by K R Hall
Just stepping on the stage makes her breathing rapid and shallow. She can feel her pulse pounding in her temples. Each audition was a chance to perfect future auditions. After each audition, Tracie learned what she could; she practiced and moved onwards toward the next opportunity for victory. She let herself sink into the emotions the part required. Sadness welled in her soul, and her eyes and voice took on the look she hoped they desired.
“Cut!”
Tracie stopped her scene and stood looking at the panel. She stood there, nervously.
“Take your seat.”
Tracie moves to her seat. It’s a relief to get to her chair because between the heels and her legs shaking, she was afraid she would trip and fall. She could hear their low whispers as they talked with each other. After a few minutes, the man at the end of the table stood to draw their attention.
“When I call your number, you are dismissed. Take your things and leave quickly and quietly,” the man began. “3, 6, 10, 15, 18, and 25.”
Tracie’s stomach plummeted when she heard the man call number twenty-five. That was her number. Another audition failed. She gathered her bag and purse and quietly left. She was so sure she nailed the audition this time.
She hailed a taxi and headed back to her apartment. Los Angeles was costly, and her savings were almost depleted. Tracie needed to suck it up and find a job. Her acting career was going to take longer to take off than she thought it would. Tomorrow she was meeting her friends at Disney. She would have a fun weekend and then job hunt when she returned. She would work several part-time jobs, just enough to keep herself from starving. She still held out for the dream that one day her acting would pay. One day she’d be a famous actor.
Nathaniel
The grapevines wound so thickly up the supporting posts and across the wooden trellis that they made a living roof. The immature grapes hung down, each one a perfect miniature globe of green. Four hundred pickers tended to the one hundred acres. The vineyard crawls over the hillside, so differing areas receive morning or afternoon sun, as well as the full force of the midday sun.
Nathaniel spent the last month learning about the vineyard. All of the pruning, thinning, and attention to detail in the vineyard culminate to the precise moment of picking. Once the grapes were ready to be picked, the picking crew planned the picking. Once the team was harvesting in the vineyard, it was incredible how fast they could pick the fruit, throw it in the bins and work their way through the vineyard.
Many of the pack members work full time in the vineyard as well as the winery. It’s how the pack made most of its money. The younger members looked after the elderly and the children to ensure no one went hungry. Medical needs were taken care of by the pack healers who were paid by the pack. The pack also paid for the schools. They offered scholarships and grants to any member who wanted to go to college. We each need a place to call home, a place of community and comfort.
Nathaniel figured that working in the vineyard was a great way to get to know his new pack members. Everyone was kind and welcomed him with open arms ever since he formally joined the pack. They all knew he had a mate and that he hoped one day soon she would join him.
Nathaniel wanted something of his own. In the month he lived in the Lykos wolf shifter pack, he noticed that shifters from other packs and even humans often visited without a place to stay. There was a small hotel on pack land. Otherwise, people would have to stay somewhere else in Rainbow or Fallbrook. He researched and found that a bed and breakfast would be easy to take care of and run on his own.
“A bed and breakfast?” Barry asked.
“Yes. The other day when I was taking a walk, I passed Huntley Meadows Park, and I spotted a grand old house there. I called Callie, and she took me on a tour of the home. There are six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and the kitchen and dining area are huge. It’s perfect,” Nathaniel explained enthusiastically.
“Do you know anything about the hospitality industry?” Darias asked.
“Not a whole lot, no. I did some research online. Shifters wouldn’t mind staying here. Most would probably like it.”
“Bruce’s mate, Tatyana, used to manage a hotel in her old pack. I’m sure she could teach you a few things. With Bruce being our head enforcer, he would set up the security system,” Darias suggested.
“You’re going to need a cleaning service, permits, a cook, a gardener, new furniture, linens, and a kitchen inspection. You’ll also need someone to help you with marketing,” Barry said.
“There’s so much to do. I can’t wait to tackle it,” Nathaniel said, smiling.
As he left the alpha’s office, Nathaniel thought that things didn’t look so grim for the first time since he left Tracie.
Once back home, Nathaniel writes up an ad in the pack newspaper advertising for a cook and a gardener. Then he hopped in his car and headed downtown. After applying for the permits, he placed the ad in the newspaper. He went to the pack offices, pinned up the advertisement on the bulletin board, and then made his way to Bruce’s office.
To his dismay, Nathaniel discovered Bruce was out to lunch. As he was leaving the pack offices, a woman approached him.
“Excuse me? I saw you put up a sign about a cook.”
“Are you interested in the position?”
“Yes, I am. My name’s Patricia. I’m not trained in culinary school, but I love to cook. I know you’re probably looking for someone with a degree, but I promise you won’t be disappointed. I specialize in baking, but I can make anything. I’m willing to work really hard.”
“I’m Nathaniel Thibodeau, but please call me Nate. I’d love to sample your cooking,” Nathaniel replied. “Why don’t you bring something over to my place tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, absolutely. What would you like me to bring?” Patricia asked.
“How about your best dish? Knock my socks off.”
“Okay, I can be there by nine o’clock. Oh, where do you live?”
