Page 100 of Protected Promise

The chatter and noise grew as everyone returned to their conversations and meals.

I had an overwhelming feeling that everything was going to be okay.

I followed Kaitlyn and Mina to the line to get my food and then we took a seat with Dereck, Tobi, Connie, and Shawn.

Kaitlyn was talking with Mina and Tobi and seemed relaxed, happy even. I gave her leg a squeeze under the table and she leaned into me but continued her conversation with them.

“Have you given any more thought to my proposal?” Dereck asked.

I sighed. I knew he was talking about the old hotel. “Did you get the estimates I asked for?”

“I did and honestly the inspection went far better than I expected. The bulk of the work needed we can do ourselves and cut costs even further.”

I hadn’t expected that. “Leave them on my desk and I’ll take a look tomorrow.”

“Kyle has a Lodge just outside Westin territory. He opens it up to shifters and humans alike. It’s doing phenomenal and brings in a great deal of profit to the Pack.”

“This isn’t outside my territory though.”

“No, but it’s far enough to the edge that it should be okay. I mean the highway is right there and humans pass through it every day without issue.”

“Pass through. Now we’re inviting them to stay. And let’s be real, I don’t know the first thing about running a hotel.”

Kaitlyn gasped and grabbed my arm. “You’re considering re-opening that old hotel we passed on the drive in?”

“Yes,” Dereck said.

I watched my mate cautiously. I could feel her excitement bubbling up as clearly as if it were my own.

“It’s just a thought,” I said. “I’m not sure we have the resources here to actually make this work.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“Well for one, I don’t know a damn thing about running a hotel, especially a human one.”

“But I do,” she said confidently.

“What?” Dereck asked.

“You do?” Connie asked curiously.

“Well yeah. I told you I majored in hospitality and business management. It’s always been my dream to run a hotel.”

I stared at her in surprise. I shouldn’t have been so shocked by it. We’d talked about her major before. She was even going to head to Florida, the vacation capital of the world. Still, the entire time Dereck had been proposing this, I had not once stopped to consider my mate could be the answer and the missing key I’d been looking for.

She bit her lip and stared down at the table as she pushed a piece of potato around her plate.

“It’s okay. I mean, those skills will be just as useful in my role as Pack Mother.”

Her disappointment was tangible, but she was reading my signals all wrong.

“This is perfect. The only reason I haven’t already caved is because I thought I’d have to bring in an outsider to make it happen. The remodeling and construction needed I can handle, but the day to day business aspect just isn’t my forte. It’s going to be a big undertaking. Are you sure you’re up for it?”

Kaitlyn’s eyes beamed with happiness and my heart was filled with love.

“Yes!” she yelled, throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me all over.

I grinned down at her. “This makes you happy?”