Page 70 of Knot Her Beta

I set my pen down on the folder, the click of plastic cutting Caroline off mid-spiel. “I need a moment.”

My father’s jaw hardens, but Caroline simply nods.

“Take your time,” she says. “The numbers aren’t going anywhere.”

I push back from the table and reach for my cane. It taps on the hardwood as I cross to the door and step into the hallway.

The house is quiet. Upstairs, my mother is probably on the phone with one of her charity boards, scheduling the spring gala. The staff moves through the lower level, never seen unless it can’t be avoided.

I head for the side door that leads to the stone steps and the frozen lawn beyond. The moment I push it open, the raw March cold sweeps over me.

I pause, still under the overhang, and fish my phone from my pocket.

The lawn stretches in front of me, winter-gray and stiff with frost. Beyond the hedgerows, the property slopes toward the road, every tree placed where some landscape architect decided it belonged sixty years ago. Nothing grows wild here.

I find Emily’s name in my contacts and hit call before I can talk myself out of it.

My breath fogs in the air as I count the rings, half-expecting to be sent to voicemail. It’s what, five-thirty in Pinecrest? Early, even for her.

She picks up on the third ring.

“Grady,” she rasps, still rough with sleep. A murmur sounds in the background, and she shushes whoever it is before she comes back to me. “You’re calling early. Everything okay?”

“I’m standing outside my parents’ house freezing my ass off. I needed to talk to someone who isn’t discussing contracts.” The words come out more honest than I meant them to, and I wince. “Sorry. That’s not—how are you?”

A beat of silence follows, where I can feel her wanting to ask more questions before she sighs. “We had the entire Wright Pack over yesterday.” Her rich chuckle fills my ear. “The cottage is still a mess.”

I blink in surprise. “You went to bed without picking things up?”

She rumbles in agreement. “Jared and Leif are going to clean everything today.”

Masculine protests rise, and I realize she’s with the Alpha and Omega right now. I wait for the embarrassment or jealousy, but all I feel is longing that I’m not there, too.

“Oh, yeah?” I laugh, and the sound surprises me. “And what will you be doing?”

“Lying on the couch with Mixie.”

“I don’t believe you. Give the phone to Jared.”

There’s a shuffle, and then the young Alpha comes on the line. “When are you coming back? Em is being unreasonable.”

“You better see that she doesn’t lift a finger while you guys clean,” I tell him. “Give her the basket of crochet projects she’s been grumbling about finishing, and don’t let her put one foot on the floor until you guys are done.”

“Bossy, Beta,” he grumbles. “What do you think I should make her for breakfast?”

“Biscuits and gravy,” I say without hesitation.

He chuckles. “Is that your craving coming through?”

“Might be.” I sigh. “I’m so sick of the food here.”

“If you get on a plane now, you can be home in time for homemade pizza,” he cajoles. “Leif can pick you up from the airport and bring you right here.”

“I have to be back on the island tonight,” Leif reminds him in the background. “I need to bring Quinn to school.”

“Blake can bring her down to the boat, and you can meet her at the docks on this side,” Jared counters. “Just like old times.”

His murmur of agreement sounds before there’s a shuffle, and Emily reclaims the phone. “Don’t let him pressure you. If you’re not ready⁠—”