Snowed Inn: A Black Falcon Christmas Short Story
Page 2
"Shit." I sigh, knowing he's right. "The girls aren't going to like this. Let me go tell them to bundle the kids up."
His lips pull into a tight line. "Good luck."
I turn around and when Kitten spots me, she frowns. "I don't like that look. What's wrong?"
"The bus isn't going to make the turn into the drive, so it looks like we're going to go on foot from here."
"How far up is the house?"
I shrug. "Not sure. I couldn't spot the house for all the trees, but I'm hoping not too much further."
"I don't want the kids trudging through the snow. The temperature is freezing out. And I'm not really in any condition to carry one of them myself."
Noel pushes himself out of the chair. "Don't sweat it, Aubrey. I'll help carry them. Riff and I can manage."
I nod at Noel. "Thanks, brother." I turn back to my wife. "We got this."
Kitten nods and gives me a little smile. She's a little disappointed not having Christmas at home like she planned this year with the kids, but I she doesn't want to miss getting to meet Holly and Tyke's baby when she comes into this world.
Chapter 5
Noel
We all take time to bundle up the kid's the best we can, and grab all the luggage we can carry and make our way off the bus. Riff carries his youngest two and I take his oldest daughter, Hailey while Tyke scoops up his twins.
"I forgot how fucking dark it is in the woods," Tyke complains as we all start up the drive. "I don't know how you and Lanie live off the grid as much as you do in Kentucky."
My lips pull up at one corner. "Growing up on the Lake was pretty secluded too, so Lane and I are used to it."
"The lake isn't as cut off by the world as your place now. If it weren't for that satellite internet shit you've got, you wouldn't even be able to use your cell out there."
I shrug. "Being off the grid is amazing. We're overworked, and when we're home, I like to spend time together without the outside world."
He nods. "I understand, but man, it just feels so cut-off from the world being at places like this."
"Just the way I like it."
"Well don't go singing praises about being cut off in the woods yet. You know how places can look great online, but when you get there it's a real shit-hole? Let's hope that doesn't happen in this situation. The girls will be pissed."
I laugh. "They'll have to get over it. Isn't like we've got much choice given the circumstances."
"You're right. When I spoke with the owners on the phone and explained our situation, they told me I was in luck because the place was previously booked by a large family for Christmas, but they canceled because of a family emergency. The owner says the place is decorated for Christmas."
"Awesome. At least it's something."
After walking for at least five minutes the place comes into view. The house is a capcode style cabin covered in a blanket of snow. Electric candles illuminate the windows, making it appear warm and inviting.
"Wow," Lane breathes next to me as she helps her best friend along. "The place is beautiful."
Aubrey nods in agreement. "Good job, Tyke. It looks like a Christmas card."
Tyke sets his son down when we make it to the front porch, and then stoops down toward the welcome mat. Under the mat, he retrieves a single key and then moves to unlock the door. We all stomp out snow-covered shoes off and head inside.
When the owners of the place told Tyke it was decorated for Christmas in here, they weren't kidding. Red and gold decorations run along the garland on the stair rails, around the doorways, and of course, the tall tree lit up next to the burning gas fireplace.
"Now this is what I'm talking about," Riff approves as he takes off his coat. "We need to hire these people to come to decorate our place next year. This is amazing."
"Daddy, look!" Riff's daughter, Hailey points to the tree. "Presents!"
He grimaces. "Honey, I don't think--"
"They are," Tyke interrupts. "I paid the people extra to take care of a few things for us."
Frannie's eyes widen as she stares up at her husband. "How...? In a few hours..."
He wraps his arms around her and grins. "Let's just say I made it worth their time to go out and buy all this stuff and have it wrapped by the time we got here."
"You're amazing." The admiration in her eyes when she stares up at Tyke is clear.
"Right back at ya." He presses his lips to hers.
After us guys make another trip out to the bus to get our luggage we're going to need, we all decide to call it a night. Lane choose the smallest bedroom for us because we don't have any of our children with us and don't need the extra room.
She plops down on the bed and stares up at me with a sadness in her eyes. "I miss the kids."
I sit down next to her and take her hand in mine. "I do too, but the flights have all been changed, and they'll be here tomorrow along with our parents. Until then..." I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. "Let's enjoy our alone time."
She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth. "What do you have in mind?"
I give her my most wicked grin as I lie her down on the bed. "A little relaxation will do you good."
I undo the button on her pants and then slowly unzip them while my hard-on pulsates in my jeans. This woman can simply look at me and I'm turned on. I take my time stripping her down, teasing her for what I aim to make a full night of pleasure.