Nathaniel didn’t have anything to write with, so he just rattled off his address. He watched Patricia’s eyes light up with excitement as she added his address to her cell phone.
“Thank you for this opportunity. I’m sure you won’t regret it.”
“I’m sure I won’t.”
“Goodbye, Nate, see you in the morning,” Patricia said.
And with that, she turned on her heel and headed down the hallway towards the front door. Nathaniel watched her go, bemused and hopeful. He was beginning to have a really good feeling about the bed-and-breakfast. Grinning, he headed out of the pack building and back to his car. It was time to do some shopping.
It was late when he got home. It’s past sunset, and he was a little tired. He spent several hours ordering furniture and other supplies for the bed and breakfast. He had decided to name it Huntley Meadows Bed and Breakfast because it was near the park. All through the day, his mind wandered back to Tracie. He was thinking of her hazel eyes and full pouty lips. He often imagined them wrapped around his cock. Dreaming about what it would be like to taste her pussy. Thinking about how it would feel to slide his cock into Tracie. Slowly. Savoring each sweet, wet inch until he was buried balls deep inside her perfect, lush body.
Nathaniel wondered what she was doing. He hadn’t heard that she was acting yet. He hired a private eye to keep an eye on her after Shannon told him about the wolf shifters. In the month since he’d been here, he hadn’t heard about any strange wolves hanging around or looking for him. The private eye said that no wolf shifter was hanging around Tracie. Maybe Creed didn’t know about Tracie.
After he ate dinner, Nathaniel went to his home office and turned on his computer. He checked his emails and replied to the necessary ones. He opened up his business plan for the bed and breakfast. By the time he finished everything and shut down his computer, it was past ten. He took a quick shower and went to bed. Patricia would be here by nine. He looked forward to sampling her cooking. The rest of the morning would be spent interviewing staff.
The morning sunlight streams into the kitchen, bright and warm. Nathaniel was finishing his coffee when the doorbell rings. He heads through the house to the front door. Opening it, he sees an older she-wolf.
“May I help you?”
“Hi, I’m Christina, and I’ve come to inquire about the posting for a housekeeper.”
“Please come in.”
Nathaniel steps back, allowing her to pass. Then he closed the door. He ushered Christina into the kitchen. Once they were seated at the kitchen table, he proceeded with the interview.
“I will be updating the large house near Huntley Meadows park, turning it into the Huntley Meadows Bed and Breakfast. I’m looking for someone who can clean the rooms each morning. Laundry will need to be done daily as well as dusting and vacuuming.”
“That sounds reasonable. I used to work at the Howard Johnstone Inn in San Diego. I moved here a couple of years ago when I met my mate. The children are in school, so I am looking for work to keep me busy. Here is my resume,” Christina said as she handed him a paper.
“Great. I hope to be able to open in a month. Will that work for you?” Nathaniel said after he read over her resume.
“I can work with that.”
“I would like you to start in three weeks. The rooms will need to be cleaned, the laundry done, and rooms made up the last few days before the grand opening.”
“That sounds great,” Christina said as she stood and offered her hand.
Nathaniel shook her hand and escorted her out the front door. “I will call you as soon as I am ready to get the rooms ready.”
“I look forward to hearing from you. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Hi Patricia,” Nathaniel called out when he saw her walking towards his home. He noticed her car a couple of houses down.
“Hi, Nate,” Patricia smiled nervously as she carried a covered dish.
“Yum, that smells good.”
They walked toward the kitchen. Patricia is radiating excitement and nerves.
“Put the dish on the table, and I’ll grab some plates,” Nathaniel said as they entered the kitchen.
“I made a Black Forest cake. I hope that is okay.”
“Sounds great. I love chocolate.”
Patricia cut a slice of the cake, placed it on a plate, and handed it over to Nathaniel with a fork. He noticed that she was biting her lower lip. Her face was pale, and she was clenching her hands by her side. He examined the slice of cake in the morning light. It looked amazing. He dug his fork into the piece, and closed his eyes; he placed it in his mouth and bit down.
Good god! The flavors and texture were incredible. He groaned, cupping his hand to his mouth to catch any crumbs. The richness of the chocolate blending with the creamy whipped topping contrasts with the cherry filling tang. Absolute perfection. It’s like a party of flavors dancing over his tongue.
“Well?”
Nathaniel composed his face as he swallowed the bite.
“Patricia.”
“Yes?” Her eyes were wide.
“Having you as our cook is going to be phenomenal. It’s amazing. I’m going to need all of my self-control not to eat everything.”
“You like it?” Patricia asked as tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re hired.”
“Oh, thank god. You won’t regret it.”
“I’m sure I won’t.”
Patricia sat there and watched as Nathaniel finished off the slice of cake. He could feel the happiness that radiated off her as she rested her chin in her hand.
“Why don’t you spend the day making a menu. I’d like to serve breakfast and lunch as well as pastries.”
“That sounds like a great plan. I will leave the rest of the cake here for you,” Patricia said as she got up from the kitchen table. Before he knew it, she was rushing out the front door.
