Chapter 9
Grace
T he afternoon sun glinted over the lake, casting a warm glow on the glassy surface. There was a soft breeze blowing in, taking away some of the summer heat. It was so peaceful out here, quiet, that it reminded me of home.
I held up my phone and snapped a couple more pictures before turning towards the lodge and doing the same. It started ringing, my sister’s ringtone startling in the quiet evening.
“Hell—” I start to get the greeting out, but I was quickly cut off by her frantic voice.
“Grace, I just needed to give you a heads up. Apparently, Bianca just couldn’t wait to get down there, and apparently, things with her mates are rocky right now. I’m frantically trying to pack, and I’m heading to you, but so is she. I’m not sure who’s going to get there first.”
“Why does she think she can just change her lodging? She doesn’t even have a room here tonight. In fact, Beck bought out all the rooms to give us space to work. They’re just going to tell her there’s no vacancy.”
“Oh my god, you better tell him to stick to his word. Go find him right now while I’m on the phone. I’ll talk to him.”
Trying not to get frustrated, I rushed inside, searching him out. All three of my men were finishing up scent pouches in the conference room. They started to say something but I clicked my phone on speaker and held it out.
“Alright, Hailey, you’re on speaker. The groomsmen are here.”
“So, Beck, I hear you bought out the whole place for the weekend. My cousin Bianca is trying to come early. Stick to it. Don’t share any of those rooms. She can go find a hotel in town for the night.
I’m sure we’ll hear all about it, but lord, I just want to stick it to her one time before I have to deal with her bullshit all week. ”
“Whatever you need,” he promised easily. “We’ve got things to finish up anyway, we don’t need her here right now getting in the way.”
“Are you still coming early, too, then?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.
That had all the guys’ attention. They were all staring at the phone now, waiting for her response. She let out a sigh that I knew meant she was staying with Nolan for the night.
My sister hated changing plans. She was too meticulous for that.
All I could feel was relief.
“No, I’ll stay here. It’s just you guys again for the last night.
You can get whatever you need to get finished.
Oh, and don’t forget to send me along the pictures you took.
I appreciate you guys so much for putting together these center pieces and everything.
It means a lot to me… to us,” she corrected.
“No problem. It’s been kind of nice to enjoy the peace and quiet out here,” I reassured her.
She snorted. “Like you don’t get that enough in Rockwood Valley already.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Love you, bye.”
I hung up quickly, not giving her a chance to go on another rant or hold me on the phone for another hour.
“Well, looks like we’ve got you to ourselves for one last night,” Spencer said, rubbing his hands together like he was already making plans.
My body was already sore from our night together but his words had my omega perking up. She was obviously insatiable for her pack.
Then I heard her voice.
Bianca’s nasally tone echoed into the room from the lobby, her voice rising higher with each word. I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast, ducking under the conference table and hiding.
Beck scooted his chair back, looking down at me with a raised eyebrow. I just shook my head, refusing to speak and hiding behind the base of the table that obscured me from view.
“What do you mean I don’t have a room? I booked one!”
“Sorry, ma’am. You booked it for Monday through Sunday, not today.” The receptionist was holding firm and I had a new appreciation for the woman.
“You mean you don’t have a single room available in this entire place? There’s no one here!” she shrieked. “The parking lot was empty!”
“We cannot divulge guest information, ma’am,” the poor receptionist said, keeping her voice even despite my cousin acting like an all-out banshee.
“Surely, there’s someone I can talk to. Someone above your station?”
“She sounds like a downright peach, doesn’t she?” Cade said, the sarcasm dripping from his tone.
“She’s awful,” I hissed. “Why do you think we’re going through all this?”
Then I snapped my mouth shut, covering it with my hand, as heels echoed on the floor. Another seat of quick footsteps hurried after them as they approached the conference room.
“Ma’am, I asked you to stay at the front desk,” the receptionist said, her voice sharp this time. “You are not permitted back here. This is an employee-only hallway.”
“I don’t care!” she said. “Do you know how much money my family is paying for this venue for the week? Your superiors will be hearing about this.”
Who knew Bianca was such a Karen. Oh who am I kidding, she’s some of the worst.
“Yes, I’m very aware of our pricing, ma’am, but that does not permit you to come into employee-only areas,” she reiterated.
Someone needed to give this woman a raise. Her professionalism was unmatched.
There was a tense silence and I just knew that my cousin was craning her neck around the receptionist, trying to see into the conference room.
“Who are they?”
The interest in her voice had me curling my hands into fists. I just knew that Bianca and Celine would be trying to flirt with my mates. Beck’s foot shifted closer, resting firmly against me in silent reassurance.
“Who we are is none of your concern,” Spencer’s voice was sharp and cold. “I believe you were asked nicely to go back to the guest area, were you not?”
Bianca stuttered for a moment before letting out a huff, and then her heels were stomping away.
Beck cleared his throat to start. “I believe that I’ve already purchased the entire venue for the night. I do not intend to change that.”
“Perfect, that’s exactly what I was going to ask,” the receptionist said easily. “I’ll try to get her out of your hair as quickly as possible.”
Then she was heading back to the front. We had to listen to the screeching for another five minutes before the front door slammed, and the screaming of tires could be heard in the parking lot.
Only when it was safe did I crawl out from under the table.
“But you look so good down there,” Beck teased. I swatted playfully as I stood up.
“Well, you guys met the Wicked Witch of the West. Don’t worry, her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, will be here tomorrow, too,” I said with a sigh as I collapsed into one of the empty chairs.
“Honestly, when you said your family was awful, I never could have pictured the sheer level of terrible that harpy was.”
“The way she was sticking her neck out, trying to see us, was hilarious,” Cade laughed. “Didn’t you say she was packed up?”
“Yes, and apparently things are rocky right now, so she’s going to be looking for validation elsewhere.”
“Not from us,” Beck said. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll be shutting down every single touch and flirty word they send our way.”
“Good,” I said on a growl. “I’d hate to have to put a rift in the family and ruin Hailey’s wedding because she touched you.”
“I kind of like you jealous,” Beck said. “It’ll make it that much sweeter when you get to lay your claim on us.”
“Honestly, if you guys could help me keep an ear out for them this week, I’d appreciate it. Don’t let them ruin this for Hailey and Nolan.”
“Why exactly are they invited if they’re this bad?”
“Because Hailey is a softy and a pushover, and I’m sure our mother expected nothing less. She didn’t even want a big wedding. It was their idea and she convinced herself it was hers, too.”
“What about you, little muse? How do you see your wedding going?”
“Nothing like this,” I said with a shudder. “Honestly, eloping never sounded so good. The big wedding, all the time leading up to it… everything sounds like a nightmare.”
“Honestly, I couldn’t agree more,” Spencer said. “I’m already exhausted, and nobody’s arrived yet but her.”
“Don’t worry, the whole brigade will be here tomorrow. They booked the venue for the whole week, which means any family that wanted to come was able to come early. And you know they’ll never turn down a free vacation.”
“That just means we’ll have to spend the evening taking advantage of our time alone,” Beck said. “How does a bonfire down by the lake sound?”
“It sounds perfect.”