Chapter Fourteen #2
“No. But she’d probably like that. They have bunnies, too. Oooh, look, they’re going to start.” Hale put an arm around me and I snuggled into him, wanting the closeness after what we’d shared.
I pulled Carlos to me as well. “Fastest wins?”
“Fastest and most precise. You get penalized if you miss jumps, don’t grab a ring, and stuff like that,” Hale explained.
“I’d try it.” Carlos nodded.
A horse galloped down the track, pulling someone on skis behind them. The skier went over jumps, swerved fire, and grabbed rings, before coming to a stop. The judges gave them a score.
The next person was a snowboarder, and the horse was fucking beautiful. I took a video and sent it to Saoirse.
Me
Us?
Saoirse
That looks insane. Still on for later or are you going to stay with them?
I’d booked time at the spa for us.
Me
Still on. Have fun.
We watched some more.
“This is fun, but I’d like to hit the slopes a little before I meet Saoirse at the spa,” I finally told them, checking the time.
“Sounds good to me, though I can’t handle the difficult slopes. I didn’t grow up doing this. I learned when I played with the Bantams,” Carlos admitted.
“Wait a sec? I want you to see this,” Hale told me. People were out tidying up the course.
Suddenly, someone came out on a snowboard, pulled by four fat little fluffy dogs. No jumps, no fire, just the dogs running through the flat part of the course, pulling a young woman.
The crowd cheered. I squealed at the cuteness. The dogs wore sweaters.
“Skidoodling,” Hale told us. “Maybe you can do that.” He clapped Carlos on the shoulder.
“I would absolutely do that.” Carlos nodded.
“Me, too,” I agreed. It finished and I put my arm around Hale. “Ready to go?”
“Yep, I just wanted to watch a little and have you see some skidoodling. So, you and Saoirse are super serious?” Hale asked.
“She moved from Ireland for me, I’d say so.”
“You met her there?” Hale asked.
“When I was at the academy. We went to the same clubs. She kept saving me from creepers. It took a lot of work on my part to get her to ask me out, though. So many slutty dresses. Took even longer to be serious. I’m not very patient.
” I laughed. “But here we are. And I want to keep her. Anyone else I want to be with seriously has to understand she’s part of the package. ”
“How long did it take you to understand what she’s saying? Because I’m lucky if I catch half of it with her accent,” Hale admitted.
I blinked as we went back towards the lodge where we’d left our stuff in a locker.
“I’ve always been able to understand her, but I’ve been around Irish people all my life.” I took both their hands as I walked. It felt nice to hold their hands.
“Oh.” Hale frowned. “Can you understand her?” he asked Carlos.
Carlos nodded.
“I’m pretty sure Dusty has the hots for her. I totally get that. She’s super fucking hot if you like tall women who can kill you.” Hale patted the top of my head. “I like short girls.”
“You don’t think I couldn’t murder you with my tiny hands?” I wiggled my gloved fingers at him and grinned. Right, he didn’t know.
“I’ll take my chances.” Hale shot me a look.
“Saoirse doesn’t really date alphas. Or men. They’re just for fucking,” I told them.
Hale thought for a moment. “Dusty, being a rockstar, is probably fine with that.”
Getting between us, Hale put his arms around us both. Carlos rested his head on Hale as we kept walking.
Was I going to have to orchestrate them kissing? Probably.
Though I might be able to tease them into it.
“I’m just fine. But maybe tonight can I have you both at the same time? After all, it’s Christmas Eve.” I batted my eyes at both of them, turning up the omega charm.
“Your Christmas wish is my command, Mi Reina,” Carlos told me.
Good.
We got our equipment. Hale patiently went down easy slopes with Carlos and me.
“We should teach you to snowboard,” Hale told me as we finished.
“Maybe.” I grinned.
“That looked good.” Saoirse stood there, looking perfect in her sleek, black ski outfit. “Ready?”
“Yes. See you later, it’s girl time.” I turned and blew them each a kiss.
Hale turned to Carlos. “Should we try out the snow park at the other lodge?”
Carlos put his arm around him. “Let’s do it.”
Saoirse shook her head. “Come on. The spa waits for no one.”
“True.” We put our equipment in our locker and went into the lodge, which was deliciously warm.
I liked skiing for about two hours. Then I was off to the lodge for some hot chocolate and a good book. Or a massage. Maybe a cocktail.
“Did you have fun?” I asked Saoirse, stuffing my gloves in my pocket, so I could take her hand.
She gave it a squeeze. “The trails are incredible. If I have time, I’d like to go on a few more. Also, I will go with you.”
“I know. I’m glad you have all the hard trails to fly down. We can always hit a few later. How was racing Hale and Dusty?” I had Hale's point of view, because he told me when he’d gotten lunch, but I wanted her version.
“Online, I’m sure.” She laughed as we followed the signs for the spa. “He’s pretty good. But Dusty wore those ski skates, and it was just so silly.”
“Oh, I’ve seen them, they sound fun.”
Saoirse opened the frosted glass doors to the spa for us. The scent of lavender greeted us.
We signed in and were shown around the spa, then left in the locker room. As we placed our clothes into the lockers and put on our robes and spa shoes, she told me more about both racing Hale and Dusty and the different trails she’d tried.
There was time before our massage, so we went into the sauna. I rested my head on her shoulder, and she put her arm around me.
“I fucked Hale,” I said softly in the empty sauna as warmth surrounded us.
“Was he any good?” she asked.
“Good enough that I’d fuck him again. Possibly with Carlos,” I replied. “He has a crush on Carlos. Do you think I can get them to kiss?”
“A charming omega can get people to do just about anything.” She laughed.
“Did you bang Dusty on a ski lift?” I teased. That sounded fun. I’d never done that. But I should try that sometime where it might not reflect badly on anyone if we got caught.
“Noooo.” She shook her head. “As much as I’d like a good fuck, I can’t give him ideas.”
“Just tell him this is casual.” I snuggled further into her.
She absently took out my ponytail holder and started playing with my hair. “I tried. But then he’s talking about the jobs I could have if I stayed with him.”
“Like work for his underwear company? You are good with logistics.” I could see that.
“Like being his bodyguard or running concert security.” She put her head on top of mine.
“How sweet.” I could see her doing that, too.
“It is. And that’s the problem.” Defeat filled her voice as her eyes closed. “I can’t be having alphas get ideas. I’ll have to be firm with him, then stop seeing him after this weekend.”
Her brandy scent grew salty, and I put my arm around her.
“Do you like him?” I asked softly. “It’s okay to like alphas. Not all of them are stupid jerk faces like your ex.”
“Do you like Hale?” she asked.
Classic Saoirse, but I’d answer the question.
“One day he could be a great alpha for someone. But this moment? He’s fun for the weekend,” I admitted.
“I can see that. If he’s mean to you, I’ll break his hands,” she offered.
“Thank you.” I kissed her. “Now, Dusty?”
“He’s really kind,” she said softly. “When he wrecks my jobs, he does nice things for me, like that sunrise hot air balloon ride.”
“Oh?” I hadn’t heard about that. “But guys do that–give you gifts when they fuck up.”
“He’s tried to do nice things without messing up. I usually deflect him,” she added. “But the couple of times we’d fucked, because I sought him out, he’d order me food or try to take care of me. He’ll be a good alpha for someone. But me? What would I do with a rockstar?”