Nathanial spent the rest of the morning on his computer looking up sanitation and hygiene requirements and other regulations for running a bed and breakfast. His stomach growling made him realize it was time for lunch. Not wanting to be cooped up all day, he grabs his car keys and cell phone and heads to his car. He craved a T-bone, and the best place he found for steak was Don’s Steak House.
Back at home, Nathaniel thought about some amenities to offer at the bed and breakfast. Complimentary wireless Internet access, cable television, in-room phones, as well as desks with built-in USB outlets and irons/ironing boards. The lobby would include a library, game area, and tv area. He could offer a tour of the winery and vineyard, then sell wines and serve the wines at lunch.
He could see it in his mind; the floor was hardwood, which made every step echo. A chandelier made a rainbow of colors dance across the lobby. Thick, luxuriant sofas surrounded a large, flat-screen television. The desk was made of amber-colored wood and a green granite top. Exquisite paintings hung from the tan walls. Warm smells of home-cooking would be wafting through the air.
***
A few days later, Nathaniel was standing in the living room area of the bed and breakfast, looking around. It was full of the supplies he’d ordered. There were boxes filled with new light fixtures, light bulbs, new cabinets, bookcases, paint, linens, dishes, cooking ware, silverware, etc.; it was everywhere. No time like the present to begin sorting the items into the rooms they would be used.
Once everything had been moved out of the living room, Nathaniel began ripping up the carpet. The carpet in the whole house needed to be replaced. The kitchen flooring also needed to be replaced. He wanted hardwood flooring where ever he could and carpet the rest.
The front door opened, surprising Nathaniel. He had been so busy; he hadn’t scented anyone nearby.
“Okay, people!” A female voice he recognized called out. “We have two dozen people here and lots to do. You six go upstairs and begin ripping up the carpet. The rooms have boxes that need unpacking. You four hang the cabinets up in the kitchen. If you know how to work with the electricity, take care of changing out the light fixtures. Go get moving!”
“Tatyana, you are a lifesaver,” Nathaniel gushed.
“Nate, I told you I would get people to help out,” Tatyana blushed. “This pack knows how to rally around their own.”
“Yes. It’s just that I’m new to the pack. I don’t want anyone to think I’m taking advantage. I can’t thank you all enough.”
“Hey, you will help out plenty in the future. This is your time. You don’t have to do it alone. The pack supports the pack. Your bed and breakfast will help other pack businesses and pack members.”
“I think I bit off more than I can chew.”
“Any renovations will make you feel that way. It’s why we’re here to help you. We will have the bed and breakfast opened in a month.”
Nathaniel looked around and noticed people were working hard unpacking and putting things up. He followed Tatyana around through the rooms checking to see how things were coming along. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed. He really should help somewhere.
A group of four men nearly knocked him down the stairs as they carried rolled-up carpets out of some of the bedrooms and down the stairs. He looked into one of the rooms and smiled at how much better it looked. Walking down the hallway, he peeked in other rooms. Some were being painted, and others were still having the carpet pulled out. He went back downstairs and into the kitchen to help put away the dishes. For the first time in days, he felt hope.
It was after midnight when Nathaniel collapsed down on the couch with a glass of scotch. It was a little late to be indulging, but he felt he deserved it. The day was both exhausting and invigorating. There was still a lot to do, but thanks to everyone’s help, it wasn’t nearly as much as it had been that morning.
Tatyana arrived with the crew bright and early the next morning with coffee and donuts.
“What are you planning on working on today?” Tatyana asked.
“Well, umm. More painting and working on the floorin
g.”
“I know how to use the sander. I can sand the floors upstairs,” Dane offered.
“Thanks, Dane. I have a second sander for the main floor if anyone wants to use it.”
“I used to help my dad with a sander back in high school. I’d be happy to sand the main floor,” Martin said. “Then we can stain the floors that won’t be carpeted.”
“The bedrooms will all be carpeted, so they don’t need sanding. The hallway upstairs will be hardwood, as well as the stairs. The bathrooms and kitchen will have waterproof laminated floors. The rooms all here on the main floor will be hardwood. I also have the plumber coming here today,” Nathaniel explained.
“I’ll get to painting the hallway and doors with the other girls,” Mazie said.
“Thank you, Mazie.”
The doorbell rang, drawing Nathaniel to the front door. He was pleased to see that the delivery men had arrived with the high-quality kitchen appliances.
“Hi, I’m Ray from Albertie’s appliances.”
“Hi, Ray. I’m Nate. The kitchen is past the lobby and to the left,” Nathaniel pointed the way then; let them be to do their work.
Nathaniel spotted the workers putting a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the house while others were washing the windows. He had been relieved when he had the house inspection done, and they said that the roof and HVAC were still in good shape. The inspector said they should last another five to ten years.
“The belt on the sander broke. Do you have another belt, Nate?” Dane asked.
“No. We will have to go to the hardware store.”
“I can run to the hardware store for you. I’ll have them put it on your account,” Dane offered.
“Thanks. That would be great.”
“Nate, I’m ready to paint the lobby. What color did you want me to use?” Mazie asked.
“I chose the Believable Buff shade from the hardware store. There should be a five-gallon bucket of paint over by the counter,” Nathaniel explained.
“Cool. I’ll get right on it. Thanks, Nate.”
