As soon as I pull off the side of the road, Lain does the same.
He was waiting to make sure we got the car running.
When I turn and look at Birdie, she has a wild grin on her face.
"What?" I say, turning away and looking forward.
"Bonnie damsels in distress," she says with a snort. “At least we know mom wasn’t lying about Highland hospitality being top tier.”
I don't comment, and I certainly don't think about the Alpha or his kilt the rest of the drive to our B&B.
Absolutely not.
2
maisie
The ownerof the Bed and Breakfast, Effie, started fussing over us as soon as we stepped foot inside the whimsical stone front house. I don’t think I’ve ever been more relieved than when we drove up the cobblestone driveway and saw her smiling rosy face.
“Let’s get you settled right away, dears,” she says, shuffling us up the stairs to our room.
Effie is likely in her 70s, but she doesn’t look it. She’s a hearty, solid woman, not showing the fragility that comes with age. She also has no issue climbing the stairs as she leads us to our room.
It’s a single room with two double beds, a TV, and a private bathroom. The design is comforting, not sterile or lacking personality like a hotel room would be. The beds feature hand-carved headboards and soft, off-white linens. The walls are adorned with hand-painted landscapes of the town, along with a few embroidered pieces. I wonder if Effie stitched them herself. The thought has me even more endeared toward the sweet woman.
There’s a large dresser on one side of the room and a coffee table with two velvet chairs in front of the large bay window.
Effie pulls back the curtains and we’re greeted with an unobstructed view of lush green mountains, the evening sun shimmering into the room.
There’s no denying the charm and stunning landscape of this place. I suppose, if I have to work remotely, I couldn’t ask for a better view.
“The lounge, front room, and dining room are open to all guests, we just ask after 10:00 p.m. the noise is kept to a minimum. I serve breakfast from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. If you have any food that you would like to keep in the kitchen, just ask me or Angus and we’d be glad to help. Your door has two locks for privacy, here are your keys, though this town is incredibly safe for Omegas,” she adds in, handing me and Birdie a ring of keys each. “Oh, if you’re hungry, Greer’s is open till late or I could fix you up some sandwiches if you’re looking to get some rest.”
“Only if it wouldn’t be any trouble?” I ask, not wanting to leave this room. In fact, I want to melt into that plush bed and not resurface for the foreseeable future.
“Of course, dear. You two get settled, I’ll be right back,” Effie says, the skin around her crystalline eyes crinkling as she smiles.
“Don’t think we've shared a room since senior year of high school,” Birdie says.
“I hope you don’t still snore.”
She gasps and puts her hands on her hips. “I do not snore.”
“You sure about that?” I say with an arch of a brow and a smirk.
“If I snore, then you snore too,” she quickly retorts, and I shake my head with a laugh.
“You don’t snore, Birdie. I mean, at least not most of the time.”
“You’re messing with me,” she says, a small smile tugging on the corner of her lips. So much time and distance has separated us. My sister doesn’t even know when I’m joking anymore.
The realization sends a pang through my chest.
“I’m going to take a shower first, if that’s okay?” I ask softly and Birdie nods as I step into the tiny bathroom.
It will have to do. The vanity is small, but I can keep most of my products out in the main room. A porcelain tub sits along the far wall with a hand-held shower, and the toilet sits across from the sink and mirror.
I turn on the water and undress before stepping into the tub. It’s not the same as my shower back home that has jets along the side and a rainfall feature, but at least the water is hot as I wash off the grime of the travel day.
