ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (48 page)

“I guess so.”

Dalton clamped Brian on the shoulder and squeezed.  “I trust you.” 

Both men turned as the sound of bass began thumping up the road towards them.  A blue hatchback thumped and bounced its way into the yard, a petite Asian girl with double, multicolored ponytails was in the driver’s seat.  Dalton could see the heavy makeup before she got out of the car.   

“Your girlfriend’s here.” 

Dalton watched the two of them hurry to each other and embrace, Brian lifting the tiny woman off the ground.  He wondered what it would feel like to care so much for someone that only a few hours separation could cause the display he was currently watching.  Either way, they would produce interesting, if not beautiful children.  Mika was Vietnamese and Brian was African American and Irish.  The children should be virtually bursting with culture. 

Dalton slid into the driver’s seat.  “Good morning. Mika.” 

“Good morning, Dalton!”  She practically climbed onto his lap and kissed him with a smack on the cheek.  Dalton averted his eyes from looking down her scanty tank top and seeing her small breasts.  “Thank you for letting me come here!  My roommate is driving me crazy!”  He could smell cigarettes with a light masking of juicy fruit gum.  He looked at Brian through the windshield. 

“Soon, was really soon, huh?”

Brian shrugged, his grin consuming his face. 

“You’re welcome, Mika.”  Dalton said and eased her off of him.  “Just don’t go and ruin my place with a bunch of girly crap.”

She laughed delightedly and skipped to Brian.

Dalton shut the door and waved as he backed out and started down the dirt road that eventually connected to black top.  He didn’t have a clue where he was going, but once he was in Madison, the next step shouldn’t be too hard. 

Autumn sighed heavily as Trina brushed past her with an arm load of dishes.  She glanced over her shoulder before stopping at the dish sinks. 

“What’s wrong tonight?” 

Autumn swept a loose red curl back from her face, her hazel eyes contemplative and brooding.  “I absolutely hate the all you can eat sea food nights.”

Trina laughed and shook her blonde ponytail, rinsing dishes and loading them in the heavy plastic racks.  She had one ready and pushed it into the dish washer, slamming the door.  “Yeah, they eat like beasts.  More people stay on these nights too, because they get it as part of the regular dinner meal.” 

Autumn had always thought the way the lodge was set up was quaint and kind of cute.  The two dining rooms had long tables, and guests could share the meal together, maybe even get to know someone, albeit briefly, while they were forced to share a meal.  One dining room looked out over the rolling hillside and entrance drive for Mountain Lodge with a portion of the Blue Ridge rising on the other side of the road in the distance.  It was picturesque and beautiful, all times of year.  Lately, however, her black moods had ruined the enjoyment she had once felt working there. 

“I’m thinking about quitting.” 

Trina paused from loading the next rack.  “Why?  I thought you liked it here.” 

“I do.”  Autumn sighed.  She folded the last of the linen napkins and pushed the bin back on to the shelf above her head.  “I’m just…dissatisfied.”  She threw her hands up and crossed her arms.  “I mean, I’m twenty four, and I’ve had the same boyfriend for two years, and he hasn’t even hinted at proposal!  He’s content to sit in my Mom’s kitchen drinking, and waiting on his disability check each month.” 

Trina smiled sympathetically.  “I get it…your clock’s ticking.” 

“Whatever.  It’s not just that.  I’ve been a server here for three years.  I can’t just work at Mountain Lodge my whole life.”

“Why not?  Loretta has.”

As if on cue, Loretta walked into the kitchen area and scowled at both women.  She was in her late sixties and was as surly as she was wrinkled.  Unfortunately she was also the head cook.

“Get your asses in gear!  We still have an hour to go!  I had a walk in.” 

Trina rolled her eyes.  “Loretta, it’s reservation only!”

“So?  What’s one little lonely man?  He looked like he needed a good meal, and what the hell?  He paid the $33.50.” 

