heard? Yeah. It’s about time anyway. It was always Judd’s dream, not mine. I was at loose ends and I had the cash to help him out. It was never going to be a long-term thing.”
“Landscaping wasn’t really your thing anyway.”
“No.” A quiet burst of laughter exploded from my lips before I could stop it.
“No, landscaping was never going to replace my true passion. That was to help Judd out. It’s not like I needed the money.
I made enough after my last show I’m pretty much set for life.
Who knew cyborgs would be all the rage with those rich Hollywood-types. ”
“Yeah, I still have a hard time believing that whole thing in California happened. It was unreal how they were practically throwing money at your photo manipulations.”
“What about you, Dalton? You’re too good a tattoo artist to be working at this diner even if it does belong to your cousin.”
Dalton shrugged. “I finished most of my work, but I’ve got two large back pieces that are about half done.
I’ll have to go back eventually to finish them or have them come here if they are willing.
I won’t leave a client with half a tattoo.
They both knew I was taking some personal time.
As for here… I researched what it would take to open a shop.
There are some hoops I’d have to jump through to get my license.
“I think my bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases certificate will transfer from West Virginia to here. If not, it’s a simple matter of taking the class again down here and getting my license.
It would take some work to open a shop. I’d have to find a place that was at least six hundred square feet.
Double that would be even better. The major drawback is the time it would take to build up a clientele again.
No one down here knows my work. It could take at least a year or more before I’m making as much money as I was back home. ”
“Time and money we have. If doing that would make you happy, I say we do it. I want you happy Dalton.”
“As long as I have you again, I’m happy, Peyton.”
“And me?” A shy voice sounded. Dalton and I both looked at Theo and smiled.
“And you,” we both said.
“You’re the best part of us, Theo,” Dalton said. His words hit home. Theo was the best part of them. He was the glue that was holding them together. He completed them.
“Definitely, the best part of us,” I repeated, meaning it with my whole heart.
“I’ve got space that might work for a tattoo shop.
When I said I owned my building, I meant I own the whole building.
There’s about thirteen hundred square feet of commercial space I’m not using at the far end of the building.
It has its own entrances at both the front and the back.
You’d probably have to gut the inside. It used to be a jewelry store so there’s lots of glass showcases and stuff. I wouldn’t even charge you rent.”
Dalton was already shaking his head. “No. If I open a shop, I’ll pay rent.
It’s a valid business expense. I have some money put aside.
Peyton doesn’t let me spend my money on much, so what I earn goes directly into savings.
I can’t think of a better thing to spend it on than opening up a shop down here. ”
“How are you feeling, Theo?” I looked over my omega. He looked tired but happy.
“I’m doing great. A little sore. I think my heat might be over. I’m not sure I could handle another day. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the sex, but it was a little more exhausting than any of my other heats.”
“You should go back to sleep. You earned the rest.”
“Only if you guys stay to cuddle with me.”
“Always.”
And that’s what we did for the rest of the day. Dalton and I cuddled with our omega, showing him how much he meant to the both of us.