Rafe

It was finally starting to feel like a perfect Saturday morning. It hadn’t started off that way, though. I’d gotten out of bed early because Grace had a morning art class at the community center. I managed to get her up on the first try, made sure she got some breakfast, and got both of us dressed, with plenty of time to get to the center. But then, as we were about ready to leave, Grace couldn’t find her favorite pink shoes. The ones covered in rhinestones and featuring a big, white kitty head on each foot.

“I have to wear them, Daddy! They help me paint better! Besides, I told Jenna I’d bring them over to her house after so she could see them.”

“Well, if we don’t find them soon, you’re going to be late for your art class, sweetie. When was the last time you wore them?” I was crouched down in front of Grace, staring at her intently and silently willing a memory to be jogged loose so we could find the shoes and leave. I hated being late.

“Oh, I think I remember!” Grace yelled. “I didn’t want to take them off before my bath the other night, but I knew I’d ruin them if I got them wet. But I was good and did what I was supposed to do, then I put them right next to the bathtub where I could see them.”

“Is that where they are now?” I said, standing up.

“I hope so!” she said, running off then returning almost immediately with the bejeweled slippers in her hands. “Here they are!”

I got down on one knee and slipped the shoes onto Grace’s feet then picked up her overnight bag and grabbed her hand. “Are we all ready?”

“Are you sure you won’t be lonely without me here tonight, Daddy? I don’t have to stay over at Jenna’s.”

“I’ll be fine, sweetie. I want you to have fun. You don’t have to worry about your daddy. Worrying is my job.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Grace reached up to give me a hug. I bent down and wrapped my arm around her legs then picked her up and carried her out the door and to the car. Thankfully, we made it to the art class right on time. As soon as we walked in, Grace kissed me then ran off to see what her friend was painting. I left my daughter’s overnight bag with the woman teaching the class and headed back home for a night of silence and solitude.

As I drove along the country road back to my house, I noticed a car pulled over on the shoulder. I slowed a bit to see if they needed any help and immediately recognized the two young men I’d met last night. I didn’t even have to think for a moment. My immediate reaction was to pull over. I would have done the same for anyone stranded on the side of the road, but there was something about those two. I’d been hoping I would see them again.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” I asked as I approached the two young men. They had the hood of the car up but didn’t seem like they knew a thing about engines. They both had their hands in their pockets and lost looks on their faces.

I figured they were both about the same age—which I guessed was mid-twenties. One of them was tall, with dark eyes and caramel skin, and the other had fair skin and blue eyes. And that one was definitely an omega. I could smell him from a good thirty feet away. His scent was the thing that brought my attention to them in the bed-and-breakfast and at the Christmas fair. The soft, silky scent of vanilla and spices had wafted around me on both occasions and filled me with desires I hadn’t had since my mate passed away five years ago.

“I have no idea what’s wrong,” the dark one, Chris, said. “It just stopped going. It’s an old car, and I’m afraid it might have made its last trip.”

“Well, we can have someone in town look at it, but nothing’s going to be open until Monday. You won’t even find a tow truck within an hour of here on the weekend.”

“Really?” Chris asked. “No garage in the area is open?”

“That’s the way it is here in Vale Valley. The residents take their weekends seriously, and we really don’t get many tourists, so there’s really no need. Some stores and restaurants stay open, but most folks are at home with their families.”

“That sounds nice,” Jason, the omega, said with the sweetest look on his face. I could tell my stare made him a little bit uncomfortable, but it was hard to keep my eyes off his. Off either of their beautiful eyes. They were both so enchanting. The more time I spent with Chris and Jason, the more I felt drawn to them.

“If you like, I could give you a ride back into town. You were staying at The Dozing Dragon, right?”

The two of them looked at each other then back at me. “Well, we hadn’t planned on staying another night,” Chris, who I decided must be a beta, said.

“It doesn’t really seem like you have much choice,” I responded with a smile. I could tell they were avoiding telling me something, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

“The thing is … we really can’t afford to stay in a hotel for another night. We only have enough money for gas back to the city. But since we don’t have a car now …”

“I wonder how much a bus ticket is to New York?” Jason asked absentmindedly as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Why don’t you come back to my house and stay with me for the night?” I asked, the words coming out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying. The thought of them being so far from home and having nowhere to spend the night brought out my protective instincts. “You’re welcome to stay until when we can find out more about your car. We could call on Monday morning and have it towed to the auto shop in town. I’m sure by that afternoon they’ll be able to tell you exactly what the damage is.” The two of them were completely silent, and just stared at me for the longest time. “I hope I’m not being too forward, but we do have plenty of room—my daughter and I. We live in a very large house on the edge of town, and there are more rooms than we are able to use. I’d be more than happy to have the two of you for the night, or the weekend, or whatever suits you.”

A huge smile spread across Jason’s face. I could tell immediately he was the one who wore his heart on his sleeve. Chris I was having a harder time getting a handle on. He was a little more subdued but still seemed like a responsible young man. He actually reminded me of myself when I was his age.

“That is so generous of you,” Jason said. “We would love to stay.” He looked over at his partner, and a smile melted the concern on Chris’s face as well.

“Yeah,” Chris said with a shrug. “We really appreciate your help. Thank you so much.”

“Think nothing of it,” I said, a feeling of excitement and relief pulsating through me. I was suddenly looking forward to my time with these two young men. It would be nice to spend the evening with them, rather than alone in a house that was most definitely too big for one man and one little girl. “Can I get some of your luggage?”

The three of us loaded all of their luggage into my car and, after I called the owner of the local garage and told them the car would be waiting for them whenever they could pick it up, we were off.