A familiar dragon's roar broke Beckett's quiet. He was writing another letter to the alpha of the Scrabble Pack. He wanted to thank him for his help in putting this whole Ned/Lenni thing to rest. But the dragon's ringtone could only mean one thing: Beckett could stand to take a break from the letter writing. His next task was going to be even more unpleasant. He was going to have to convince Lenni to stay at the mansion while he was away. He didn't trust that Ned would stay chill while he was out. Maybe if he offered to let her dad come stay too until they left for the wedding she would agree to it.

But that was a problem he would tackle later this afternoon.

"What's up brother?" Beckett leaned back in his chair and smiled, spinning toward the sun. "Excited about our flight tonight?"

"Don't hate me," said the dragon shifter on the other side of the line.

Beckett groaned. "There's no way I could hate my best friend in the whole world, but don't tell me you can't go."

He'd been looking forward to this trip with Jasper for the last two months. Ever since the baby had been born, they hadn't had a chance to do a guy's weekend. Jasper was excited to be a father and Beckett could understand why he was spending all his time with Leah and the baby, but he still missed his friend.

"The baby is sick. I don't want to leave Leah alone with the baby right now."

"No worries, man. We'll reschedule for a different weekend. Maybe we can even bring the baby and Leah out too."

"No way," Jasper laughed. "I love my family, but man I could really use a weekend away for myself. Leah needs a weekend with the girls too. I'm sending her and her cousin away one weekend and then we'll take the next weekend. I have it all planned out."

Beckett nodded. "That sounds great, man."

"You don't even know. I love my little dragonling, but he is a handful already."

There was crying in the background and Beckett chucked. "Sounds like duty calls. I'll let you go, man."

"For sure. I'll see you soon."

Beckett hung up. His heart was lower. He really had been looking forward to this trip. It was going to go to waste now.

"Something getting you down?" Patrick came in with his afternoon snack and stopped when he saw the look on Beckett's face.

"Jasper just canceled our trip," Beckett sighed. "I was ready to relax on a warm beach for a night or two with a cold drink in my hand."

"You can always go alone. Or take me." Patrick waggled his eyebrows. "I may be an old man, but I still have some fun."

Beckett laughed. "I'd love to, but you hate the sand just like Potter."

"I do love a good vacation though," Patrick sighed. "Ever since my wife died, I haven't done a good trip in years."

He cocked his head. "I could always send you to a resort. It wouldn't be any trouble. I mean, if I'm on vacation, there's no point in you sitting here and moping around the empty house with no one to serve."

Patrick's eyes lit up. "Are you kidding? Don't play with my emotions, Beckett."

"No joke," Beckett promised. "I'd love nothing more than to see you have a good time. You're so loyal and you make my life so much better."

They needed the trip and so did he. He could have them out the next day, but what to do with Lenni? He didn't want to leave her alone in the mansion. He could have his father send down a security team, but that still made him uneasy.

"I think this sounds like the perfect way to make the weekend for me, but I have one problem," Beckett said. "What to do with Miss Belle. Do you think she'd enjoy going with you and Potter to a ski resort?"

"I don't think so," Patrick said doubtfully. "She prefers the sand and sun like you. You know..."

Beckett could see the wheels turning in Patrick's head, but he wasn't sure he was going to like what his butler was thinking. But his bear was already excited at the prospect before the choice was even voiced.

"You could take her with you," Patrick said quickly. "If you two go and we go everyone is happy going on the trip they want. Jasper is not going, so you have an extra space. This is the perfect way to salvage the whole thing and Lenni could really use a vacation right now."

"I do have an extra room now that Jasper isn't going." Beckett thought about it. There was no harm in taking her with him. They could both enjoy the sun and relax. Nothing more than a good fun weekend.

"Okay, send her in here and I'll ask."

Patrick ran off and Beckett settled back in his chair.

"You wanted to see me?" Lenni's head popped in the door a moment later. Her face was flushed.

"Come in, please."

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked quickly. "You don't really like the color, do you? You were lying this whole time. I should have known. I'm so sorry."

Beckett chuckled. "You haven't done anything wrong. I told you, you did a good job. I was wondering if you want to go on a vacation with me?"

"I don't understand."

"My buddy just canceled on me for a bachelor party. I have a spare room and no one else to go with me. If you want to come, you can. I would like it, but you don't have to. This isn't like a work assignment or anything. You're free to say no if you'd like."

"I really don't want to go to a strip club. Thanks for asking, but no thanks."

Beckett shook his head. "This isn't a strip club-type bachelor party. We're not like that. It's just a nice relaxing two-day trip before the wedding."

"How much is it?"

"Nothing. It's already paid for. Consider it a gift from me to you. I'm sending Patrick and Potter to a ski resort, but Patrick told me that you don't care for the snow."

A slow smile spread across her face. "I get to go on vacation with you to an exclusive island resort for free? And I don't have to do any work while we're there?"

He nodded. "Yes. That's what I'm offering."

"I seriously won't have to pick your clothes?"

"Only if you want to." He smiled. "Once in a lifetime offer."

"When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

She squealed. "Thank you so much! I haven't taken a vacation in years."

"No problem. Happy to have someone to go with me."

That was much easier than he'd expected. Now he would get to go to the beach and he would still get to keep Lenni safe. Everything had worked out so well. His bear was certainly happy to get to spend some alone time with Miss Belle. He didn't understand it, but the animal was enamored with her. He wasn't going to dwell on it now. He had a vacation to pack for.