Autumn stuck her tongue out at the woman’s broad back as she exited the dish room. 

“Do you want to flip for it?” 

“What’s there to flip for?  He’s probably at one of the shared tables.  He’ll just need a drink.” 

Autumn walked into the dining room next to the kitchens, but didn’t see anyone who looked like they were dining alone.  She went across to the dining room with windows and saw the man sitting by himself, elbows on the table and hands clasped, his eyes staring at the falling twilight through the windows.  He saw her approach and she could have sworn he looked disappointed. 

Sorry, jerk, I’m not the perky little blonde.  At least I’m not one of the toothless wonders. 

She stopped by his table, her face impassive.  “What would you like to drink?”

“Water, please.” 

Autumn walked away, wondering at his odd colored eyes.  He was nice looking, at least; even if he was an irritation, wandering in when it was nearly time to close.  The dining room closed at nine, and she was itching to get home.  Home was a nightmare of late, but her feet hurt, and she was just plain tired.

Dalton wandered to the seafood buffet, hoping to catch sight of the little blonde again.  She definitely smelled like wolf, but she had only passed him briefly on her way to another table with a carafe of coffee.  She was cute, but she looked almost generic, unlike the redhead who was on her way back to his table with a glass of water.  She was interesting looking.  Her red hair reminded him of some of the deeper fall leaf colors when the sunlight hits in just the right way to make the dying leaves almost glow.  She had beautiful hazel eyes and a few tiny freckles across her nose.  He judged her height at about the same as the blonde; no more than 5’4”.  Her features were strong.  Yes, she would have been the better choice.  Pity she was human.

The dining room was nearly empty by the time Dalton had finished his first plate.  He didn’t want the plate of food to begin with, but he had to make his presence there innocuous.  If the blonde had noticed his scent, as he had hers, she hadn’t let on.  Perhaps in that setting shifters weren’t an uncommon occurrence.

The red head returned and asked if he would like more water or dessert. 

“What’s the dessert?”

“Peach Delight.”

Dalton smiled blandly.  “Then I’ll have both.” 

He watched her walk away, admiring the snug fit of her faded jeans.  The apron tied at the base of her back promised a small waist was under the extra fabric.  Yes, it was a pity. 

Dalton let his eyes wander out the windows.  People were leaving, a few lingered in hopes to see black bears raiding the dumpsters after closing.  A man with a John Deere baseball cap was leaning against the hood of a massive pickup truck smoking a cigarette.  His feet were crossed at the ankle and his stance was casual, but Dalton knew him for what he was.  Movement caught his eye and the little blonde hurried over to him.  The man flicked his butt away and pulled her to himself.  They kissed briefly and she spoke, to which he nodded and watched as she hurried away again. 

Dalton’s stomach had the sinking sensation of disappointment.  She was already mated! 

Maybe, maybe not.  He thought desperately. 

The redhead returned and slid the Peach Delight in front of him.  She poured water from a glass pitcher, her eyes on the top of his head. 

“Say…the other waitress…”

Autumn fought the urge to roll her eyes.  What was it with men and blondes?  “The blonde?”

“Yes.”

“What about her?”

“She looks familiar.”

“Right.  I bet she does.”  Autumn shoved her tongue into her cheek and raised her eyebrows.  “Her name is Trina and she has a fiancé.”  The woman didn’t say another word.  She simply walked away with her pitcher, shaking her head slightly. 

A fiancé.  They might not be mated yet.  Dalton ate the dessert slowly, not tasting it, as his mind formed a plan of action.  He needed someone and fast.  He didn’t have time to shop around.  He needed his pack back together as soon as possible. 

Autumn entered the other dining room and began the cleanup process.  There were only a handful of people still eating, including the man with the strange eyes.  She didn’t know why she was angry he had asked about Trina.  She should have been used to it.  Men asked about Trina almost every night they worked.  No one asked about her that she knew of.  It shouldn’t bother her.  Teddy was practically living at her house.  She didn’t want him in her bed all the time, per say, but at least he was sticking around.  She spent more time angry with him than anything else, and there were the few incidences that she had to cover bruises with makeup or made up stories.

