Page 18 of His Little Pumpkin (Alphas Fall Hard Collection #2)

LAURA

I move around the kitchen quietly, starting the coffeemaker and putting away a few things that were left in the drying rack overnight.

As I wipe down the counter, my gaze snaps to the window and I look out across the back lawn to the row of trees.

The leaves have turned on some of them, creating a breathtaking multi-colored effect off into the distance.

Just a week ago I was terrified. No place to live. No food or clothing or transportation. I didn’t know how I would survive. And now I have a beautiful home, and am living with an incredible man.

There’s a shuffle behind me as Eldon comes in, gently removing the cloth from my hand so he can wrap his arms around my waist. “You seem a million miles away, pumpkin.”

“Yeah. I honestly cannot believe this is my life now.”

He lifts me up to sit me on the counter as we both grin at each other. “Yes. With me, and the horses, and the endless meals to plan.”

His smile fades. “You know, you’ve had a lot of stress the past little while. What if you took a bit of a vacation? Just take a week off to lounge on the couch and watch movies? Read, take long afternoon naps. You know…recharge your batteries.”

I reach out to run my fingers through his hair just over the ear. “When’s the last time you took a vacation?”

He makes a growling noise. “We’re not talking about me. Anyway, it’s not the same. I’m a workhorse.”

“But we’re a team now.” I cock my eyebrow. “What if I help you this week so you could have afternoons off? We can watch a movie every day, or read…”

“A staycation?” He nods. “That’s a good idea. But for today, it would make me extremely happy if you would rest and replenish yourself. If you feel like being productive, you can make a list of things we need to shop for to make this house suitable for a woman to live in.”

“I don’t want to change your house. I like your house.”

Eldon growls again as his eyes sparkle. “ Our house. That spare key isn’t temporary, baby. I want you to redecorate and reimagine this place until it feels like yours as well.”

When his deep eyes meet mine I feel like I’m falling, even though he’s holding me securely. “I feel like wherever we are is going to be home now,” I whisper, swallowing hard to get control over my happy tears. “I love you.”

“And I love you, pumpkin.”

He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small box. “I bought this online the day after we met. It arrived today.”

My heart is racing. It couldn’t possibly be… I breathe a huge sigh of relief as I open the box to reveal a stylish gold chain with a delicate pumpkin charm made of orange glass.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s adorable! And very fall-like. Thank you.”

He fastens it around my throat, then kisses my neck on either side of the charm. “It’s from a glass artist upstate. Maybe I’ll get you something for every season.” His lips graze my forehead. “Holidays. Days that end in a Y. Whatever.”

“I feel like it’s a symbol of you claiming me.”

“Would that be so wrong?”

I grin. “Nope.” My eyes flick to the clock on the stove. “But it would be wrong for us to be late for work during our relaxation movie week. Let’s go.”

Everything with Eldon is sexy, even the way he wraps a thick sweater around me and takes my hand just to walk to the truck.

Most people wish upon a star.

Maybe I accidentally made a wish upon a pumpkin. Because all my dreams have come true.