Chapter 6
Trip
My eyes widen as my eyes remain glued to the miracle happening right before my eyes. I grip my wife's thigh as she bears down for one final push.
"That's it, Holly. Push. Push. Push. Push," the doctor commands.
Holly grits her teeth and screams out in pain as our daughter makes her entry into the world. The doctor grabs our baby and finishes pulling her the rest of the way out and then immediately suctions her mouth and nose. The cries of our baby echo around the room and it's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
The medical team clamp off the umbilical cord and then hands me a pair of scissors. I quickly cut where they instruct me too, effectively freeing my little girl.
Tears pool in my eyes as the doctor lies our sweet baby on Holly's chest. I smooth back the loose strands of hair from my wife's face and kiss her forehead and then kiss our baby. "She's perfect."
Holly's crying too as she stares down at our little angel. "I love her already."
"Me too," I whisper.
"Congratulations," the doctor says to us. "Do you have a name picked out yet?"
"Melody," we answer in unison.
The doctor nods. "Kind of fitting considering your profession. Fits perfectly."
I grin. "I think so too." I turn my attention back to my little girl who's looking up at her mother. "My sweet, Melody."
I kiss Holly's lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," she whispers.
I've never felt more blessed in my entire life, and I can't wait for the rest of our family to meet her.
Chapter 7
Riff
After spending most of the day at the hospital, we all head back to the cabin in the rental cars we managed to score for us while we're in town. The girls were eager to stop at the grocery store and a few other stores and get everything we'll need for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. They've been in the kitchen with the kids for the past two hours working hard on baking cookies and sweets.
"Make sure you save me all the Oreos," I whisper to Hailey who's busy at the island making chocolate chip cookies.
"Of course, Daddy, but only if you share some with me," she says in her sweet, sassy tone.
I chuckle as lean down and kiss the top of her head. "You got it, sweetheart."
There's a swift knock on the door, and Lanie rushes to answer it. "They're here!"
When the door flies open, Lanie and Noel's son, James, comes barreling in. "Mommy!"
"Oh, man!" Hailey complains. "Not him ."
James
and Hailey are practically the same age being a month apart. At the time those two fight like brother and sister because they're around so much, while other times they laugh together like they're the best of friends.
I nudge my daughter's shoulder. "Be nice."
She sighs and goes back to spooning out her cookie dough. "Okay, Daddy."
Lanie scoops James up and kisses him on the cheek before setting him down to pick up their daughter, Lilly. "Oh, I've missed you all so much!"
Noel comes down the stairs and the kids run over to greet him, while both Lanie's mom, and Noel's parents come inside, shaking off the cold.
My heart is full as I check out the scene before me. We're all happy, healthy and together, which is what's important. The Black Falcon family may not be made up of blood, but it's a family none-the-less, and one I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Michelle A. Valentine is a self-professed music addict that resides in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, son, and one scrappy dog. When she’s not slaving away over her next novel, she enjoys expressing herself with off-the-wall crafts and trying her hand at party planning.
While in college, Michelle’s first grown-up job was in a medical office, where decided she loved working with people so much she changed her major from drafting and design to nursing. It wasn’t until her toddler son occupied the television constantly that she discovered the amazing world of romance novels. Soon after reading over 180 books in a year, she decided to dive into trying her own hand at writing her first novel, and she hasn’t looked back. After years of rejection, in 2012 she self-published Rock the Heart, her tenth full-length novel written, and it hit the New York Times. Her subsequent books have gone on to list multiple times on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
Michelle loves to hear from her readers!
To Contact Michelle:
Email: michelleavalentinebooks@gmail.com
Website: www.michelleavalentine.com
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Also by Michelle A. Valentine
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The Black Falcon Series
ROCK THE HEART
ROCK THE BAND
ROCK MY BED
ROCK MY WORLD
ROCK THE BEAT
ROCK MY BODY
Hard Knocks Series
PHENOMENAL X
XAVIER COLD
The Collectors Series
DEMON AT MY DOOR
COMING SOON—DEMON IN MY BED
A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale
NAUGHTY KING
FEISTY PRINCESS
DIRTY ROYALS
DIRTY DEALS (The Complete Sexy Manhattan Series Set)
Wicked White Series
WICKED WHITE
WICKED REUNION
WICKED LOVE
Stand Alone Titles
LOVE, SEX, MUSIC
THE BIKER’S VIRGIN
THRUST UNDER
Coming Soon Titles
THE RIGHT ONE
REBELLIOUS and RECKLESS