You mean lies.  She chided herself.  Still, he was there, and that was something.  Her own father hadn’t been around, at least not for long.  Maybe Teddy would get off the bottle and they could get married and start a family. 

A hip bumped Autumn, bringing her out of her mental reverie.

“Hey, get a move on!  Chris is waiting for me!” 

Autumn nodded, and began clearing the dishes more quickly.  The sooner she could get home the better.  The later it was, the drunker Teddy, and her mother, would be.

Dalton sat on the ground level long porch and rocked slowly in one of the many rocking chairs.  A group of little old ladies had converged on the side of the building waiting for the bears, but one was complaining loudly in a grating voice that her hip hurt, and it was after nine, and she needed to get her fanny in the road!  Dalton wasn’t sorry to see them pile into a waiting minivan. 

He turned to his left to see if the pickup was still there.  It was, and the man was in the driver’s seat, his cap pulled low and head back.  A hopeful smile tilted the edges of Dalton’s lips upward.  That meant that the blonde was still there, and her fiancé was napping.

He walked towards the back of the building, a man just ambling, enjoying the night, and digesting his food; at least that’s what he hoped he looked like. 

A young man and an older woman were bringing out bags of trash.  The lightening wasn’t very good, so he was able to blend deeper into the shadows so he could get closer. 

“I don’t understand why she gets to leave early again!” 

The older woman, one Dalton had seen serving tables too, shook her head.  “She’s young.  Let her live.  You’re just jealous it’s her and not you.”

“Damn right!  She could have at least brought her portion of the trash out!” 

The door slammed and their voices muted.  He assumed they were talking about the red head.  The blonde’s ride was still napping in the parking lot.  He was going to have to work fast. 

Dalton went to his car and drove it down the steep drive, but made a U-turn at the bottom and came back up the other side.  He parked in one of the employee spaces near the dumpsters.  A few employees were leaving, and most of the lights in the dining lodge were being turned out.  He got out of the car and unlocked the trunk.  There was a plastic bag, but that wouldn’t do.  Luckily for him he found a canvas tote bag pushed towards the back. It was one of those save the trees reusable shopping bags for groceries.  He carefully lowered the trunk lid so it still looked closed, but with a flick of the wrist, could pop right back up.

Dalton was becoming nervous, from where he was he couldn’t see the opposite side of the building where the customer parking lot was.  He heard other vehicles leaving and he was positive that he heard a large truck engine roar to life and drive away. 

The back door opened and shut again, but it was the same young man who had come out earlier.  He tossed one more bag in the dumpster and started towards Dalton.  Dalton quietly blended further into the darkness and waited.  The young man unlocked his car and got in, soon driving away himself.  That only left two other cars. 

More lights went out, leaving Dalton in nearly complete darkness.  The dumpsters were completely dark.  He couldn’t understand how that was safe for female employees, stifled a laugh with the back of his hand as he considered what he was waiting around to do. 

It only took a few more minutes before the back door opened again.  The brief and unmistakable silhouette of a woman with a pony tail appeared for a split second before the door slammed shut.  Dalton listened as approaching footsteps stopped at the dumpster and tossed a bag in with a grunt. 

Dalton moved with lightning speed and accuracy.  He shoved the canvas bag over her head, and clamped his hand over her open mouth as she let out a shriek.  He could feel her heels kicking back at him as he lifted her easily in a bear hug from behind and began scuttling back to the car.  He nearly lost hold of her as he lifted the lid of trunk and tossed her inside.  He didn’t give her time to react, slamming the lid, and crouching beside the car, as the back door opened again.  He closed his eyes as muffled screams and banging could be heard from the trunk. 

The silhouette of the older woman who had been to the dumpster once already appeared with a hand to her hip.